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Exhibit 4.3    
    


 
  REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT    
    


        THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of July 30, 2003 by and between Chiron Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Banc of America Securities LLC and BNP Paribas Securities Corp. (collectively, the "Initial Purchasers"), pursuant to a
purchase agreement, dated July 24, 2003 (the "Purchase Agreement"), between the Company and the Initial Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase
Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement. 


        The
Company agrees with the Initial Purchasers, (i) for their benefit as Initial Purchasers and (ii) for the benefit of the beneficial owners (including the Initial
Purchasers) from time to time of the Securities (as defined herein), and the beneficial owners from time to time of the Underlying Common Stock (as defined herein) issued upon conversion of Securities
(each of the foregoing a "Holder" and together the "Holders"), as follows: 



        SECTION
1.    Definitions.    Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have their respective meanings
set forth in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings: 



        "Affiliate" With respect to any specified person, an "affiliate," as defined in Rule 144, of such person. 



        "Business Day" Each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in The City of New
York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close. 


        "Common Stock" The Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company and any other shares of common stock as may constitute "Common Stock" for
purposes of the Indenture, including the Underlying Common Stock. 


        "Conversion Rate" Conversion Rate shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Indenture. 


        "Damages Accrual Period" See Section 2(e) hereof. 


        "Damages Payment Date" Each February 1 and August 1. 


        "Deferral Notice" See Section 3(i) hereof. 


        "Deferral Period" See Section 3(i) hereof. 


        "Effectiveness Deadline Date" See Section 2(a) hereof. 


        "Effectiveness Period" The period of two years from the Issue Date or such shorter period ending on the date that all Registrable
Securities have ceased to be Registrable Securities. 


        "Event" See Section 2(e) hereof. 


        "Event Termination Date" See Section 2(e) hereof. 


        "Event Date" See Section 2(e) hereof. 


        "Exchange Act" The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder. 


        "Filing Deadline Date" See Section 2(a) hereof. 



        "Holder" See the second paragraph of this Agreement. 






 




        "Indenture" The Indenture dated as of the date hereof between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, pursuant to
which the Securities are being issued. 


        "Initial Purchasers" Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Banc of America Securities LLC and BNP Paribas
Securities Corp. 


        "Initial Shelf Registration Statement" See Section 2(a) hereof. 


        "Issue Date" means July 30, 2003. 


        "Liquidated Damages Amount" See Section 2(e) hereof. 


        "Losses" See Section 6 hereof. 


        "Material Event" See Section 3(i) hereof. 



        "Notice and Questionnaire" A written notice delivered to the Company containing substantially the information called for by the Selling
Security Holder Notice and Questionnaire attached as Annex A to the Offering Memorandum of the Company dated July 24, 2003 relating to the Securities. 


        "Notice Holder" On any date, any Holder that has delivered a Notice and Questionnaire to the Company on or prior to such date. 


        "Prospectus" The prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses information
previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any
amendment or prospectus supplement, including post-effective amendments, and all materials incorporated by reference or explicitly deemed to be incorporated by reference in such
Prospectus. 


        "Purchase Agreement" See the first paragraph of this Agreement. 


        "Record Holder" With respect to any Damages Payment Date relating to any Security or shares of Underlying Common Stock as to which any
Liquidated Damages Amount has accrued, the registered holder of such Security or such shares of Underlying Common Stock, as the case may be, on the 15th day prior to such Damages Payment Date. 


        "Registrable Securities" The Securities and the Underlying Common Stock until such securities have been converted or exchanged and, at all
times subsequent to any such conversion or exchange, any securities into or for which such securities have been converted or exchanged, and any security issued with respect thereto upon any stock
dividend, split, merger or similar event until, in the case of any such security, the earliest of (i) its effective registration under the Securities Act and resale in accordance with the
Registration Statement covering it, (ii) expiration of the holding period that would be applicable thereto under Rule 144(k) were it not held by an Affiliate of the Company, or
(iii) its sale to the public pursuant to Rule 144. 


        "Registration Expenses" See Section 5 hereof. 


        "Registration Statement" Any registration statement of the Company that covers any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits, and all materials
incorporated by reference or explicitly deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement. 


        "Restricted Securities" As this term is defined in Rule 144. 


        "Rule 144" Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or
regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC. 



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        "Rule 144A" Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or
regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC. 


        "SEC" The Securities and Exchange Commission. 



        "Securities" The 15/8% convertible debentures due 2033 of the Company to be purchased pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. 


        "Securities Act" The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder. 


        "Shelf Registration Statement" See Section 2(a) hereof. 


        "Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement" See Section 2(b) hereof. 


        "Tax Event" shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Indenture. 


        "TIA" The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. 


        "Trustee" U.S. Bank, N.A. (or any successor entity), the Trustee under the Indenture. 



        "Underlying Common Stock" The Common Stock into which the Securities are convertible or issued upon any such conversion or payment of the
purchase price of a purchase of Securities. 




        SECTION
2.    Shelf Registration.    



        (a)   The
Company shall prepare and file or cause to be prepared and filed with the SEC no later than a date which is ninety (90) days after the Issue Date (the "Filing
Deadline Date") a Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act (a "Shelf Registration Statement") registering
the resale from time to time by Holders thereof of all of the Registrable Securities (the "Initial Shelf Registration Statement"). The Initial Shelf Registration Statement shall be on
Form S-3 or another appropriate form permitting registration of such Registrable Securities for resale by such Holders in accordance with the methods of distribution reasonably
elected by the Holders and set forth in the Initial Shelf Registration Statement; provided, that in no event will such method(s) of distribution take the form of an underwritten offering of the
Registrable Securities without the prior agreement of the Company. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to cause the Initial Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under the
Securities Act by the date (the "Effectiveness Deadline Date") that is one-hundred-and-eighty (180) days after the Issue Date, and to keep the Initial Shelf
Registration Statement (or any Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement) continuously effective under the Securities Act until the expiration of the Effectiveness Period. At the time the Initial Shelf
Registration Statement is declared effective, each Holder that became a Notice Holder on or prior to the date 5 Business Days prior to such time of effectiveness shall be named as a selling security
holder in the Initial Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus in such a manner as to permit such Holder to deliver such Prospectus to purchasers of Registrable Securities in accordance
with applicable law (other than laws not generally applicable to all such Holders). With the exception of Novartis AG, none of the Company's security holders (other than the Holders of Registrable
Securities) shall have the right to include any of the Company's securities in the Shelf Registration Statement. 


        (b)   If
the Initial Shelf Registration Statement or any Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective for any reason at any time during the Effectiveness
Period, the Company shall use reasonable efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness thereof, and in any event shall within thirty (30) days of such
cessation of effectiveness amend the Shelf Registration Statement in a manner reasonably expected by the Company to obtain the withdrawal of the order suspending the effectiveness thereof, or file an
additional Shelf Registration Statement covering all of the securities that as of the date of such 



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filing
are Registrable Securities (a "Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement"). If a Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement is filed, the Company shall use reasonable efforts to cause the Subsequent
Shelf Registration Statement to become effective as promptly as is reasonably practicable after such filing or, if filed during a Deferral Period, after the expiration of such Deferral Period, and to
keep such Registration Statement (or subsequent Shelf Registration Statement) continuously effective until the end of the Effectiveness Period. 


        (c)   The
Company shall supplement and amend the Shelf Registration Statement if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by
the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement, if required by the Securities Act or, to the extent to which the Company does
not reasonably object, as reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers or by the Trustee on behalf of the registered Holders. 


        (d)   Each
Holder of Registrable Securities agrees that if such Holder wishes to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus,
it will do so only in accordance with this Section 2(d) and Section 3(i). Each Holder of Registrable Securities wishing to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration
Statement and related Prospectus agrees to deliver a Notice and Questionnaire to the Company at least five (5) Business Days prior to any intended distribution of Registrable Securities under
the Shelf Registration Statement. From and after the date the Initial Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective, the Company shall, as promptly as practicable after the date a Notice and
Questionnaire is delivered, (i) if required by applicable law, file with the SEC a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement or prepare and, if required by
applicable law, file a supplement to the related Prospectus or a supplement or amendment to any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other document required by the SEC so that
the Holder delivering such Notice and Questionnaire is named as a selling security holder in the Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus in such a manner as to permit such Holder to
deliver such Prospectus to purchasers of the Registrable Securities in accordance with applicable law (other than laws not generally applicable to all Holders of Registrable Securities wishing to sell
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus) and, if the Company shall file a post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration
Statement, use reasonable efforts to cause such post-effective amendment to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably practicable; (ii) provide
such Holder copies of any documents filed pursuant to Section 2(d)(i); and (iii) notify such Holder as promptly as practicable after the effectiveness under the Securities Act of any
post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Section 2(d)(i); provided, that if such Notice and Questionnaire is delivered during a Deferral Period, the Company shall so inform the
Holder delivering such Notice and Questionnaire and shall take the actions set forth in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above upon expiration of the Deferral Period in accordance with
Section 3(i), provided, further, that if under applicable law the Company has more than one option as to the type or manner of making any such filing, as set forth in an opinion of
nationally-recognized counsel experienced in such matters delivered by the Holder to the Company, it will make the required filing or filings in the manner or of a type that is reasonably expected to
result in the earliest availability of the Prospectus for effecting resales of Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Company shall be under no
obligation to name any Holder that is not a Notice Holder as a selling security holder in any Registration Statement or related Prospectus; provided, however, that any Holder that becomes a Notice
Holder pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(d) of this Agreement (whether or not such Holder was a Notice Holder at the time the Registration Statement was initially declared effective)
shall be named as a selling security holder in the Registration Statement or related Prospectus subject to and in accordance with the requirements of this Section 2(d). 



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        (e)   The
parties hereto agree that the Holders of Registrable Securities will suffer damages, and that it would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages with
precision, if (i) the Initial Shelf Registration Statement has not been filed on or prior to the Filing Deadline Date, (ii) the Initial Shelf Registration Statement has not been declared
effective under the Securities Act on or prior to the Effectiveness Deadline Date, or (iii) after the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement and
prior to the termination of the Effectiveness Period, (A) the Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective for the offer and sale of Registrable Securities (other than during such
Deferral Periods as permitted pursuant to Section 3(i)), and the Company fails to file (and have declared effective), with ten (10) Business Days, a post-effective amendment
to the Shelf Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to the Prospectus contained therein or such other document with the SEC to make the Shelf Registration Statement effective or such
Prospectus usable, or (B) the aggregate duration of Deferral Periods in any period exceeds the number of days permitted in respect of such period pursuant to Section 3(i) hereof
(each of the events of a type described in any of the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) are individually referred to herein as an "Event," and the Filing Deadline Date in the case of
clause (i), the Effectiveness Deadline Date in the case of clause (ii), and (x) the date on which the Company fails to file (and have declared effective) a
post-effective amendment or amendment or supplement or such other document to make the Shelf Registration Statement effective or the Prospectus usable or (y) the date on which the
aggregate duration of Deferral Periods in any period exceeds the number of days permitted by Section 3(i) hereof in the case of clause (iii), being referred to herein as an "Event
Date"). Events shall be deemed to continue until the "Event Termination Date," which shall be the following dates with respect to the respective types of Events: the date the Initial Shelf
Registration Statement is filed in the case of an Event of the type described in clause (i), the date the Initial Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act in
the case of an Event of the type described in clause (ii), (A) the date on which the Company files (and has declared effective) a post-effective amendment, amendment,
supplement or other document to make the Shelf Registration Statement effective or Prospectus usable or (B) termination of the Deferral Period that caused the limit on the aggregate duration of
Deferral Periods in a period set forth in Section 3(i) to be exceeded in the case of the commencement of an Event of the type described in clause (iii). 




        Accordingly,
commencing on (and including) the day following any Event Date and ending on (but excluding) the next date on which there are no Events that have occurred and are continuing
(a "Damages Accrual Period"), the Company agrees to pay, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, an amount (the "Liquidated Damages Amount"), payable on the Damages Payment Dates to Record Holders
of then outstanding Securities that are Registrable Securities or of then outstanding shares of Underlying Common Stock issued upon conversion of Securities that are Registrable Securities, as the
case may be, accruing, for each portion of such Damages Accrual Period beginning on and including a Damages Payment Date (or, in respect of the first time that the Liquidation Damages Amount is to be
paid to Holders on a Damages Payment Date as a result of the occurrence of any particular Event, from the Event Date) and ending on but excluding the first to occur of (A) the date of the end
of the Damages Accrual Period or (B) the next Damages Payment Date, at a rate per annum equal to one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) for the first 90-day period from the
Event Date, and thereafter at a rate per annum equal to one-half of one percent (0.5%) per $1,000 principal amount of Securities and per $1,000 principal amount of Securities converted
into shares of Common Stock; provided, that any Liquidated Damages Amount accrued with respect to any Security or portion thereof called for redemption on a redemption date or converted into
Underlying Common Stock on a conversion date, shall, in any such event, be paid instead to the Holder who submitted such Security or portion thereof for redemption or conversion on the applicable
redemption date or conversion date, as the case may be, on such date (or promptly following the conversion date, in the case of conversion). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Liquidated Damages
Amounts shall accrue as to any Registrable 


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Security
from and after the earlier of (x) the date such security is no longer a Registrable Security and (y) expiration of the Effectiveness Period. The rate of accrual of the
Liquidated Damages Amount with respect to any period shall not exceed the rate provided for in this paragraph notwithstanding the occurrence of multiple concurrent Events. Following the cure of all
Events requiring the payment by the Company of Liquidated Damages Amounts to the Holders of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section, the accrual of Liquidated Damages Amounts will cease
(without in any way limiting the effect of any subsequent Event requiring the payment of the Liquidated Damages Amount by the Company). 



        The
Trustee shall be entitled, on behalf of Holders of Securities or the Underlying Common Stock, as the case may be, to seek any available remedy for the enforcement of this Agreement,
including for the payment of any Liquidated Damages Amount. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties agree that the sole monetary damages payable for a violation of the terms of this Agreement with
respect to which liquidated damages are expressly provided shall be such liquidated damages. Nothing shall preclude a Notice Holder or Holder of Registrable Securities from pursuing or obtaining
specific performance or other equitable relief with respect to this Agreement. 


        All
of the Company's obligations set forth in this Section 2(e) that are outstanding with respect to any Registrable Security at the time such security ceases to be a Registrable
Security shall survive until such time as all such obligations with respect to such security have been satisfied in full (notwithstanding termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Section 8(j)). 


        The
parties hereto agree that the liquidated damages provided for in this Section 2(e) constitute a reasonable estimate of the damages that may be incurred by Holders of
Registrable Securities by reason of the failure of the Shelf Registration Statement to be filed or declared effective or available for effecting resales of Registrable Securities in accordance with
the provisions hereof. 



        SECTION
3.    Registration Procedures.    In connection with the registration obligations of the Company under
Section 2 hereof, the Company shall: 



        (a)   Before
filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements (other than supplements that do nothing more substantive than name one or more
Notice Holders as selling security holders) thereto with the SEC, furnish to the Initial Purchasers copies of all such documents proposed to be filed and use reasonable efforts to reflect in each such
document when so filed with the SEC such comments as the Initial Purchasers reasonably shall propose within two (2) Business Days of the delivery of such copies to the Initial Purchasers. 


        (b)   Prepare
and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective for the applicable period specified in Section 2(a); cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so
supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the Securities Act; and use its reasonable efforts to comply with the provisions of the Securities
Act applicable to it with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during the Effectiveness Period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by
the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or such Prospectus as so supplemented. 


        (c)   As
promptly as practicable give notice to the Notice Holders and the Initial Purchasers (i) when any Prospectus, Prospectus supplement, Registration Statement or
post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement has been filed with the SEC and, with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same
has been declared effective (provided, however, that the Company shall not be required by this clause (i) to notify (A) the Initial Purchasers of the filing of a Prospectus supplement
that does nothing more substantive than name one or more Notice Holders as selling security holders or (B) any Notice 



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Holder
of the filing of a Prospectus supplement that does nothing more substantive than name one or more other Notice Holders as selling security holders), (ii) of any request, following the
effectiveness of the Initial Shelf Registration Statement under the Securities Act, by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to any Registration
Statement or related Prospectus or for additional information, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the
suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose,
(v) of the occurrence of (but not the nature of or details concerning) a Material Event (provided, however, that no notice by the Company shall be required pursuant to this clause (v) in
the event that the Company either promptly files a Prospectus supplement to update the Prospectus or a Form 8-K or other appropriate Exchange Act report that is incorporated by
reference into the Registration Statement, which, in either case, contains the requisite information with respect to such Material Event that results in such Registration Statement no longer
containing any untrue statement of material fact or omitting to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading) and (vi) of the determination by the
Company that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement will be filed with the SEC, which notice may, at the discretion of the Company (or as required pursuant to
Section 3(i)), state that it constitutes a Deferral Notice, in which event the provisions of Section 3(i) shall apply. 


        (d)   Use
reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the lifting of any suspension of the
qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction in which they have been qualified for sale, in either case at the earliest practicable
moment or, if any such order or suspension is made effective during any Deferral Period, at the earliest practicable moment after the expiration of such Deferral Period. 


        (e)   If
requested by the Initial Purchasers or any Notice Holder, as promptly as practicable incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to
a Registration Statement such information as the Initial Purchasers or such Notice Holder shall, on the basis of an opinion of nationally-recognized counsel experienced in such matters, determine to
be required to be included therein by applicable law and make any required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment; provided, that the Company shall not be
required to take any actions under this Section 3(e) that are not, in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Company, in compliance with applicable law. 


        (f)    As
promptly as practicable furnish to each Notice Holder and the Initial Purchasers, upon their request and without charge, at least one (1) conformed copy of the
Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, including financial statements, but excluding schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits
(unless requested in writing to the Company by such Notice Holder or the Initial Purchasers, as the case may be). 



        (g)   During
the Effectiveness Period, deliver to each Notice Holder in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, without
charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses relating to such Registrable Securities (including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Notice Holder
may reasonably request; and the Company hereby consents (except during such periods that a Deferral Notice is outstanding and has not been revoked) to the use of such Prospectus or each amendment or
supplement thereto by each Notice Holder in connection with any offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in the manner set
forth therein. 



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        (h)   Subject
to Section 3(i), prior to any public offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, use its reasonable efforts to
register or qualify or cooperate with the Notice Holders in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for
offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any Notice Holder reasonably requests in writing (which request may be included in the Notice and
Questionnaire), it being agreed that no such registration or qualification will be made unless so requested; prior to any public offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement, use its reasonable efforts to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period in connection with such Notice
Holder's offer and sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) and do any and all other acts or things necessary to enable the disposition in
such jurisdictions of such Registrable Securities in the manner set forth in the relevant Registration Statement and the related Prospectus; provided, that the Company will not be required to
(i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it is not otherwise qualified or (ii) take any action that would subject it to general service
of process in suits or to taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject. 


        (i)    Upon
(A) the issuance by the SEC of a stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement or the initiation of proceedings with respect to
the Shelf Registration Statement under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act, (B) the occurrence of any event or the existence of any fact (a "Material Event") as a result of which
any Registration Statement shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, or any Prospectus shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (including, in any such case, as a result of the non-availability of financial statements), or (C) the
occurrence or existence of any corporate development that, in the discretion of the Company, makes it appropriate to suspend the availability of the Shelf Registration Statement and the related
Prospectus, (i) in the case of clause (B) above, subject to the next sentence, as promptly as practicable prepare and file a post-effective amendment to such
Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document that would be incorporated by reference into such
Registration Statement and Prospectus so that such Registration Statement does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and such Prospectus does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities being
sold thereunder, and, in the case of a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement, subject to the next sentence, use its reasonable efforts to cause it to be declared effective
as promptly as practicable, and (ii) give notice to the Notice Holders that the availability of the Shelf Registration Statement is suspended (a "Deferral Notice") and, upon receipt of any
Deferral Notice, each Notice Holder agrees not to sell any Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement until such Notice Holder's receipt of copies of the supplemented or amended
Prospectus provided for in clause (i) above, or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the Prospectus may be used, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings
that are incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in such Prospectus. The Company will use its reasonable efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed (x) in the case
of clause (A) above, as promptly as is practicable, (y) in the case of clause (B) above, as soon as, in the sole judgment of 



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the
Company, public disclosure of such Material Event would not be prejudicial to or contrary to the interests of the Company or, if necessary to avoid unreasonable burden or expense, as soon as
practicable thereafter and (z) in the case of clause (C) above, as soon as, in the discretion of the Company, such suspension is no longer appropriate. The period during which the
availability of the Registration Statement and any Prospectus is suspended (the "Deferral Period") shall, without the Company incurring any obligation to pay liquidated damages pursuant to
Section 2(e), not exceed forty-five (45) days in any 90-day period or ninety (90) days in any 360-day period. 



        (j)    If
requested in writing in connection with a disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, make reasonably available for inspection during
normal business hours by a representative for the Notice Holders of such Registrable Securities and any broker-dealers, attorneys and accountants retained by such Notice Holders, all relevant
financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, and cause the appropriate executive officers, directors and designated employees of the
Company and its subsidiaries to make
reasonably available for inspection during normal business hours all relevant information requested by such representative for the Notice Holders or any such broker-dealers, attorneys or accountants
in connection with such disposition, in each case as is customary for similar "due diligence" examinations; provided, however, that such persons shall first agree in writing with the Company pursuant
to a customary confidentiality agreement that any information that is reasonably designated by the Company in writing as confidential at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept
confidential by such persons and shall be used solely for the purposes of exercising rights under this Agreement, unless (i) disclosure of such information is required by court or
administrative order or is necessary to respond to inquiries of regulatory authorities, (ii) disclosure of such information is required by law (including any disclosure requirements pursuant to
federal securities laws in connection with the filing of any Registration Statement or the use of any Prospectus referred to in this Agreement), (iii) such information becomes generally
available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard by any such person or (iv) such information becomes available to any such person from a source other than
the Company and such source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement; and provided further, that the foregoing inspection and information gathering shall, to the greatest extent possible, be
coordinated on behalf of all the Notice Holders and the other parties entitled thereto by the counsel referred to in Section 5. 


        (k)   Comply
with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and make generally available to its securityholders earning statements (which need not be audited) satisfying
the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the Securities Act) no later than 45 days after the end of any
12-month period (or 90 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a fiscal year) commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company
commencing after the effective date of a Registration Statement, which statements shall cover said 12-month periods. 


        (l)    Cooperate
with each Notice Holder to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities sold pursuant to a Registration
Statement, and cause such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations as are permitted by the Indenture and registered in such names as such Notice Holder may request in writing at least two
Business Days prior to any sale of such Registrable Securities. 


        (m)  Provide
a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement and provide
the Trustee for the Securities and the transfer agent for the Common Stock with certificates for the Registrable Securities that are in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company. 



9





 




        (n)   Make
reasonable effort to provide such information as is required for any filings required to be made with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. 


        (o)   Upon
(i) the filing of the Initial Shelf Registration Statement and (ii) the effectiveness of the Initial Shelf Registration Statement, announce the same,
in each case by release to Reuters Economic Services and Bloomberg Business News or other means of dissemination reasonably expected to make such information known publicly. 



        (p)   Take
all actions necessary, or reasonably requested by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold, in order to expedite or facilitate disposition
of such Registrable Securities; provided that the Company shall not be required to take any action in connection with an underwritten offering without its consent; and 


        (q)   Cause
the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA not later than the effective date of any Registration Statement; and in connection therewith, cooperate with the
Trustee to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA and execute, and use reasonable efforts to cause the
Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes, and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely
manner. 


        (r)   The
Company shall use reasonable efforts to cause the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Securities to be quoted on the Nasdaq National Market or other stock
exchange or trading system on which the Common Stock primarily trades on or prior to the time at which the SEC declares the Shelf Registration Statement effective or at which the Shelf Registration
Statement otherwise becomes effective. 


        (s)   Not
less than 30 calendar days prior to the time the Company intends in good faith to have the Shelf Registration Statement declared effective, the Company shall mail
the Notice and Questionnaire to the Holders of Registrable Securities. Holders of Registrable Securities shall have at least 20 calendar days from the date on which the Notice and Questionnaire is
first mailed to such Holders to return a completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company. The Company shall not be required to take any action to name any Holder as a selling
securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement or to enable any Holder to use the Prospectus forming a part thereof for resales of Registrable Securities unless such Holder has returned a
completed and signed Notice and Questionnaire to the Company by the deadline set forth herein prior to the effective time of the Shelf Registration Statement or after such effective time as specified
in Section 2(d). After the effective time of the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall, upon the request of any Holder of Registrable Securities that is not then a Notice Holder,
promptly send a Notice and Questionnaire to such Holder. 



10







   
        SECTION 4.    Holder's Obligations.    Each Holder agrees, by acquisition of the Registrable Securities, that no
Holder of Registrable Securities shall be entitled to sell any of such Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement or to receive a Prospectus relating thereto, unless such Holder has
furnished the Company with a Notice and Questionnaire as required pursuant to Section 2(d) hereof (including the information required to be included in such Notice and Questionnaire) and the
information set forth in the next sentence. Each Notice Holder agrees promptly to furnish to the Company all information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished
to the Company by such Notice Holder not misleading, any other information regarding such Notice Holder and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as may be required to be disclosed in the
Registration Statement under applicable law or pursuant to SEC comments and any information otherwise required by the Company to comply with applicable law or regulations. Each Holder further agrees,
following termination of the Effectiveness Period, to notify the Company within 10 business days of request, of the amount of Registrable Securities sold pursuant to the Registration Statement and, in
the absence of a response, the Company may assume that all of the Holder's Registrable Securities were so sold. 



        SECTION
5.    Registration Expenses.    The Company shall bear all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the
performance by the Company of its obligations under Sections 2 and 3 of this Agreement whether or not any of the Registration Statements are declared effective. Such fees and expenses shall include,
without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses (x) with respect to filings required to be made with the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. and (y) of compliance with federal and state securities or Blue Sky laws to the extent such filings or compliance are required pursuant to this Agreement
(including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of the counsel specified in the next sentence in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities under the laws
of such jurisdictions as the Notice Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement may designate)), (ii) printing expenses (including,
without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company), (iii) duplication expenses relating to copies
of any Registration Statement or Prospectus delivered to any Holders hereunder, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, and
(v) reasonable fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel and of the registrar and transfer agent for the Common Stock. In addition, the Company shall bear or reimburse the Notice
Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm of legal counsel for the Holders, which shall, upon the written consent of the Initial Purchasers (which shall not be unreasonably
withheld), be a nationally recognized law firm experienced in securities law matters designated by the Company. In addition, the Company shall pay the internal expenses of the Company (including,
without limitation, all salaries and expenses of officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit, the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the
listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange on which the same securities of the Company are then listed and the fees and expenses of any person, including special experts,
retained by the Company. Each Notice Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and any transfer taxes, broker's commissions or agency fees relating to the sale or disposition of such
Notice Holder's Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement. 


        SECTION
6.    Indemnification; Contribution.    



        (a)   The
Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Initial Purchasers and each holder of Registrable Securities and each person, if any, who controls the Initial
Purchasers or any 



11





 

holder
of Registrable Securities within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, as follows: 



        (i)    against
any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; 


        (ii)   against
any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or
any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue
statement or omission, provided that (subject to Section 6(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the prior written consent of the Company; and 


        (iii)  subject
to Section 6(c) below, against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel), reasonably incurred in
investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any
such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above; 




provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage
or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers, such holder of Registrable Securities (which also acknowledges the indemnity provisions herein) or any person, if any, who controls the Initial
Purchasers or any such holder of Registrable Securities expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto); provided, further, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (1) arising from an offer or sale of Registrable
Securities occurring during a Deferral Period, if a Deferral Notice was given to such Notice Holder in accordance with Section 8(b), or (2) if the Holder fails to deliver at or prior to
the written confirmation of sale, the most recent Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, and such Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, corrected such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue
statement or omission of a material fact and the delivery thereof was required by law and would have constituted a complete defense to the claim in respect of such untrue statement or omission or
alleged untrue statement or omission. 


        (b)   In
connection with any Shelf Registration in which a holder, including, without limitation, the Initial Purchasers, of Registrable Securities is participating, in
furnishing information relating to such holder of Registrable Securities to the Company in writing expressly for use in such Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any
amendments or supplements thereto, the holders of such Registrable Securities agree, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Initial Purchasers and each person, if any, who
controls the Initial Purchasers within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and the Company, and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of either such Section, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense 



12





 




described
in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in
the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such holder of Registrable Securities (which also acknowledges the indemnity provisions herein) or any person, if any, who controls any such
holder of Registrable Securities expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto). 



        The
Initial Purchasers agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the holders of Registrable Securities, and each person, if any, who controls the Company or any holder of
Registrable Securities within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in
the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of by the Initial Purchasers expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or such preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto). 


        (c)   Each
indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which
indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced
as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. The indemnifying party, upon request of the
indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and
shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses
of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or
(ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same
counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified
party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for (a) the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any
local counsel) for the Initial Purchasers, Holders of Registrable Securities, and all persons, if any, who control the Initial Purchasers or Holders of Registrable Securities within the meaning of
either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, or (b) the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local
counsel) for the Company, its directors, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either such Section, and that all such reasonable fees and expenses shall be reimbursed
as they are incurred. In the case of any such separate firm for the Initial Purchasers, Holders of Registrable Securities, and control persons of the Initial Purchasers and Holders of Registrable
Securities, such firm shall be designated in writing by the Initial Purchasers. In the case of any such separate firm for the Company, and such directors, officers and control persons of the Company,
such firm shall be designated in writing by the Company. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any
judgment with respect to any litigation, 



13





 




or
any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this
Section 6 (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each
indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a
failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party. 


        (d)   If
at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying
party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 6(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into
more than 60 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least
30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date
of such settlement; provided, that an indemnifying party shall not be liable for any such settlement effected without its consent if such indemnifying
party (1) reimburses such indemnified party in accordance with
such request to the extent it considers such request to be reasonable and (2) provides written notice to the indemnified party describing any unpaid balance it believes is unreasonable and the
reasons therefor, in each case prior to the date of such settlement. 


        (e)   If
the indemnification to which an indemnified party is entitled under this Section 6 is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient although applicable in
accordance with its terms to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of
the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and of the indemnified party on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims,
damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. 




        The
relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the holders of the Registrable Securities or the Initial Purchasers on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the
holder of the Registrable Securities or the Initial Purchasers and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. 



        The
parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6(e) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of
allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 6(e). The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages, and expenses
incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 6(e) shall be deemed to include any out-of-pocket legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim
whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. 



        Notwithstanding
the provisions of this Section 6, neither the holder of any Registrable Securities nor the Initial Purchasers, shall be required to indemnify or contribute any
amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Registrable Securities sold by such holder of Registrable Securities or by the Initial Purchasers, as the case may be, and
distributed to the public were offered to 


14





 



the
public exceeds the amount of any damages that such holder of Registrable Securities or the Initial Purchasers has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. 


        No
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty
of such fraudulent misrepresentation. 


        For
purposes of this Section 6(e), each person, if any, who controls the Initial Purchasers or any holder of Registrable Securities within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Initial Purchasers or such holder, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. 


        SECTION
7.    Information Requirements.    The Company covenants that, if at any time before the end of the
Effectiveness Period the Company is not subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, it will cooperate with any Holder of Registrable Securities and take such further reasonable action
as any Holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request in writing (including, without limitation, making such reasonable representations as any such Holder may reasonably request), all to the
extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144
and Rule 144A under the Securities Act and customarily taken in connection with sales pursuant to such exemptions. Upon the written request of any Holder of Registrable Securities, the Company
shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such filing requirements, unless such a statement has been included in the Company's most recent annual or quarterly
report required to be filed and filed pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of Exchange Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require
the Company to register any of its securities under any section of the Exchange Act. 


        SECTION
8.    Miscellaneous; No Conflicting Agreements.    The Company is not, as of the date hereof, a party to, nor
shall it, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into, any agreement with respect to its securities that conflicts with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this
Agreement. The Company represents and warrants that the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder do not in any way conflict with the rights granted to the holders of the
Company's securities under any other agreements. 



        (a)    Amendments and Waivers.    The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not
be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority of
the then outstanding Underlying Common Stock constituting Registrable Securities (with Holders of Securities deemed to be the Holders, for purposes of this Section, of the number of outstanding shares
of Underlying Common Stock into which such Securities are or would be convertible or exchangeable as of the date on which such consent is requested). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent
to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders of Registrable Securities whose securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration
Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders of Registrable Securities may be given by Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold
by such Holders pursuant to such Registration Statement; provided, that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the
immediately preceding sentence. Each Holder of Registrable Securities outstanding at the time of any such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent or thereafter shall be bound by any
such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent effected pursuant to this Section 8(a), 



15





 

whether
or not any notice, writing or marking indicating such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent appears on the Registrable Securities or is delivered to such Holder. 



        (b)    Notices.    All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing
by hand delivery, by telecopier, by courier guaranteeing overnight delivery or by first-class mail, return receipt requested, and shall be deemed given (i) when made, if made by hand delivery,
(ii) upon confirmation, if made by telecopier, (iii) one (1) Business Day after being deposited with such courier, if made by overnight courier or (iv) on the date
indicated on the notice of receipt, if made by first-class mail, to the parties as follows: 



        (w)  if
to a Holder of Registrable Securities that is not a Notice Holder, at the address for such Holder then appearing in the Registrar (as defined in the Indenture); 


        (x)   if
to a Notice Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company in a Notice and Questionnaire or any amendment thereto; 


        (y)   if
to the Company, to: 




Chiron
Corporation

4560 Horton Street

Emeryville, CA 94608

Attention: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Telecopier No.: (510) 655-9910 





        and 




Sullivan &
Cromwell

1888 Century Park East

Los Angeles, California 90067-1725

Attention: Frank H. Golay, Jr., Esq.

Telecopier: (310) 712-8800 





        and



        (z)   if
to the Initial Purchasers, to: 




Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated

1585 Broadway

New York, New York 10036

Attention: Equity Capital Markets

Telecopier: (212) 761-0538 







or
to such other address as such person may have furnished to the other persons identified in this Section 8(b) in writing in accordance herewith. 



        (c)    Approval of Holders.    Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable
Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (other than the Initial Purchasers
or subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be such affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in
determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage. 


        (d)    Successors and Assigns.    This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and
assigns of each of the parties and, without requiring any express assignment, shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon each Holder of any Registrable Securities. 



16





 




        (e)    Counterparts.    This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in
separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. 



        (f)    Headings.    The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or
otherwise affect the meaning hereof. 


        (g)    Governing Law.    THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK. 


        (h)    Severability.    If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or
invalidated thereby, and the parties hereto shall use their best efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term,
provision, covenant or restriction, it being intended that all of the rights and privileges of the parties shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. 


        (i)    Entire Agreement.    This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and is
intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and the registration rights granted by the
Company with respect to the Registrable Securities. Except as provided in the Purchase Agreement, there are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or
referred to herein, with respect to the registration rights granted by the Company with respect to the Registrable Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and undertakings among the
parties with respect to such registration rights. 


        (j)    Termination.    This Agreement and the obligations of the parties hereunder shall terminate upon the end of the
Effectiveness Period, except for any liabilities or obligations under Sections 4, 5 or 6 hereof and the obligations to make payments of and provide for liquidated damages under Section 2(e)
hereof to the extent such damages accrue prior to the end of the Effectiveness Period, each of which shall remain in effect in accordance with its terms. 



17





 

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



	 	 	 	CHIRON CORPORATION
	

 	

 	
 	

 	

 	

 
	 	 	 	By:	/s/  JOEL R. JUNG      

	 	 	 	 	Name:	Joel R. Jung
	 	 	 	 	Title:	Vice President and Treasurer
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Accepted as of the date

first above written:	 	 	 	 
	

 	

 	
 	

 	

 	

 
	MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED

GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP.	 	 	 	 
	

 	

 	
 	

 	

 	

 
	By:	MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED	 	 	 	 
	

 	

 	
 	

 	

 	

 
	By:	/s/  BRYAN W. ANDRZEJEWSKI      
 Authorized Signatory	 	 	 	 




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QuickLinks



Exhibit 4.3


REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT