REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of February 28, 2001, is
entered into by and among American Capital Access Holdings, Incorporated, a
Wyoming corporation (the "COMPANY"), those persons listed as Initial Holders on
Schedule 1 and any subsequent holders of Registrable Securities (collectively
with the Initial Holders, the "HOLDERS").
WHEREAS, on the date hereof, the Initial Holders have acquired shares
of Preference Stock and shares of Senior Convertible Preferred Stock from the
Company pursuant to a subscription agreement dated February 28, 2001
(collectively, the "SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT");
WHEREAS, shares of Preference Stock may be issued pursuant to the
Subscription Rights and Investor Call Option Agreement dated as of February 28,
2001 among the Company, the holders of the Senior Convertible Preferred Stock
and certain other parties named therein;
WHEREAS, the Senior Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible into
shares of Preference Stock;
WHEREAS, the currently outstanding shares of the Company's Convertible
Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, will be exchanged for shares of
Preference Stock;
WHEREAS, the Company and the Holders desire to enter into this
Agreement in order to provide the Holders with certain rights with respect to
the registration under the Securities Act of the Common Stock of the Company
issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock; and
WHEREAS, capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in Article 1 hereof.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the foregoing and of the
mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree
as follows:
ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement:
(a) "1997 AGREEMENT" shall mean the Registration Rights Agreement
dated September 23, 1997 between the Company and the 1997 Holders (as assignees
of American Capital Access Holdings, L.L.C.), as in effect on the date hereof
and in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A;
(b) "1997 HOLDERS" shall mean those persons defined as Holders in the
1997 Agreement;
(c) "1997 REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" shall mean the Registrable
Securities as defined in the 1997 Agreement (without regard to Article 2
hereof);
(d) "AGREEMENT" shall mean this Registration Rights Agreement dated
February 28, 2001 among the Company and the Holders;
(e) "COMMON STOCK" shall mean the common stock, par value $.01 per
share, of the Company;
(f) "COMPANY STOCK OPTION PLAN" shall mean, collectively, the
Company's Stock Award and Incentive Plan dated ____________, and any successor
plan adopted by the Company;
(g) "INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING" shall mean the initial public offering
of shares of Common Stock by the Company sold in a registration effected under
the Securities Act;
(h) "PREFERENCE STOCK" shall mean the Corporation's Convertible
Preference Stock, par value $.01 per share, as described in the Corporation's
Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation setting forth
Number, Voting Powers, Preferences and Rights of Convertible Preference Stock,
as filed with the Secretary of State of Wyoming on February 28, 2001;
(i) "PREFERRED STOCK" shall mean the Preference Stock and the Senior
Convertible Preferred Stock, collectively;
(j) "REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" shall mean (i) any shares of
Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion of the Preference Stock, (ii)
any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion of the Senior
Convertible Preferred Stock, and (iii) any shares of Common Stock purchased by
senior executives of the Company pursuant to any written plan or agreement
approved by the Board of Directors (other than any shares or options registered
pursuant to Article 4 hereof); provided, however, that any such securities shall
no longer be considered Registrable Securities if any of the following apply:
such securities (i) have been sold to or through a broker, dealer or underwriter
in a public distribution or a public securities transaction, or (ii) have been
sold in a transaction exempt from the registration and prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act so that all transfer restrictions and
restrictive legends with respect thereto are no longer applicable upon the
consummation of such sale. For purposes of this Agreement, a person will be
deemed to be a Holder whenever such person has the right to acquire directly or
indirectly Registrable Securities, whether or not such acquisition has actually
been effected;
(k) "SECURITIES ACT" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder;
and
(l) "SENIOR CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK" shall mean the Corporation's
Senior Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, as described in
the Corporation's Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
setting forth Number, Voting Powers, Preferences and Rights of Senior
Convertible Preferred Stock, as filed with the Secretary of State of Wyoming on
February 28, 2001.
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ARTICLE 2. REGISTRATION RIGHTS
Except as set forth in Article 3 below, the terms of the 1997
Agreement are hereby incorporated into this Agreement, mutatis mutandis, except
that for purposes of defining the registration rights, the term "Registrable
Securities" as used in the 1997 Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in
this Agreement and the term "Holders" as used in 1997 Agreement shall have the
meaning set forth in this Agreement.
ARTICLE 3. EXCEPTION TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS
Notwithstanding Article 2, for the purpose of the rights granted under
this Agreement, in lieu of Section 2.2(b) of the 1997 Agreement, the following
Section 2.2(b) shall apply:
Section 2.2(b). If (i) a registration pursuant to this Section
2.2 involves an underwritten offering of the securities being
registered for sale for the account of the Company, to be distributed
(on a firm commitment basis) by or through one or more underwriters of
recognized national standing under underwriting terms appropriate for
such a transaction, and (ii) the managing underwriter of such
underwritten offering shall inform the Company and the Holders
requesting such registration by letter of its opinion that the number
of securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds
the number which can be sold in such offering or that the inclusion
would in the underwriter's reasonable judgment adversely affect the
marketing of the securities to be sold by the Company therein, then
the Company shall include in such registration (A) first, all
securities proposed by the Company to be sold for its own account, (B)
second, such number of 1997 Registrable Securities which the Company
is so advised may be sold in such offering, which 1997 Registrable
Securities shall be allocated as provided in the Registration Rights
Agreement dated September 23, 1997 between the Company and the 1997
Holders (as assignees of American Capital Access Holdings, L.L.C.), as
amended and in effect on the date of such registration, (C) third,
such number of Registrable Securities which the Company is so advised
may be sold in such offering, which Registrable Securities shall be
allocated pro rata among the Holders requesting such registration on
the basis of the percentage of Registrable Securities held by the
Holders thereof which have requested that such Registrable Securities
be included and (D) other securities requested to be included in such
registration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the priority set forth in
clause (C) and (D) of this Section 2.2(b) may be modified by the
Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding,
in a manner to permit such Person to either be treated pari passu with
the Holders or enjoy priority over the rights of the Holders under
this Section 2.2(b), as the case may be.
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ARTICLE 4. S-8 REGISTRATION
The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts (i) to file, not
later than 90 days following the effective date of an Initial Public Offering, a
registration statement on Form S-8 covering the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon exercise of options granted under all Company Stock Option Plans, and (ii)
to keep such registration statement (or a successor registration statement)
effective for so long as there are options outstanding and exercisable under any
such Company Stock Option Plan.
ARTICLE 5. NOTICES
All notices, requests, consents and demands shall be in writing and
shall be personally delivered, telecopied or telegraphed or delivered by any
nationally recognized overnight delivery service (other than the U.S. postal
service) to the Company at:
To the Company:
American Capital Access Holdings, Incorporated
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▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: General Counsel
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ L.L.P.
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Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Silver
and to each Holder at such address set forth in the stock transfer ledger of the
Company at such time. All such notices, requests, demands and other
communications shall, when personally delivered, telecopied or delivered by any
nationally recognized overnight delivery service, be effective upon actual
receipt.
ARTICLE 6. GOVERNING LAW
THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
ARTICLE 7. AMENDMENT
Any modification, amendment or waiver of this Agreement or any
provision hereof shall be in writing and executed by the Company and the Holders
of not less than 50% of the Registrable Securities, provided, however, that no
such modification, amendment or waiver shall reduce the aforesaid percentage of
Registrable Securities without the consent of all of the Holders of the
Registrable Securities, provided, further, however, that Schedule 1 to this
Agreement may be amended to reflect subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities
and to add such subsequent Holders as parties hereto without the consent of the
Holders.
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ARTICLE 8. NO VIOLATIVE AGREEMENTS
The Company will not hereafter enter into any agreement with respect
to its securities which violates the rights granted to the Holders in this
Agreement.
ARTICLE 9. COUNTERPARTS
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one
instrument.
ARTICLE 10. SEVERABILITY
Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable
in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent
of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining
provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such
provision in any other jurisdiction.
ARTICLE 11. HEADINGS
The various headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience
only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or any
provisions hereof or thereof.
ARTICLE 12. ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding among the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior
agreements, written or oral, with respect thereto. Nothing herein shall be
deemed a modification or amendment of the 1997 Agreement itself or the rights of
the parties thereto.
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SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMERICAN CAPITAL ACCESS HOLDINGS, INCORPORATED
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED FEBRUARY 28, 2001
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement effective for all purposes as of the date first above written.
AMERICAN CAPITAL ACCESS HOLDINGS,
INCORPORATED
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Title: Treasurer
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SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMERICAN CAPITAL ACCESS HOLDINGS, INCORPORATED
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED FEBRUARY 28, 2001
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement effective for all purposes as of the date first above written.
PFL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
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Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
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Title: Vice President
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SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMERICAN CAPITAL ACCESS HOLDINGS, INCORPORATED
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED FEBRUARY 28, 2001
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement effective for all purposes as of the date first above written.
LIFE INVESTORS INSURANCE
COMPANY OF AMERICA
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
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Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
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Title: Vice President
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SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMERICAN CAPITAL ACCESS HOLDINGS, INCORPORATED
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED FEBRUARY 28, 2001
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement effective for all purposes as of the date first above written.
BANKAMERICA INVESTMENT
CORPORATION
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
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Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
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Title: Managing Director
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SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMERICAN CAPITAL ACCESS HOLDINGS, INCORPORATED
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED FEBRUARY 28, 2001
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement effective for all purposes as of the date first above written.
FW ACA INVESTORS, L.P.
By: GROUP III 31 L.L.C., its
General Partner
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
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Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
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Title: Vice President
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SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMERICAN CAPITAL ACCESS HOLDINGS, INCORPORATED
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED FEBRUARY 28, 2001
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement effective for all purposes as of the date first above written.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Title: Senior Vice Presidnet
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SIGNATURE PAGE TO AMERICAN CAPITAL ACCESS HOLDINGS, INCORPORATED
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED FEBRUARY 28, 2001
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement effective for all purposes as of the date first above written.
THIRD AVENUE TRUST ON BEHALF OF
THE THIRD AVENUE VALUE FUND SERIES
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Title: Trustee
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SCHEDULE 1
Initial Holders
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PFL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
LIFE INVESTORS INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA
c/o Aegon USA Investment Management Inc.
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
ATTN: Ms. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
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BANKAMERICA INVESTMENT CORPORATION
c/o Banc of America Securities LLC
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▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
ATTN: ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
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FW ACA INVESTORS, L.P.
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▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ GROUP, INC.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
ATTN: ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
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THIRD AVENUE TRUST ON BEHALF OF
THE THIRD AVENUE VALUE FUND SERIES
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
ATTN: ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
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EXHIBIT A
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