EXHIBIT 4.3
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN
CONEXANT SYSTEMS, INC.
AS ISSUER,
AND
▇▇▇▇▇▇ BROTHERS INC.
AS THE INITIAL PURCHASER
DATED AS OF MARCH 7, 2006
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Section 1. Definitions..............................................1
Section 2. Shelf Registration.......................................4
Section 3. Registration Procedures..................................7
Section 4. Holder's Obligations....................................11
Section 5. Registration Expenses...................................12
Section 6. Indemnification.........................................12
Section 7. Information Requirements................................15
Section 8. Miscellaneous...........................................16
i
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as
of March 7, 2006 by and between Conexant Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers Inc. pursuant to the Purchase Agreement,
dated March 2, 2006 (the "Purchase Agreement"), between the Company and the
Initial Purchaser. In order to induce the Initial Purchaser to enter into the
Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights
set forth in this Agreement. The execution of this Agreement is a condition to
the closing under the Purchase Agreement.
The Company agrees with the Initial Purchaser, (i) for its
benefit as Initial Purchaser and (ii) for the benefit of the beneficial owners
(including the Initial Purchaser) from time to time of the Notes (as defined
herein) and the beneficial owners from time to time of the Underlying Common
Stock (as defined herein) issued upon conversion of the Notes (each of the
foregoing a "Holder" and together the "Holders"), as follows:
Section 1. DefinitionsCapitalized terms used herein without definition
shall have their respective meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement. As
used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
"Affiliate": With respect to any specified person, an
"affiliate", as defined in Rule 144, of such person.
"Amendment Effectiveness Deadline Date": See Section 2(d)
hereof.
"Applicable Conversion Price": The Applicable Conversion Price
as of any date of determination means the Conversion Price in effect as of such
date of determination or, if no Notes are then outstanding, the Conversion Price
that would be in effect were Notes then outstanding.
"Business Day": Each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York
are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
"Common Stock": The shares of common stock, par value $.01 per
share, of the Company and any other shares of common stock as may constitute
"Common Stock" for purposes of the Indenture, including the Underlying Common
Stock.
"Conversion Price": Conversion Price shall mean the quotient
of (i) $1,000 divided by (ii) the Conversion Rate, as such term is defined in
the Indenture.
"Damages Accrual Period": See Section 2(e) hereof.
"Damages Payment Date": Each interest payment date under the
Indenture in the case of Notes.
"Deferral Notice": See Section 3(i) hereof.
"Deferral Period": See Section 3(i) hereof.
"Effectiveness Deadline Date": See Section 2(a) hereof.
"Effectiveness Period": The period of two years from the later
of (a) the Issue Date and (b) the last date of original issuance of the Notes,
or such shorter period ending on the date that all Registrable Securities have
ceased to be Registrable Securities.
"Event": See Section 2(e) hereof.
"Event Date": See Section 2(e) hereof.
"Event Termination Date": See Section 2(e) hereof.
"Exchange Act": The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
"Filing Deadline Date": See Section 2(a) hereof.
"Holder": See the second paragraph of this Agreement.
"Indenture": The Indenture, dated as of March 7, 2006, between
the Company and ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Trust Company, National Association, as trustee,
pursuant to which the Notes are being issued.
"Initial Purchaser": ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers Inc.
"Initial Shelf Registration Statement": See Section 2(a)
hereof.
"Issue Date": March 7, 2006.
"Liquidated Damages Amount": See Section 2(e) hereof.
"Losses": See Section 6 hereof.
"Material Event": See Section 3(i) hereof.
"Notes": The 4% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2026 of the
Company to be purchased pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
"Notice and Questionnaire": A written notice delivered to the
Company containing substantially the information called for by the Selling
Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire attached as Annex A to the Offering
Memorandum of the Company issued March 2, 2006 relating to the Notes.
"Notice Holder": On any date, any Holder that has delivered a
Notice and Questionnaire to the Company on or prior to such date.
"Purchase Agreement": See the preamble hereof.
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"Prospectus": The prospectus included in any Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses
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 amendment or prospectus
supplement, including post-effective amendments, and all materials incorporated
by reference or explicitly deemed to be incorporated by reference in such
Prospectus.
"Record Holder": (i) With respect to any Damages Payment Date
relating to any Notes as to which any Liquidated Damages Amount has accrued, the
holder of record of such Note on the record date with respect to the interest
payment date under the Indenture on which such Damages Payment Date shall occur
and (ii) with respect to any Damages Payment Date relating to the Underlying
Common Stock as to which any Liquidated Damages Amount has accrued, the
registered holder of such Underlying Common Stock fifteen (15) days prior to
such Damages Payment Date.
"Registrable Securities": The Notes until such Notes have been
converted into or exchanged for the Underlying Common Stock and, at all times
subsequent to any such conversion or exchange the Underlying Common Stock and
any securities into or for which such Underlying Common Stock has been converted
or exchanged, and any security issued with respect thereto upon any stock
dividend, split or similar event until, in the case of any such security, (A)
the earliest of (i) its effective registration under the Securities Act and
resale in accordance with the Registration Statement covering it, (ii)
expiration of the holding period that would be applicable thereto under Rule
144(k) were it not held by an Affiliate of the Company or (iii) its sale to the
public pursuant to Rule 144, and (B) as a result of the event or circumstance
described in any of the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii), the legend with
respect to transfer restrictions required under the Indenture is removed or
removable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture or such legend, as the
case may be.
"Registration Expenses": See Section 5 hereof.
"Registration Statement": Any registration statement of the
Company that covers any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions
of this Agreement including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits, and
all materials incorporated by reference or explicitly deemed to be incorporated
by reference in such registration statement.
"Restricted Securities": As this term is defined in Rule 144.
"Rule 144": Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule
may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter
adopted by the SEC.
"SEC": The Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities Act": The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.
"Shelf Registration Statement": See Section 2(a) hereof.
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"Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement": See Section 2(b)
hereof.
"TIA": The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
"Trustee": ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Trust Company, National Association,
the Trustee under the Indenture.
"Underlying Common Stock": The Common Stock into which the
Notes are convertible or issued upon any such conversion.
Section 2. Shelf Registration
(a) The Company shall prepare and file or cause to be prepared
and filed with the SEC, as soon as practicable but in any event by the date (the
"Filing Deadline Date") ninety (90) days after the Issue Date, a Registration
Statement for an offering to be made on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant
to Rule 415 of the Securities Act (a "Shelf Registration Statement") registering
the resale from time to time by Holders thereof of all of the Registrable
Securities (the "Initial Shelf Registration Statement"). The Initial Shelf
Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 or another appropriate form
permitting registration of such Registrable Securities for resale by such
Holders in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by the Holders
and set forth in the Initial Shelf Registration Statement. The Company shall use
its reasonable efforts to cause the Initial Shelf Registration Statement to
become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is practicable but in
any event by the date (the "Effectiveness Deadline Date") that is one hundred
eighty (180) days after the Issue Date, and to keep the Initial Shelf
Registration Statement (or any Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement)
continuously effective under the Securities Act until the expiration of the
Effectiveness Period. At the time the Initial Shelf Registration Statement
becomes effective, each Holder that became a Notice Holder on or prior to the
date ten (10) Business Days prior to such time of effectiveness shall be named
as a selling securityholder in the Initial Shelf Registration Statement and the
related Prospectus in such a manner as to permit such Holder to deliver such
Prospectus to purchasers of Registrable Securities in accordance with applicable
law. None of the Company's security holders (other than the Holders of
Registrable Securities) shall have the right to include any of the Company's
securities in the Shelf Registration Statement.
(b) If the Initial Shelf Registration Statement or any
Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective for any reason at
any time during the Effectiveness Period (other than because all Registrable
Securities registered thereunder shall have been resold pursuant thereto or
shall have otherwise ceased to be Registrable Securities), the Company shall use
its reasonable efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending
the effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall within thirty (30) days of
such cessation of effectiveness amend the Shelf Registration Statement in a
manner reasonably expected to obtain the withdrawal of the order suspending the
effectiveness thereof, or file an additional Shelf Registration Statement
covering all of the securities that as of the date of such filing are
Registrable Securities (a "Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement"). If a
Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement is filed, the Company shall use
reasonable efforts to cause the Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement to
become effective as promptly as is practicable after such filing
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and to keep such Registration Statement (or subsequent Shelf Registration
Statement) continuously effective until the end of the Effectiveness Period.
(c) The Company shall supplement and amend the Shelf
Registration Statement if required by the rules, regulations or instructions
applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf
Registration Statement, if required by the Securities Act or as reasonably
requested by the Initial Purchaser or by the Trustee on behalf of the registered
Holders.
(d) Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees that if such
Holder wishes to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration
Statement and related Prospectus, it will do so only in accordance with this
Section 2(d) and Section 3(i). Each Holder of Registrable Securities wishing to
sell Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement and
related Prospectus agrees to deliver a Notice and Questionnaire to the Company
at least five (5) Business Days prior to any intended distribution of
Registrable Securities under the Shelf Registration Statement. From and after
the date the Initial Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective, the Company
shall, as promptly as practicable after the date a Notice and Questionnaire is
delivered, and in any event upon the later of (x) five (5) Business Days after
such date or (y) five (5) Business Days after the expiration of any Deferral
Period in effect when the Notice and Questionnaire is delivered or put into
effect within five (5) Business Days of such delivery date, (i) if required by
applicable law, file with the SEC a post-effective amendment to the Shelf
Registration Statement or prepare and, if required by applicable law, file a
supplement to the related Prospectus or a supplement or amendment to any
document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document
so that the Holder delivering such Notice and Questionnaire is named as a
selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and the related
Prospectus in such a manner as to permit such Holder to deliver such Prospectus
to purchasers of the Registrable Securities in accordance with applicable law
and, if the Company shall file a post-effective amendment to the Shelf
Registration Statement, use reasonable efforts to cause such post-effective
amendment to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is
practicable, but in any event by the date (the "Amendment Effectiveness Deadline
Date") that is forty-five (45) days after the date such post-effective amendment
is required by this clause to be filed; (ii) provide such Holder copies of any
documents filed pursuant to Section 2(d)(i); and (iii) notify such Holder as
promptly as practicable after the effectiveness under the Securities Act of any
post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Section 2(d)(i); provided, that if
such Notice and Questionnaire is delivered during a Deferral Period, the Company
shall so inform the Holder delivering such Notice and Questionnaire and shall
take the actions set forth in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above upon expiration
of the Deferral Period in accordance with Section 3(i). Notwithstanding anything
contained herein to the contrary, (i) the Company shall be under no obligation
to name any Holder that is not a Notice Holder as a selling securityholder in
any Registration Statement or related Prospectus and (ii) the Amendment
Effectiveness Deadline Date shall be extended by up to ten (10) Business Days
from the expiration of a Deferral Period (and the Company shall incur no
obligation to pay liquidated damages during such extension) if such Deferral
Period shall be in effect on the Amendment Effectiveness Deadline Date.
(e) The parties hereto agree that the Holders of Registrable
Securities will suffer damages, and that it would not be feasible to ascertain
the extent of such damages with precision, if (i) the Initial Shelf Registration
Statement has not been filed on or prior to the Filing
5
Deadline Date, (ii) the Initial Shelf Registration Statement has not become
effective under the Securities Act on or prior to the Effectiveness Deadline
Date, (iii) the Company has failed to perform its obligations set forth in
Section 2(d) within the time period required therein, (iv) the aggregate
duration of Deferral Periods in any period exceeds the number of days permitted
in respect of such period pursuant to Section 3(i) hereof or (v) the number of
Deferral Periods in any period exceeds the number permitted in respect of such
period pursuant to Section 3(i) hereof (each of the events of a type described
in any of the foregoing clauses (i) through (v) are individually referred to
herein as an "Event," and the Filing Deadline Date in the case of clause (i),
the Effectiveness Deadline Date in the case of clause (ii), the date by which
the Company is required to perform its obligations set forth in Section 2(d) in
the case of clause (iii) (including the filing of any post-effective amendment
prior to the Amendment Effectiveness Deadline Date), the date on which the
aggregate duration of Deferral Periods in any period exceeds the number of days
permitted by Section 3(i) hereof in the case of clause (iv), and the date of the
commencement of a Deferral Period that causes the limit on the number of
Deferral Periods in any period under Section 3(i) hereof to be exceeded in the
case of clause (v), being referred to herein as an "Event Date"). Events shall
be deemed to continue until the "Event Termination Date," which shall be the
following dates with respect to the respective types of Events: the date the
Initial Shelf Registration Statement is filed in the case of an Event of the
type described in clause (i), the date the Initial Shelf Registration Statement
becomes effective under the Securities Act in the case of an Event of the type
described in clause (ii), the date the Company performs its obligations set
forth in Section 2(d) in the case of an Event of the type described in clause
(iii) (including, without limitation, the date the relevant post-effective
amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective under the
Securities Act), termination of the Deferral Period that caused the limit on the
aggregate duration of Deferral Periods in a period set forth in Section 3(i) to
be exceeded in the case of the commencement of an Event of the type described in
clause (iv), and termination of the Deferral Period the commencement of which
caused the number of Deferral Periods in a period permitted by Section 3(i) to
be exceeded in the case of an Event of the type described in clause (v).
Accordingly, commencing on (and including) any Event Date and
ending on (but excluding) the next date on which there are no Events that have
occurred and are continuing (a "Damages Accrual Period"), the Company agrees to
pay, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, an amount (the "Liquidated
Damages Amount"), payable on the Damages Payment Dates to Record Holders of
Notes that are Registrable Securities and of shares of Underlying Common Stock
issued upon conversion of Notes that are Registrable Securities, as the case may
be, accruing, for each portion of such Damages Accrual Period beginning on and
including a Damages Payment Date (or, in respect of the first time that the
Liquidated Damages Amount is to be paid to Holders on a Damages Payment Date as
a result of the occurrence of any particular Event, from the Event Date) and
ending on but excluding the first to occur of (A) the date of the end of the
Damages Accrual Period or (B) the next Damages Payment Date, at a rate per annum
equal to one-half of one percent (0.5 %) of the aggregate principal amount of
such Notes in each case determined as of the Business Day immediately preceding
the next Damages Payment Date; provided, that in the case of a Damages Accrual
Period that is in effect solely as a result of an Event of the type described in
clause (iii) of the immediately preceding paragraph, such Liquidated Damages
Amount shall be paid only to the Holders that have delivered Notice and
Questionnaires that caused the Company to incur the obligations set forth in
Section 2(d) the non-performance of which is the basis of such Event, provided
further, that any Liquidated
6
Damages Amount accrued with respect to any Note or portion thereof called for
redemption on a redemption date or converted into Underlying Common Stock on a
conversion date prior to the Damages Payment Date, shall, in any such event, be
paid instead to the Holder who submitted such Note or portion thereof for
redemption or conversion on the applicable redemption date or conversion date,
as the case may be, on such date (or promptly following the conversion date, in
the case of conversion). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Liquidated Damages
Amounts shall accrue as to any Registrable Security from and after the earlier
of (x) the date such security is no longer a Registrable Security and (y)
expiration of the Effectiveness Period. The rate of accrual of the Liquidated
Damages Amount with respect to any period shall not exceed the rate provided for
in this paragraph notwithstanding the occurrence of multiple concurrent Events.
Following the cure of all Events requiring the payment by the Company of
Liquidated Damages Amounts to the Holders of Registrable Securities pursuant to
this Section, the accrual of Liquidated Damages Amounts will cease (without in
any way limiting the effect of any subsequent Event requiring the payment of
Liquidated Damages Amount by the Company).
The Trustee shall be entitled, on behalf of Holders of Notes
or Underlying Common Stock, to seek any available remedy for the enforcement of
this Agreement, including for the payment of any Liquidated Damages Amount.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties agree that the sole damages payable
for a violation of the terms of this Agreement with respect to which liquidated
damages are expressly provided shall be such liquidated damages. Nothing shall
preclude a Notice Holder or Holder of Registrable Securities from pursuing or
obtaining specific performance or other equitable relief with respect to this
Agreement.
All of the Company's obligations set forth in this Section
2(e) that are outstanding with respect to any Registrable Security at the time
such security ceases to be a Registrable Security shall survive until such time
as all such obligations with respect to such security have been satisfied in
full (notwithstanding termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8(k)).
The parties hereto agree that the liquidated damages provided
for in this Section 2(e) constitute a reasonable estimate of the damages that
may be incurred by Holders of Registrable Securities by reason of the failure of
the Shelf Registration Statement to be filed or become effective or available
for effecting resales of Registrable Securities in accordance with the
provisions hereof.
Section 3. Registration ProceduresIn connection with the registration
obligations of the Company under Section 2 hereof, the Company shall:
(a) Before filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus or
any amendments or supplements thereto with the SEC, furnish to counsel to the
Initial Purchaser copies of all such documents proposed to be filed and use
reasonable efforts to reflect in each such document when so filed with the SEC
such comments as counsel to the Initial Purchaser reasonably shall propose
within five (5) Business Days of the delivery of such copies to counsel to the
Initial Purchaser.
(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to
keep such Registration Statement continuously effective for the applicable
period specified in Section 2(a); cause the related Prospectus to be
supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so
7
supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in
force) under the Securities Act; and use its reasonable best efforts to comply
with the provisions of the Securities Act applicable to it with respect to the
disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during the
Effectiveness Period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by
the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or
such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) As promptly as practicable give notice to counsel to the
Notice Holders and the Initial Purchaser (i) when any Prospectus, Prospectus
supplement, Registration Statement or post-effective amendment to a Registration
Statement has been filed with the SEC and, with respect to a Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective,
(ii) of any request, following the effectiveness of the Initial Shelf
Registration Statement under the Securities Act, by the SEC or any other federal
or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to any
Registration Statement or related Prospectus or for additional information,
(iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental
authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration
Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for that purpose,
(iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the
suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the
Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the occurrence of (but
not the nature of or details concerning) a Material Event and (vi) of the
determination by the Company that a post-effective amendment to a Registration
Statement will be filed with the SEC, which notice may, at the discretion of the
Company (or as required pursuant to Section 3 (i)), state that it constitutes a
Deferral Notice, in which event the provisions of Section 3(i) shall apply.
(d) Use reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any
order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the lifting of
any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of
the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction in which they have been
qualified for sale, in either case at the earliest possible moment.
(e) If reasonably requested by the Initial Purchaser or any
Notice Holder, as promptly as practicable incorporate in a Prospectus supplement
or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement such information as the
Initial Purchaser or such Notice Holder shall, on the basis of a written opinion
of nationally-recognized counsel experienced in such matters, determine to be
required to be included therein by applicable law and make any required filings
of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment.
(f) As promptly as practicable furnish to each Notice Holder
and the Initial Purchaser, without charge, at least one (1) conformed copy of
the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, including financial
statements but excluding schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits (unless requested in writing
to the Company by such Notice Holder or the Initial Purchaser, as the case may
be).
(g) During the Effectiveness Period, deliver to each Notice
Holder in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or
Prospectuses relating to such Registrable Securities
8
(including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto
as such Notice Holder may reasonably request; and the Company hereby consents
(except during such periods that a Deferral Notice is outstanding and has not
been revoked) to the use of such Prospectus or each amendment or supplement
thereto by each Notice Holder in connection with any offering and sale of the
Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto in the manner set forth therein.
(h) Prior to any public offering of the Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, cooperate with the Notice Holders
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 any Notice Holder reasonably requests in writing (which request may be
included in the Notice and Questionnaire); prior to any public offering of the
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, keep each
such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the
Effectiveness Period in connection with such Notice Holder's offer and sale of
Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration or qualification (or
exemption therefrom) and do any and all other acts or things reasonably
necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of such
Registrable Securities in the manner set forth in the relevant Registration
Statement and the related Prospectus; provided, that the Company will not be
required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in
any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for
this Agreement or (ii) take any action that would subject it to general service
of process in suits or to taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then
so subject.
(i) Upon (A) the issuance by the SEC of a stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement or the
initiation of proceedings with respect to the Shelf Registration Statement under
Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act, (B) the occurrence of any event or
the existence of any fact (a "Material Event") as a result of which any
Registration Statement shall 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, or any Prospectus shall 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 the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (C) the
occurrence or existence of any pending corporate development that, in the
reasonable discretion of the Company, makes it appropriate to suspend the
availability of the Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus, (i)
in the case of clause (B) above, subject to the next sentence, as promptly as
practicable prepare and file, if necessary pursuant to applicable law, a
post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement or a supplement to the
related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any
other required document that would be incorporated by reference into such
Registration Statement and Prospectus so that such Registration Statement does
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 such Prospectus does 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 the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, as thereafter
delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities being sold thereunder,
and, in the case of a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement,
subject to
9
the next sentence, use its reasonable efforts to cause it to become effective as
promptly as is practicable, and (ii) give notice to the Notice Holders that the
availability of the Shelf Registration Statement is suspended (a "Deferral
Notice") and, upon receipt of any Deferral Notice, each Notice Holder agrees not
to sell any Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement until
such Notice Holder's receipt of copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus
provided for in clause (i) above, or until it is advised in writing by the
Company that the Prospectus may be used, and has received copies of any
additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed incorporated
by reference in such Prospectus. The Company will use all reasonable efforts to
ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed (x) in the case of clause
(A) above, as promptly as is practicable, (y) in the case of clause (B) above,
as soon as, in the sole judgment of the Company, public disclosure of such
Material Event would not be prejudicial to or contrary to the interests of the
Company or, if necessary to avoid unreasonable burden or expense, as soon as
practicable thereafter and (z) in the case of clause (C) above, as soon as, in
the discretion of the Company, such suspension is no longer appropriate. The
Company shall be entitled to exercise its right under this Section 3(i) to
suspend the availability of the Shelf Registration Statement or any Prospectus,
without incurring or accruing any obligation to pay liquidated damages pursuant
to Section 2(e), no more than one (1) time in any three month period or four (4)
times in any twelve month period, and any such period during which the
availability of the Registration Statement and any Prospectus is suspended (the
"Deferral Period") shall, without incurring any obligation to pay liquidated
damages pursuant to Section 2(e), not exceed 30 days; provided, that in the case
of a Material Event relating to an acquisition or a probable acquisition or
financing, recapitalization, business combination or other similar transaction,
the Company may, without incurring any obligation to pay liquidated damages
pursuant to Section 2(e), deliver to Notice Holders a second notice to the
effect set forth above, which shall have the effect of extending the Deferral
Period by up to an additional 30 days, or such shorter period of time as is
specified in such second notice, provided, that the aggregate duration of any
Deferral Periods shall not, without incurring any obligation to pay liquidated
damages pursuant to Section 2(e), exceed 60 days in any three month period or 90
days in any twelve (12) month period.
(j) If requested in writing in connection with a disposition
of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, make reasonably
available for inspection during normal business hours by a representative for
the Notice Holders of such Registrable Securities and any broker-dealers,
attorneys and accountants retained by such Notice Holders, all relevant
financial and other records and pertinent corporate documents and properties of
the Company and its subsidiaries, and cause the appropriate officers, directors
and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to make reasonably available
for inspection during normal business hours on reasonable notice all relevant
information reasonably requested by such representative for the Notice Holders
or any such broker-dealers, attorneys or accountants in connection with such
disposition, in each case as is customary for similar "due diligence"
examinations; provided, however, that such persons shall first agree in writing
with the Company that any information that is reasonably and in good faith
designated by the Company in writing as confidential at the time of delivery of
such information shall be kept confidential by such persons and shall be used
solely for the purposes of exercising rights under this Agreement, unless (i)
disclosure of such information is required by court or administrative order or
is necessary to respond to inquiries of regulatory authorities, (ii) disclosure
of such information is required by law (including any disclosure requirements
pursuant to federal securities laws in connection with the filing of any
10
Registration Statement or the use of any Prospectus referred to in this
Agreement), (iii) such information becomes generally available to the public
other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard by any such
person or (iv) such information becomes available to any such person from a
source other than the Company and such source is not bound by a confidentiality
agreement, and provided, that the foregoing inspection and information gathering
shall, to the greatest extent possible, be coordinated on behalf of all the
Notice Holders and the other parties entitled thereto by the counsel referred to
in Section 5 and provided further, that the Company shall not be required to
disclose any information subject to the attorney-client or attorney work product
privilege if and to the extent such disclosure would constitute a waiver of such
privilege.
(k) Use all reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable
rules and regulations of the SEC and make generally available to its
securityholders earning statements (which need not be audited) satisfying the
provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or
any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act) no later than 40 days
after the end of any 3-month period (or 75 days after the end of any 12-month
period if such period is a fiscal year) commencing on the first day of the first
fiscal quarter of the Company commencing after the effective date of a
Registration Statement, which statements shall cover said periods.
(l) Cooperate with each Notice Holder to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities
sold or to be sold pursuant to a Registration Statement, which certificates
shall not bear any restrictive legends, and cause such Registrable Securities to
be in such denominations as are permitted by the Indenture and registered in
such names as such Notice Holder may request in writing at least two (2)
Business Days prior to any sale of such Registrable Securities.
(m) Provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities
covered by each Registration Statement not later than the effective date of such
Registration Statement and provide the Trustee and the transfer agent for the
Common Stock with printed certificates for the Registrable Securities that are
in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(n) Provide such information as is required for any filings
required to be made with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(o) Upon (i) the filing of the Initial Registration Statement
and (ii) the effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement, announce the
same, in each case by release to Business Wire.
Section 4. Holder's ObligationsEach Holder agrees, by acquisition of
the Registrable Securities, that no Holder of Registrable Securities shall be
entitled to sell any of such Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration
Statement or to receive a Prospectus relating thereto, unless such Holder has
furnished the Company with a Notice and Questionnaire as required pursuant to
Section 2(d) hereof (including the information required to be included in such
Notice and Questionnaire) and the information set forth in the next sentence.
Each Notice Holder agrees promptly to furnish to the Company all information
required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished
to the Company by such Notice Holder not misleading and any other information
regarding such Notice Holder and the distribution of such
11
Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request.
Any sale of any Registrable Securities by any Holder shall constitute a
representation and warranty by such Holder that the information relating to such
Holder and its plan of distribution is as set forth in the Prospectus delivered
by such Holder in connection with such disposition, that such Prospectus does
not as of the time of such sale contain any untrue statement of a material fact
relating to or provided by such Holder or its plan of distribution and that such
Prospectus does not as of the time of such sale omit to state any material fact
relating to or provided by such Holder or its plan of distribution necessary to
make the statements in such Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.
Section 5. Registration ExpensesThe Company shall bear all fees and
expenses incurred in connection with the performance by the Company of its
obligations under Sections 2 and 3 of this Agreement whether or not any of the
Registration Statements become effective. Such fees and expenses shall include,
without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without
limitation, fees and expenses (x) with respect to filings required to be made
with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and (y) of compliance
with federal and state securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without
limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of the counsel specified in the
next sentence in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable
Securities under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Notice Holders of a
majority of the Registrable Securities being sold pursuant to a Registration
Statement may designate), (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation,
expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities in a form eligible
for deposit with The Depository Trust Company), (iii) duplication expenses
relating to copies of any Registration Statement or Prospectus delivered to any
Holders hereunder, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company in
connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, (v) reasonable fees and
disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel and of the registrar and transfer
agent for the Common Stock and (vi) Securities Act liability insurance obtained
by the Company in its sole discretion. In addition, the Company shall bear or
reimburse the Notice Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one
firm of legal counsel for the Holders, which shall initially be Shearman &
Sterling LLP, but which may, with the written consent of the Initial Purchaser
(which shall not be unreasonably withheld), be another nationally recognized law
firm experienced in securities law matters designated by the Company. In
addition, the Company shall pay the internal expenses of the Company (including,
without limitation, all salaries and expenses of officers and employees
performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit, the
fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing by the Company of the
Registrable Securities on any securities exchange on which similar securities of
the Company are then listed and the fees and expenses of any person, including
special experts, retained by the Company. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 5, each seller of Registrable Securities shall pay selling expenses and
all registration expenses to the extent required by applicable law.
Section 6. Indemnification
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall
indemnify and hold harmless each Notice Holder and each person, if any, who
controls any Notice Holder (within
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the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act) from and against any losses, liabilities, claims, damages and
expenses (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim)
(collectively, "Losses"), arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration
Statement or Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any
preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or based upon 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, provided, however, that
the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such
Losses arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement contained in or omission or alleged omission from any of such
documents in reliance upon and conformity with any of the information relating
to the Holders furnished to the Company in writing by a Holder expressly for use
therein; provided further, that the indemnification contained in this paragraph
shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder of Registrable Securities (or to
the benefit of any person controlling such Holder) on account of any such Losses
arising out of or based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission made in any preliminary prospectus provided in each
case the Company has performed its obligations under Section 3(a) hereof if
either (A) (i) such Holder failed to send or deliver a copy of the Prospectus
with or prior to the delivery of written confirmation of the sale by such Holder
to the person asserting the claim from which such Losses arise and (ii) the
Prospectus would have corrected such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or such omission or alleged omission, or (B) (x) such untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission is corrected in an
amendment or supplement to the Prospectus and (y) having previously been
furnished by or on behalf of the Company with copies of the Prospectus as so
amended or supplemented, such Holder thereafter fails to deliver such Prospectus
as so amended or supplemented, with or prior to the delivery of written
confirmation of the sale of a Registrable Security to the person asserting the
claim from which such Losses arise.
(b) Indemnification by Holders of Registrable Securities. Each
Holder agrees severally and not jointly to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company and its directors and officers, 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) or any other Holder, from and against all Losses
arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out
of or based upon 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, to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made
in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company by
such Holder expressly for use in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or
amendment or supplement thereto. In no event shall the liability of any selling
Holder of Registrable Securities hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar
amount of the proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement giving rise to such
indemnification obligation.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. In case any
proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted
involving any person in respect of
13
which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either of the two preceding
paragraphs, such person shall promptly notify the person against whom such
indemnity may be sought 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 designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable
fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. 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 to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the
named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party 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 the indemnifying party
shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party 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 indemnified parties, and that all such fees and
expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such separate firm shall be
designated in writing by, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section
6(a), the Holders of a majority (with Holders of Notes deemed to be the Holders,
for purposes of determining such majority, of the number of shares of Underlying
Common Stock into which such Notes are or would be convertible or exchangeable
as of the date on which such designation is made) of the Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement held by Holders that are indemnified
parties pursuant to Section 6(a) and, in the case of parties indemnified
pursuant to Section 6(b), the Company. The indemnifying party shall not be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written
consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for
the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party
from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
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 includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from
all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
(d) Contribution. To the extent that the indemnification
provided for in this Section 6 is unavailable to an indemnified party under
Section 6(a) or 6(b) hereof in respect of any Losses or is insufficient to hold
such indemnified party harmless, then each applicable indemnifying party, in
lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid
or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Losses (i) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party or
parties on the other hand or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above
is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also
the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and of
the indemnified party or parties on the other hand in connection with the
statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be
deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the initial placement pursuant
to the Purchase Agreement (before deducting expenses) of the Registrable
Securities to
14
which such Losses relate. Benefits received by any Holder shall be deemed to be
equal to the value of receiving Registrable Securities that are registered under
the Securities Act. The relative fault of the Holders on the one hand and the
Company 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 Holders or by the Company, and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission. The Holders' respective obligations to contribute
pursuant to this paragraph are several in proportion to the respective number of
Registrable Securities they have sold pursuant to a Registration Statement, and
not joint.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6(d) were determined by pro
rata allocation or by any other method or allocation that does not take into
account 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 referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to
include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating
or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding this Section 6(d), an
indemnifying party that is a selling Holder of Registrable Securities shall not
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Registrable Securities sold by such indemnifying party and
distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any
damages that such indemnifying party has otherwise been required to pay 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.
(e) The indemnity, contribution and expense reimbursement
obligations of the parties hereunder shall be in addition to any liability any
party may otherwise have hereunder, under the Purchase Agreement or otherwise.
(f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in
this Section 6 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of
(i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on
behalf of any Holder or any person controlling any Holder, or the Company, or
the Company's officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and
(iii) the sale of any Registrable Securities by any Holder.
Section 7. Information Requirements
(a) The Company covenants that, if at any time before the end
of the Effectiveness Period the Company is not subject to the reporting
requirements of the Exchange Act, it will cooperate with any Holder of
Registrable Securities and take such further reasonable action as any Holder of
Registrable Securities may reasonably request in writing (including, without
limitation, making such reasonable representations as any such Holder may
reasonably request), all to the extent required from time to time to enable such
Holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities
Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 and Rule 144A
under the Securities Act and customarily taken in
15
connection with sales pursuant to such exemptions. Upon the written request of
any Holder of Registrable Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a
written statement as to whether it has complied with such filing requirements,
unless such a statement has been included in the Company's most recent report
filed pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of Exchange Act. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require the Company
to register any of its securities (other than the Common Stock) under any
section of the Exchange Act.
Section 8. Miscellaneous
(a) No Conflicting Agreements. The Company is not, as of the
date hereof, a party to, nor shall it, on or after the date of this Agreement,
enter into, any agreement with respect to its securities that conflicts with the
rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement. The
Company represents and warrants that the rights granted to the Holders of
Registrable Securities hereunder do not in any way conflict with the rights
granted to the holders of the Company's securities under any other agreements.
(b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given, unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders
of a majority of the then outstanding Underlying Common Stock constituting
Registrable Securities (with Holders of Notes deemed to be the Holders, for
purposes of this Section, of the number of shares of Underlying Common Stock
into which such Notes are or would be convertible or exchangeable as of the date
on which such consent is requested). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or
consent to depart 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 the rights of other Holders of Registrable
Securities may be given by Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable
Securities being sold by such Holders pursuant to such Registration Statement;
provided, that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or
supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the immediately
preceding sentence. Each Holder of Registrable Securities outstanding at the
time of any such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent or
thereafter shall be bound by any such amendment, modification, supplement,
waiver or consent effected pursuant to this Section 8(b), whether or not any
notice, writing or marking indicating such amendment, modification, supplement,
waiver or consent appears on the Registrable Securities or is delivered to such
Holder.
(c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for
or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, by telecopier,
by courier guaranteeing overnight delivery or by first-class mail, return
receipt requested, and shall be deemed given (i) when made, if made by hand
delivery, (ii) upon confirmation, if made by telecopier, (iii) one (1) Business
Day after being deposited with such courier, if made by overnight courier or
(iv) on the date indicated on the notice of receipt, if made by first-class
mail, to the parties as follows:
(w) if to a Holder of Registrable Securities, at the most
current address given by such Holder to the Company in a Notice and
Questionnaire or any amendment thereto;
16
(x) if to the Company, to:
Conexant Systems, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: Chief Legal Officer
Telecopy No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
and
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
Telecopy No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
(y) if to the Initial Purchaser, to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: Syndicate Department
Telecopy No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
with a copy, in the case of any notice pursuant to
Section 6, to:
Office of the General Counsel
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Brothers Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopy No: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: Director of Litigation
and
Shearman & Sterling LLP
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
Telecopy No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
or to such other address as such person may have furnished to the other persons
identified in this Section 8(c) in writing in accordance herewith.
(d) Approval of Holders. Whenever the consent or approval of
Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required
hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (as such
term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (other than the Initial
Purchaser or subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities if such
17
subsequent Holders are deemed to be such affiliates solely by reason of their
holdings of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in determining
whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required
percentage.
(e) Successors and Assigns. Any person who purchases any
Registrable Securities from the Initial Purchaser shall be deemed, for purposes
of this Agreement, to be an assignee of the Initial Purchaser. This Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of
each of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon each
Holder of any Registrable Securities.
(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 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 INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT
REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
(i) Severability. If any term provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held 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 thereby, 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 being intended that all of the rights and
privileges of the parties shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted
by law.
(j) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is 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 the
registration rights granted by the Company with respect to the Registrable
Securities. Except as provided in the Purchase Agreement, there are no
restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth
or referred to herein, with respect to the registration rights granted by the
Company with respect to the Registrable Securities. This Agreement supersedes
all prior agreements and undertakings among the parties with respect to such
registration rights. No party hereto shall have any rights, duties or
obligations other than those specifically set forth in this Agreement. In no
event will such methods of distribution take the form of an underwritten
offering of the Registrable Securities without the prior agreement of the
Company.
(k) Termination. This Agreement and the obligations of the
parties hereunder shall terminate upon the end of the Effectiveness Period,
except for any liabilities or obligations under Section 4, 5 or 6 hereof and the
obligations to make payments of and provide for
18
liquidated damages under Section 2(e) hereof to the extent such damages accrue
prior to the end of the Effectiveness Period, each of which shall remain in
effect in accordance with its terms.
19
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement
as of the date first written above.
CONEXANT SYSTEMS, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇'▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇'▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice President, Chief
Legal Officer and Secretary
Confirmed and accepted asof the date
first above written:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ BROTHERS INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Managing Director
20