ex10_3.htm








Exhibit 10.3


 


NATIONAL TECHNICAL SYSTEMS, INC.







REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT







This Registration Rights Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and entered into as of June 27, 2011 by and among (i) NATIONAL TECHNICAL SYSTEMS, INC., a California corporation (the "Company"), (ii) MILL ROAD CAPITAL, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("MRC"), and (iii) each person or entity that subsequently becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to, and in accordance with, the provisions of Section 6(c) hereof.







WHEREAS, upon the terms and conditions set forth in that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated of even date herewith, by and between the Company and MRC (the "Securities Purchase Agreement"), the Company has agreed to issue and sell to MRC, and MRC has agreed to purchase from the Company, the Securities (as such term is defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), and







WHEREAS, the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement provide that it shall be a condition precedent to the closing of the transactions thereunder, for the Company and MRC to execute and deliver this Agreement.







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








	
1)

	
Certain Definitions.  Capitalized terms used herein have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Securities Purchase Agreement unless otherwise defined herein.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:













	
  

	
(a)

	
"Allowed Delay" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2(c).













	
  

	
(b)

	
"Availability Date" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 3(i).













	
  

	
(c)

	
"Blackout Period" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2(c).













	
  

	
(d)

	
"Blue Sky Application" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 5(a).













	
  

	
(e)

	
"Cut Back Shares" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2(d).













	
  

	
(f)

	
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2(e).













	
  

	
(g)

	
"Filing Deadline" means the 30th calendar day following the Closing Date; provided, that, in the event that the Company is not eligible to file resale registration statements on Form S-3 under the Securities Act prior to the 30th calendar day following the Closing Date, the Filing Deadline shall be extended until the earlier of (a) the 30th calendar day following the first day following the Closing Date that the Company becomes eligible to file resale registration statements on Form S-3 under the Securities Act and (b) the 75th calendar day following the Closing Date.












             




  





-- 1 --











  









	
  

	
(h)

	
"Investors" means, unless the context otherwise indicates, MRC and any Affiliate or permitted transferee of MRC who is a subsequent holder of the Registrable Securities.













	
  

	
(i)

	
"Liquidated Damages Amount" of each Investor shall equal $0.075 (as appropriately adjusted for any recapitalizations, stock combinations, stock dividends, stock splits and the like with respect to the Common Stock) multiplied by the number of Purchased Shares held by the Investor on the applicable Liquidated Damages Measurement Date; provided, that, in no event shall the aggregate Liquidated Damages Amount payable hereunder exceed $420,000.













	
  

	
(j)

	
"Liquidated Damages Measurement Date" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2(c)













	
  

	
(k)

	
"Piggyback Registration" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2(e).













	
  

	
(l)

	
"Prospectus" means (i) the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement and by all other amendments and supplements to the prospectus, including post-effective amendments and all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus, and (ii) any "free writing prospectus" as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.













	 	
(m)

	
"Register," "registered" and "registration" refer to a registration made by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or similar document in compliance with the Securities Act (as defined below), and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement or document.













	
  

	
(n)

	
"Registrable Securities" means (i) the Purchased Shares, (ii) the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon exercise of the Warrants and (iii) any other securities issued or issuable with respect to or in exchange for Registrable Securities; provided, that, a security shall cease to be a Registrable Security upon sale pursuant to a Registration Statement or Rule 144 under the Securities Act.













	
  

	
(o)

	
"Registration Statement" means any registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act that covers the resale of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement.













	
  

	
(p)

	
"Required Investors" means the Investors holding a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities.













	
  

	
(q)

	
"SEC Restrictions" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2(d).













	
2)

	
Registration.











  





-- 2 --











  









	
  

	
(a)

	
Registration Statements.  The Company agrees to use its best efforts to file with the SEC, as promptly as practicable following the Closing Date, but no later than the Filing Deadline one or more registration statements on Form S-3 (or, if the Company shall not then be eligible to use Form S-3, on such other form as the Company shall then be eligible to use) pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act covering the resale by the Investors of the Registrable Securities.  Subject to any SEC comments, each Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2(a) shall include the plan of distribution attached hereto as Exhibit A; provided, however, that no Investor shall be named as an "underwriter" in a Registration Statement without the Investor’s prior written consent.  Each Registration Statement shall cover, to the extent allowable under the Securities Act and the rules promulgated thereunder (including Rule 416), such indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions with respect to the Registrable Securities.  Any Registration Statement which covers the resale of Registrable Securities shall not cover transactions in shares of Common Stock or other securities for the account of any holder other than the Investors without the prior written consent of the Required Investors.  Each Registration Statement (and each request for acceleration of effectiveness thereof) shall be provided in accordance with Section 3(c) to the Investors and their counsel prior to its filing or other submission.













	
  

	
(b)

	
Expenses.  The Company will pay all expenses associated with each registration, including filing and printing fees, the Company’s counsel and accounting fees and expenses, costs associated with clearing the Registrable Securities for sale under applicable state securities laws, listing fees, fees and expenses of one counsel to the Investors up to a maximum of $25,000 and the Investors’ reasonable expenses in connection with the registration, but excluding discounts, commissions, fees of underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers or similar securities industry professionals with respect to the Registrable Securities being sold.













	
  

	
(c)

	
Effectiveness.













	
  

	
(i)

	
The Company shall use its best efforts to have the Registration Statements declared effective as soon as practicable.  The Company shall notify the Investors by facsimile or e-mail as promptly as practicable, and in any event, within twenty-four (24) hours, after any Registration Statement is declared effective and shall simultaneously provide the Investors with copies of any related Prospectus to be used in connection with the sale or other disposition of the securities covered thereby.  If (A) a Registration Statement is not filed on or before the Filing Deadline, (B) a Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities is not declared effective by the SEC prior to the earliest of (i) five (5) Business Days after the SEC shall have informed the Company that no review of the Registration Statement will be made or that the SEC has no further comments on the Registration Statement, (ii) the 90th calendar day after the Filing Deadline or (C) after a Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC, sales cannot be made pursuant to such Registration Statement for any reason (including without limitation by reason of a stop order, or the Company’s failure to update the Registration Statement), but excluding any Allowed Delay (as defined below) or the inability of any Investor to sell the Registrable Securities covered thereby due to market conditions, then the Company will make payments to each Investor, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, in an amount equal to such Investor’s Liquidated Damages Amount for each 30-day period (or pro rata for any portion thereof) following the date by which such Registration Statement should have been filed or effective, as applicable (the "Blackout Period").  The amounts payable as liquidated damages pursuant to this paragraph shall be paid in arrears within three (3) Business Days of the last day of each 30-day period following the commencement of the Blackout Period (each a "Liquidated Damages Measurement Date") until the termination of the Blackout Period.  Such payments shall be made to each Investor in cash.











  





-- 3 --











  









	
  

	
(ii)

	
For not more than twenty (20) consecutive trading days, and for not more than an aggregate of forty-five (45) trading days in any twelve (12) month period, the Company may suspend the use of any Prospectus included in any Registration Statement contemplated by this Section in the event that the Company determines in good faith that such suspension is necessary (A) to delay the disclosure of material non-public information concerning the Company, the disclosure of which at the time would be, in the good faith opinion of the Company, materially detrimental to the Company or (B) to amend or supplement the affected Registration Statement or the related Prospectus so that such Registration Statement or Prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the case of the Prospectus in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (an "Allowed Delay"); provided, that the Company shall promptly (a) notify each Investor in writing of the commencement of and the reasons for an Allowed Delay, but shall not (without the prior written consent of an Investor) disclose to such Investor any material non-public information giving rise to an Allowed Delay, (b) advise the Investors in writing to cease all sales under the Registration Statement until the end of the Allowed Delay and (c) use commercially reasonable best efforts to terminate an Allowed Delay as promptly as practicable.













	
  

	
(d)

	
Rule 415; Cutback  If at any time the SEC takes the position that the offering of some or all of the Registrable Securities in a Registration Statement is not eligible to be made on a delayed or continuous basis under the provisions of Rule 415 under the Securities Act or requires any Investor to be named as an "underwriter", the Company shall use its best efforts to persuade the SEC that the offering contemplated by the Registration Statement is a valid secondary offering and not an offering "by or on behalf of the issuer" as defined in Rule 415 and that none of the Investors is an "underwriter".  The Investors shall have the right to participate or have their counsel participate in any meetings or discussions with the SEC regarding the SEC’s position and to comment or have their counsel comment on any written submission proposed to be made to the SEC with respect thereto.  No such written submission shall be made to the SEC to which the Investors’ counsel reasonably objects.  In the event that, despite the Company’s best efforts and compliance with the terms of this Section 2(d), the SEC refuses to alter its position, the Company shall (i) remove from the Registration Statement such portion of the Registrable Securities (the "Cut Back Shares") and/or (ii) agree to such restrictions and limitations on the registration and resale of the Registrable Securities as the SEC may require to assure the Company’s compliance with the requirements of Rule 415 (collectively, the "SEC Restrictions"); provided, however, that the Company shall not agree to name any Investor as an "underwriter" in such Registration Statement without the prior written consent of such Investor.  Any cut-back imposed on the Investors pursuant to this Section 2(d) shall be allocated among the Investors on a pro rata basis, unless the SEC Restrictions otherwise require or provide.











  





-- 4 --











  









	
  

	
(e)

	
Right to Piggyback Registration.













	
  

	
(i)

	
If at any time following the date of this Agreement any Registrable Securities remain outstanding and (A) there is not one or more effective Registration Statements covering all of the Registrable Securities and (B) the Company proposes for any reason to register any shares of Common Stock under the Securities Act (other than pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (or a similar or successor form)) with respect to an offering of Common Stock by the Company for its own account or for the account of any of its shareholders, it shall at each such time promptly give written notice to the holders of the Registrable Securities of its intention to do so (but in no event less than thirty (30) days before the anticipated filing date) and, to the extent permitted under the provisions of Rule 415 under the Securities Act, include in such registration all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the Company’s notice (a "Piggyback Registration").  Such notice shall offer the holders of the Registrable Securities the opportunity to register such number of shares of Registrable Securities as each such holder may request and shall indicate the intended method of distribution of such Registrable Securities.













	
  

	
(ii)

	
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) if such registration involves an underwritten public offering, the Investors wishing to participate in such offering must sell their Registrable Securities to, if applicable, the underwriter(s) at the same price and subject to the same underwriting discounts and commissions that apply to the other securities sold in such offering (it being acknowledged that the Company shall be responsible for other expenses as set forth in Section 2(b)) and subject to the Investors entering into customary underwriting documentation for selling shareholders in an underwritten public offering, and (B) if, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(e)(i) and prior to the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company shall determine for any reason not to cause such registration statement to become effective under the Securities Act, the Company shall deliver written notice to the Investors and, thereupon, shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such registration; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 2(e)(ii) shall limit the Company’s liabilities and/or obligations under this Agreement, including, without limitation, the obligation to pay Liquidated Damages under this Section 2.











  





-- 5 --











  









	
3)

	
Company Obligations.  The Company will use its best efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, and pursuant thereto the Company will, as expeditiously as possible:













	
  

	
(a)

	
use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and to remain continuously effective for a period that will terminate upon the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement as amended from time to time, have been sold or cease to be Registrable Securities (the "Effectiveness Period") and advise the Investors in writing when the Effectiveness Period has expired;













	
  

	
(b)

	
prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the distribution of all of the Registrable Securities covered thereby;













	
  

	
(c)

	
provide copies to and permit counsel designated by the Investors to review each Registration Statement no fewer than seven (7) days prior to their filing with the SEC and each  amendment to the Registration Statement affecting the discussion related to the "Selling Stockholders" or the "Plan of Distribution" no fewer than three days prior to their filing with the SEC, and not file any document to which such counsel reasonably objects;













	
  

	
(d)

	
furnish to the Investors and their legal counsel (i) promptly after the same is prepared and publicly distributed, filed with the SEC, or received by the Company (but not later than two (2) Business Days after the filing date, receipt date or sending date, as the case may be) one (1) copy of any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, each preliminary prospectus and Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto, and (ii) such number of copies of a Prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto and such other documents as each Investor may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor that are covered by the related Registration Statement; provided, however, that as long as the Company meets the requirements of Rule 172 under the Securities Act, clause (ii) of this Section 3(d) shall be satisfied by the Company’s filing such Registration Statement or Prospectus with the SEC’s EDGAR filing system;













	
  

	
(e)

	
use its best efforts to (i) prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness and, (ii) if such order is issued, obtain the withdrawal of any such order at the earliest possible moment;













	
  

	
(f)

	
prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the Investors and their counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions requested by the Investors and do any and all other commercially reasonable acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the distribution in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (i) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(f), (ii) subject itself to general taxation in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be so subject but for this Section 3(f), or (iii) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction;











  





-- 6 --











  









	
  

	
(g)

	
use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange, interdealer quotation system or other market on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;













	
  

	
(h)

	
immediately notify the Investors, at any time prior to the end of the Effectiveness Period, upon discovery that, or upon the happening of any event as a result of which, the Prospectus includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing, and promptly prepare, file with the SEC and furnish to such holder a supplement to or an amendment of such Prospectus as may be necessary so that such Prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;













	
  

	
(i)

	
otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including, without limitation, Rule 172 under the Securities Act, file any final Prospectus, including any supplement or amendment thereof, with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, promptly inform the Investors in writing if, at any time during the Effectiveness Period, the Company does not satisfy the conditions specified in Rule 172 and, as a result thereof, the Investors are required to deliver a Prospectus in connection with any disposition of Registrable Securities and take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to facilitate the registration of the Registrable Securities hereunder; and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than the Availability Date (as defined below), an earnings statement covering a period of at least twelve (12) months, beginning after the effective date of each Registration Statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act, including Rule 158 promulgated thereunder (for the purpose of this Section 3(i), "Availability Date" means the 45th day following the end of the fourth fiscal quarter that includes the effective date of such Registration Statement, except that, if such fourth fiscal quarter is the last quarter of the Company’s fiscal year, "Availability Date" means the 90th day after the end of such fourth fiscal quarter); and













	
  

	
(j)

	
With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule 144 (or its successor rule) and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Investors to sell shares of Common Stock to the public without registration, the Company covenants and agrees that as long as any Registrable Securities remain outstanding, it will:  (i) make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144; (ii) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Exchange Act; and (iii) furnish to each Investor upon request, as long as such Investor owns any Registrable Securities, (A) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and (B) such other information as may be reasonably requested in order to avail such Investor of any rule or regulation of the SEC that permits the selling of any such Registrable Securities without registration.











  





-- 7 --











  









	
4)

	
Obligations of the Investors.













	
  

	
(a)

	
Each Investor shall furnish in writing to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it, as shall be reasonably required to effect the registration of such Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request.  At least five (5) Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of any Registration Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor of the information the Company requires from such Investor in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement.  The Company shall be obligated to include as a selling stockholder in such Registration Statement each Investor that provides such information to the Company at least two (2) Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement and the Company shall not be obligated to register the Registrable Securities of any Investor that does not provide such information by such date.













	
  

	
(b)

	
Each Investor, by its acceptance of the Registrable Securities, agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of a Registration Statement hereunder, unless such Investor has notified the Company in writing of its election to exclude all of its Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement.













	
  

	
(c)

	
Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of either (i) the commencement of an Allowed Delay pursuant to Section 2(c)(ii) or (ii) the happening of an event pursuant to Section 3(h) hereof, such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities, until the Investor is advised by the Company that such dispositions may again be made.













	
5)

	
Indemnification.













	
  

	
(a)

	
Indemnification by the Company.  The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Investor and its officers, directors, general partners, limited partners, members, employees and agents, successors and assigns, and each other person, if any, who controls such Investor within the meaning of the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees), joint or several, to which they may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any preliminary Prospectus or final Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated or necessary to make the statements therein misleading; (ii) any blue sky application or other document executed by the Company specifically for that purpose or based upon written information furnished by the Company filed in any state or other jurisdiction in order to qualify any or all of the Registrable Securities under the securities laws thereof (any such application, document or information herein called a "Blue Sky Application"); (iii) the omission or alleged omission to state in a Blue Sky Application a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (iv) any violation by the Company or its agents of any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act applicable to the Company or its agents and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with such registration; or (v) any failure to register or qualify the Registrable Securities included in any such Registration Statement in any state where the Company or its agents has affirmatively undertaken or agreed in writing that the Company will undertake such registration or qualification on an Investor’s behalf and will reimburse such Investor, and each such officer, director, member, employee and agent, successors and assigns, and each such controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in conformity with information furnished by such Investor or any such controlling person of such Investor in writing specifically for use in such Registration Statement or Prospectus.











  





-- 8 --











  









	
  

	
(b)

	
Indemnification by the Investors.  Each Investor agrees, severally but not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company, its directors, officers, employees, stockholders and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue statement of a material fact or any omission of a material fact required to be stated in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information furnished in writing by such Investor to the Company specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto.  In no event shall the liability of an Investor be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of all expense paid by such Investor in connection with any claim relating to this Section 6, the amount of any damages such Investor has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue statement or omission and any underwriting discounts and commissions) received by such Investor upon the sale of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement giving rise to such indemnification obligation.













	
  

	
(c)

	
Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings.  Any person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided that any person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such person unless (a) the indemnifying party has agreed to pay such fees or expenses, or (b) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such person or (c) in the reasonable judgment of any such person, based upon written advice of its counsel, a conflict of interest exists between such person and the indemnifying party with respect to such claims (in which case, if the person notifies the indemnifying party in writing that such person elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such claim on behalf of such person); and provided, further, that the failure of any indemnified party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations hereunder, except to the extent that such failure to give notice shall materially adversely affect the indemnifying party in the defense of any such claim or litigation.  It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any single proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for fees or expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all indemnified parties.  No indemnifying party will, except with the consent of the indemnified party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect of such claim or litigation.











  





-- 9 --











  









	
  

	
(d)

	
Contribution.  If for any reason the indemnification provided for in the preceding paragraphs (a) and (b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient to hold it harmless, other than as expressly specified therein, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  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 not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  In no event shall the contribution obligation of a holder of Registrable Securities be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of all expenses paid by such holder in connection with any claim relating to this Section 5, the amount of any damages such holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission and any underwriter discounts and commissions) received by it upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such contribution obligation.













	
6)

	
Miscellaneous.













	
  

	
(a)

	
Amendments and Waivers.  This Agreement may be amended only by a writing signed by the Company and the Required Investors.  The Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, only if the Company shall have obtained the written consent to such amendment, action or omission to act, of the Required Investors.











  





-- 10 --











  









	
  

	
(b)

	
Notices.  All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made as set forth in Section 7.1 of the Securities Purchase Agreement.













	
  

	
(c)

	
Assignments and Transfers by Investors.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Investors and their respective successors and assigns.  An Investor may transfer or assign, in whole or from time to time in part, to one or more persons its rights hereunder in connection with the transfer of Registrable Securities by such Investor to such person, provided that such Investor complies with all laws applicable thereto and provides written notice of assignment to the Company promptly after such assignment is effected.













	
  

	
(d)

	
Assignments and Transfers by the Company.  This Agreement may not be assigned by the Company (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the Required Investors, provided, however, that the Company may assign its rights and delegate its duties hereunder to any surviving or successor corporation in connection with a merger or consolidation of the Company with another corporation, or a sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to another corporation, without the prior written consent of the Required Investors, after notice duly given by the Company to each Investor.













	
  

	
(e)

	
Benefits of the Agreement.  The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective permitted successors and assigns of the parties.  Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.













	
  

	
(f)

	
Counterparts; Faxes.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.  This Agreement may also be executed via facsimile, which shall be deemed an original.













	
  

	
(g)

	
Titles and Subtitles.  The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.













	
  

	
(h)

	
Severability.  Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof but shall be interpreted as if it were written so as to be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, the parties hereby waive any provision of law which renders any provisions hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any respect.











  





-- 11 --











  









	
  

	
(i)

	
Further Assurances.  The parties shall execute and deliver all such further instruments and documents and take all such other actions as may reasonably be required to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and to evidence the fulfillment of the agreements herein contained.













	
  

	
(j)

	
Entire Agreement.  This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and 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.  This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.













	
  

	
(k)

	
Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS THAT WOULD APPLY THE LAW OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.  MRC AND THE COMPANY HEREBY CONSENT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT TO ENFORCE ANY PROVISION OF THIS AGREEMENT OR TO DETERMINE THE RIGHTS OF ANY PARTY HERETO. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO REQUEST A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND REPRESENTS THAT COUNSEL HAS BEEN CONSULTED SPECIFICALLY AS TO THIS WAIVER.












[remainder of this page intentionally left blank]






  





-- 12 --











  








IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first above written.














	
THE COMPANY:

	
NATIONAL TECHNICAL SYSTEMS, INC.


	  	  	  	  
	  	
By:

	
/s/ Raffy Lorentzian

	  
	  	
Name:

	
Raffy Lorentzian

	  
	  	
Title:

	
Chief Financial Officer

	  
	  	
 

	  	  
	  	  	  	  
	
INVESTOR:

	
MILL ROAD CAPITAL, L.P.

	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	
By:

	
Mill Road Capital GP LLC, its General Partner


	  	  	  	  
	  	
By:

	
/s/ Justin C. Jacobs

	  
	  	
Name:

	
Justin C. Jacobs

	  
	  	
Title:

	
Managing Director

	  





 



	  	
Address:

	
382 Greenwich Avenue, Suite One


	  	  	
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830

	  











  





 











  








Exhibit A







Plan of Distribution







The selling stockholders, which as used herein includes donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors-in-interest selling shares of common stock or interests in shares of common stock received after the date of this prospectus from a selling stockholder as a gift, pledge, partnership distribution or other transfer, may, from time to time, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of their shares of common stock or interests in shares of common stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private transactions.  These dispositions may be at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market price, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices.







The selling stockholders may use any one or more of the following methods when disposing of shares or interests therein:







- ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;







- block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;







- purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;







- an exchange or over-the-counter distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange or other market;







- privately negotiated transactions;







- through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;







- broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;







- a combination of any such methods of sale; and







- any other method permitted by applicable law.







The selling stockholders may, from time to time, pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares of common stock owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of common stock, from time to time, under this prospectus, or under an amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act amending the list of selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling stockholders under this prospectus.  The selling stockholders also may transfer the shares of common stock in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.






  





- A1 -











  








In connection with the sale of our common stock or interests therein, the selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume.  The selling stockholders may also sell shares of our common stock short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities.  The selling stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).







The aggregate proceeds to the selling stockholders from the sale of the common stock offered by them will be the purchase price of the common stock less discounts or commissions, if any.  Each of the selling stockholders reserves the right to accept and, together with their agents from time to time, to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of common stock to be made directly or through agents.  We will not receive any of the proceeds from this offering.







The selling stockholders also may resell all or a portion of the shares in open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, provided that they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of that rule.







The selling stockholders and any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents that participate in the sale of the common stock or interests therein may be "underwriters" within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act.  Any discounts, commissions, concessions or profit they earn on any resale of the shares may be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.  Selling stockholders who are "underwriters" within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.







To the extent required, the shares of our common stock to be sold, the names of the selling stockholders, the respective purchase prices and public offering prices, the names of any agents, dealer or underwriter, any applicable commissions or discounts with respect to a particular offer will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement or, if appropriate, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement that includes this prospectus.







In order to comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the common stock may be sold in these jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.  In addition, in some states the common stock may not be sold unless it has been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with.






  





- A2 -











  








We have advised the selling stockholders that the anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of shares in the market and to the activities of the selling stockholders and their affiliates.  In addition, to the extent applicable we will make copies of this prospectus (as it may be supplemented or amended from time to time) available to the selling stockholders for the purpose of satisfying the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.  The selling stockholders may indemnify any broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving the sale of the shares against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.







We have agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders against liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act and state securities laws, relating to the registration of the shares offered by this prospectus.







We have agreed with the selling stockholders to keep the registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part effective until such time as all of the shares covered by this prospectus have been disposed of pursuant to and in accordance with the registration statement or Rule 144 of the Securities Act.




 


- A3 -