Exhibit 4.3
CONFIDENTIAL
EXECUTION VERSION
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated as of August 27, 2018
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I REGISTRATION |
1 | |||||
1.1. |
Demand Registrations | 1 | ||||
1.2. |
Piggyback Registrations | 4 | ||||
1.3. |
Shelf Registration Statement | 5 | ||||
1.4. |
Withdrawal Rights | 6 | ||||
1.5. |
Holdback Agreements | 7 | ||||
1.6. |
Registration Procedures | 7 | ||||
1.7. |
Registration Expenses | 12 | ||||
1.8. |
Miscellaneous | 12 | ||||
1.9. |
Registration Indemnification | 13 | ||||
ARTICLE II DEFINITIONS |
15 | |||||
2.1. |
Defined Terms | 15 | ||||
2.2. |
Interpretation | 18 | ||||
ARTICLE III| SHARE TRANSFERS |
19 | |||||
3.1 |
General | 19 | ||||
3.2 |
Notice of Proposed Transfer | 19 | ||||
ARTICLE IV MISCELLANEOUS |
20 | |||||
4.1. |
Term | 20 | ||||
4.2. |
Notices | 20 | ||||
4.3. |
Amendments and Waivers | 20 | ||||
4.4. |
Successors and Assigns and Transferees | 21 | ||||
4.5. |
Severability | 21 | ||||
4.6. |
Counterparts | 21 | ||||
4.7. |
Entire Agreement | 21 | ||||
4.8. |
APPLICABLE LAW; JURISDICTION OF DISPUTES | 21 | ||||
4.9. |
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL | 22 | ||||
4.10. |
Specific Performance | 22 | ||||
4.11. |
No Third Party Beneficiaries | 22 | ||||
4.12. |
No Recourse | 22 |
i
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of August 27, 2018 (this Agreement), among PJT Partners Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and each of the persons whose name appears on the signature pages hereto or becomes a party hereto pursuant to Section 4.4.
W I T N E S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company, PJT Partners Holdings LP, a Delaware limited partnership (Purchaser), CamberView Partners Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (CamberView), Blue Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (Merger Sub), and the securityholder representative named therein (the Securityholder Representative) have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as it may be amended from time to time, the Merger Agreement), pursuant to which, among other things, Merger Sub will be merged with and into CamberView (the Merger) with CamberView being the surviving entity and an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement;
WHEREAS, pursuant to and subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, in connection with the Merger, non-employee holders of limited liability company interests in CamberView designated as Units (Blue Units) under the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of CamberView dated as of August 19, 2016 (as amended or modified from time to time) are expected to receive either (i) shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the Company Common Stock) and cash (the shares of Company Common Stock received by such non-employee holders of Blue Units in the Merger, the Merger Shares) or (ii) Class A Units of Purchaser (Partnership Units), which Partnership Units shall be exchangeable into the Company Common Stock in accordance with the Exchange Agreement referred to below (the Company Common Stock so issuable upon exchange of Partnership Units and the Merger Shares collectively, the Shares); and
WHEREAS, the Company has agreed to grant the other parties hereto registration rights in respect of the Shares, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
REGISTRATION
1.1. Demand Registrations.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, solely during any period when the Company is not eligible under Applicable Law to register Registrable Securities on Form S-3 pursuant to Section 1.3, any Holder (Requesting Stockholders) shall be entitled to make requests of the Company (each, a Demand) for registration under the Securities Act of an amount of Registrable Securities then held by such Requesting Stockholders that equals or is greater than the Registrable Amount (a Demand Registration). Thereupon the Company will, subject to the terms of this Agreement, use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration as promptly as reasonably practicable under the Securities Act of:
(i) the Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to register by the Requesting Stockholders for disposition in accordance with the intended method of disposition stated in such Demand;
(ii) all other Registrable Securities which the Company has been requested to register pursuant to Section 1.1(b), but subject to Section 1.1(e); and
(iii) all shares of Company Common Stock which the Company may elect to register in connection with any offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 1.1, but subject to Section 1.1(e);
all to the extent necessary to permit the disposition (in accordance with the intended methods thereof) of the Registrable Securities and the additional shares of Company Common Stock, if any, to be so registered.
(b) A Demand shall specify (i) the aggregate number of Registrable Securities requested to be registered in such Demand Registration, (ii) the intended method of disposition in connection with such Demand Registration, to the extent then known and (iii) the identity of the Requesting Stockholder(s). Within five (5) Business Days after receipt of a Demand, the Company shall give written notice of such Demand to all other Holders of Registrable Securities. The Company shall include in the Demand Registration covered by such Demand all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received a written request for inclusion therein from the Holder thereof within five (5) Business Days after the Companys notice required by this paragraph has been given, subject to Section 1.1(e). Each such written request shall comply with the requirements of a Demand as set forth in this Section 1.1(b). The Company shall not be required to effect any Demand Registration within one hundred eighty (180) days after the effective date of a previous Demand Registration and shall not be obligated to effect more than three (3) Demand Registrations pursuant to this Section 1.1.
(c) Demand Registrations shall be on Form S-1 or any similar long-form registration statement that may be available at the time.
(d) The Company shall maintain the effectiveness of a Demand Registration for a period of at least one hundred eighty (180) days or such shorter period in which all Registrable Securities included in such Demand Registration have actually been sold thereunder (provided, that such period shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period the Holder of Registrable Securities refrains from selling any securities included in such registration statement at the request of the Company or the lead managing underwriter(s) pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement). The Company shall not be obligated to effect any Demand Registration (A) within one hundred eighty (180) days of a firm commitment Underwritten Offering in which all Holders were offered piggyback rights pursuant to Section 1.2 (subject to Section 1.2(b)) and at least 80% of the number of Registrable Securities requested by such Requesting Stockholders to be included in such Demand Registration were included and sold or (B) within one hundred eighty (180) days of the completion of any other Demand Registration (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Underwritten Offering pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement).
2
(e) If, in connection with a Demand Registration or Shelf Offering that involves an Underwritten Offering, the lead managing underwriter(s) advise(s) the Company that, in its (their) opinion, the inclusion of all of the securities sought to be registered in connection with such Demand Registration would materially adversely affect the price that will be paid in such offering or the marketability thereof, then the Company shall include in such registration statement only such securities as the Company is advised by such lead managing underwriter(s) can be sold without such adverse effect as follows and in the following order of priority: (i) first pro rata among the Holders that have requested to participate in such Demand Registration based on the relative number of Registrable Securities then held by each such Holder (provided that any Registrable Securities thereby allocated to a Holder that exceed such Holders request shall be reallocated among the remaining requesting Holders in like manner); (ii) second, any Existing Registrable Securities or Primary Issuance Funding Securities requested to be registered or sold by the Demand Committee, any securities entitled to Other Registration Rights that are pari passu with the piggyback rights contained in the Existing Registration Rights Agreement requested to be registered by the holders thereof and any securities the Company proposes to register or sell (other than Primary Issuance Funding Securities), ratably among the Company, such participating Covered Persons and the holders of such Other Registration Rights based on the respective amounts of securities the Company has proposed to include, the Demand Committee has requested to include and the holders of such Other Registration Rights have requested to include and (iii) third, all other securities of the Company duly requested to be included in such registration statement by other persons, pro rata on the basis of the amount of such other securities requested to be included or such other allocation method determined by the Company.
(f) The Company shall be entitled to postpone (upon written notice and the delivery of a certificate in accordance with this Section 1.1(f) to the Requesting Stockholders and any other Holders whose Registrable Securities are covered by such Demand pursuant to Section 1.1(b)) the filing or effectiveness of a registration statement for any Demand Registration in the event of a Blackout Period (subject to the conditions of the definition thereof) until the expiration of the applicable Blackout Period. In the event of a Blackout Period, the Company shall deliver to the Requesting Stockholders requesting registration and any other Holders whose Registrable Securities are covered by such Demand pursuant to Section 1.1(b) a certificate signed by either the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of the Company certifying that, in the good faith judgment of the Company, the conditions described in the definition of Blackout Period are met.
(g) Any time that a Demand Registration or Shelf Offering involves an Underwritten Offering, the Holders who have requested to participate in such Demand Registration or Shelf Offering shall select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) that will serve as managing underwriters (including which such managing underwriters will serve as lead or co-lead) and underwriters with respect to the offering of such Registrable Securities; provided that such investment banker(s) and manager(s) shall be subject to the prior written consent of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities then held by the Company, not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.
3
1.2. Piggyback Registrations.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, whenever the Company proposes to register any Company Common Stock under the Securities Act for its own account or for the account of other persons who are not Holders (other than (i) an Exchange Registration, (ii) a registration statement filed in connection with a Primary Issuance Funding under the Exchange Agreement, (iii) a registration by the Company on Form S-4 or any successor form thereto, (iv) a registration by the Company on Form S-8 or any successor form thereto (v) a registration in connection with any dividend reinvestment plan or similar plans, (vi) a registration in which the only common stock being registered is common stock issuable upon conversion of debt securities also being registered or (vii) pursuant to Section 1.1) (a Piggyback Registration), the Company shall give all Holders prompt written notice thereof (but not less than ten (10) Business Days prior to the filing by the Company with the Commission of any registration statement with respect thereto). Such notice (a Piggyback Notice) shall specify the number of shares of Company Common Stock proposed to be registered, the proposed date of filing of such registration statement with the Commission, the proposed means of distribution, the proposed managing underwriter(s) (if any) and a good faith estimate by the Company of the proposed minimum offering price of such shares of Company Common Stock, in each case to the extent then known. Subject to Section 1.2(b), the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to include in each such Piggyback Registration all Registrable Securities held by Holders (a Piggyback Seller) with respect to which the Company has received written requests (which written requests shall specify the number of Registrable Securities requested to be disposed of by such Piggyback Seller) for inclusion therein within five (5) Business Days after such Piggyback Notice is received by such Piggyback Seller.
(b) If, in connection with a Piggyback Registration that involves an Underwritten Offering, the lead managing underwriter(s) advises the Company that, in its opinion, the inclusion of all the shares of Company Common Stock sought to be included in such Piggyback Registration by (i) the Company, (ii) other Persons who have sought to have shares of Company Common Stock registered in such Piggyback Registration pursuant to rights to demand (other than pursuant to so-called piggyback or other incidental or participation rights) such registration (such Person being Other Demanding Sellers), (iii) the Piggyback Sellers and (iv) any other proposed sellers of shares of Company Common Stock (such Persons being Other Proposed Sellers), as the case may be, would materially adversely affect the price that will be paid in such offering or the marketability thereof, then the Company shall include in the registration statement applicable to such Piggyback Registration only such shares of Company Common Stock as the Company is so advised by such lead managing underwriter(s) can be sold without such an effect, as follows and in the following order of priority:
(i) If the Piggyback Registration relates to an offering for the Companys own account, then (A) first, such number of shares of Company Common Stock (other than Primary Issuance Funding Securities) to be sold by the Company, (B) second, Registrable Securities of Piggyback Sellers, Existing Registrable Securities and Primary Issuance Funding Securities requested to be registered or sold by the Demand Committee and any Company securities entitled to Other Registration Rights that are pari passu with the rights of the Piggyback Sellers, ratably among the Piggyback Sellers, the participating Covered Persons and the holders of such Other Registration Rights based on the respective amounts of securities requested to be included, (C) third, any securities to be registered or sold for the account of any other persons with such priorities as the Company shall determine; or
4
(ii) if the Piggyback Registration relates to an offering other than for the Companys own account, then (A) first, such number of shares of Company Common Stock sought to be registered by each Other Demanding Seller, (B) second, Registrable Securities of Piggyback Sellers, any Existing Registrable Securities and Primary Issuance Funding Securities requested to be registered or sold by the Demand Committee, any Company securities entitled to Other Registration Rights that are pari passu with the rights of the Piggyback Sellers and any securities the Company proposes to register or sell (other than Primary Issuance Funding Securities), ratably among the Company, the Piggyback Sellers, such participating Covered Persons and the holders of such Other Registration Rights based on the respective amounts of securities requested to be included, (C) third, other shares of Company Common Stock proposed to be sold by any Other Proposed Sellers.
(c) For clarity, in connection with any Underwritten Offering under this Section 1.2, the Company shall not be required to include the Registrable Securities of a Piggyback Seller in the Underwritten Offering unless such Piggyback Seller accepts the terms of the underwriting as agreed upon between the Company and the lead managing underwriter(s), which shall be selected by the Company or as otherwise specified in the Existing Registration Rights Agreement.
(d) If, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any shares of Company Common Stock as set forth in this Section 1.2 and prior to the time the registration statement filed in connection with such Piggyback Registration is declared effective, the Company shall determine for any reason not to register such shares of Company Common Stock, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to the Piggyback Sellers within five (5) Business Days thereof and thereupon shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such particular withdrawn or abandoned Piggyback Registration; provided, that Holders may continue the registration as a Demand Registration pursuant to the terms of Section 1.1.
1.3. Shelf Registration Statement.
(a) The Company shall file, as promptly as reasonably practicable following the date hereof (and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall use reasonable best efforts to cause such filing to occur within ten (10) Business Days of the date hereof (or fifteen (15) Business Days if the Company is a well know seasoned issuer)), a registration statement on Form S-3 or any successor form thereto (Form S-3) providing for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (a Shelf Registration Statement) registering all Registrable Securities then held by the Holders and including a plan and method of distribution substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto.
(b) The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause a Shelf Registration Statement to be effective as of the effective date of the Merger (or as soon as practicable thereafter) and keep a Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until the earlier of (i) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold thereunder in accordance with the plan and method of distribution disclosed in the prospectus included in the Shelf Registration Statement, or otherwise cease to be Registrable Securities; and (ii) the date on which this Agreement terminates pursuant to Section 4.1.
5
(c) At any time that a Shelf Registration Statement is effective, if one or more Holders deliver a notice to the Company (a Take-Down Notice) stating that such Holder(s) intend to sell a Registrable Amount of Registrable Securities on the Shelf Registration Statement in an Underwritten Offering (such Underwritten Offering, a Shelf Offering), the Company shall promptly, and in a manner reasonably agreed with such Holder(s), amend or supplement the Shelf Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to enable such Registrable Securities to be distributed pursuant to the Shelf Offering and take action to sell pursuant to such other means as are set forth in the plan of distribution.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled, from time to time (subject to the limitations in the definition of Blackout Period), by providing written notice to the Holders whose Registrable Securities are registered under the Shelf Registration Statement, to require such Holders to suspend the use of the prospectus for sales of Registrable Securities under the Shelf Registration Statement during any Blackout Period. In the event of a Blackout Period, the Company shall deliver to such Holders a certificate signed by either the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of the Company certifying that, in the good faith judgment of the Company, the conditions described in the definition of Blackout Period are met. After the expiration of any Blackout Period and without any further request from a Holder of Registrable Securities, the Company to the extent necessary shall as promptly as reasonably practicable prepare a post-effective amendment or supplement to the Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus, or any document incorporated therein by reference, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Registrable Securities included therein, the prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
1.4. Withdrawal Rights. Any Holder having notified or directed the Company to include any or all of its Registrable Securities in a registration statement under the Securities Act shall have the right to withdraw any such notice or direction with respect to any or all of the Registrable Securities designated by it for registration by giving written notice to such effect to the Company prior to the effective date of such registration statement. In the event of any such withdrawal, the Company shall not include such Registrable Securities in the applicable registration and such Registrable Securities shall continue to be Registrable Securities for all purposes of this Agreement (subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement). No such withdrawal shall affect the obligations of the Company with respect to the Registrable Securities not so withdrawn if any other Holder has requested that Registrable Securities be included in such registration; provided, however, that in the case of a Demand Registration, if such withdrawal shall reduce the number of Registrable Securities sought to be included in such registration below the Registrable Amount, then the Company shall as promptly as practicable give each Holder seeking to register Registrable Securities notice to such effect and, within five (5) Business Days following the mailing of such notice, such Holders still seeking registration shall, by written notice to the Company, elect to register additional Registrable Securities to satisfy the Registrable Amount or elect that such registration statement not be filed or, if theretofore filed, be withdrawn. During such five (5) Business Day period, the Company shall not file such registration statement if not theretofore filed or, if such registration statement has been theretofore filed, the Company shall not seek, and shall use reasonable efforts to prevent, the effectiveness thereof.
6
1.5. Holdback Agreements. (a) In connection with any Underwritten Offering in which a Holder participates pursuant to Section 1.2, if so requested by the lead managing underwriters, each such Holder agrees to enter into customary agreements, including such customary carve-outs and limitations as any such Holder may reasonably request, restricting the public sale or distribution of equity securities of the Company (including sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act) to the extent required in writing by the lead managing underwriter(s) with respect to an applicable Underwritten Offering during the period commencing on the date of the pricing of such Underwritten Offering) and continuing for not more than the lesser of (i) the period to which the Company and each of its directors and officers (subject to customary carve-outs and limitations) is restricted and (ii) sixty (60) days after the date of the final prospectus (or final prospectus supplement if the Underwritten Offering is made pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement), pursuant to which such Underwritten Offering shall be made, or such shorter period as is required by the lead managing underwriter(s). Any discretionary waiver or termination of the requirements under the foregoing provisions made by the Company or applicable lead managing underwriter(s) shall apply to each Holder on a pro rata basis.
(b) If so requested by the lead managing underwriters in connection with any Underwritten Offering, the Company will not effect, and will cause each of its directors and officers not to effect, any public sale or distribution of any common equity (or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for common equity) (subject to customary carveouts and limitations), within sixty (60) days or such shorter period as the managing underwriter shall agree to, after the date of such Underwritten Offering, except as may otherwise be agreed between the Company and the lead managing underwriter(s) of such Underwritten Offering, as applicable.
1.6. Registration Procedures.
(a) If and whenever the Company is required to use reasonable best efforts to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act as provided in Section 1.1, Section 1.2 or Section 1.3, the Company shall as expeditiously as reasonably practicable:
(i) prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement to effect such registration in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution of such securities and thereafter use reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become and remain effective pursuant to the terms of this Article I; provided, however, that the Company may discontinue any registration of its securities which are not Registrable Securities at any time prior to the effective date of the registration statement relating thereto; provided, further, that before filing such registration statement or any amendments thereto, the Company will furnish to the Holders which are including Registrable Securities in such registration (Selling Stockholders), their counsel and the lead managing underwriter(s) and their counsel, if any, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the review and reasonable comment of such counsel, and other documents reasonably requested by such counsel, including any comment letter from the Commission, and, if requested by such counsel, provide such counsel a reasonable opportunity to participate in the preparation of such registration statement and each prospectus included therein. The Company shall not file any such registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto with respect to a Demand Registration to which the Holders of a majority of Registrable Securities held by the Selling Stockholder(s), their counsel or the lead managing underwriter(s), if any, shall reasonably object, in writing, on a timely basis, unless, in the opinion of the Company, such filing is necessary to comply with Applicable Law;
7
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective pursuant to the terms of this Article I, and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement;
(iii) if requested by the lead managing underwriter(s), if any, or the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities being sold in connection with an Underwritten Offering, promptly include in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the lead managing underwriter(s), if any, and such holders may reasonably request in order to permit the intended method of distribution of such securities and make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company has received such request; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to take any actions under this Section 1.6(a)(iii) that are not, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, in compliance with Applicable Law;
(iv) furnish to the Selling Stockholders and each underwriter, if any, of the securities being sold by such Selling Stockholders such number of conformed copies of such registration statement and of each amendment and supplement thereto, such number of copies of the prospectus contained in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus) and each free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) (a Free Writing Prospectus) utilized in connection therewith and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 under the Securities Act, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as such Selling Stockholders and underwriter, if any, may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Selling Stockholders;
(v) use reasonable best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the Selling Stockholders, the 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 covered by such registration statement under such other securities laws or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Selling Stockholders and any underwriter of the securities being sold by such Selling Stockholders shall reasonably request, and to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period such registration statement is required to be kept effective and take any other action which may be necessary or reasonably advisable to enable such Selling Stockholders and underwriters to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such Selling Stockholders, except that the Company shall not for any such purpose be required to (A) qualify generally to do business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not but for the requirements of this clause (v) be obligated to be so qualified, (B) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (C) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction;
8
(vi) use reasonable best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed and, if no such securities are so listed, use reasonable best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Market;
(vii) use reasonable best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be reasonably necessary to enable the Selling Stockholder(s) thereof to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;
(viii) use reasonable best efforts to provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement from and after a date not later than the effective date of such registration statement;
(ix) in connection with any Underwritten Offering, (A) enter into an underwriting agreement in form, scope and substance customary in underwritten offerings, (B) make representations and warranties to the Holders of such Registrable Securities and the underwriters, if any, with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, 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 in underwritten offerings, and, if true, confirm the same if and when requested, (C) include in the underwriting agreement indemnification provisions and procedures substantially to the effect set forth in Section 1.9 hereof with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to said Section except as otherwise agreed by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold, (D) deliver such documents and certificates as are reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold, their counsel and the lead managing underwriters(s), if any, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties made pursuant to sub-clause (B) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, (E) use reasonable best efforts to deliver opinions of counsel for the Company to the underwriters, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by the underwriters and comfort letters and updates thereof signed by the independent public accountants who have certified the Companys financial statements and, to the extent required, any other financial statements included in such registration statement, covering the matters customarily covered in comfort letters in connection with underwritten offerings, and (F) make available for inspection by the Holders of such Registrable Securities. any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to any registration statement, and any attorney, accountant or other agent or representative retained in connection with such offering by such Holders of such Registrable Securities or underwriter, such financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and instruments of the Company, as shall be reasonably necessary, or as shall otherwise be reasonably requested, to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the officers, directors and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries (and use its
9
reasonable best efforts to cause its auditors) to participate in customary due diligence calls and to supply all information in each case reasonably requested by any such representative, underwriter, attorney, agent or accountant in connection with such registration statement. The above items (A) through (E) shall be done at each closing under such underwriting agreement, or as and to the extent required thereunder;
(x) as promptly as practicable notify in writing the Selling Stockholder and the underwriters, if any, of the following events: (A) the filing of the registration statement, any amendment thereto, the prospectus or any prospectus supplement related thereto or post-effective amendment to the registration statement or any Free Writing Prospectus utilized in connection therewith, and, with respect to the registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective; (B) any request by the Commission or any other U.S. or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to the registration statement or the prospectus or for additional information; (C) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings by any Person for that purpose; (D) the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction or the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose; (E) if at any time the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any underwriting agreement contemplated by Section 1.6(a)(ix) cease to be true and correct in any material respect; and (F) subject to the provisions of this Agreement relating to a Blackout Period, upon the happening of any event that makes any statement made in such registration statement or related prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such registration statement, prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the registration statement, 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 the prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and, at the request of any Selling Stockholder, promptly prepare and furnish to such Selling Stockholder a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of such registration statement or prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall not include 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;
(xi) use reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such 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 at the earliest reasonable practicable date, except that, subject to the requirements of Section 1.6(a)(v), the Company shall not for any such purpose be required to (A) qualify generally to do business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not but for the requirements of this clause (xi) be obligated to be so qualified, (B) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (C) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction; and
10
(xii) cooperate with each seller of Registrable Securities and each underwriter or agent participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA.
(b) The Company may require each Selling Stockholder to furnish the Company in writing such information regarding each Selling Stockholder and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing to complete or amend the information required by such registration statement.
(c) Each Selling Stockholder agrees that upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in clauses (B), (C), (D), (E) and (F) of Section 1.6(a)(x), such Selling Stockholder shall forthwith discontinue such Selling Stockholders disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the applicable registration statement and prospectus relating thereto until such Selling Stockholders receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 1.6(a)(x), or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the applicable prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such prospectus; provided, however, that the Company shall extend the time periods under Section 1.1(c) with respect to the length of time that the effectiveness of a registration statement must be maintained by the amount of time the Holder is required to discontinue disposition of such securities.
(d) With a view to making available to the Holders the benefits of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and any other rule or regulation of the Commission that may at any time permit a holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration or pursuant to a registration on Form S-3 (or any successor form), the Company shall:
(i) use reasonable best efforts to make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act;
(ii) use reasonable best efforts to file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Exchange Act, at any time when the Company is subject to such reporting requirements;
(iii) furnish to any Holder, promptly upon request, a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and of the Exchange Act, a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and such other reports and documents so filed or furnished by the Company with the Commission as such Holder may reasonably request in connection with the sale of Registrable Securities without registration (in each case to the extent not readily publicly available); and
(iv) otherwise provide such Holder with such customary assistance as is reasonably requested.
11
1.7. Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the Companys performance of its obligations under this Article I, including (a) all registration and filing fees, including all fees and expenses of compliance with securities and blue sky laws (including the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 1.6(a)(v)) and all fees and expenses associated with filings required to be made with FINRA (including, if applicable, the fees and expenses of any qualified independent underwriter as such term is defined in FINRA Rule 5121), (b) all printing (including expenses of printing certificates for the Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company and of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is requested by a Holder) and copying expenses, (c) all messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (d) all fees and expenses of the Companys independent certified public accountants and counsel, and (e) reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of one counsel for all Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in a registration statement, which counsel shall be selected by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold in connection therewith, shall be borne solely by the Company whether or not any registration statement is filed or becomes effective. In connection with the Companys performance of its obligations under this Article I, the Company will pay its internal expenses (including all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties and the expense of any annual audit) and the expenses and fees for listing the securities to be registered on each securities exchange and included in each established over-the-counter market on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed or traded. Each Selling Stockholder shall pay its portion of all underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale of such Selling Stockholders Registrable Securities pursuant to any registration.
1.8. Miscellaneous.
(a) Not less than five (5) Business Days before the expected filing date of each registration statement pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall notify each Holder of Registrable Securities who has timely provided the requisite notice hereunder entitling such holder to register Registrable Securities in such registration statement of the information, documents and instruments from such holder that the Company or any underwriter reasonably requests in connection with such registration statement, including, to the extent applicable, a questionnaire, custody agreement, power of attorney, lock-up letter (not to exceed a 60 days lock-up period) and underwriting agreement (the Requested Information). If the Company has not received, on or before the second (2nd) Business Day before the expected filing date, the Requested Information from such holder, the Company may file the registration statement without including Registrable Securities of such holder. The failure to so include in any registration statement the Registrable Securities of a holder of Registrable Securities (with regard to that registration statement) shall not result in any liability on the part of the Company to such Holder.
(b) The Company shall not grant any demand, piggyback or shelf registration rights, the terms of which conflict with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder to any other Person, or enter into any other agreements that conflict with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities under this Agreement, without the prior written consent of Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities then held by all Holders.
(c) The Company will cooperate with the Holders and the managing underwriter(s), if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates or book entries (which, in either case, shall not bear any restrictive legends) representing Shares to be sold by any Holder pursuant to any registration statement or sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and enable such shares to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the selling Holders or managing underwriter(s) may request.
12
1.9. Registration Indemnification.
(a) The Company agrees, without limitation as to time, to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, each Selling Stockholder and its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, members, shareholders, employees, managers, partners and agents and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) such Selling Stockholder or such other indemnified Person and the officers, directors, members, shareholders, employees, managers, partners, accountants, attorneys and agents of each such controlling Person, from and against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, expenses (including reasonable expenses of investigation and reasonable attorneys fees and expenses) and amounts paid in settlement (collectively, the Losses), as incurred, arising out of, caused by, resulting from or relating to any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any omission (or alleged omission) of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, preliminary prospectus, Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by any information furnished in writing to the Company by any Selling Stockholder expressly for use therein.
(b) In connection with any registration statement in which a Selling Stockholder is participating, without limitation as to time, each such Selling Stockholder shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify the Company, its directors, officers, stockholders, employees, managers, partners and agents and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the Company, from and against all Losses, as incurred, arising out of, caused by, resulting from or relating to any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of material fact contained in the registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any omission (or alleged omission) of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, preliminary prospectus, Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, in each case solely to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is made in such registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written information regarding such Selling Stockholder furnished to the Company by such Selling Stockholder expressly for inclusion in such registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Selling Stockholder shall be liable under this Section 1.9(b) for amounts in excess of the net proceeds received by such holder in the offering giving rise to such liability.
13
(c) Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification; provided, however, the failure to give such notice shall not release the indemnifying party from its obligation, except to the extent that the indemnifying party has been actually and materially prejudiced by such failure to provide such notice on a timely basis.
(d) In any case in which any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein, and, to the extent that it may wish, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof and acknowledging the obligations of the indemnifying party with respect to such proceeding, the indemnifying party will not (so long as it shall continue to have the right to defend, contest, litigate and settle the matter in question in accordance with this paragraph) be liable to such indemnified party hereunder for any legal or other expense subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof (unless (i) such indemnified party reasonably objects to such assumption on the grounds that there are defenses available to it which are different from or in addition to the defenses available to such indemnifying party and, as a result, a conflict of interest exists or (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed within a reasonable period of time to assume such defense and the indemnified party is or would reasonably be expected to be materially prejudiced by such delay, in either of which events the indemnified party shall be promptly reimbursed by the indemnifying party for the reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection with retaining one separate legal counsel (for the avoidance of doubt, for all indemnified parties in connection therewith)). For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding any such assumption by an indemnifying party, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such matter and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party except as provided in the previous sentence. An indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of an action or claim effected without its consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). No matter shall be settled by an indemnifying party without the consent of the indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), unless such settlement (x) includes as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation, (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party and (z) is settled solely for cash for which the indemnified party would be entitled to indemnification hereunder.
(e) The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall survive the sale of the Registrable Securities and the termination of this Agreement.
(f) If recovery is not available under the foregoing indemnification provisions for any reason or reasons other than as specified therein, any Person who would otherwise be entitled to indemnification by the terms thereof shall nevertheless be entitled to contribution with respect to any Losses with respect to which such Person would be entitled to such indemnification but for such reason or reasons, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
14
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party, the Persons relative knowledge and access to information concerning the matter with respect to which the claim was asserted, the opportunity to correct and prevent any statement or omission, and other equitable considerations appropriate under the circumstances. It is hereby agreed that it would not necessarily be equitable if the amount of such contribution were determined by pro rata or per capita allocation. 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 found guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Selling Stockholder shall be required to make a contribution in excess of the net proceeds received by such Selling Stockholder from its sale of Registrable Securities in connection with the offering that gave rise to the contribution obligation.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
2.1. Defined Terms. Capitalized terms when used in this Agreement have the following meanings:
Affiliate means, (a) any other Person which directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person (for the purposes of this definition, control (including, with correlative meanings, the terms controlling, controlled by and under common control with), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise), (b) for the avoidance of doubt, if such specified Person is an investment fund, any other investment fund, the primary investment advisor to which is the primary investment advisor to such specified Person or an Affiliate thereof, and (c) if such specified Person is a natural Person, any family member of such natural Person. Controlled and controlling shall be construed accordingly. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for all purposes of this Agreement, in no event shall an Affiliate of any Holder include any portfolio company (as such term is customarily used among institutional investors) of any Holder.
Agreement has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Applicable Law means, with respect to any Person, any Law applicable to such Person, its assets, properties, operations or business.
Beneficial Owner or Beneficially Own has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, and a Persons beneficial ownership of securities shall be calculated in accordance with the provisions of such Rule (in each case, irrespective of whether or not such Rule is actually applicable in such circumstance).
15
Blackout Period means in the event that the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith that the registration or sale of Registrable Securities would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect or materially interfere with any bona fide material financing of the Company or any material transaction under consideration by the Company or would require disclosure of information that has not been, and is not otherwise required to be, disclosed to the public, the premature disclosure of which would materially adversely affect the Company, a period of up to 60 days; provided that a Blackout Period may not occur more than twice in any period of 12 consecutive months and no more than 60 days in a 180 day period.
Business Day means a day on which banks are generally open for normal business in New York, New York, which day is not a Saturday or a Sunday.
Closing Date has the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement.
Commission means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal agency administering the Securities Act.
Company has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Company Common Stock has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Covered Person has the meaning set forth in the Existing Registration Rights Agreement.
Demand has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(a).
Demand Committee has the meaning set forth in the Existing Registration Rights Agreement.
Demand Registration has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(a).
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Exchange Agreement means the Exchange Agreement, dated as of October 1, 2015, among the Company, Purchaser and the other parties thereto, as amended from time to time.
Exchange Registration has the meaning set forth in the Existing Registration Rights Agreement.
Existing Registration Rights Agreement means the Registration Rights Agreement of the Company, dated as of October 1, 2015.
Existing Registrable Securities means Registrable Securities as defined in the Existing Registration Rights Agreement.
Form S-3 has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3(a).
Free Writing Prospectus has the meaning set forth in Section 1.6(a)(iv).
Governmental Authority means any court, administrative agency or commission or other governmental authority or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, or applicable exchange or self-regulatory organization, including FINRA.
16
Holder means (a) each of the Persons who is identified as a Holder on Exhibit B hereto, (b) any Permitted Transferee of any of the Persons referenced in clause (a) to which Shares are transferred by such Person referenced in clause (a) and that becomes a party hereto pursuant to Section 4.4 and (c) any Permitted Transferee of any of the Persons included in clause (b) of this definition to which Shares are transferred by such Person and that becomes a party hereto pursuant to Section 4.4.
Law means any federal, state, provincial, local, municipal, foreign, international, multinational or other order, judgment, decree, constitution, law, ordinance, regulation, statute, treaty, code, rule, by-law, writ, injunction, decision, arbitration award, franchise, license, agency requirement, permit or other award of any Governmental Authority, or any policy, guideline, notice or protocol, in each case, to the extent that it has the force of law.
Losses has the meaning set forth in Section 1.9(a).
Merger Agreement has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Other Proposed Sellers has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2(b).
Other Registration Rights means any securities of the Company proposed to be included in such registration by the holders of registration rights granted other than pursuant to this Agreement or the Existing Registration Rights Agreement.
Permitted Transferee means, with (a) respect to any Holder that is not an individual, any Affiliate of such Holder that executes a joinder hereto in accordance with Section 4.4 and (b) with respect to any individual. (i) his or her spouse and his or her lineal descendants (including children by adoption and stepchildren), (ii) any trust or custodianship, the beneficiaries of which include only such Holder and/or the Persons described in the immediate foregoing clause (i), (iii) any limited liability company or partnership (A) with respect to which all of the outstanding equity interests are beneficially owned solely by such Holder and/or his or her spouse and his or her lineal descendants (including children by adoption and step children) and (B) with respect to which such Holder is the sole manager or managing member (if a limited liability company) or the sole general partner (if a limited partnership) and otherwise has the sole power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies, directly or indirectly, of such limited liability company or partnership, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise and, upon the death of such Holder, his or her executors, administrators, testamentary trustees, legatees or beneficiaries.
Person means any natural person or any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including any Governmental Authority.
Piggyback Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2(a).
Piggyback Registration has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2(a).
Piggyback Seller has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2(a).
Primary Issuance Funding has the meaning set forth in the Exchange Agreement.
17
Primary Issuance Funding Securities has the meaning set forth in the Existing Registration Rights Agreement.
Registrable Amount means an amount of Registrable Securities having an aggregate value of at least $15.0 million or the total number of Registrable Securities held by a particular Holder (in each case, based on the anticipated offering price (as reasonably determined in good faith by the Company), without regard to any underwriting discount or commission).
Registrable Securities means the Shares and any shares of Company Common Stock received in respect of the Shares in connection with any stock split or subdivision, stock dividend, distribution or similar transaction; provided that any such Shares shall cease to be Registrable Securities upon the earliest of (i) when they are sold by a Holder pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, (ii) when they have been sold by a Holder pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and (iii) when they shall have ceased to be outstanding.
Requested Information has the meaning set forth in Section 1.8(a).
Requesting Stockholders has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1(a).
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Selling Stockholders has the meaning set forth in Section 1.6(a)(i).
Shares has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Shelf Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3(a).
Shelf Offering has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3(c).
Shelf Registration Statement has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3(a).
Take-Down Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3(c).
Transfer means any direct or indirect sale, assignment, encumbrance, pledge, hypothecation, disposition, loan or other transfer, or entry into any Agreement with respect to any sale, assignment, encumbrance, pledge, hypothecation, disposition, loan or other transfer, excluding entry into this Agreement and the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
Underwritten Offering means a sale of securities of the Company to an underwriter or underwriters for reoffering to the public.
2.2. Interpretation. Whenever used herein, the words include, includes and including shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase without limitation, and the words hereof and herein and similar words shall be construed as references to this Agreement as a whole and not limited to the particular Article, Section, Annex, Exhibit or Schedule in which the reference appears.
18
Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein: (x) to Articles, Sections, Annexes, Exhibits and Schedules mean the Articles, Sections and Annexes of, and Exhibits and Schedules attached to, this Agreement; (y) to an agreement, instrument or other document means such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof; and (z) to a statute means such statute as amended from time to time and includes any successor legislation thereto and any regulations promulgated thereunder. References to $ or dollars means United States dollars. Any reference in this Agreement to any gender shall include all genders. The meanings of defined terms are equally applicable to the singular and plural forms of the defined terms. The Annexes, and Schedules referred to herein shall be construed with, and as an integral part of, this Agreement to the same extent as if they were set forth verbatim herein. The headings of the Articles and Sections are for convenience of reference only and do not affect the interpretation of any of the provisions hereof. If, and as often as, there is any change in the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock by reason of stock dividends, splits, reverse splits, spin-offs, split-ups, mergers, reclassifications, reorganizations, recapitalizations, combinations or exchanges of shares and the like, appropriate adjustment shall be made in the provisions of this Agreement so as to fairly and equitably preserve, as far as practicable, the rights and obligations set forth herein that continue to be applicable on the date of such change. No rule of construction against the draftsperson shall be applied in connection with the interpretation or enforcement of this Agreement, as this Agreement is the product of negotiation between sophisticated parties advised by counsel.
ARTICLE III|
SHARE TRANSFERS
3.1 General. Before a Holder may Transfer any Shares, other than a Transfer to an Affiliate in the case of CC CVP Partners Holdings, L.L.C., such Holder must comply with the provisions of this Article III to the extent applicable.
3.2 Notice of Proposed Transfer. From and after the date that is six (6) months following the effective time of the Merger, if a Holder intends to Transfer (x) 200,000 or more Shares or (y) Shares with a proposed purchase price of $12,000,000 or more (either such proposed Transfer, the Proposed Transfer), then (i) such Holder shall promptly (and in any event before contacting any broker or potential buyer in connection with the Proposed Transfer) notify (which for this Section may be telephonically or by email and without copies pursuant to Section 4.2) the Company of the Holders intention of the Proposed Transfer (the Notice); (ii) after such Holder determines a proposed sale price for such Proposed Transfer, such Holder shall notify the Company of such proposed sale price and (iii) such Holder shall give the Company opportunity to purchase such Shares at the proposed sale price; provided, that while such Holder shall act in good faith to attempt to accommodate a timely purchase by the Company at the proposed sale price, nothing in this Article III will require a Holder to delay, fail to proceed with or fail to complete a Transfer to any broker or potential buyer once the proposed sale price has been provided to the Company (it being understood that such Holder shall not consummate a Proposed Transfer at a lower sale price without first providing the Company notice of such lower proposed sale price and an opportunity to purchase such Shares at the lower proposed sale price). The Company shall not disclose the Notice or Holders intention to sell Shares in a Proposed Transfer to any person other than employees of the Company who need to know in connection with the consideration of the Notice and the purchase of the Shares by the Company.
19
ARTICLE IV
MISCELLANEOUS
4.1. Term. This Agreement will be effective as of effective time of the Merger and shall terminate (i) on the date on which there are no Registrable Securities outstanding or (ii) with respect to a Holder, by written notice at any time by such Holder to the Company. Sections 1.9 and Articles II and IV shall survive any termination.
4.2. Notices. All notices, consents and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by hand delivery, by prepaid overnight courier (providing written proof of delivery), by confirmed email transmission or by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested and first class postage prepaid), addressed as follows:
(a) If to any Holder, to such Holder at the address indicated on Schedule A hereto, with a concurrent copy to (which shall not be considered notice):
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Attention: Maripat Alpuche
Email: malpuche@stblaw.com
(b) if to the Company, to:
PJT Partners Inc.
280 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Attention: General Counsel
Email: cuminale@pjtpartners.com
with a concurrent copy to (which shall not be considered notice):
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10153
Attention: Michael J. Aiello
Matthew J. Gilroy
E-mail: michael.aiello@weil.com
matthew.gilroy@weil.com
4.3. Amendments and Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified unless such amendment or modification is in writing and signed by (i) the Company and (ii) Holders Beneficially Owning a majority of the Registrable Securities then Beneficially Owned by all Holders. No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by Applicable Law.
20
4.4. Successors and Assigns and Transferees. Each Holder may assign all or a portion of its rights hereunder to any Permitted Transferee of such Holder to which such Holder transfers all or any of its Registrable Securities; provided that such transferee shall only be admitted as a party hereunder and become a Holder upon its, his or her execution and delivery of a joinder agreement pursuant to which such Holder agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement as if such person were a Holder party hereto; whereupon such Person will be treated as a Holder for all purposes of this Agreement, with the same rights, benefits and obligations hereunder as the transferring Holder with respect to the transferred Registrable Securities. Except as provided in the immediate preceding sentence, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and assigns. Any attempted assignment in violation of this Section 4.4 shall be void.
4.5. Severability. It is the intent of the parties that the provisions of this Agreement shall be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under Applicable Law and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. If any particular provision or portion of this Agreement shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision or portion thereof shall be deemed amended to the minimum extent necessary to render such provision or portion valid and enforceable, and such amendment will apply only with respect to the operation of such provision or portion in the particular jurisdiction in which such adjudication is made.
4.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that each party need not sign the same counterpart.
4.7. Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the documents and the instruments referred to in this Agreement), together with the Merger Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement (each as defined in the Merger Agreement) and any agreements referred to therein, constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.
4.8. APPLICABLE LAW; JURISDICTION OF DISPUTES. THIS AGREEMENT AND ALL LITIGATION, CLAIMS, ACTIONS, SUITS, HEARINGS OR PROCEEDINGS (WHETHER CIVIL, CRIMINAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE AND WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE), DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ACTIONS OF THE COMPANY OR THE HOLDERS IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE AND ENFORCEMENT HEREOF OR THEREOF, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OR CONFLICT OF LAWS
21
PROVISION OR RULE (WHETHER OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION) THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF DELAWARE. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY (A) EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE PERSONAL JURISDICTION OF THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (PROVIDED THAT IF JURISDICTION IS NOT THEN AVAILABLE IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, THE PERSONAL JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL COURT LOCATED IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR ANY OTHER DELAWARE STATE COURT) IN THE EVENT ANY DISPUTE ARISES OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, (B) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO DENY OR DEFEAT SUCH PERSONAL JURISDICTION BY MOTION OR OTHER REQUEST FOR LEAVE FROM ANY SUCH COURT AND (C) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT BRING ANY ACTION RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT IN ANY COURT OTHER THAN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (PROVIDED THAT IF JURISDICTION IS NOT THEN AVAILABLE IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, SUCH ACTION MAY BE BROUGHT ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL COURT LOCATED IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR ANY OTHER DELAWARE STATE COURT); PROVIDED THAT EACH OF THE PARTIES SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING FOR ENFORCEMENT OF A JUDGMENT ENTERED BY ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL COURT LOCATED IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR ANY DELAWARE STATE COURT IN ANY OTHER COURT OR JURISDICTION.
4.9. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE HOLDERS IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ACTIONS OF THE COMPANY OR THE HOLDERS IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE AND
ENFORCEMENT THEREOF.
4.10. Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms. It is expressly agreed that the parties hereto shall be entitled to equitable relief, including injunctive relief and specific performance of the terms hereof, this being in addition to any other remedies to which they are entitled at law or in equity.
4.11. No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement shall confer any rights upon any Person other than the parties hereto and each such partys respective heirs, successors and permitted assigns; provided that the Persons indemnified under Section 1.9 are intended third party beneficiaries of Section 1.9.
4.12. No Recourse. Notwithstanding anything that may be expressed or implied in this Agreement, and notwithstanding the fact that any party hereto may be a partnership or limited liability company, each party hereto, by its acceptance of the benefits of this Agreement, covenants, agrees and acknowledges that no Persons other than the named parties hereto shall have any obligation hereunder
22
and that it has no rights of recovery hereunder against, and no recourse hereunder or in respect of any oral representations made or alleged to be made in connection herewith shall be had against, any former, current or future director, officer, agent, Affiliate, manager, assignee, incorporator, controlling Person, fiduciary, representative or employee of any Holder (or any of their heirs, successors or permitted assigns), or against any former, current or future director, officer, agent, employee, Affiliate, manager, assignee, incorporator, controlling Person, fiduciary, representative, general or limited partner, stockholder, manager or member of any of the foregoing Persons, but in each case not including the named parties hereto (each, a Non-Liable Person), whether by or through attempted piercing of the corporate veil, by or through a claim (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) by or on behalf of such party against any Non-Liable Person, by the enforcement of any assignment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other Applicable Law or otherwise; it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any Non-Liable Person, as such, for any obligations of the applicable party under this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, in respect of any oral representations made or alleged to have been made in connection herewith or therewith or for any claim (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) based on, in respect of or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.
[The remainder of this page left intentionally blank.]
23
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement by their authorized representatives as of the date first above written.
PJT PARTNERS INC. | ||
By: | /s/ James W. Cuminale | |
Name: James W. Cuminale | ||
Title: General Counsel |
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement by their authorized representatives as of the date first above written.
SECURITYHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE, on behalf of the Holders | ||
CC CVP PARTNERS HOLDINGS, LLC. | ||
By: | /s/ D.T. Ignacio Jayanti | |
Name: D.T. Ignacio Jayanti | ||
Title: Managing Partner |
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The selling securityholders, including their pledgees, donees, transferees, distributees, beneficiaries or other successors in interest, may from time to time offer some or all of the shares of common stock (collectively, Securities) covered by this prospectus. To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended and supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution.
The selling securityholders will not pay any of the costs, expenses and fees in connection with the registration and sale of the Securities covered by this prospectus, but they will pay any and all underwriting discounts, selling commissions and stock transfer taxes, if any, attributable to sales of the Securities. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the common stock covered hereby.
The selling securityholders may sell the Securities covered by this prospectus from time to time, and may also decide not to sell all or any of the Securities that they are allowed to sell under this prospectus. The selling securityholders will act independently of us in making decisions regarding the timing, manner and size of each sale. These dispositions may be at fixed prices, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at privately negotiated prices. Sales may be made by the selling securityholders in one or more types of transactions, which may include:
| purchases by underwriters, dealers and agents who may receive compensation in the form of underwriting discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling securityholders and/or the purchasers of the Securities for whom they may act as agent; |
| one or more block transactions, including transactions in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the Securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction, or in crosses, in which the same broker acts as an agent on both sides of the trade; |
| ordinary brokerage transactions or transactions in which a broker solicits purchases; |
| purchases by a broker-dealer or market maker, as principal, and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; |
| the pledge of Securities for any loan or obligation, including pledges to brokers or dealers who may from time to time effect distributions of Securities; |
| short sales or transactions to cover short sales relating to the Securities; |
| one or more exchanges or over the counter market transactions; |
| through distribution by a selling securityholder or its successor in interest to its members, general or limited partners or shareholders (or their respective members, general or limited partners or shareholders); |
| privately negotiated transactions; |
| the writing of options, whether the options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise; |
| distributions to creditors and equity holders of the selling securityholders; and |
| any combination of the foregoing, or any other available means allowable under applicable law. |
A selling securityholder may also resell all or a portion of its Securities in open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act provided it meets the criteria and conforms to the requirements of Rule 144 and all applicable laws and regulations.
The selling securityholders may enter into sale, forward sale and derivative transactions with third parties, or may sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. In connection with those sale, forward sale or derivative transactions, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus, including in short sale transactions and by issuing securities that are not covered by this prospectus but are exchangeable for or represent beneficial interests in the common stock. The third parties also may use shares received under those sale, forward sale or derivative arrangements or shares pledged by the selling securityholder or borrowed from the selling securityholders or others to settle such third-party sales or to close out any related open borrowings of common stock. The third parties may deliver this prospectus in connection with any such transactions. Any third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and will be identified in a supplement or a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part as may be required.
In addition, the selling securityholders may engage in hedging transactions with broker-dealers in connection with distributions of Securities or otherwise. In those transactions, broker-dealers may engage in short sales of securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume with selling securityholders. The selling securityholders may also sell securities short and redeliver securities to close out such short positions. The selling securityholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers which require the delivery of securities to the broker-dealer. The broker-dealer may then resell or otherwise transfer such securities pursuant to this prospectus. The selling securityholders also may loan or pledge shares, and the borrower or pledgee may sell or otherwise transfer the Securities so loaned or pledged pursuant to this prospectus. Such borrower or pledgee also may transfer those Securities to investors in our securities or the selling securityholders securities or in connection with the offering of other securities not covered by this prospectus.
To the extent necessary, the specific terms of the offering of Securities, including the specific Securities to be sold, the names of the selling securityholders, the respective purchase prices and public offering prices, the names of any underwriter, broker-dealer or agent, if any, and any applicable compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions paid to underwriters or agents or paid or allowed to dealers will be set forth in a supplement to this prospectus or a post-effective amendment to this registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The selling
securityholders may, or may authorize underwriters, dealers and agents to, solicit offers from specified institutions to purchase Securities from the selling securityholders at the public offering price listed in the applicable prospectus supplement. These sales may be made under delayed delivery contracts or other purchase contracts that provide for payment and delivery on a specified future date. Any contracts like this will be described in and be subject to the conditions set forth in a supplement to this prospectus or a post-effective amendment to this registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
Broker-dealers or agents may receive compensation in the form of commissions, discounts or concessions from the selling securityholders. Broker-dealers or agents may also receive compensation from the purchasers of Securities for whom they act as agents or to whom they sell as principals, or both. Compensation as to a particular broker-dealer might be in excess of customary commissions and will be in amounts to be negotiated in connection with transactions involving securities. In effecting sales, broker-dealers engaged by the selling securityholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate in the resales.
In connection with sales of Securities covered hereby, the selling securityholders and any underwriter, broker-dealer or agent and any other participating broker-dealer that executes sales for the selling securityholders may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). Accordingly, any profits realized by the selling securityholders and any compensation earned by such underwriter, broker-dealer or agent may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions. Selling securityholders who are underwriters under the Securities Act must deliver this prospectus in the manner required by the Securities Act. This prospectus delivery requirement may be satisfied through the facilities of the New York Stock Exchange in accordance with Rule 153 under the Securities Act or satisfied in accordance with Rule 174 under the Securities Act.
We and the selling securityholders have agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In addition, we or the selling securityholders may agree to indemnify any underwriters, broker-dealers and agents against or contribute to any payments the underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may be required to make with respect to, civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Underwriters, broker-dealers and agents and their affiliates are permitted to be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us and our affiliates or the selling securityholders or their affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
In order to comply with applicable securities laws of some states or countries, the Securities may only be sold in those jurisdictions through registered or licensed brokers or dealers and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. In addition, in certain states or countries the Securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or country or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirements is available. In addition, any Securities of a selling securityholder covered by this prospectus that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold in open market transactions under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this prospectus.
In connection with an offering of Securities under this prospectus, the underwriters may purchase and sell securities in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of securities than they are required to purchase in an offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the securities while an offering is in progress.
The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the underwriters have repurchased securities sold by or for the account of that underwriter in stabilizing or short-covering transactions.
These activities by the underwriters may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the Securities offered under this prospectus. As a result, the price of the Securities may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time. These transactions may be effected on the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Stock Exchange or another securities exchange or automated quotation system, or in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
EXHIBIT B
HOLDERS
1. | CC CVP Partners Holdings, L.L.C. |
2. | Darwin Capital Advisors LLC |
3. | Darwin Capital Advisors II LLC |
4. | Blake R. Grossman Trust U/D/T dated 10/01/09 |
5. | The Katherine Dadachanji Revocable Trust, May 20, 2015 |
6. | The Naozer Dadachanji Revocable Trust 2015 |
7. | Keith Craig |
8. | Peter Clapman |
9. | Rich Koppes |
10. | Eileen Rominger |
11. | Joe Ruocco |
12. | Michele Hooper |
13. | Chad Spitler |
14. | Jonathan Payson |