EXHIBIT 4.3








SUBSCRIPTION AND INFORMATION AGENT AGREEMENT


 


This Subscription and Information Agent Agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into as of this 20th day of June 2014 by and between, Sevcon, Inc., organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (the “Company”), and Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc., a Company having its principal offices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (“Broadridge”).


 


WHEREAS, pursuant to a rights offering (the “Rights Offering”), the holders of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.10 per share (the “Common Stock”) will be given the right (the “Subscription Rights”) to subscribe for and purchase the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.10 per share (the “Preferred Stock”) registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), in each case as more fully set forth in a prospectus and related offering documents (the “Offering Documents”) to be prepared by the Company and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the purpose of effecting the Rights Offering; and


 



WHEREAS, the Subscription Rights have also been registered under the Securities Act and may be transferred in accordance with the terms of the Offering Documents;


 



WHEREAS, the Company has authorized and directed the Agent to hold funds submitted by stockholders who exercise Subscription Rights (the “Subscription Funds”) in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement; and


 



WHEREAS, upon the terms and conditions set forth in the applicable Offering Documents, the Agent will record properly exercised Subscription Rights from holders of the Common Stock on the Record Date (as defined in the applicable Offering Documents) and transferees of the Subscription Rights, as well as record and deposit the Subscription Funds for the purchase of the shares of Preferred Stock pursuant to the Rights Offering; and


 


WHEREAS, the Company desires that Broadridge act as both Subscription Agent and Information Agent under the Rights Offering (the “Agent”), and Broadridge has indicated its willingness to do so.








 


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:


 


1.         Appointment of Subscription and Information Agent.  The Company hereby confirms the appointment of Broadridge as the Agent, and Broadridge hereby agrees to serve as the Agent, upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.


 


2.         Acceptance and Receipt of Subscription Documents.


 


 A.            The Agent shall mail, on the date (the “Mailing Date”) specified by the Company, which shall be no fewer than four (4) days after the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection with the Rights Offering and no fewer than ten (10) days after the Record Date, to each holder of Common Stock as of the Record Date (a) the appropriate Offering Documents as approved by the Company (which shall specify that the exercise of Subscription Rights shall be effected, and risk of loss of Subscription Funds shall pass, only upon receipt by the Agent of the properly completed rights certificate and Subscription Funds required to effect the exercise of Subscription Rights under the Rights Offering) and (b) an envelope addressed to the Agent for use by such holder in exercising his or her Subscription Rights or transferring his or her Subscription Rights (the “Mailing”).


 









 






 B.        The Agent, upon receipt of Subscription Funds and duly, completely and correctly executed rights certificates and other documents that the Company requires for the exercise of Subscription Rights and has provided to the Agent, shall create a report of the exercise of Subscription Rights and Subscription Funds received.  Upon the closing of the Rights Offering and as promptly as feasible upon the Agent’s receipt of the Company’s acceptance and approval of said rights certificates, (i) the Company will authorize the Agent to no longer accept any subscription documents and to prepare the final subscription list, which list shall accurately identify the number of shares of Preferred Stock for which each stockholder, and in the case of a transfer of any of the Subscription Rights, each transferee, has subscribed and (ii) the Agent will release to the Company the aggregate Subscription Funds minus any agreed upon fees and expense reimbursements (incurred or reserved for disbursements) due to the Agent from the Company as set forth in Exhibit A (sections (i) and (ii) directly preceding constituting the “Closing”).  No interest on the Subscription Funds will accrue to either the Company or the Company’s stockholders.






 


3.        Notification and Processing.  The Agent is hereby authorized and directed to, and hereby agrees to perform certain functions, including but not limited to the following:


 



A.            Accept and respond to all telephone requests from stockholders and holders of transferred Subscription Rights for information relative to the exercise of Subscription Rights (except that the Agent will not answer questions relating to the sufficiency of the consideration or the tax implications of the Rights Offering); answer questions regarding the proper method of exercising Subscription Rights, including the completion of rights certificates and other documents related to the Rights Offering; maintain a toll-free number to respond to inquiries; provide assistance to stockholders and holders of transferred Subscription Rights and monitor the response to the Rights Offering; enclose and re-mail the subscription documents in the Mailing to interested stockholders and holders of transferred Subscription Rights; and provide periodic reports as requested to the Company as to the status of the Rights Offering.


 


  B.            Date stamp each document relating to its duties hereunder when received;


 


  C.            Receive and examine all documents submitted to the Agent in connection with the exercise of Subscription Rights under the Rights Offering and confirm whether such documents are executed in accordance with their terms.  If Common Stock underlying a Subscription Right is held by more than one record holder, the applicable Offering Documents must be signed by each such holder; if a holder or joint holders (registrants) hold more than one position in the Company, as indicated by different accounts on the relevant record holder list, then separate, properly completed and executed subscriptions must be submitted for each such position held by that or those joint holders (registrants).




 



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D.            Return to any holders (as applicable) those rights certificates evidencing some deficiency in execution and, if applicable, any Transfer Documentation (as defined below) evidencing some deficiency; provided, however, that in any instance where the Agent cannot reconcile such deficiencies, prior to returning the rights certificates (and if applicable Transfer Documentation), the Agent shall consult with the Company for instructions as to whether the Agent may accept such exercise of Subscription Rights.  In the absence of such instructions by Company in writing or email within twenty-four (24) hours after the Agent first requests such instructions, the Agent is authorized not to accept such exercise of Subscription Rights and shall notify the exercising stockholder (or purported transferee) that its exercise is deficient;


 


 E.            Accept rights certificates and other documents signed by persons acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity only if such capacity is properly shown on the subscriptions and proper evidence of their authority so to act has been submitted;


 


 F.            Accept subscriptions for Preferred Stock to be issued other than in the name that (a) appears on the Company record stockholder list submitted for such subscription or (b) is the name of the person to whom the respective right was transferred, where (i) the signature thereon is guaranteed by a financial institution which is a participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”), the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Signature Program (“MSP”), or The Stock Exchange Medallion Program (“SEMP”), (ii) any necessary stock transfer taxes are paid and proof of such payment is submitted or funds therefor are provided to the Agent, or it is established by the holder that no such taxes are due and payable and (iii) the “Special Issuance Instructions” on the rights certificate have been properly completed (collectively, the “Exercise Transfer Documentation”);


 


 G.            Receive and examine all documents submitted to the Agent in connection with the transfer of Subscription Rights under the Rights Offering and confirm that (i) such documents are executed in accordance with their terms, (ii)  the transferor’s signature thereon is guaranteed by a financial institution which is a participant in STAMP, MSP, or SEMP, (ii) any necessary stock transfer taxes are paid and proof of such payment is submitted or funds therefor are provided to the Agent, or it is established by the holder that no such taxes are due and payable and (iii) the “Transfer of Rights” on the rights certificate have been properly completed (collectively, the “Rights Transfer Documentation”, and together with the Exercise Transfer Documentation, the “Transfer Documentation”).




 


 H.            Upon receipt of Transfer Documentation in proper form, the Agent shall mail or deliver a copy of the Offering Documents to the transferee.


 


 I.              Notify the Company when a request has been submitted by a holder in accordance with the Offering Documents to (i) divide a rights certificate into two or more rights certificates representing, in the aggregate, Subscription Rights exercisable for the number of shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the original rights certificate, (ii) issue a new rights certificate in the name of a transferee (after receipt of Rights Transfer Documentation in proper form) or (iii) issue a new rights certificate for the unexercised Subscription Rights when such Subscription Rights are exercised, in part and not in full; and upon receipt from the Company of the requested newly issued rights certificates, to mail them in accordance with such request as submitted by the holder;


 


 J.             Retain all subscriptions accepted and retain such related documents pending further instructions from the Company;


 



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 K.            Return at the Company’s request any and all necessary records, information and material concerning and representing unsubscribed Preferred Stock under the Rights Offering; and


 


 L.            Maintain on a continuing basis a list of stockholders and holders of transferred Subscription Rights that have not yet exercised their Subscription Rights.


 


4.        Concerning the Agent.


 





    The Agent:


 



	 	
A.

	
Shall have no duties or obligations other than those set forth herein, including those described under “Included Services” on Exhibit A, and no duties or obligations shall be inferred or implied, nor shall the Agent be obligated nor expected to perform those services described under “Non-Included Services” on Exhibit A;







 



	 	
B.

	
May rely on, and shall be held harmless by, the Company in acting upon any certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, notice, letter, facsimile transmission, telegram electronic mail or other document, or any security delivered to it, and reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been made or signed by the proper party or parties;







 



	 	
C.

	
May rely on and shall be held harmless by the Company in acting upon written or oral instructions from the Company with respect to any matter relating to its acting as the Agent;







 



	 	
D.

	
May consult with counsel reasonably satisfactory to it (including counsel for the Company) and shall be held harmless by the Company in relying on the advice or opinion of such counsel in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion of such counsel;







 



	 	
E.

	
Shall make the final determination as to whether or not a rights certificate received by the Agent is duly, completely and correctly executed in order to qualify for the Rights Offering and the Agent shall be held harmless by the Company in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Agent hereunder in good faith and in accordance with its determination;







 



	 	
F.

	
Shall not be obligated to take any action hereunder which might, in its reasonable judgment subject or expose it to any expense or liability unless it shall have been furnished with an indemnity satisfactory to it;







 




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G.

	
Shall not be liable or responsible for any recital or statement contained in any Offering Document or any other documents relating thereto, unless such statement was provided or confirmed in writing by the Agent; and







 



	 	
H.

	
Shall not be liable or responsible for any failure of the Company to comply with any of its obligations relating to the Offering, including without limitation obligations under applicable regulation or law.







 


No later than the first business day after the Mailing, the Company will provide the Agent with a final list of talking points for dealing with anticipated questions from stockholders and transferees of Subscription Rights.  It is understood and agreed that the Agent will not provide tax advice, will not interpret tax regulations, will not opine regarding the merits of the Rights Offering, and will not provide any comments related to any legal proceedings related to the Company.


 


This Agreement does not contemplate any service to be provided by the Agent in the case where the conditions of the Offering have not been met in a timely manner.  If necessary, service to be provided by the Agent under such circumstances and remuneration to the Agent therefor, will be established in a mutual agreement between the Agent and the Company, which will become a part of this Agreement.


 


5.        Compensation of the Agent by the Company.


 


The Company shall pay fees for the services rendered hereunder, as set forth in the Fee Schedule (attached hereto as Exhibit A).  The Agent shall also be entitled to reimbursement from the Company for all reasonable and necessary expenses paid or incurred by it in connection with the administration by the Agent of its duties hereunder.  One half of the total Agent fees (not including postage) must be paid upon execution of this Agreement.  The remaining half must be paid within fifteen (15) business days thereafter.  An invoice for any out-of-pocket and/or per item fees incurred will be rendered to and payable by the Company within fifteen (15) days of the date of said invoice, except for invoiced estimated postage, printing and mailing expenses, which funds must be received five (5) business days prior to the Mailing Date.  It is understood and agreed that all responsibilities and duties of, and services to be performed by, the Agent shall cease if full payment for its services has not been received in accordance with the above schedule, and said services will not commence thereafter until all payment due has been received by the Agent.



 



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6.        Reminder Mailings.  The Company agrees that, except for any follow up mailing program conducted by the Company, any follow up mailing program will be coordinated exclusively through the Agent.  The Agent, or a preferred vendor of the Agent, may conduct follow up mailings through electronic mail, to the extent the email address of the intended recipient Stockholder has been provided by the Company to Agent.


 


7.        Performance.  The Agent shall at all times act in good faith and agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to insure the accuracy and timeliness of all services performed under this Agreement.


 


8.        Indemnification, Limitation of Liability.


 


A.            The Company covenants and agrees to indemnify and to hold the Agent harmless against any claims, actions, judgments, liabilities, costs, expenses (including reasonable fees of its legal counsel), losses or damages, which may be paid, incurred or suffered by or to which it may become subject, arising out of or incident to this Agreement, including the Agent’s compliance with instructions set forth herein or with any instructions delivered to the Agent pursuant hereto, or as a result of defending itself against any claim or liability resulting from its actions as the Agent, including any claim against the Agent by any Stockholder or the Company, which covenant and agreement shall survive the termination hereof.  Promptly after the receipt by the Agent of notice of any demand or claim, or the commencement of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation relating to its duties under this Agreement, the Agent shall notify the Company thereof in writing.  However, failure to so notify the Company shall not operate in any manner whatsoever to relieve the Company from any liability which it may have on account of this Section 8 if no prejudice occurs.  The Company shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense of any such claim or proceeding, and, if it so elects at any time after receipt of such notice, it may assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any such claim or of any other legal action or proceeding.  Neither the Agent nor the Company shall without the other party’s prior written consent, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment to any pending or threatened action in respect of which indemnification may be sought hereunder.


 


B.            Except in the case of the Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud, the Agent’s aggregate liability during any term of this Agreement with respect to, arising from, or arising in connection with this Agreement, or from all services provided or omitted to be provided under this Agreement, whether in contract, or in tort, or otherwise, is limited to, and shall not exceed, the amounts paid or payable hereunder by the Company to the Agent as fees and charges, but not including reimbursable expenses.


 


C.            In the event any question or dispute arises with respect to the proper interpretation of this Agreement or the Agent’s duties hereunder or the rights of the Company or of any Stockholders exercising Subscription Rights in the Rights Offering, the Agent shall not be required to act and shall not be held liable or responsible for refusing to act until the question or dispute has been judicially settled (and the Agent may, if it deems it advisable, but shall not be obligated to, file a suit in interpleader or for a declaratory judgment for such purpose) by final judgment rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction, binding on all stockholders and parties interested in the matter which is no longer subject to review or appeal, or settled by a written document in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and executed by the Company and each such stockholder and party.  In addition, the Agent may require for such purpose, but shall not be obligated to require, the execution of such written settlement by all the stockholders and all other parties that may have an interest in the settlement.


 




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9.        Further Assurance.  From time-to-time and after the date hereof, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Agent such further documents and instruments and shall do and cause to be done such further acts as the Agent shall reasonably request (it being understood that the Agent shall have no obligation to make any such request) to carry out more effectively the provisions and purposes of this Agreement, to evidence compliance herewith or to assure itself that it is protected in acting hereunder.


 


10.     Representations, Warranties and Covenants.  The Company represents, warrants and covenants that: (a) it is duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation; (b) the making and consummation of the Rights Offering and the execution, delivery and performance of all transactions contemplated thereby (including without limitation this Agreement) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not result in a breach of or constitute a default under the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company or any indenture, agreement or instrument to which it is a party or is bound; (c) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligation of it; (d) the Rights Offering will comply in all material respects with all applicable requirements of law; and (e) to the best of its knowledge, there is no litigation pending or threatened as of the date hereof in connection with the Rights Offering.


 


11.     Term.  The Company may terminate this Agreement at any time by providing 60 days written notification to the Agent. The Agent may terminate this Agreement with or without cause by providing at least sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Company, except that the Agent may terminate this Agreement immediately at any time the Company has not paid in full an invoice from the Agent within the time period described in Section 5 hereof.  Upon the effective date of termination of this Agreement, all property then held by the Agent on behalf of the Company, all canceled certificates and related documentation then held by the Agent, if any, will be returned to the Company.  Upon termination of this Agreement, all subscription documents received and related documentation will be returned to the Company.


 


12.      Notices.  Until further notice in writing by either party hereto to the other party, all written reports, notices and other communications between the Agent and the Company required or permitted  hereunder shall be delivered or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:


 




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If to the Company, to:

	
Sevcon, Inc.


Attn: Chief Financial Officer


155 Northboro Road


Southborough, MA 01772


	
 

	
 


with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:


Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP


Attn: Matthew C. Dallett


111 Huntington Avenue


Boston, MA 02199


 


	
If to the Agent, to:

	
Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc.


1717 Arch Street, Suite 1300


Philadelphia, PA 19103


Attn:  Corporate Actions Department


with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:


Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.


2 Journal Square Plaza


Jersey City, New Jersey 07306


Attention: General Counsel


 





 


13.     Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and shall inure to the benefit of, and the obligations created hereby shall be binding upon, the successors and assigns of the parties hereto.


 





14.     Assignment.  This Agreement may not be assigned by the Company without the prior written consent of the Agent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Agent and the Company and their respective successors and permitted assigns and is made solely and specifically for their benefit.  No other person shall have any rights, interest or claims hereunder or be entitled to any benefits under or on account of this Agreement as a third-party beneficiary or otherwise.


 


15.     Amendment.  This Agreement may not be modified, amended or supplemented without an express written agreement executed by each of the parties hereto.


 


16.     Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which, when executed and delivered, shall be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.


 


17.     No Joint Venture.  This Agreement does not constitute an agreement for a partnership or joint venture between the Agent and the Company.  Neither party shall make any commitments with third parties that are binding on the other party without the other party’s prior written consent.


 




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18.     Force Majeure.  In the event either party is unable to perform its obligations under the terms of this Agreement because of acts of God, strikes, equipment or transmission failure or damage that is reasonably beyond its control, or other cause that is reasonably beyond its control (except, in the case of the Agent, for acts of subcontractors), such party shall not be liable for damages to the other for any damages resulting from such failure to perform or otherwise from such causes.  Performance under this Agreement shall resume when the affected party or parties are able to perform substantially that party’s duties.


 


19.     Consequential Damages.  Neither party to this Agreement shall be liable for any consequential, indirect, special or incidental damages under any provision of this Agreement or for any consequential, indirect, penal, special or incidental damages arising out of any act or failure to act hereunder even if that party has been advised of or has foreseen the possibility of such damages.


 


20.     Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired.


 


21.     Confidentiality.  The Agent and the Company agree that all books, records, information and data pertaining to the business of the other party which are exchanged or received pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this Agreement, including the fees for services set forth in the attached schedule, shall remain confidential and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any third party (except the party’s attorneys, advisors and affiliates), except with the written approval of the other party or as may be required by law or regulatory authority.


 


22.     Survival.  The provisions of Sections 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.


 


23.     Merger of Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof whether oral or written.


 





IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers, hereunto duly authorized, as of the day and year first above written.


 


	
BROADRIDGE CORPORATE ISSUER SOLUTIONS, INC.

		
SEVCON, INC.

	
	 			
	
/s/Lyell Dampeer

		
/s/Paul Farquhar

	
	 			
	
By: Lyell Dampeer

		
By:     Paul Farquhar

	
	
Title: President, Investor Communication Solutions, U.S.

		
Title:   Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

	



 



9







Exhibit A









AGENT FEES AND INCLUDED SERVICES












Subscription and Information Agent Fee of $12,000.


 


Plus reasonable out of pocket expenses, including but not limited to, stop check charges, postage (at 1.1 times rate), wire transfers, excess material disposal, overtime charges at 100% assessed in the event of late delivery of material for Mailing







INCLUDED SERVICES


 



	
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Designating a corporate action account manager to communicate with all parties hereto and their counsel to establish the terms, timing and procedures required  to carry out the Agent’s duties, including document review and execution of legal agreements, rights certificates and other Rights Offering documents and communication materials, project management, and on-going project updates and reporting.







 



	
·

	
Designating an Information Agent account manager to review and become familiar with all Offering Documents and provide expert assistance to stockholders and holders of transferred Subscription Rights related to matters concerning the Rights Offering.







 



	
·

	
Preparing mailings that include name, address for the mailing of Offering Documents.







 



	
·

	
Collating and assembling Offering Documents and envelopes for mailing.







 



	
·

	
Addressing and enclosing Offering Documents and return envelopes, for mailings to stockholders and holders of transferred Subscription Rights.







 



	
·

	
Receiving, opening and logging in returned rights certificates.







 



	
·

	
Checking rights certificates for validity against master list.







 



	
·

	
Checking for proper execution of all rights certificates and other documents necessary to effect a proper exercise of Subscription Right, including W-9s (if applicable).







 



	
·

	
Curing defective subscriptions, including writing stockholders and holders of transferred Subscription Rights in connection with unsigned or improperly executed rights certificates and other Offering Documents.







 



	
·

	
Soliciting by mail W-9s from stockholders and holders of transferred Subscription Rights who have not executed them or whose TIN’s do not match our records.








 



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·

	
Tracking and reporting as required the number of shares of Preferred Stock to which stockholders have subscribed.







 



	
·

	
Sealing, addressing, posting (not including postage), and providing envelopes for mailings to stockholders and holders of transferred Subscription Rights.







 



	
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Providing stock holder relations services to all stockholders and holders of transferred Subscription Rights related to the RightsOffering, including phone, email, and regular mail inquiries.







 


NON-INCLUDED SERVICES


 



	
·

	
Services associated with new duties, legislation or regulations which become effective after the date of this Agreement (these will be provided on an appraisal basis)







 



	
·

	
Reasonable legal review fees if referred to outside counsel upon receipt of prior approval of the Company







 



	
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Overtime charges at 100% assessed in the event of late delivery of material for mailings, unless the target mail date is rescheduled







 





 



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