STERLING CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT April 3, 2017

EX-4.1 2 exh_41.htm EXHIBIT 4.1

Exhibit 4.1

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

STERLING CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC.

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

 

April 3, 2017

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

 

Section 1.		Definitions	1
Section 2.		Registration and Offerings	4
Section 3.		Piggyback Registrations	7
Section 4.		Registration Procedures	8
Section 5.		Registration Expenses	12
Section 6.		Indemnification and Contribution	13
Section 7.		Underwritten Offerings	15
Section 8.		Current Public Information	16
Section 9.		Subsidiary Public Offering	16
Section 10.		Transfer of Registrable Securities	16
Section 11.		General Provisions	17

 

STERLING CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC.

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of April 3, 2017, between Sterling Construction Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), OCM Sterling NE Holdings, LLC and OCM Sterling E Holdings, LLC (the “Investor”). Except as otherwise specified herein, all capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in Section 1.

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Investor are parties to a Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company, each Investor, as a lender, each lender signatory thereto (collectively, the “Lenders”), the guarantors signatory thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as the agent to the Lenders (as may be amended or modified from time to time, the “Loan Agreement”) in which the Lenders thereunder have agreed to provide a loan to the Company in a principal amount of up to $85,000,000.

 

WHEREAS, in order to induce the Lenders to enter into the Loan Agreement, the Company has issued to the Investors those certain Warrants to purchase shares of common stock of the Company, issued as of the date hereof, bearing certificates number W-001 and W-002 (together with any other warrant or equity security issued in exchange therefor, “Warrants”) and agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Warrants are conditions to the consummation of the transactions under the Loan Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:

 

Section 1.    Definitions. Unless otherwise set forth below or elsewhere in this Agreement, other capitalized terms contained herein have the meanings set forth in the Warrants.

 

“Affiliate” of any Person means any other Person controlled by, controlling or under common control with such Person; provided that the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of any holder of Registrable Securities. As used in this definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities, by contract or otherwise). With respect to any Person who is an individual, “Affiliates” shall also include, without limitation, any member of such individual’s Family Group.

 

“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

“Automatic Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

“Capital Stock” means (i) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares, interests or equivalents in capital stock of such corporation (whether voting or nonvoting and whether common or preferred) and (ii) with respect to any Person that is not a corporation, individual or governmental entity, any and all partnership, membership, limited liability company or other equity interests of such Person that confer on the holder thereof the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or the distribution of assets of, the issuing Person, including in each case any and all warrants, rights (including conversion and exchange rights) and options to purchase any of the foregoing.

 

“Common Stock” means the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share.

 

“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

“End of Suspension Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii).

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor federal law then in force, together with all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“Family Group” means, with respect to a Person who is an individual, (i) such individual’s spouse and descendants (whether natural or adopted) (collectively, for purposes of this definition, “relatives”), (ii) such individual’s executor or personal representative, (iii) any trust, the trustee of which is such individual or such individual’s executor or personal representative and which at all times is and remains solely for the benefit of such individual and/or such individual’s relatives, (iv) any corporation, limited partnership, limited liability company or other tax flow-through entity the governing instruments of which provide that such individual or such individual’s executor or personal representative shall have the exclusive, nontransferable power to direct the management and policies of such entity and of which the sole owners of stock, partnership interests, membership interests or any other equity interests are limited to such individual, such individual’s relatives and/or the trusts described in clause (iii) above, and (v) any retirement plan for such individual or such individual’s relatives.

 

“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

 

“Free Writing Prospectus” means a free-writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.

 

“Indemnified Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

“Investor” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

“Loan Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

“Person” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization and a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

“Piggyback Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

 

“Primary Securities” means shares of Common Stock having a value of not less than eighty million dollars ($80,000,000), issuable by the Company.

 

“Public Offering” means any sale or distribution by the Company and/or holders of Registrable Securities to the public of Common Stock pursuant to an offering registered under the Securities Act.

 

“Registrable Securities” means (i) the Warrants, (ii) any Common Stock issued pursuant to the Warrants, and (iii) any common Capital Stock of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company issued or issuable with respect to the securities referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above by way of dividend, distribution, split or combination of securities, or any recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization; provided, that securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when they have been (a) sold or distributed pursuant to a Public Offering, (b) sold in compliance with Rule 144, or (c) repurchased by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, whenever a Person has the right to acquire, directly or indirectly, Registrable Securities (upon conversion or exercise in connection with a transfer of securities or otherwise, but disregarding any restrictions or limitations upon the exercise of such right), whether or not such acquisition has actually been effected, such Person shall be deemed to be a holder of such Registrable Securities and such Person shall be entitled to exercise the rights of a holder of Registrable Securities hereunder.

 

“Registration Expenses” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).

 

“Rule 144”, “Rule 158”, “Rule 405,” “Rule 415” and “Rule 430B” mean, in each case, such rule promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor provision) by the Securities and Exchange Commission, as the same shall be amended from time to time, or any successor rule then in force.

 

“Sale of the Company” means any transaction or series of transactions pursuant to which any Person(s) or a group of related Persons (other than any Investor and its Affiliates) in the aggregate acquires Common Stock of the Company or the surviving entity entitled to vote (other than voting rights accruing only in the event of a default, breach, event of noncompliance or other contingency) to elect directors with a majority of the voting power of the Company’s or the surviving entity’s board of directors (whether by merger, consolidation, reorganization, combination, sale or transfer of the Company’s Common Stock).

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, or any successor federal law then in force, together with all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“Shelf Offering” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b)(i).

 

“Shelf Offering Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b)(i).

 

“Shelf Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

“Shelf Registration Statement” means a registration statement under the Securities Act for the Shelf Registration.

 

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to the Company, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of the Company or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity, a majority of the limited liability company, partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company or one or more Subsidiaries of the Company or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or control the managing director or general partner of such limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity.

 

“Suspension Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii).

 

“Suspension Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i).

 

“Violation” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

“Warrants” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

“WKSI” means a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined under Rule 405.

 

Section 2.    Registration and Offerings.

 

(a)    Mandatory Registration. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company shall, no later than May 31, 2017, (i) file a registration statement under the Securities Act on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration, if available, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act to register the Registrable Securities (a “Shelf Registration”) and (ii) file a registration statement under the Securities Act on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration, if available, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act to register the Primary Securities. If the Company is a WKSI, such Shelf Registration shall be an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (an “Automatic Shelf Registration Statement”).

 

(b)   Shelf Offerings. 

 

(i)                 In the event that a Shelf Registration Statement is effective, the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement shall have the right at any time or from time to time to elect to sell pursuant to an offering (including an Underwritten Offering) Registrable Securities available for sale pursuant to such registration statement, so long as the Shelf Registration Statement remains in effect, and the Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection therewith. The holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities shall make such election by delivering to the Company a written notice (a “Shelf Offering Notice”) with respect to such offering specifying the number of Registrable Securities that the holders desire to sell pursuant to such offering (the “Shelf Offering”). As promptly as practicable, but no later than two Business Days after receipt of a Shelf Offering Notice, the Company shall give written notice of such Shelf Offering Notice to all other holders of Registrable Securities. The Company, subject to Sections 2(c) and 7 hereof, shall include in such Shelf Offering the Registrable Securities of any other holder of Registrable Securities that shall have made a written request to the Company for inclusion in such Shelf Offering (which request shall specify the maximum number of Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such holder) within seven days after the receipt of the Shelf Offering Notice. The Company shall, as expeditiously as possible (and in any event within 20 days after the receipt of a Shelf Offering Notice), but subject to Section 2(d) hereof, use its commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate such Shelf Offering. Each holder of Registrable Securities shall treat as confidential the Shelf Offering Notice and shall not disclose or use the information contained in the Company’s notice regarding the Shelf Offering Notice without the prior written consent of the Company until such time as the information contained therein is or becomes available to the public generally, other than as a result of disclosure by a holder of Registrable Securities in breach of the terms of this Agreement.

 

(ii)               If the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities wish to engage in an underwritten block trade off of a Shelf Registration Statement (either through filing an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement or through a take-down from an already existing Shelf Registration Statement), then notwithstanding the time periods set forth in Section 2(b)(i), such holders shall notify the Company of the block trade Shelf Offering not less than two Business Days prior to the day such offering is to commence. The Company shall promptly notify other holders of Registrable Securities of such block trade Shelf Offering and such other holders of Registrable Securities must elect whether or not to participate by the next Business Day (i.e. one Business Day prior to the day such offering is to commence) (unless a longer period is agreed to by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the underwritten block trade) and the Company shall as expeditiously as possible use its commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate such offering (which may close as early as two Business Days after the date it commences).

 

(iii)             The Company shall, at the request of the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, file any prospectus supplement or any post-effective amendments and otherwise take any action necessary to include therein all disclosure and language deemed necessary or advisable by the holders of a majority of the Investor Registrable Securities to effect such Shelf Offering.

 

(c)    Priority on Shelf Offerings. If a Shelf Offering is an underwritten offering and the managing underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of Registrable Securities to be included in such offering exceeds the number of Registrable Securities which can be sold therein without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Company shall include in such offering the number of Registrable Securities which, in the opinion of such underwriters, can be sold, without any such adverse effect, allocated pro rata among the respective holders thereof on the basis of the amount of Registrable Securities owned by each such holder.

 

(d)   Restrictions on Shelf Offerings.

 

(i)                 For a period not in excess of an aggregate of 90 calendar days in any 365-calendar day period (the “Suspension Period”), the Company may suspend the use of a prospectus that is part of a Shelf Registration Statement (and therefore suspend sales of the Registrable Securities) by providing written notice to the holders of Registrable Securities if upon advice of counsel, the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement would require disclosure of non-public material information not otherwise required to be disclosed under applicable law.

 

(ii)               During any Suspension Period, the Company shall give a notice to the holders of Registrable Securities registered pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (a “Suspension Notice”) to suspend sales of the Registrable Securities and such notice shall state generally the basis for the notice and that such suspension shall continue only for as long as a Suspension Period is required or permitted hereunder. A holder of Registrable Securities shall not effect any sales of its Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (or such filings) at any time after it has received a Suspension Notice from the Company and prior to receipt of an End of Suspension Notice (as defined below). Each holder of Registrable Securities agrees that it shall treat as confidential the receipt of the Suspension Notice and shall not disclose or use the information contained in such Suspension Notice without the prior written consent of the Company until such time as the information contained therein is or becomes available to the public generally, other than as a result of disclosure by such holder of Registrable Securities in breach of the terms of this Agreement. A holder of Registrable Securities may recommence effecting sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement (or such filings) following further written notice to such effect (an “End of Suspension Notice”) from the Company, which End of Suspension Notice shall be given by the Company to the holders and to the holders’ counsel, if any, promptly upon the termination of a Suspension Period.

 

(iii)             Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if the Company shall give a Suspension Notice with respect to any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company agrees that it shall extend the period of time during which such Shelf Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from the date of receipt by the holders of the Suspension Notice to and including the date of receipt by the holders of the End of Suspension Notice and provide copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus necessary to resume sales, with respect to each Suspension Period; provided that such period of time shall not be extended beyond the date on which there are no longer any Registrable Securities outstanding.

 

(e)    Selection of Underwriters. If any Shelf Offering is an Underwritten Offering, the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities participating in such Underwritten Offering shall have the right to select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) to administer the offering relating to such Shelf Offering.

 

Section 3.    Piggyback Registrations.

 

(a)    Right to Piggyback. Whenever the Company proposes to register any of its securities under the Securities Act (other than in connection with registrations on Form S-4 or S-8 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor or similar forms or 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 Registrable Securities), and the registration form to be used may be used for the registration of Registrable Securities (a “Piggyback Registration”), the Company shall give prompt written notice to all holders of Registrable Securities of its intention to effect such Piggyback Registration and, subject to the terms of Section 3(c) and Section 3(d), shall include in such Piggyback Registration (and in all related registrations or qualifications under blue sky laws and in any related underwriting) all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within 20 days after delivery of the Company’s notice.

 

(b)   Piggyback Registration Expenses. The Registration Expenses of the holders of Registrable Securities shall be paid by the Company in all Piggyback Registrations, whether or not any such registration became effective.

 

(c)    Priority on Primary Registrations. If a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten primary registration on behalf of the Company, and the managing underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Company shall include in such registration (i) first, the securities the Company proposes to sell, (ii) second, the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the holders of such Registrable Securities on the basis of the number of shares owned by each such holder, and (iii) third, other securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect.

 

(d)   Priority on Secondary Registrations. If a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten secondary registration on behalf of holders of the Company’s securities, and the managing underwriters advise the Company in writing that in their opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Company shall include in such registration (i) first, the securities requested to be included therein by the holders initially requesting such registration and the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the holders of such securities on the basis of the number of securities so requested to be included therein, and (ii) second, other securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect.

 

Section 4.    Registration Procedures.

 

(a)    Whenever required pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration of Registrable Securities and the sale thereof in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof and shall as expeditiously as possible:

 

(i)                 in accordance with the Securities Act and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement, and all amendments and supplements thereto and related prospectuses, with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective (provided that before filing such registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Company shall furnish to the counsel selected by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents shall be subject to the review and comment of such counsel);

 

(ii)               notify each holder of Registrable Securities of (A) the issuance by the Securities and Exchange Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (B) the receipt by the Company or its counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, and (C) the effectiveness of each registration statement filed hereunder;

 

(iii)             prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective for a period ending when all of the securities covered by such registration statement have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement (but not in any event before the expiration of any longer period required under the Securities Act or, if such registration statement relates to an underwritten Public Offering, such longer period as in the opinion of counsel for the underwriters a prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sale of Registrable Securities by an underwriter or dealer) and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement during such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement;

 

(iv)             furnish to each seller of Registrable Securities thereunder such number of copies of such registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus), each Free Writing Prospectus and such other documents as such seller may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller;

 

(v)               use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Securities under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any seller reasonably requests and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such seller to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller (provided that the Company shall not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this subparagraph or (B) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction);

 

(vi)             notify each seller of such Registrable Securities (A) promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the date and time when such registration statement and each post-effective amendment thereto has become effective or a prospectus or supplement to any prospectus relating to such registration statement has been filed and when any registration or qualification has become effective under a state securities or blue sky law or any exemption thereunder has been obtained, (B) promptly after receipt thereof, of any request by the Securities and Exchange Commission for the amendment or supplementing of such registration statement or prospectus or for additional information, and (C) at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and, subject to Section 2(d), at the request of any such seller, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to prepare a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

 

(vii)           use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;

 

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

 

(ix)             enter into and perform such customary agreements (including underwriting agreements in customary form) and take all such other actions as the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold or the underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

 

(x)               make available for inspection by any seller of Registrable Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such seller or underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate and business documents and properties of the Company as shall be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company’s officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives and independent accountants to supply all information reasonably requested by any such seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such registration statement;

 

(xi)             take all reasonable actions to ensure that any Free-Writing Prospectus utilized in relation to Registrable Securities complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, is filed in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby, is retained in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby and, when taken together with the related prospectus, shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

(xii)           otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of such registration statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158;

 

(xiii)         permit any holder of Registrable Securities which holder, in its sole and exclusive judgment, might be deemed to be an underwriter or a controlling person of the Company, to participate in the preparation of such registration or comparable statement and to allow such holder to provide language for insertion therein, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, which in the reasonable judgment of such holder and its counsel should be included;

 

(xiv)         in the event of the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement, or the issuance of any order suspending or preventing the use of any related prospectus or suspending the qualification of any Common Stock included in such registration statement for sale in any jurisdiction use commercially reasonable efforts promptly to obtain the withdrawal of such order;

 

(xv)           in the case of any underwritten offering, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

 

(xvi)         cooperate with the holders of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement and the managing underwriter or agent, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing securities to be sold under such registration statement and enable such securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriter, or agent, if any, or such holders may request;

 

(xvii)       cooperate with each holder of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement and each underwriter or agent participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA;

 

(xviii)     use its commercially reasonable efforts to make available the executive officers of the Company to participate with the holders of Registrable Securities and any underwriters in any “road shows” or other selling efforts that may be reasonably requested by the holders in connection with the methods of distribution for the Registrable Securities;

 

(xix)         in the case of any underwritten offering, use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain one or more cold comfort letters from the Company’s independent public accountants in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by cold comfort letters as the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold reasonably request;

 

(xx)           in the case of any underwritten offering, use its commercially reasonable efforts to provide a legal opinion of the Company’s outside counsel, dated the effective date of such registration statement (and, if such registration includes an underwritten Public Offering, dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement), regarding such registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the prospectus included therein (including the preliminary prospectus) and such other documents relating thereto in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by legal opinions of such nature, which opinion shall be addressed to the underwriters and the holders of such Registrable Securities;

 

(xxi)         if the Company files an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement covering any Registrable Securities, use its commercially reasonable efforts to remain a WKSI (and not become an ineligible issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act)) during the period during which such Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is required to remain effective;

 

(xxii)       if the Company does not pay the filing fee covering the Registrable Securities at the time an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is filed, pay such fee at such time or times as the Registrable Securities are to be sold; and

 

(xxiii)     if the Automatic Shelf Registration Statement has been outstanding for at least three (3) years, at the end of the third year, refile a new Automatic Shelf Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities, and, if at any time when the Company is required to re-evaluate its WKSI status the Company determines that it is not a WKSI, use its commercially reasonable efforts to refile the Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 and, if such form is not available, Form S-1 and keep such registration statement effective during the period during which such registration statement is required to be kept effective.

 

(b)   Any officer of the Company who is a holder of Registrable Securities agrees that if and for so long as he or she is employed by the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, he or she shall participate fully in the sale process in a manner customary for persons in like positions and consistent with his or her other duties with the Company, including the preparation of the Shelf Registration Statement and the preparation and presentation of any road shows.

 

(c)    If the Company files any Automatic Shelf Registration Statement for the benefit of the holders of any of its securities other than the holders of Registrable Securities, and the holders of Registrable Securities do not request that their Registrable Securities be included in such Shelf Registration Statement, the Company agrees that, at the request of the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities, it shall include in such Automatic Shelf Registration Statement such disclosures as may be required by Rule 430B in order to ensure that the holders of Registrable Securities may be added to such Shelf Registration Statement at a later time through the filing of a prospectus supplement rather than a post-effective amendment.

 

(d)   The Company may require each seller of Registrable Securities as to which any registration is being effected to furnish the Company such information regarding such seller and the distribution of such securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing.

 

(e)    If Investor or any of its respective Affiliates seek to effectuate an in-kind distribution of all or part of their respective Registrable Securities to their respective direct or indirect equityholders, the Company shall, subject to any applicable lock-ups, work with the foregoing persons to facilitate such in-kind distribution in the manner reasonably requested.

 

Section 5.    Registration Expenses.

 

(a)    The Company’s Obligation. All expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with this Agreement (including, without limitation, all registration, qualification and filing fees, fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws, printing expenses, messenger and delivery expenses, fees and disbursements of custodians, and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and all independent certified public accountants, underwriters (excluding underwriting discounts and commissions) and other Persons retained by the Company) (all such expenses being herein called “Registration Expenses”), shall be borne as provided in this Agreement, except that the Company shall, in any event, pay its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit or quarterly review, the expense of any liability insurance and the expenses and fees for listing the securities to be registered on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed. Each Person that sells securities pursuant to a Shelf Offering or Piggyback Registration hereunder shall bear and pay all underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the securities sold for such Person’s account.

 

(b)   Counsel Fees and Disbursements. In connection with each Piggyback Registration and each Shelf Offering that is an Underwritten Offering, the Company shall reimburse the holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel chosen by the holders of a majority of the participating Registrable Securities.

 

(c)    Security Holders. To the extent Registration Expenses are not required to be paid by the Company, each holder of securities included in any registration or offering hereunder shall pay those Registration Expenses allocable to the registration or offering of such holder’s securities so included, and any Registration Expenses not so allocable shall be borne by all sellers of securities included in such registration or offering in proportion to the aggregate selling price of the securities to be so registered or sold.

 

Section 6.    Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a)    By the Company. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the extent permitted by law, each holder of Registrable Securities, such holder’s officers, directors employees, agents and representatives, and each Person who controls such holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) (the “Indemnified Parties”) against all losses, claims, actions, damages, liabilities and expenses (including with respect to actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, and including reasonable attorney fees and expenses) caused by, resulting from, arising out of, based upon or related to any of the following statements, omissions or violations (each a “Violation”) by the Company: (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in (A) any Shelf Registration Statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free-Writing Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or (B) any application or other document or communication (in this Section 6, collectively called an “application”) executed by or on behalf of the Company or based upon written information furnished by or on behalf of the Company filed in any jurisdiction in order to qualify any securities covered by such registration under the securities laws thereof, (ii) any omission or alleged omission of 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 Company of the Securities Act or any other similar federal or state securities laws or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any such registration, qualification or compliance. In addition, the Company will reimburse such Indemnified Party for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such losses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such losses result from, arise out of, are based upon, or relate to an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission, made in such registration statement, any such prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free-Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any application, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information prepared and furnished in writing to the Company by such Indemnified Party expressly for use therein or by such Indemnified Party’s failure to deliver a copy of such registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto after the Company has furnished such Indemnified Party with a sufficient number of copies of the same. In connection with an underwritten offering, the Company shall indemnify such underwriters, their officers and directors, and each Person who controls such underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Indemnified Parties.

 

(b)   By Each Security Holder. In connection with any registration statement in which a holder of Registrable Securities is participating, each such holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such registration statement or prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives, and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in such registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such holder; provided that the obligation to indemnify shall be individual, not joint and several, for each holder and shall be limited to the net amount of proceeds received by such holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement.

 

(c)    Claim Procedure. Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall impair any Person’s right to indemnification hereunder only to the extent such failure has prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. In such instance, the conflicted indemnified parties shall have a right to retain one separate counsel, chosen by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the registration if such holders are indemnified parties, at the expense of the indemnifying party.

 

(d)   Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 6 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to, or is insufficient to hold harmless, an indemnified party or is otherwise unenforceable with respect to any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to herein, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amounts paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided that the maximum amount of liability in respect of such contribution shall be limited, in the case of each seller of Registrable Securities, to an amount equal to the net proceeds actually received by such seller from the sale of Registrable Securities effected pursuant to such registration. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state 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. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just or equitable if the contribution pursuant to this Section 6(d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account such equitable considerations. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to herein shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending against any action or claim which is the subject hereof. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

(e)    Release. No indemnifying party shall, except with the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

 

(f)    Non-exclusive Remedy; Survival. The indemnification and contribution provided for under this Agreement shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution that any indemnified party may have pursuant to law or contract and shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling Person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of Registrable Securities and the termination or expiration of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.    Underwritten Offerings. No Person may participate in any registration hereunder which is underwritten unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Person or Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements (including, without limitation, pursuant to any over-allotment or “green shoe” option requested by the underwriters; provided that no holder of Registrable Securities shall be required to sell more than the number of Registrable Securities such holder has requested to include) and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, custody agreements, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements; provided that no holder of Registrable Securities included in any underwritten registration shall be required to make any representations or warranties to the Company or the underwriters (other than representations and warranties regarding such holder and such holder’s intended method of distribution) or to undertake any indemnification obligations to the Company or the underwriters with respect thereto that are materially more burdensome than those provided in Section 6. For the avoidance of doubt, each holder of Registrable Securities shall execute such powers of attorney or custody agreements as are requested by the managing underwriters, appointing as power of attorney or custodian such persons as reasonably requested by the holders of the majority of the Registrable Securities. Each holder of Registrable Securities shall execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Company and the lead managing underwriter(s) that are consistent with such holder’s obligations under Section 4 and this Section 7 or that are necessary to give further effect thereto. To the extent that any such agreement is entered into pursuant to, and consistent with, this Section 7, the respective rights and obligations created under such agreement shall supersede the respective rights and obligations of the holders, the Company and the underwriters created pursuant to this Section 7.

 

Section 8.    Current Public Information. At all times after the Company has filed a Shelf Registration Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the requirements of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, the Company shall file all reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall take such further action as any holder or holders of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required to enable such holders to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144. Upon request, the Company shall deliver to any holder of Restricted Securities a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

 

Section 9.    Subsidiary Public Offering. If the Company distributes securities of a Subsidiary to its equity holders, then the rights and obligations of the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to such Subsidiary, and the Company shall cause such Subsidiary to comply with such Subsidiary’s obligations under this Agreement.

 

Section 10.  Transfer of Registrable Securities.

 

(a)    Restrictions on Transfers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, except in the case of (i) a transfer to the Company, (ii) a transfer by any Investor to its limited partners or members, (iii) a Public Offering, (iv) a sale pursuant to Rule 144 or (v) a transfer in connection with a Sale of the Company, prior to transferring any Registrable Securities to any Person (including, without limitation, by operation of law), the transferring holder shall cause the prospective transferee to execute and deliver to the Company a Joinder agreeing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.

 

(b)   Legend. Each certificate evidencing any Registrable Securities and each certificate issued in exchange for or upon the transfer of any Registrable Securities (unless such Registrable Securities would no longer be Registrable Securities after such transfer) shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OTHER PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN A REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF _________ __, 2017 AMONG THE ISSUER OF SUCH SECURITIES (THE “COMPANY”) AND CERTAIN OF THE COMPANY’S STOCKHOLDERS, AS AMENDED. A COPY OF SUCH REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT WILL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE BY THE COMPANY TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.”

 

The Company shall imprint such legend on certificates evidencing Registrable Securities outstanding prior to the date hereof. The legend set forth above shall be removed from the certificates evidencing any securities that have ceased to be Registrable Securities.

 

Section 11. General Provisions.

 

(a)    Amendments and Waivers. Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Agreement may be amended, modified or waived only with the prior written consent of the Company and holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities. The failure or delay of any Person to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and shall not affect the right of such Person thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms. A waiver or consent to or of any breach or default by any Person in the performance by that Person of his, her or its obligations under this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by that Person of the same or any other obligations of that Person under this Agreement.

 

(b)   Remedies. The parties to this Agreement shall be entitled to enforce their rights under this Agreement specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages caused by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing in their favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that a breach of this Agreement would cause irreparable harm and money damages would not be an adequate remedy for any such breach and that, in addition to any other rights and remedies existing hereunder, any party shall be entitled to specific performance and/or other injunctive relief from any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction (without posting any bond or other security) in order to enforce or prevent violation of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(c)    Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited, invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or regulation in any jurisdiction, such prohibition, invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement in such jurisdiction or in any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such prohibited, invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

 

(d)   Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement contains the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.

 

(e)    Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit and be enforceable by the Company and its successors and assigns and the holders of Registrable Securities and their respective successors and permitted assigns (whether so expressed or not). In addition, whether or not any express assignment has been made, the provisions of this Agreement which are for the benefit of purchasers or holders of Registrable Securities are also for the benefit of, and enforceable by, any subsequent holder of Registrable Securities.

 

(f)    Notices. Any notice, demand or other communication to be given under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given (i) when delivered personally to the recipient, (ii) when sent by confirmed electronic mail or facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient; but if not, then on the next Business Day, (iii) one Business Day after it is sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) or (iv) three Business Days after it is mailed to the recipient by first class mail, return receipt requested. Such notices, demands and other communications shall be sent to the Company and to any holder of Registrable Securities at the addresses specified below or at such address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Any party may change such party’s address for receipt of notice by giving prior written notice of the change to the sending party as provided herein.

 

To the Company:

 

Sterling Construction Company, Inc.

1800 Hughes Landing Blvd.

The Woodlands, Texas 77380

Attn: Chief Financial Officer

 

With a copy to:

 

Andrews Kurth Kenyon LLP

600 Travis, Suite 4200

Houston, TX 77002

Attention: Scott Olson

Phone: (713) 220-4764

Email: ***@***

 

To the Investors:

 

OCM Sterling E Holdings, LLC and OCM Sterling E Holdings, LLC

c/o Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.

333 South Grand Avenue, 28th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: Nicholas Basso

Phone: (213) 830-6805

Email: ***@***

 

With a copy to:

 

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

333 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: Damon R. Fisher, P.C.

Email: ***@***

 

or to such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party.

 

(g)   Business Days. If any time period for giving notice or taking action hereunder expires on a day that is not a Business Day, the time period shall automatically be extended to the Business Day immediately following such Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday.

 

(h)   Governing Law. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforcement of this Agreement and the exhibits and schedules hereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.

 

(i)     MUTUAL WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. AS A SPECIFICALLY BARGAINED FOR INDUCEMENT FOR EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT (AFTER HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL), EACH PARTY HERETO EXPRESSLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LAWSUIT OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO OR ARISING IN ANY WAY FROM THIS AGREEMENT OR THE MATTERS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

(j)     CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH OF THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, FOR THE PURPOSES OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO FURTHER AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ANY PROCESS, SUMMONS, NOTICE OR DOCUMENT BY U.S. REGISTERED MAIL TO SUCH PARTY’S RESPECTIVE ADDRESS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL BE EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS FOR ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTERS TO WHICH IT HAS SUBMITTED TO JURISDICTION IN THIS PARAGRAPH. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND HEREBY AND THEREBY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH COURT THAT ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

 

(k)   No Recourse. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company and each holder of Registrable Securities agrees and acknowledges that no recourse under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement, shall be had against any current or future director, officer, employee, general or limited partner or member of any holder of Registrable Securities or of any Affiliate or assignee thereof, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other applicable law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any current or future officer, agent or employee of any holder of Registrable Securities or any current or future member of any holder of Registrable Securities or any current or future director, officer, employee, partner or member of any holder of Registrable Securities or of any Affiliate or assignee thereof, as such for any obligation of any holder of Registrable Securities under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation.

 

(l)     Descriptive Headings; Interpretation. The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement. The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation.

 

(m) No Strict Construction. The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.

 

(n)   Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, any one of which need not contain the signature of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

(o)   Electronic Delivery. This Agreement, the agreements referred to herein, and each other agreement or instrument entered into in connection herewith or therewith or contemplated hereby or thereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent executed and delivered by means of a photographic, photostatic, facsimile or similar reproduction of such signed writing using a facsimile machine or electronic mail shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of a facsimile machine or electronic mail to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine or electronic mail as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.

 

(p)   Further Assurances. In connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, each holder of Registrable Securities shall execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and perform the provisions of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(q)   No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company shall not hereafter enter into any agreement with respect to its securities which is inconsistent with or violates the rights granted to the holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement.

 

 

 

* * * * *

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

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