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EXHIBIT 10.9
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF APRIL 17, 1997
AMONG
PACKAGED ICE, INC.,
AND
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AND ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page
Section 1. Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Section 2. Registration Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.1 (a) Demand Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
(b) Effective Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
(c) Restrictions on Sale by Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
(d) Underwritten Registrations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
(e) Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
(f) Priority in Demand Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.2 (a) Piggy-Back Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
(b) Priority in Piggyback Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.3 Limitations, Conditions and Qualifications to Obligations Under Registration
Covenants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.4 Restrictions on Sale by the Company and Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.5 Rule 144 and Rule 144A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Section 3. Registration Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Section 4. Indemnification and Contribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Section 5. Miscellaneous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
(b) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
(c) Amendments and Waivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
(d) Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
(e) Successors and Assigns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
(f) Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
(g) Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
(h) GOVERNING LAW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
(i) Severability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
(j) Third Party Beneficiary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
(k) Entire Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
(l) Securities Held by the Company or Its Affiliates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of April 17, 1997, among PACKAGED ICE, INC., a Texas
corporation (the "Company"), ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Investors").
This Agreement is entered into in connection with the Agreement and
Plan of Merger by and among Southwestern Ice, Inc., an Arizona Corporation, the
shareholders of Southwestern Ice, Inc., Packaged Ice Southwestern, Inc., a
Texas corporation and the Company, dated March 25, 1997 (the "Merger
Agreement").
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
Section 1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the
following defined terms shall have the following meanings:
"Advice" has the meaning ascribed to such term in the last
paragraph of Section 3 hereof.
"Business Day" shall mean a day that is not a Legal Holiday.
"Common Stock" shall mean the shares of common stock, par value
$.01 per share, of the Company.
"Demand Registration" has the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 2.1(a) hereof.
"Demand Right Holders" means persons with "demand" registration
rights pursuant to a contractual commitment of the Company.
"DTC" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(i)
hereof.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended from time to time and the rules and regulations of the SEC
promulgated thereunder.
"Holder" means each individual Investor, for so long as he or she
owns any of the Registrable Securities, and each of his and her
successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become
registered owners of such Registrable Securities.
"Included Securities" has the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 2.1(a) hereof.
"Indemnified Party" has the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 4(c) hereof.
"Indemnifying Party" has the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 4(c) hereof.
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"Inspectors" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(n)
hereof.
"Investor" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the preamble
of this Agreement.
"Legal Holiday" shall mean a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which
banking institutions in New York, New York are required by law,
regulation or executive order to remain closed.
"Merger Agreement" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the
preamble of this Agreement.
"Person" shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, trust
or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political
subdivision thereof.
"Piggy-Back Registration" has the meaning ascribed to such term
in Section 2.2 hereof.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in any Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, any prospectus subject to
completion and 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, 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.
"Public Equity Offering" means an underwritten offer and sale of
capital stock of the Company pursuant to a registration statement that
has been declared effective by the Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act (other than a registration statement on Form S-8 or
otherwise relating to equity securities issuable under any employee
benefit plan of the Company).
"Registrable Securities" means the Common Stock issued to the
Investors pursuant to the Merger Agreement and any other securities
issued or issuable with respect to any shares of such Common Stock by
way of stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a
combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or
other reorganization or otherwise. As to any particular Registrable
Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities
when (i) a Registration Statement with respect to the offering of such
securities by the Holder thereof shall have been declared effective
under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been disposed
of by such Holder pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) such
securities are eligible for sale to the public pursuant to Rule 144(k)
(or any similar provision then in force, but not Rule 144A)
promulgated under the Securities Act, (iii) such securities shall have
been otherwise transferred by such Holder and new certificates for
such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer
shall have been delivered by the Company or its transfer agent and
subsequent disposition of such securities shall not require
registration or qualification under the Securities Act or any similar
state law then in force or (iv) such securities shall have ceased to
be outstanding.
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"Registration Expenses" shall mean all expenses incident to the
Company's performance of or compliance with its obligations, under
this Agreement, including, without limitation, all SEC and stock
exchange or National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
registration and filing fees and expenses, fees and expenses of
compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including, without
limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the
underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of the
Registrable Securities), preparing, printing, filing, duplicating and
distributing the Registration Statement and the related Prospectus,
the cost of printing stock certificates, the cost and charges of any
transfer agent, rating agency fees, printing expenses, messenger,
telephone and delivery expenses, fees and disbursements of counsel for
the Company and all independent certified public accountants, the fees
and disbursements of underwriters customarily paid by issuers or
sellers of securities (but not including any underwriting discounts or
commissions or transfer taxes, if any, attributable to the sale of
Registrable Securities by Selling Holders), fees and expenses of one
counsel for the Holders and other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of
the Holders.
"Registration Statement" shall mean any appropriate registration
statement of the Company filed with the SEC pursuant to the Securities
Act which covers any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement and all amendments and supplements to any
such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, in
each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits
thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.
"Requisite Securities" shall mean a number of Registrable
Securities equal to not less than 25% of the Registrable Securities
held in the aggregate by all Holders.
"Rule 144" shall mean Rule 144 promulgated under the
Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule (other than Rule 144A) or regulation hereafter adopted by
the SEC providing for offers and sales of securities made in
compliance therewith resulting in offers and sales by subsequent
holders that are not affiliates of an issuer of such securities being
free of the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act.
"SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended from time to time and the rules and regulations of the SEC
promulgated thereunder.
"Selling Holder" shall mean a Holder who is selling
Registrable Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section
2.1 or 2.2 hereof.
"Withdrawal Election" has the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 2.2(b) hereof.
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Section 2. Registration Rights.
2.1 (a) Demand Registration. From time to time, after 180
days following the completion by the Company of a Public Equity Offering,
Holders owning, individually or in the aggregate, not less than the Requisite
Securities may make a written request for registration under the Securities Act
of their Registrable Securities (a "Demand Registration"). Within 120 days of
the receipt of such written request for a Demand Registration, the Company
shall file with the SEC and use its best efforts to cause to become effective
under the Securities Act a Registration Statement with respect to such
Registrable Securities. Any such request will specify the number of
Registrable Securities proposed to be sold and will also specify the intended
method of disposition thereof. The Company shall give written notice of such
registration request to all other Holders of Registrable Securities within 15
days after the receipt thereof. Within 20 days after notice of such
registration request by the Company, any Holder may request in writing that
such Holder's Registrable Securities be included in such Registration Statement
and the Company shall include in such Registration Statement the Registrable
Securities of any such Holder requested to be so included (the "Included
Securities"). Each such request by such other Holders shall specify the number
of Included Securities proposed to be sold and the intended method of
disposition thereof. Subject to Section 2.1(b) hereof, the Company shall be
required to register Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 2.1(a) on
a maximum of two separate occasions.
Subject to Section 2.1(f) hereof, no other securities of the
Company except securities held by any Holder, any Demand Right Holder, and any
Person entitled to exercise "piggy back" registration rights pursuant to
contractual commitments of the Company shall be included in a Demand
Registration.
(b) Effective Registration. A Registration Statement
will not be deemed to have been effected as a Demand Registration unless it has
been declared effective by the SEC and the Company has complied in a timely
manner and in all material respects with all of its obligations under this
Agreement with respect thereto; provided, however, that if, after such
Registration Statement has become effective, the offering of Registrable
Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement is or becomes the subject of
any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any
other governmental or administrative agency or court that prevents, restrains
or otherwise limits the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement for any reason not attributable to any Holder
participating in such registration and such Registration Statement has not
become effective within a reasonable time period thereafter (not to exceed 60
days), such Registration Statement will be deemed not to have been effected.
If (i) a registration requested pursuant to this Section 2.1 is deemed not to
have been effected or (ii) a Demand Registration does not remain effective
under the Securities Act until at least the earlier of (A) an aggregate of 90
days after the effective date thereof or (B) the consummation of the
distribution by the Holders of all of the Registrable Securities covered
thereby, then the Company shall continue to be obligated to effect an
additional Demand Registration pursuant to this Section 2.1 provided, that a
Demand Registration shall not be counted as such unless the Selling Holders
have sold at least 80% of the Registrable Securities covered thereby. For
purposes of calculating the 90-day period referred to in the preceding
sentence, any period of time during which such Registration Statement was not
in effect shall be excluded. The Holders of Registrable Securities shall be
permitted to withdraw all
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or any part of the Registrable Securities from a Demand Registration at any
time prior to the effective date of such Demand Registration.
(c) Restrictions on Sale by Holders. Each Holder of
Registrable Securities whose Registrable Securities are covered by a
Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.1 and are to be sold
thereunder agrees, if and to the extent reasonably requested by the managing
underwriter or underwriters in an underwritten offering, not to effect any
public sale or distribution of Registrable Securities or of securities of the
Company of the same class as any securities included in such Registration
Statement, including a sale pursuant to Rule 144 (except as part of such
underwritten offering), during the 30-day period prior to, and during the
120-day period beginning on, the closing date of each underwritten offering
made pursuant to such Registration Statement, to the extent timely notified in
writing by the Company or such managing underwriter or underwriters.
The foregoing provisions of Section 2.1(c) shall not apply to
any Holder of Registrable Securities if such Holder is prevented by applicable
statute or regulation from entering into any such agreement; provided, however,
that any such Holder shall undertake, in its request to participate in any such
underwritten offering, not to effect any such public sale or distribution of
Registrable Securities or of securities of the Company of the same class as any
securities included in such Registration Statement, including a sale pursuant
to Rule 144 (except as part of such underwritten offering) during such period,
unless it has provided 45 days' prior written notice of such sale or
distribution to the underwriter or underwriters.
(d) Underwritten Registrations. If any of the
Registrable Securities covered by a Demand Registration are to be sold in an
underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager
or managers that will manage the offering will be selected by the Holders of
not less than a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding to be
sold thereunder and will be reasonably acceptable to the Company.
No Holder of Registrable Securities may participate in any
underwritten registration pursuant to a Registration Statement filed under this
Agreement unless such Holder (a) agrees to (i) sell such Holder's Registrable
Securities on the basis provided in and in compliance with any underwriting
arrangements approved by the Holders of not less than a majority of the
Registrable Securities to be sold thereunder and (ii) comply with Rules 10b-6
and 10b-7 under the Exchange Act and (b) completes and executes all
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and
other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting
arrangements.
(e) Expenses. The Company will pay all Registration
Expenses in connection with the registrations requested pursuant to Section
2.1(a) hereof. Each Holder of Registrable Securities shall pay all
underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to
the sale or disposition of such Holder's Registrable Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement requested pursuant to this Section 2.1.
(f) Priority in Demand Registration. In a registration
pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof involving an underwritten offering, if the
managing underwriter or underwriters of such
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underwritten offering have informed, in writing, the Company and the Selling
Holders who have requested such Demand Registration or who have sought
inclusion therein that in such underwriter's or underwriters' opinion the total
number of securities which the Selling Holders and any other Person desiring to
participate in such registration intend to include in such offering is such as
to adversely affect the success of such offering, including the price at which
such securities can be sold, then the Company will be required to include in
such registration only the amount of securities which it is so advised should
be included in such registration. In such event securities shall be registered
in such registration in the following order of priority: (i) first, the
securities which have been requested to be included in such registration by the
Holders of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement and the Demand
Right Holders (pro rata based on the amount of securities sought to be
registered by such Persons), (ii) second, provided that no securities sought to
be included by the Holders and the Demand Right Holders have been excluded from
such registration, the securities of other Persons entitled to exercise
"piggy-back" registration rights pursuant to contractual commitments of the
Company (pro rata based on the amount of securities sought to be registered by
such Persons) and (iii) third, securities the Company proposes to register.
2.2 (a) Piggy-Back Registration. If at any time
after the Company has completed a Public Equity Offering, the Company proposes
to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an
offering by the Company for its own account or for the account of any of its
securityholders of any class of its Common Stock in a firmly underwritten
Public Equity Offering (other than (i) a Registration Statement on Form S-4 or
S-8 (or any substitute form that may be adopted by the SEC) or (ii) a
Registration Statement filed in connection with an exchange offer or offering
of securities solely to the Company's existing securityholders), then the
Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to the Holders of
Registrable Securities as soon as practicable (but in no event fewer than 20
days before the anticipated filing date), and such notice shall offer such
Holders the opportunity to register such number of shares of Registrable
Securities as each such Holder may request in writing within 30 days after
receipt of such written notice from the Company (which request shall specify
the Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such Selling Holder (a
"Piggy-Back Registration"). The Company shall use its best efforts to keep
such Piggy-Back Registration continuously effective under the Securities Act
until at least the earlier of (A) an aggregate of 90 days after the effective
date thereof or (B) the consummation of the distribution by the Holders of all
of the Registrable Securities covered thereby. The Company shall use its best
efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or underwriters, if any, of such
proposed offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested to be included
in a Piggy-Back Registration to be included on the same terms and conditions as
any similar securities of the Company or any other securityholder included
therein and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable
Securities in accordance with the intended method of distribution thereof. Any
Selling Holder shall have the right to withdraw its request for inclusion of
its Registrable Securities in any Registration Statement pursuant to this
Section 2.2 by giving written notice to the Company of its request to withdraw.
The Company may withdraw a Piggy-Back Registration at any time prior to the
time it becomes effective or the Company may elect to delay the registration;
provided, however, that the Company shall give prompt written notice thereof to
participating Selling Holders. The Company will pay all Registration Expenses
in connection with each registration of Registrable Securities requested
pursuant to this Section 2.2, and each Holder of Registrable Securities shall
pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any,
relating to the sale or disposition
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of such Holder's Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement
effected pursuant to this Section 2.2.
No registration effected under this Section 2.2, and no
failure to effect a registration under this Section 2.2, shall relieve the
Company of its obligation to effect a registration upon the request of Holders
of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, and no failure to
effect a registration under this Section 2.2 and to complete the sale of
securities registered thereunder in connection therewith shall relieve the
Company of any other obligation under this Agreement.
(b) Priority in Piggyback Registration. In a
registration pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof involving an underwritten offering,
if the managing underwriter or underwriters of such underwritten offering have
informed, in writing, the Company and the Selling Holders requesting inclusion
in such offering that in such underwriter's or underwriters' opinion the total
number of securities which the Company, the Selling Holders and any other
Persons desiring to participate in such registration intend to include in such
offering is such as to adversely affect the success of such offering, including
the price at which such securities can be sold, then the Company will be
required to include in such registration only the amount of securities which it
is so advised should be included in such registration. In such event: (x) in
cases initially involving the registration for sale of securities for the
Company's own account, securities shall be registered in such offering in the
following order of priority: (i) first, the securities which the Company
proposes to register, and (ii) second, the securities which have been
requested to be included in such registration by Persons entitled to exercise
"piggy-back" registration rights pursuant to contractual commitments of the
Company (pro rata on the amount of securities sought to be registered by such
Persons); and (y) in cases not initially involving the registration for sale of
securities for the Company's own account, securities shall be registered in
such offering in the following order of priority: (i) first, the securities of
any Person whose exercise of a "demand" registration right pursuant to a
contractual commitment of the Company is the basis for the registration
(provided that if such Person is a Holder of Registrable Securities, as among
Holders of Registrable Securities there shall be no priority and Registrable
Securities sought to be included by Holders of Registrable Securities shall be
included pro rata based on the amount of securities sought to be registered by
such Persons), (ii) second, securities of other persons entitled to exercise
"piggy-back" registration rights pursuant to contractual commitments (pro rata
based on the amount of securities sought to be registered by such persons) and
(iii) third, the securities which the Company proposes to register.
If, as a result of the provisions of this Section 2.2(b), any
Selling Holder shall not be entitled to include all Registrable Securities in a
Piggy-Back Registration that such Selling Holder has requested to be included,
such Selling Holder may elect to withdraw his request to include Registrable
Securities in such registration (a "Withdrawal Election"); provided, however,
that a Withdrawal Election shall be irrevocable and, after making a Withdrawal
Election, a Selling Holder shall no longer have any right to include
Registrable Securities in the registration as to which such Withdrawal Election
was made.
2.3 Limitations, Conditions and Qualifications to
Obligations Under Registration Covenants. The obligations of the Company set
forth in Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof are subject to each of the following
limitations, conditions and qualifications:
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(i) Subject to the next sentence of this paragraph, the
Company shall be entitled to postpone, for a reasonable period of time, the
filing or effectiveness of, or suspend the rights of any Holders to make sales
pursuant to, any Registration Statement otherwise required to be prepared,
filed and made and kept effective by it hereunder; provided, however, that the
duration of such postponement or suspension may not exceed the earlier to occur
of (A) 15 days after the cessation of the circumstances described in the next
sentence of this paragraph on which such postponement or suspension is based or
(B) 120 days after the date of the determination of the Board of Directors
referred to in the next sentence, and the duration of any such postponement or
suspension shall be excluded from the calculation of the 90-day period
described in Section 2.1(b) hereof. Such postponement or suspension may only
be effected if the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith
that the filing or effectiveness of, or sales pursuant to, such Registration
Statement would materially impede, delay or interfere with any financing, offer
or sale of securities, acquisition, corporate reorganization or other
significant transaction involving the Company or any of its affiliates (whether
or not planned, proposed or authorized prior to an exercise of demand
registration rights hereunder or any other registration rights agreement) or
require disclosure of material information which the Company has a bona fide
business purpose for preserving as confidential. If the Company shall so
postpone the filing or effectiveness of a Registration Statement or so suspend
the rights of Holders to make sales it shall, as promptly as possible, notify
any Selling Holders of such determination, and the Selling Holders shall (y)
have the right, in the case of a postponement of the filing or effectiveness of
a Registration Statement, upon the affirmative vote of the Holders of not less
than a majority of the Registrable Securities to be included in such
Registration Statement, to withdraw the request for registration by giving
written notice to the Company within 10 days after receipt of such notice or
(z) in the case of a suspension of the right to make sales, receive an
extension of the registration period equal to the number of days of the
suspension. Any Demand Registration as to which the withdrawal election
referred to in the preceding sentence has been effected shall not be counted
for purposes of the two Demand Registrations the Company is required to effect
pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof.
(ii) The Company shall not be required by this Agreement
to include securities in a Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.2
hereof if (i) in the written opinion of counsel to the Company, addressed to
the Holders and delivered to them, the Holders of such securities seeking
registration would be free to sell all such securities within the current
calendar quarter, without registration, under Rule 144, which opinion may be
based in part upon the representation by such Holders, which representation
shall not be unreasonably withheld, that each such Holder is not an affiliate
of the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and (ii) all
requirements under the Securities Act for effecting such sales are satisfied at
such time.
(iii) The Company's obligations shall be subject to the
obligations of the Selling Holders, which the Selling Holders acknowledge, to
furnish all information and materials and to take any and all actions as may be
required under applicable federal and state securities laws and regulations to
permit the Company to comply with all applicable requirements of the SEC and to
obtain any acceleration of the effective date of such Registration Statement.
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(iv) The Company shall not be obligated to cause any
special audit to be undertaken in connection with any registration pursuant to
this Agreement unless such audit is requested by the underwriters with respect
to such registration.
2.4 Restrictions on Sale by the Company and Others. The
Company covenants and agrees that it shall not, and that it shall not cause or
permit any of its subsidiaries to, effect any public sale or distribution of
any securities of the same class as any of the Registrable Securities or any
securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such securities
(or any option or other right for such securities) during the 30-day period
prior to, and during the 90-day period beginning on, the commencement of any
underwritten offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Demand
Registration which has been requested pursuant to this Agreement, or a
Piggy-Back Registration.
2.5 Rule 144. The Company covenants that it will 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 in a
timely manner and, if at any time the Company is not required to file such
reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of Registrable Securities,
make publicly available other information so long as necessary to permit sales
pursuant to Rule 144. Upon the request of any Holder of Registrable
Securities, the Company will in a timely manner deliver to such Holder a
written statement as to whether it has complied with such information
requirements.
Section 3. Registration Procedures. In connection with the
obligations of the Company with respect to any Registration Statement pursuant
to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof, the Company shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the SEC as soon as practicable
each such Registration Statement (but in any event on or prior to the
date of filing thereof required under this Agreement) and cause each
such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective
as provided herein; provided, however, that before filing any such
Registration Statement or any Prospectus or any amendments or
supplements thereto (including documents that would be incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, including such
documents filed under the Exchange Act that would be incorporated
therein by reference), the Company shall afford promptly to the
Holders of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration
Statement, their counsel and the managing underwriter or underwriters,
if any, an opportunity to review copies of all such documents proposed
to be filed a reasonable time prior to the proposed filing thereof.
The Company shall not file any Registration Statement or Prospectus or
any amendments or supplements thereto if the Holders of a majority of
the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement,
their counsel, or the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any,
shall reasonably object in writing unless failure to file any such
amendment or supplement would involve a violation of the Securities
Act or other applicable law.
(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective
for the time periods prescribed hereby; cause the related
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Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement,
and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any
similar provisions then in force) promulgated under the Securities
Act; and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated
thereunder applicable to it with respect to the disposition of all
securities covered by such Registration Statement as so amended or
such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities, their
counsel and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, promptly
(but in any event within two (2) Business Days), and confirm such
notice in writing, (i) when a Prospectus or any prospectus supplement
or post-effective amendment has been filed, and, with respect to a
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same
has become effective (including in such notice a written statement
that any Holder may, upon request, obtain, without charge, one
conformed copy of such Registration Statement or post-effective
amendment including financial statements and schedules and exhibits),
(ii) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of such Registration Statement or of any order
preventing or suspending the use of any Prospectus or the initiation
or threatening of any proceedings for that purpose, (iii) if at any
time when a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be
delivered in connection with sales of the Registrable Securities the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in any
agreement (including any underwriting agreement) contemplated by
Section 3(m) below cease to be true and correct in any material
respect, (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
respect to (A) the suspension of the qualification or exemption from
qualification of the Registration Statement or any of the Registrable
Securities covered thereby for offer or sale in any jurisdiction, or
(B) the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the
happening of any event, the existence of any condition or information
becoming known that requires the making of any change in any
Registration Statement or Prospectus so that, in the case of such
Registration Statement, it will conform in all material respects with
the requirements of the Securities Act and it will not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, and that in the case of any Prospectus, it
will conform in all material respects with the requirements of the
Securities Act and it will not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (vi) of
the Company's reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment
to such Registration Statement would be appropriate.
(d) Use every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance
of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of a
Prospectus or suspending the qualification (or exemption from
qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities covered thereby
for sale in any jurisdiction, and, if any such order is issued, to
obtain the withdrawal of any such order at the earliest possible
moment.
(e) If requested by the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, or the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities being sold in connection with an
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underwriting offering, (i) promptly incorporate in a prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the
managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or such Holders
reasonably request to be included therein to comply with applicable
law, (ii) make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or
such post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company
has received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such
prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment, and (iii)
supplement or make amendments to such Registration Statement.
(f) Furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities who
so requests and to counsel for the Holders of Registrable Securities
and each managing underwriter, if any, without charge, upon request,
one conformed copy of the Registration Statement and each
post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and
schedules, and of all documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits (including exhibits
incorporated by reference).
(g) Deliver to each Holder of Registrable Securities,
their counsel and each underwriter, if any, without charge, as many
copies of each Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto as
such Persons may reasonably request; and, subject to the last
paragraph of this Section 3, the Company hereby consents to the use of
such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of
the Holders of Registrable Securities and the underwriter or
underwriters or agents, if any, in connection with the offering and
sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any
amendment or supplement thereto.
(h) Prior to any offering of Registrable Securities, to
register or qualify, and cooperate with the Holders of such
Registrable Securities, the managing underwriter or underwriters, if
any, and their respective counsel in connection with the registration
or qualification (or exemption from such registration or
qualification) of, such Registrable Securities for offer and sale
under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the
United States as the managing underwriter or underwriters reasonably
request in writing, or, in the event of a non-underwritten offering,
as the Holders of a majority of such Registrable Securities may
request; provided, however, that where Registrable Securities are
offered other than through an underwritten offering, the Company
agrees to cause its counsel to perform Blue Sky investigations and
file registrations and qualifications required to be filed pursuant to
this Section 3(h); keep each such registration or qualification (or
exemption therefrom) effective during the period the Registration
Statement relating to such Registrable Securities is required to be
kept effective pursuant to this Agreement and do any and all other
acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in
such jurisdictions of the securities covered thereby; provided,
however, that the Company will not be required to (A) qualify
generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so
qualified, (B) take any action that would subject it to general
service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so
subject or (C) become subject to taxation in any jurisdiction where it
is not then so subject.
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(i) Cooperate with the Holders of Registrable Securities
and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, to facilitate
the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing
Registrable Securities to be sold, which certificates shall not bear
any restrictive legends whatsoever and shall be in a form eligible for
deposit with The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"); and enable such
Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in
such names as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or
Holders may reasonably request at least two business days prior to any
sale of Registrable Securities in a firm commitment underwritten
public offering.
(j) Use its best efforts to cause the Registrable
Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be registered with
or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities within
the United States as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers
thereof or the underwriter or underwriters, if any, to consummate the
disposition of such Registrable Securities, except as may be required
solely as a consequence of the nature of such selling Holder's
business, in which case the Company will cooperate in all reasonable
respects with the filing of the Registration Statement and the
granting of such approvals.
(k) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by
Section 3(c)(v) or 3(c)(vi) above, as promptly as practicable prepare
a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement
or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated
or deemed to be 'incorporated therein by reference, and, subject to
Section 3(a) hereof, file such with the SEC so that, as thereafter
delivered to the purchasers of Registrable Securities being sold
thereunder, such Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and will
otherwise comply with law.
(l) Prior to the effective date of a Registration
Statement, (i) provide the registrar for the Registrable Securities
with certificates for such securities in a form eligible for deposit
with DTC and (ii) provide a CUSIP number for such securities.
(m) Enter into an underwriting agreement in form, scope
and substance as is customary in underwritten offerings and take all
such other actions as are reasonably requested by the managing
underwriter or underwriters in order to expedite or facilitate the
registration or disposition of such Registrable Securities in any
underwritten offering to be made of the Registrable Securities in
accordance with this Agreement, and in such connection, (i) make such
representations and warranties to, and covenants with, the underwriter
or underwriters, with respect to the business of the Company and the
subsidiaries of the Company, and the Registration Statement,
Prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference therein, in each case, in form, substance
and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in
underwritten offerings, and confirm the same if and when requested:
(ii) use reasonable efforts to obtain opinions of counsel to the
Company and updates thereof, addressed to the underwriter or
underwriters covering the matters customarily covered in opinions
requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be
reasonably requested by underwriters; (iii) use
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reasonable efforts to obtain "cold comfort letters and updates thereof
from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and,
if applicable, the subsidiaries of the Company) and, if necessary, any
other independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of
the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for which
financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be,
included in the Registration Statement, addressed to each of the
underwriters, such letters to be in customary form and covering
matters of the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in
connection with underwritten offerings and such other matters as
reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters and
as permitted by the Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72; and (iv)
if an underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall contain
customary indemnification provisions and procedures no less favorable
than those set forth in Section 5 (or such other provisions and
procedures acceptable to Holders of a majority of Registrable
Securities covered by such Registration Statement and the managing
underwriter or underwriters or agents) with respect to all parties to
be indemnified pursuant to said Section. The above shall be done at
each closing under such underwriting agreement, or as and to the
extent required thereunder.
(n) Make available for inspection by a representative of
the Holders of Registrable Securities being sold, any underwriter
participating in any such disposition of Registrable Securities, if
any, and any attorney or accountant retained by such representative of
the Holders or underwriter (collectively, the "Inspectors"), at the
offices where normally kept, during reasonable business hours, all
financial and other records and pertinent corporate documents of the
Company and the subsidiaries of the Company, and cause the officers,
directors and employees of the Company and the subsidiaries of the
Company to supply all information in each case reasonably requested by
any such Inspector in connection with such Registration Statement;
provided, however, that all information shall be kept confidential by
such Inspector, except to the extent that (i) the disclosure of such
information is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or
omission in the Registration Statement, (ii) the release of such
information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a
court of competent jurisdiction, (iii) disclosure of such information
is, in the opinion of counsel for any Inspector, necessary or
advisable in connection with any action, claim, suit or proceeding,
directly or indirectly, involving or potentially involving such
Inspector and arising out of, based upon, relating to or involving
this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or
arising hereunder, or (iv) such information has been made generally
available to the public. Each Selling Holder of such Registrable
Securities agrees that information obtained by it as a result of such
inspections shall be deemed confidential and shall not be used by it
as the basis for any market transactions in the securities of the
Company or of any of its affiliates unless and until such is generally
available to the public. Each Selling Holder of such Registrable
Securities further agrees that it will, upon learning that disclosure
of such information is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction,
give prompt notice to the Company and allow the Company to undertake
appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the information deemed
confidential at the Company's sole expense.
(o) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of
the SEC and make generally available to its securityholders earnings
statements satisfying the provisions of
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Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any
similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act) no later than
forty-five (45) days after the end of any 12-month period (or ninety
(90) days after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a
fiscal year) (i) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which
Registrable Securities are sold to an underwriter or to underwriters
in a firm commitment or best efforts underwritten offering and (ii) if
not sold to an underwriter or to underwriters in such an offering,
commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company
after the effective date of the relevant Registration Statement, which
statements shall cover said 12-month periods.
(p) Use its best efforts to cause all Registrable
Securities relating to such Registration Statement to be listed on
each securities exchange, if any, on which similar securities issued
by the Company are then listed.
(q) Cooperate with the Selling Holders of Registrable
Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not
bearing any restrictive legends and registered in such names as the
Selling Holders may reasonably request at least two business days
prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities.
Each seller of Registrable Securities as to which any
registration is being effected agrees, as a condition to the registration
obligations with respect to such Holder provided herein, to furnish to the
Company such information regarding such seller and the distribution of such
Registrable Securities as the Company may, from time to time, reasonably
request in writing to comply with the Securities Act and other applicable law.
The Company may exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of
any seller who fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after
receiving such request. If the identity of a seller of Registrable Securities
is to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, such seller shall be
permitted to include all information regarding such seller as it shall
reasonably request.
Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees by acquisition of
such Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company
of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(c)(ii),
3(c)(iv), 3(c)(v), or 3(c)(vi) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue
disposition of such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration
Statement or Prospectus until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(k) hereof), or
until it is advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of
the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any
amendments or supplements thereto, and, if so directed by the Company, such
Holder will deliver to the Company all copies, other than permanent file
copies, then in such Holder's possession, of the Prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice. In the
event the Company shall give any such notice, the period of time for which a
Registration Statement is required hereunder to be effective shall be extended
by the number of days during such periods from and including the date of the
giving of such notice to and including the date when each seller of Registrable
Securities covered by such Registration Statement shall have received (x) the
copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(k)
hereof or (y) the Advice.
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Section 4. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder and each Person, if any, who
controls such Holder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities
Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, or is under common control with, or is
controlled by, such Holder, from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, the reasonable legal
fees and other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred in
connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted), caused
by, arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement (as
amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or
supplements thereto) or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus (as amended or
supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements
thereto) or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state in any such
Prospectus a material fact required to be stated or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities
are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement
or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating
to any Holder furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for
use therein; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable if such
untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission was
contained or made in any preliminary prospectus and corrected in the Prospectus
or any amendment or supplement thereto and the Prospectus does not contain any
other untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission of a
material fact that was the subject matter of the related proceeding and any
such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense suffered or incurred by the
Holders resulted from any action, claim or suit by any Person who purchased
Registrable Securities which are the subject thereof from such Holder and it is
established in the related proceeding that such Holder failed to deliver or
provide a copy of the Prospectus (as mended or supplemented) to such Person
with or prior to the confirmation of the sale of such Registrable Securities
sold to such Person if required by applicable law, unless such failure to
deliver or provide a copy of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented was a
result of noncompliance by the Company with Section 5 of this Agreement.
(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign
any Registration Statement, and each Person, if any, who controls the Company
within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of
the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company
to such Holder, but only with reference to information relating to such Holder
furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for use in any
Registration Statement or any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto) or any preliminary prospectus. The liability of any Holder under this
paragraph shall in no event exceed the proceeds received by such Holder from
sales of Registrable Securities giving rise to such obligations.
(c) In case any suit, action, proceeding (including any
governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be instituted
involving any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to
either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such Person (the "Indemnified Party") shall
promptly notify the Person against which such indemnity may be sought
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(the "Indemnifying Party") in writing and the Indemnifying Party, upon request
of the Indemnified Party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Party to represent the Indemnified Party and any others the
Indemnifying Party may reasonably designate in such proceeding and shall pay
the reasonable fees and expenses actually incurred of such counsel relating to
such proceeding; provided, however, that the failure to so notify the
Indemnifying Party shall not relieve it of any obligation or liability which it
may have hereunder or otherwise (unless and only to the extent that such
failure directly results in the loss or compromise of any material rights or
defenses by such Indemnifying Party and such Indemnifying Party was not
otherwise aware of such action or claim). In any such proceeding, any
Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party
unless (i) the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall have mutually
agreed in writing to the contrary, (ii) the Indemnifying Party shall have
failed to retain within a reasonable period of time counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such Indemnified Party or parties or (iii) the named parties to
any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such
Indemnified Party or parties and the indemnifying parties or an affiliate of
the indemnifying parties or such indemnified parties and representation of both
parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between them. It is understood that, unless there exists a
conflict among indemnified parties, the indemnifying parties shall not, in
connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction,
be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition
to any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and that all such fees
and expenses shall be reimbursed promptly after receipt of the invoice
therefore as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for the Holders and
such control Persons of the Holders shall be designated in writing by Holders
who sold a majority in interest of Registrable Securities sold by all such
Holders and any such separate firm for the Company, its directors, its officers
and such control Persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the
Company. The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any
proceeding effected without its prior written consent, but if settled with such
consent or if there is a final non-appealable judgment for the plaintiff for
which the Indemnified Party is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this
Agreement, the Indemnifying Party agrees to indemnify any Indemnified Party
from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or
judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an
Indemnified Party shall have requested an Indemnifying Party to reimburse the
Indemnified Party for reasonable fees and expenses actually incurred by counsel
as contemplated by the third sentence of this paragraph, the Indemnifying Party
agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected
without its prior written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more
than 30 days after receipt by such Indemnifying Party of the aforesaid request
and (ii) such Indemnifying Party shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified
Party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement;
provided, however, that the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any
settlement effected without its consent pursuant to this sentence if the
Indemnifying Party is contesting, in good faith, the request for reimbursement.
No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the
Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is or could have been a
party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party,
unless such settlement (1) includes an unconditional release of such
Indemnified Party in form and substance satisfactory to such Indemnified Party
from all liability on Claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and
(2) does not include any
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statement as to an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on
behalf of any Indemnified Party.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a)
or (b) of this Section 4 is unavailable (other than by reason of the exceptions
specifically provided therein) to, or insufficient to hold harmless, an
Indemnified Party in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities
referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Party under such paragraphs, in
lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party thereunder and in order to provide
for just and equitable contribution, shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (i) the relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Holders on the other
hand from the offering of such Registrable Securities or (ii) if the allocation
provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, not only such
relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand
and the Holders on the other in connection with the statements or omissions (or
alleged statements or omissions) that resulted in such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand
and the Holders on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company or by the Holders and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission, and any other equitable considerations appropriate
in the circumstances.
(e) The parties agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4 were determined by pro
rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account
of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of
the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set
forth above, any reasonable legal or other expenses actually incurred by such
Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action
or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4, in no event shall
a Holder be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which
proceeds received by such Holder from sales of Registrable Securities exceeds
the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay
or has paid by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.
(f) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained
in this Section 4 will be in addition to any which the indemnifying parties may
otherwise have to the indemnified parties referred to above.
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Section 5. Miscellaneous.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not
entered into nor will the Company on or after the date of this Agreement enter
into, or cause or permit any of its subsidiaries to enter into, any agreement
which is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable
Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
(b) Adjustments Affecting Registrable Securities. The
Company shall not, directly or indirectly, take any action with respect to the
Registrable Securities as a class that would adversely affect the ability of
the Holders of Registrable Securities to include such Registrable Securities in
a registration undertaken pursuant to this Agreement.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this
Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents
to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company
has obtained the prior written consent of Holders of not less than a majority
of the outstanding Registrable Securities; provided, however, that Section 4
hereof and this Section 5(c) may not be amended, modified or supplemented
without the prior written consent of each Holder (including any Person who was
a Holder of Registrable Securities disposed of pursuant to any Registration
Statement). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to departure
from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to
the rights of Holders of Registrable Securities whose securities are being sold
pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly
affect, impair, limit or compromise the rights of other Holders of Registrable
Securities may be given by the Holders of not less than a majority of the
Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by such Holders pursuant to such
Registration Statement. In addition, each such amendment, modification,
supplement and waiver must be agreed to in writing by the company.
(d) Notices. All notices and other communications
provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery,
registered first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing
overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder at the most current address of such
Holder as set forth in stock register of the Company, which address initially
is, with respect to the Investors, the address set forth in the Merger
Agreement and (ii) if to the Company, initially at the Company's address set
forth in the Merger Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of
which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section (d).
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have
been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five
Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed;
when answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied;
and on the next Business Day, if timely delivered to an air courier
guaranteeing overnight delivery.
(e) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure
to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the
parties hereto and the Holders; provided, however, that this Agreement shall
not inure to the benefit of or be binding upon a successor or assign of a
Holder unless such successor or assign holds Registrable Securities.
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(f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate 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.
(g) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning hereof.
(h) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY
AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED
TO CONTRACTS MADE AND PERFORMED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES TO SUBMIT TO
THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR
PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.
(i) 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 best 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.
(j) Third Party Beneficiary. The Holders are intended
third party beneficiaries of this Agreement and this Agreement may be enforced
by such Persons.
(k) Entire Agreement. The Merger Agreement and this
Agreement, collectively are intended by the parties as a final expression of
their agreement, and is intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of
the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject
matter contained herein and therein. This Agreement and the Merger Agreement
supersede all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with
respect to such subject matter.
(l) Securities Held by the Company or Its Affiliates.
Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of
Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by
the Company or by any of its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405
under the Securities Act) shall not be counted in determining whether such
consent or approval was given by the holders of such required percentage.
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
SIGNATURE PAGE
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first written above.
PACKAGED ICE, INC.
By:
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Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Executive Officer
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