Document:

Exhibit
10.1

 

SECOND
AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

BETWEEN PETVIVO HOLDING, INC. AND JOHN CARRUTH

 

THIS
AMENDMENT (this “Amendment”) is made and entered into as of the 20th day of January, 2021 (“Effective
Date”) by and among PetVivo Holdings, Inc. (“PETVIVO” or the “Company”), and John Carruth (“Executive”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS,
the Company and Executive entered into an Executive Employment Agreement dated as of October 1, 2019 ( “Employment Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS,
the Company and Executive entered into a First Amendment to the Executive Employment Agreement dated as of April 14, 2020 ( “First
Amendment”) wherein Executive’s employment was adjusted from full-time to part-time; and

 

WHEREAS,
PETVIVO and Executive would like to amend the provisions of the Employment Agreement in view of the increase in services and tasks
provided by Executive, which includes the increase in services and compensation.

 

WHEREAS,
PETVIVO and Executive would like the terms of this Amendment to be effective as of January 20, 2021.

 

NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the above recitals and the covenants contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration,
the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

AGREEMENT

 

1.
Defined Terms. Capitalized terms that are used in this Amendment have the meanings set forth in the Employment Agreement, unless
otherwise defined in this Amendment. Note that underlined text denotes additions and strikethrough text denotes deletions to the
Employment Agreement.

 

2.
In the Section 2.2 of the Employment Agreement, this Section shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

 

2.2
Duties. During the term of this Agreement, and excluding any periods of vacation, sick, disability or other leave to which
Executive is entitled, Executive agrees to devote his full-time attention and time to the business and affairs of the Company
unless other arrangements are approved by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of the Company and, to the extent
necessary to discharge the responsibilities assigned to Executive hereunder, by the Chief Executive Officer or Board of Directors
and under the Company’s bylaws, as amended from time to time, and to use Executive’s reasonable best efforts to perform
faithfully and efficiently such responsibilities. At the beginning of employment and for each subsequent year thereafter during
the Term of this Agreement, the Executive and the Board of Directors will prepare a mutually agreed upon annual performance plan
outlining the Executive’s anticipated tasks, milestones and objectives for the upcoming calendar year (“Performance
Plan”). During the term of this Agreement, it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for Executive to serve on corporate,
civic, non-profit or charitable boards or committees, deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational institutions
and manage personal investments, so long as such activities do not interfere with the performance of Executive’s responsibilities
as an employee of the Company in accordance with this Agreement or cause harm to the Company. Executive shall comply with the
Company’s policies and procedures provided, that to the extent such policies and procedures are inconsistent with this Agreement,
the provisions of this Agreement shall control.

 

    	 

     

    

 

3.
In the Section 3.1 of the Employment Agreement, this Section shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

 

3.1
Base Salary. The Company shall pay Executive the Base Salary in gross bi-monthly
payments of Four Thousand One Hundred Sixty Six and 67/100 Dollars ($4,166.67) payable on the 15th day and the last day of each
month for the term of this Agreement or until termination. At the Company’s discretion, it may pay the Base Salary to Executive
as cash or warrant for common stock at an exercise price of $0.35 per share for the restricted common stock of PETVIVO. Executive,
as specifically set forth herein, shall be paid a Base Salary at an annual rate that is not less than One Hundred Thousand and
00/100 Dollars (100,000.00) or such higher annual rate as may from time to time be approved by the Board.

 

4.
Entire Agreement, Amendment. This Amendment, along with Employment Agreement, and First Amendment, represents the entire
agreement and understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, expressly superseding all prior agreements
and discussion, whether oral or written, with respect to the subject matt hereof. This Amendment may only be amended in a writing
signed by both parties hereto. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. The parties hereto confirm that any electronic copy of another
party’s executed counterpart of this Amendment (or such party’s signature page thereof) will be deemed to be an executed
original thereof.

 

IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Amendment to the Employment Agreement to be executed and effective as
of the Effective Date.

 

	 	PETVIVO,
    INC.
	 	 
	 	By:
    	/s/
John Lai
	 	 	John
    Lai
	 	 	Chief
    Executive Officer
	 	 	 
	 	EXECUTIVE
	 	 	 
	 	By:
    	/s/
    John Carruth
	 	 	John
    CarruthExhibit 4.2

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

Southeastern Grocers, Inc.

 

and

 

the other parties hereto

 

[·], 2021

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
Section 1.
    	
Certain Definitions
    	
 
    	
1
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 2.
    	
Registration Rights
    	
 
    	
5
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
2.1.
    	
Demand Registrations
    	
 
    	
5
    
	
 
    	
2.2.
    	
Piggyback Registrations
    	
 
    	
9
    
	
 
    	
2.3.
    	
Allocation of Securities Included in Registration   Statement
    	
 
    	
10
    
	
 
    	
2.4.
    	
Registration Procedures
    	
 
    	
13
    
	
 
    	
2.5.
    	
Registration Expenses
    	
 
    	
20
    
	
 
    	
2.6.
    	
Certain Limitations on Registration Rights
    	
 
    	
20
    
	
 
    	
2.7.
    	
Limitations on Sale or Distribution of Other   Securities
    	
 
    	
20
    
	
 
    	
2.8.
    	
No Required Sale
    	
 
    	
21
    
	
 
    	
2.9.
    	
Indemnification
    	
 
    	
21
    
	
 
    	
2.10.
    	
Limitations on Registration of Other Securities; Representation
    	
 
    	
25
    
	
 
    	
2.11.
    	
No Inconsistent Agreements
    	
 
    	
25
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 3.
    	
Underwritten Offerings
    	
 
    	
25
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
3.1.
    	
Requested Underwritten Offerings
    	
 
    	
25
    
	
 
    	
3.2.
    	
Piggyback Underwritten Offerings
    	
 
    	
26
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 4.
    	
General
    	
 
    	
27
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
4.1.
    	
Rule 144
    	
 
    	
27
    
	
 
    	
4.2.
    	
Nominees for Beneficial Owners
    	
 
    	
27
    
	
 
    	
4.3.
    	
Amendments and Waivers
    	
 
    	
27
    
	
 
    	
4.4.
    	
Notices
    	
 
    	
27
    
	
 
    	
4.5.
    	
Successors and Assigns
    	
 
    	
28
    
	
 
    	
4.6.
    	
Entire Agreement
    	
 
    	
28
    
	
 
    	
4.7.
    	
Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of   Jury Trial
    	
 
    	
29
    
	
 
    	
4.8.
    	
Interpretation; Construction
    	
 
    	
29
    
	
 
    	
4.9.
    	
Counterparts
    	
 
    	
30
    
	
 
    	
4.10.
    	
Severability
    	
 
    	
30
    
	
 
    	
4.11.
    	
Remedies
    	
 
    	
30
    
	
 
    	
4.12.
    	
Further Assurances
    	
 
    	
30
    
	
 
    	
4.13.
    	
Confidentiality
    	
 
    	
30
    
	
 
    	
4.14.
    	
Termination and Effect of Termination
    	
 
    	
31
    

 

Exhibit A - Joinder

 

i

 

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is made as of [·], 2021, by and among (i) Southeastern Grocers, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and (ii) each of the Persons listed on the signature pages hereto (each a “Holder”, and collectively the “Holders”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Holders are party to that certain Stockholders Agreement, dated May 31, 2018 (as amended, the “Stockholders Agreement”), by and among the Company and the stockholders of the Company party thereto;

 

WHEREAS, the Stockholders Agreement will terminate in connection with the initial public offering of shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”) of the Company (“IPO”); and

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO, the parties desire to set forth certain registration rights applicable to the Registrable Securities.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants and obligations hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                                           Certain Definitions.  As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

“Additional Piggyback Rights” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.2(d).

 

“Affiliate” means with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person, where “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct the management and policies of a Person whether through the ownership of voting securities, contract or otherwise; provided that, for purposes of this Agreement, no Holder shall be deemed an Affiliate of any other Holder solely by reason of an investment in, or holding of Common Stock (or securities convertible or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock) of, the Company.  For the avoidance of doubt, neither the Company nor any Person controlled by the Company shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any Holder.

 

“Agreement” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the preamble.

 

“Automatic Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.4(v).

 

“Beneficial Ownership” shall mean, with respect to a specified Person, the ownership of securities as determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, as such Rule is in effect from time to time. The terms “Beneficially Own” and “Beneficial Owner” shall have a correlative meaning.

 

“Board” means the board of directors of the Company.

 

 

“Business Day” shall mean a day other than a Saturday, Sunday, federal or New York State holiday or other day on which commercial banks in the City of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.

 

“Claims” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.9(a).

 

“Common Stock” has the meaning given in the Recitals and shall include and any securities issued in respect thereof, or in substitution therefor, in connection with any stock split, dividend or combination, or any reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, exchange or similar reorganization.

 

“Common Stock Equivalents” means all options, warrants and other securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for (at any time or upon the occurrence of any event or contingency and without regard to any vesting or other conditions to which such securities may be subject) shares of capital stock or other equity securities of such Person (including, without limitation, any note or debt security convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or other equity securities of such Person).

 

“Company” has the meaning given in the preamble.

 

“Demand Exercise Notice” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(a)(ii).

 

“Demand Registration” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(a)(i).

 

“Demand Registration Request” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(a)(i).

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC issued under such Act, as they may from time to time be in effect.

 

“Expenses” means any and all fees and expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with Section 2, including, without limitation: (i) SEC, stock exchange or FINRA registration and filing fees and all listing fees and fees with respect to the inclusion of securities on the New York Stock Exchange or on any other securities market on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted, (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or “blue sky” laws of any state or jurisdiction of the United States or compliance with the securities laws of foreign jurisdictions and in connection with the preparation of a “blue sky” survey, including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of outside “blue sky” counsel and securities counsel in foreign jurisdictions, (iii) printing and copying expenses, (iv) messenger and delivery expenses, (v) expenses incurred in connection with any road show, (vi) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (vii) with respect to each registration or underwritten offering, the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for all the Holders participating in such registration or underwritten offering (selected by the Majority Participating Holders), (viii) fees and disbursements of all independent public accountants (including the expenses of any audit and/or “cold comfort” letter and updates thereof) and fees and expenses of other Persons, including special experts, retained by the Company, (ix) fees and expenses payable to a Qualified Independent Underwriter, (x) fees and expenses of any transfer agent, (xi) any other 

 

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fees and disbursements of underwriters, if any, customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities and (xii) expenses for securities law liability insurance and, if any, rating agency fees.

 

“FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

 

“Holder” or “Holders” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.

 

“Initiating Holders” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(a)(i).

 

“Inspectors” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.4(k).

 

“IPO” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals.

 

“Joinder” means a joinder agreement in the form of Exhibit A hereto.

 

“Litigation” means any action, proceeding or investigation in any court or before any governmental authority.

 

“Majority Participating Holders” means Participating Holders holding more than 50% of the Registrable Securities proposed to be included in any offering of Registrable Securities by such Participating Holders pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.2.

 

“Manager” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(f).

 

“Offering Document” means a registration statement, any prospectus or preliminary, final or summary prospectus or free writing prospectus, or any other document used in connection with the offering of securities covered thereby, any offering circular, notification, pricing disclosure or similar document, or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing.

 

“Opt-Out Request” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.13.

 

“Participating Holders” means all Holders of Registrable Securities which are proposed to be included in any offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 or Section 2.2.

 

“Permitted Transferee” means, with respect to any Holder, an Affiliate of such Holder that would hold Registrable Securities following such transfer.

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation (including not for profit), general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust, association, joint-stock company, unincorporated organization, governmental entity or agency or other entity of any kind or nature.

 

“Piggyback Registration” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.2(b).

 

“Piggyback Request” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.2(b).

 

“Piggyback Shares” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.3(a)(iii).

 

“Policies” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.13.

 

3

 

“Postponement Period” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(e).

 

“Public Offering” shall mean, other than the IPO, a bona fide underwritten public offering and sale or other transfer of Common Stock (or other equity securities of the Company) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act.

 

“Qualified Independent Underwriter” means a “qualified independent underwriter” within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121.

 

“Records” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.4(k).

 

“Registrable Securities” means (a) any shares of Common Stock held by the Holders at any time (including those held as a result of, or issuable upon, the conversion or exercise of Common Stock Equivalents), whether now owned or acquired by the Holders at a later time, (b) any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable, directly or indirectly, in exchange for or with respect to the Common Stock referenced in clause (a) above by way of stock dividend, stock split or combination of shares in connection with a reclassification, recapitalization, merger, share exchange, consolidation or other reorganization and (c) any securities issued in replacement of or exchange for any securities described in clause (a) or (b) above.  As to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (A) a registration statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have been declared effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with such registration statement or (B) such securities are able to be immediately sold pursuant to Rule 144 without regard to the volume and manner of sale limitations under such rule.

 

“Rule 144” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.1.

 

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or such other federal agency which at such time administers the Securities Act.

 

“Section 2.3(a) Sale Number” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.3(a).

 

“Section 2.3(b) Sale Number” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.3(b).

 

“Section 2.3(c) Sale Number” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.3(c).

 

“Section 4.13 Representative” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.13.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC issued under such Act, as they may from time to time be in effect.

 

“Shelf Registrable Securities” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(h).

 

“Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(h).

 

“Shelf Underwriting” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(i).

 

“Shelf Underwriting Notice” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(i).

 

4

 

“Shelf Underwriting Request” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(i).

 

“Special Registration Statement” means: (a) a registration statement relating to any employee benefit plan or “at-the-market” offering; (b) with respect to any corporate reorganization or transaction under Rule 145 of the Securities Act, any registration statement related to the issuance or resale of securities issued in connection with such transaction; or (c) a registration statement related to stock issued upon conversion of debt securities.

 

“Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company on the date hereof and any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company organized or acquired after the date hereof.

 

“Valid Business Reason” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(e).

 

“WKSI” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.4(v).

 

Section 2.                                           Registration Rights.

 

2.1.                            Demand Registrations.

 

(a)                                 (i)                                     Subject to Sections 2.1(b) and 2.3, at any time and from time to time following the six month anniversary date of the pricing date of the IPO, any Holder, or group of Holders, that hold in the aggregate 10% or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, shall have the right to require the Company to file one or more, but in no event greater than three, registration statements under the Securities Act covering all or any part of its and its Affiliates’ Registrable Securities by delivering a written request therefor to the Company specifying the number of Registrable Securities to be included in such registration and the intended method of distribution therefor (a “Demand Registration Request”). The registration so requested is referred to herein as a “Demand Registration” (with respect to any Demand Registration, the Holder(s) making such demand for registration being referred to as the “Initiating Holders”). Any Demand Registration Request may request that the Company register Registrable Securities on an appropriate form, including a shelf registration statement, and, if the Company is a WKSI, an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement.

 

(ii)                                  The Company shall give written notice (the “Demand Exercise Notice”) of such Demand Registration Request to all other Holders of Registrable Securities no later than five (5) Business Days after the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration Request (or, in the case of a request for the filing of an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, three (3) Business Days after receipt of the Demand Registration Request).

 

(b)                                 The Company, subject to Sections 2.3 and 2.6, shall include in a Demand Registration (x) the Registrable Securities of the Initiating Holders and (y) the Registrable Securities of any other Holder of Registrable Securities which shall have made a written request to the Company for inclusion in such registration pursuant to Section 2.2 (which request shall specify the maximum number of Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such Participating Holder on the same terms and pursuant to the same intended method or methods of disposition as are set forth in the Demand Registration Request of the Initiating Holder) within ten (10) days after the receipt of the Demand Exercise Notice.

 

5

 

(c)                                  The Company shall, subject to Section 2.1(b), as soon as reasonably practicable, but in no event later than (i) thirty (30) days following receipt of a Demand Registration Request if at such time as the Company shall have qualified for the use of Form S-3 promulgated under the Securities Act or any successor form thereto or (ii) forty-five (45) days following receipt of a Demand Registration Request, file with the SEC the form and other necessary documents, and, as soon as reasonably practicable after such filing, use its best efforts to cause to be declared effective such registration under the Securities Act (including, without limitation, by means of a shelf registration pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act if so requested and if the Company is then eligible to use such a registration) of the Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to register, for distribution in accordance with such intended method of distribution.

 

(d)                                 Any Initiating Holder and any other Holder that has requested its Registrable Securities be included in a Demand Registration may withdraw all or a portion of its Registrable Securities from such Demand Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of the Demand Registration.  Upon receipt of a notice to such effect (A) from the Initiating Holder and all other Holders with respect to all of the Registrable Securities included by such Holders in such Demand Registration; or (B) from one or more Holders with respect to Registrable Securities held by them that would cause (i) the reasonably expected aggregate offering price to fall to $25,000,000 or below or (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock to be registered pursuant to such Demand Registration fall to below 10% of the then outstanding shares of Common stock on the date of such request, the Company shall cease all effort to secure effectiveness of the applicable Demand Registration.

 

(e)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 2.1(a), the Demand Registration rights granted in Section 2.1(a) are subject to the following limitations: (i) (x) the Company shall not be required to effect more than one (1) Demand Registration delivered by any specific Holder pursuant to Section 2.1(a)(i) in any six (6) month period (it being understood that a registration pursuant to a Piggyback Request by a Holder shall not constitute a Demand Registration for the purposes of this Section 2.1(e)(i)); (ii) each registration in respect of a Demand Registration Request made by any Initiating Holder must include, in the aggregate (based on the Common Stock included in such registration by all Holders participating in such registration), Registrable Securities having an aggregate market value reasonably expected to be at least $25,000,000; and (iii) if the Board, in its good faith judgment, determines that any registration of Registrable Securities should not be made or continued because it would materially interfere with any material financing, acquisition, corporate reorganization, merger, share exchange or other transaction or event involving the Company or any Subsidiary and, in each case, any successor thereto, or because the Company does not yet have appropriate financial statements of acquired or to be acquired entities available for filing (in each case, a “Valid Business Reason”), then (x) the Company may postpone filing a registration statement relating to a Demand Registration Request until three (3) Business Days after such Valid Business Reason no longer exists, but in no event for more than 60 days after the date the Board determines a Valid Business Reason exists and (y) in case a registration statement has been filed relating to a Demand Registration Request, if the Valid Business Reason has not resulted from actions taken by the Company, any Subsidiary, and, in each case, any successor thereto, the Company may, to the extent determined in the good faith judgment of the Board to be reasonably necessary to avoid interference with any of the transactions described above, cause such registration statement 

 

6

 

to be withdrawn and its effectiveness terminated or may postpone amending or supplementing such registration statement until three (3) Business Days after such Valid Business Reason no longer exists, but in no event for more than 60 days after the date the Board determines a Valid Business Reason exists (such period of postponement or withdrawal under this clause (iii), the “Postponement Period”).  The Company shall give written notice of its determination to postpone or withdraw a registration statement and of the fact that the Valid Business Reason for such postponement or withdrawal no longer exists, together with a certificate of such determination signed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company, in each case, promptly after the occurrence thereof; provided, however, the Company shall not be permitted to postpone or withdraw a registration statement after the expiration of any Postponement Period until six (6) months after the expiration of such Postponement Period.

 

If the Company shall give any notice of postponement or withdrawal of any registration statement pursuant to this Section 2.4(e), the Company shall not, during the Postponement Period, register any Common Stock, other than pursuant to a Special Registration Statement.  Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company that the Company has determined to withdraw, terminate or postpone amending or supplementing any registration statement pursuant to this Section 2.4(e), such Holder will discontinue its disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement.  If the Company shall have withdrawn or prematurely terminated a registration statement filed under Section 2.1(a)(i) (whether pursuant to clause (iii) of this Section 2.4(e) or as a result of any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other governmental agency or court), the Company shall not be considered to have effected an effective registration for the purposes of this Agreement until the Company shall have filed a new registration statement covering the Registrable Securities covered by the withdrawn or terminated registration statement and such registration statement shall have been declared effective and shall not have been withdrawn.  If the Company shall give any notice of withdrawal or postponement of a registration statement, the Company shall, not later than three (3) Business Days after the Valid Business Reason that caused such withdrawal or postponement no longer exists (but in no event later than 60 days after the date of the postponement or withdrawal), use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration under the Securities Act of the Registrable Securities covered by the withdrawn or postponed registration statement in accordance with this Section 2.1 (unless the Initiating Holders shall have withdrawn such request, in which case the Company shall not be considered to have effected an effective registration for the purposes of this Agreement), and such registration shall not thereafter be withdrawn or postponed pursuant to Section 2.1(e).

 

(f)                                   In connection with any Demand Registration, the Majority Participating Holders shall have the right to designate the lead managing underwriter (any lead managing underwriter for the purposes of this Agreement, the “Manager”) in connection with any underwritten offering pursuant to such registration and each other managing underwriter for any such underwritten offering; provided, that such underwriter is reasonably satisfactory to the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

 

(g)                                  The obligation to effect a Demand Registration as described in this Section 2.1 shall be deemed satisfied only when a registration statement covering the applicable Registrable Securities shall have become effective (unless, after effectiveness, the registration statement becomes subject to any stop order, injunction or other order of the SEC or other governmental

 

7

 

agency, in which case the obligation shall not be deemed satisfied) and has remained effective until such time as the earliest to occur of (i) the date on which all of such Registrable Securities covered thereby have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the Participating Holders and (ii) solely in the case of a Demand Registration utilizing a Shelf Registration Statement (as defined in Section 2.1(h), the first anniversary of the date that such Registration Statement becomes effective, not including any Postponement Periods.

 

(h)                                 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, at such time as the Company shall have qualified for the use of Form S-3 and in the event that the Company files a shelf registration statement under Rule 415 of the Securities Act pursuant to a Demand Registration Request and such shelf registration statement on Form S-3 becomes effective (such registration statement, a “Shelf Registration Statement”), the Initiating Holders with respect to such Demand Registration Request and the Holders of other Registrable Securities registered on such Shelf Registration Statement shall have the right at any time or from time to time to elect to sell pursuant to an underwritten offering Registrable Securities available for sale pursuant to such registration statement (“Shelf Registrable Securities”), so long as the Shelf Registration Statement remains in effect and only if the method of distribution set forth in the shelf registration allows for sales pursuant to an underwritten offering.

 

(i)                                     The Initiating Holders and such other Holders shall make such election provided by Section 2.1(h) by delivering to the Company a written request (a “Shelf Underwriting Request”) for such underwritten offering to the Company specifying the number of Shelf Registrable Securities that the Holders desire to sell pursuant to such underwritten offering (the “Shelf Underwriting”).  As promptly as practicable, but no later than three (3) Business Days after receipt of a Shelf Underwriting Request, the Company shall give written notice (the “Shelf Underwriting Notice”) of such Shelf Underwriting Request to all other Holders of Shelf Registrable Securities.  The Company, subject to Sections 2.3 and 2.6, shall include in such Shelf Underwriting (x) the Registrable Securities of the Initiating Holders and (y) the Shelf Registrable Securities of any other Holder of Shelf Registrable Securities which shall have made a written request to the Company for inclusion in such Shelf Underwriting (which request shall specify the maximum number of Shelf Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such Holder) within seven (7) days after the receipt of the Shelf Underwriting Notice.  The Company shall, as expeditiously as possible (and in any event within fifteen (15) days after the receipt of a Shelf Underwriting Request), but subject to Section 2.1(b), use its reasonable best efforts to facilitate such Shelf Underwriting.  The Company shall, at the request of any Initiating Holder or any other Holder of Registrable Securities registered on such Shelf Registration Statement, file any prospectus supplement or, if the applicable Shelf Registration Statement is an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement (as defined in Section 2.4), any post-effective amendments and otherwise take any action necessary to include therein all disclosure and language deemed necessary or advisable by the Company to effect such Shelf Underwriting.  Once a Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective, the Holders may request, and the Company shall be required to facilitate, up to three (3) Shelf Underwritings with respect to such Shelf Registration Statement.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.1(i), each Shelf Underwriting must include, in the aggregate (based on the Common Stock included in such Shelf Underwriting by all Holders participating in such Shelf Underwriting), shares of Common Stock having an aggregate market value of at least $25,000,000. The Company agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep each Shelf Registration Statement continuously

 

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effective until the earliest to occur of (i) the date specified by the Initiating Holder, if any, (ii) the day after the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, and (iii) the first date on which there shall cease to be any Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement.

 

2.2.                            Piggyback Registrations.

 

(a)                                 If the Company proposes or is required to file (i) a new registration statement or (ii) a supplement or amendment to an existing registration statement, in each case with respect to an offering of any of its equity securities for its own account or for the account of holders of equity securities (other than the Holders) of the Company (other than pursuant to a Special Registration Statement), the Company shall give prompt written notice of its intention to do so to each of the Holders of Registrable Securities, at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the filing of any registration statement, supplement or amendment under the Securities Act, describing in reasonable detail to the extent available the proposed registration (including the number and class or series of securities proposed to be registered, the proposed date of filing of such registration statement, supplement or amendment and any proposed means of distribution of such securities), and offering such Holders the opportunity to register such number of Registrable Securities of the same class as those being registered by the Company.

 

(b)                                 Upon the written request of any Holder desiring to have Registrable Securities registered under this Section 2.2 (a “Piggyback Request”), made within five (5) Business Days following the receipt of written notice from the Company pursuant to Section 2.3(a) (which request shall specify the maximum number of Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by such Holder and the intended method of distribution thereof), the Company shall, subject to Sections 2.2(e), 2.3 and 2.6 hereof, use its reasonable best efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities, the Holders of which have so requested the registration thereof, to be registered under the Securities Act with the securities which the Company at the time proposes to register to permit the sale or other disposition by the Holders (in accordance with the intended method of distribution thereof) of the Registrable Securities to be so registered, including, if necessary, by filing with the SEC a post-effective amendment or a supplement to the registration statement filed by the Company or the prospectus related thereto (the “Piggyback Registration”).

 

(c)                                  There is no limitation on the number of Piggyback Requests that may be made by Holders pursuant to the preceding sentence which the Company is obligated to effect.  No registration of Registrable Securities effected under this Section 2.2(c) shall relieve the Company of its obligations to effect Demand Registrations under Section 2.1 hereof.

 

(d)                                 The Company, subject to Sections 2.3 and 2.6, may elect to include in any registration statement and offering pursuant to demand registration rights by any Person, (i) authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock and (ii) any other shares of Common Stock which are requested to be included in such registration pursuant to the exercise of piggyback registration rights granted by the Company after the date hereof and which are not inconsistent with the rights granted in, or otherwise conflict with the terms of, this Agreement (“Additional Piggyback Rights”); provided, however, that, with respect to any underwritten offering, such inclusion shall be permitted only to the extent that it is pursuant to, and subject to, the terms of 

 

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the underwriting agreement or arrangements, if any, entered into by the Majority Participating Holders in such underwritten offering.

 

(e)                                  If, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any equity securities 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 register or to delay registration of such equity securities, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to all Holders of Registrable Securities and (i) in the case of a determination not to register, shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such abandoned registration, without prejudice, however, to the rights of Holders under Section 2.1, and (ii) in the case of a determination to delay such registration of its equity securities, shall be permitted to delay the registration of such Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in registering such other equity securities.

 

(f)                                   Any Holder shall have the right to withdraw its request for inclusion of its Registrable Securities in any registration statement pursuant to this Section 2.2 by giving written notice to the Company of its request to withdraw; provided, however, that such request must be made in writing (i) in the case of an underwritten offering, prior to the earlier of the execution of the underwriting agreement or the execution of the custody agreement with respect to such registration, and (ii) in the case of a new registration statement, prior to the effective date of the applicable registration statement.

 

(g)                                  The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement relating to any Piggyback Registration for a period of at least 180 days after the effective date thereof or such shorter period in which all Registrable Securities included in such registration statement have actually been sold.

 

2.3.                            Allocation of Securities Included in Registration Statement.

 

(a)                                 If any requested registration made pursuant to Section 2.1 (including a Shelf Underwriting) involves an underwritten offering and the Manager of such offering shall advise the Company that, in its view, the number of securities requested to be included in such underwritten offering by the Holders of Registrable Securities, the Company, any Subsidiary, and, in each case, any successor thereto, or any other Persons exercising Additional Piggyback Rights exceeds the highest number (the “Section 2.3(a) Sale Number”) that can be sold in an orderly manner in such underwritten offering within a price range acceptable to the Majority Participating Holders, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to include in such underwritten offering:

 

(i)                                     first, all Registrable Securities requested to be included in such underwritten offering by the Holders thereof; provided, however, that if the number of such Registrable Securities exceeds the 2.3(a) Sale Number, the number of such Registrable Securities (not to exceed the 2.3(a) Sale Number) to be included in such underwritten offering shall be allocated on a pro rata basis among all Holders requesting that Registrable Securities be included in such underwritten offering, based on the number of Registrable Securities then owned by each such Holder requesting inclusion in 

 

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relation to the aggregate number of Registrable Securities owned by all Holders requesting inclusion;

 

(ii)                                  second, to the extent that the number of Registrable Securities to be included pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 2.3(a) is less than the 2.3(a) Sale Number, any securities that the Company proposes to register; provided that the number of such securities when aggregated with that number of Registrable Securities to be included pursuant to clause (i), totals no more than the 2.3(a) Sale Number; and

 

(iii)                               third, to the extent that the number of Registrable Securities and other equity securities of the Company to be included pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 2.3(a) is less than the 2.3(a) Sale Number, the remaining equity securities of the Company to be included in such underwritten offering shall be allocated on a pro rata basis among all Persons requesting that securities be included in such underwritten offering pursuant to the exercise of Additional Piggyback Rights (“Piggyback Shares”), based on the number of Piggyback Shares then owned by each Person requesting inclusion in relation to the aggregate number of Piggyback Shares owned by all Persons requesting inclusion; provided that the number of such securities when aggregated with that number of Registrable Securities and other equity securities of the Company to be included pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) totals no more than the 2.3(a) Sale Number.

 

(b)                                 If any registration or offering made pursuant to Section 2.2 involves an underwritten primary offering on behalf of the Company after the date hereof and the Manager shall advise the Company that, in its view, the number of securities requested to be included in such underwritten offering by the Holders of Registrable Securities, the Company or any other Persons exercising Additional Piggyback Rights exceeds the highest number (the “Section 2.3(b) Sale Number”) that can be sold in an orderly manner in such underwritten offering within a price range acceptable to the Company, the Company shall include in such underwritten offering:

 

(i)                                     first, all equity securities that the Company proposes to register for its own account;

 

(ii)                                  second, to the extent that the number of equity securities of the Company to be included pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 2.3(b) is less than the 2.3(b) Sale Number, the Registrable Securities to be included in such underwritten offering shall be allocated on a pro rata basis among all Holders requesting that Registrable Securities be included in such underwritten offering pursuant to the exercise of piggyback rights pursuant to Section 2.2, based on the number of Registrable Securities then owned by each such Holder requesting inclusion in relation to the aggregate number of Registrable Securities owned by all Holders requesting inclusion; provided that the number of such remaining Registrable Securities when aggregated with that number of equity securities to be included pursuant to clause (i), totals no more than the 2.3(b) Sale Number; and

 

(iii)                               third, to the extent that the number of Registrable Securities and other equity securities of the Company to be included pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 2.3(b) is less than the 2.3(b) Sale Number, the remaining equity securities of the Company to be included in such underwritten offering shall be allocated on a pro rata 

 

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basis among all Persons requesting that securities be included in such underwritten offering pursuant to the exercise of Additional Piggyback Rights, based on the number of Piggyback Shares then owned by each Person requesting inclusion in relation to the aggregate number of Piggyback Shares owned by all Persons requesting inclusion; provided that the number of such securities when aggregated with that number of Registrable Securities and other equity securities of the Company to be included pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) totals no more than the 2.3(b) Sale Number.

 

(c)                                  [If any registration pursuant to Section 2.2 involves an underwritten offering that was initially requested by any Person(s) other than a Holder to whom the Company has granted registration rights which are not inconsistent with the rights granted in, or otherwise conflict with the terms of, this Agreement and the Manager shall advise the Company that, in its view, the number of securities requested to be included in such underwritten offering exceeds the number (the “Section 2.3(c) Sale Number”) that can be sold in an orderly manner in such underwritten offering within a price range acceptable to the Company, the Company shall include in such underwritten offering:

 

(i)                                     first, the shares requested to be included in such underwritten offering shall be allocated on a pro rata basis among such Person(s) requesting the registration and all Holders requesting that Registrable Securities be included in such underwritten offering pursuant to the exercise of piggyback rights pursuant to Section 2.2, based on the aggregate number of securities or Registrable Securities, as applicable, then owned by each of the foregoing requesting inclusion in relation to the aggregate number of securities or Registrable Securities, as applicable, owned by all such Holders and Persons requesting inclusion, up to the 2.3(c) Sale Number;

 

(ii)                                  second, to the extent that the number of Registrable Securities and other equity securities of the Company to be included pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 2.3(c) is less than the 2.3(c) Sale Number, the remaining Registrable Securities and other equity securities of the Company to be included in such underwritten offering shall be allocated on a pro rata basis among all Persons requesting that securities be included in such underwritten offering pursuant to the exercise of Additional Piggyback Rights, based on the number of Piggyback Shares then owned by each Person requesting inclusion in relation to the aggregate number of Piggyback Shares owned by all Persons requesting inclusion; provided that the number of such remaining Registrable Securities and other equity securities of the Company when aggregated with that number of shares requested to be included pursuant to clause (i), totals no more than the 2.3(c) Sale Number; and

 

(iii)                               third, to the extent that the number of Registrable Securities and other equity securities of the Company to be included pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 2.3(c) is less than the Section 2.3(c) Sale Number, the remaining Registrable Securities to be included in such underwritten offering shall be allocated to shares the Company proposes to register for its own account; provided that the number of such securities when aggregated with that number of Registrable Securities and other equity securities of the Company to be included pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) totals no more than the 2.3(c) Sale Number.

 

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(d)                                 If, as a result of the proration provisions set forth in clauses (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 2.3, any Holder shall not be entitled to include all Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering that such Holder has requested be included, such Holder may elect to withdraw such Holder’s request to include Registrable Securities in the registration to which such underwritten offering relates or may reduce the number requested to be included; provided, however, that (x) such request must be made in writing prior to the earlier of the execution of the underwriting agreement or the execution of the custody agreement with respect to such registration and (y) such withdrawal or reduction shall be irrevocable and, after making such withdrawal or reduction, such Holder shall no longer have any right to include Registrable Securities in the registration as to which such withdrawal or reduction was made to the extent of the Registrable Securities so withdrawn or reduced; provided, further, that in the event that a withdrawal or reduction pursuant to this Section 2.3(d) reduces the number of Registrable Securities to be included in an offering to fewer than the 2.3(a) Sale Number, the 2.3(b) Sale Number or the 2.3(c) Sale Number, as applicable, then the priority according to which any additional Registrable Securities shall be included therein shall be as set forth in Section 2.3(a), Section 2.3(b) or Section 2.3(c), as applicable.

 

2.4.                            Registration Procedures.  If and whenever the Company is required by the provisions of this Agreement to effect or cause the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act as provided in this Agreement (or use best efforts or reasonable best efforts to accomplish the same), the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible:

 

(a)                                 prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement on an appropriate registration form of the SEC for the disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof, which registration form (i) shall be selected by the Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and (ii) shall, in the case of a shelf registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the selling Holders thereof and such registration statement shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable registration form and include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith, and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective and remain continuously effective for such period as any Participating Holder pursuant to such registration statement shall request, and no less than 180 days, provided, however, that as far in advance as reasonably practicable before filing an Offering Document, or before sending a response to an SEC comment letter prior to any such filing, the Company will furnish to one counsel for the Holders participating in the planned offering (selected by the Majority Participating Holders) and to one counsel for the Manager, if any, copies of reasonably complete drafts of all such documents proposed to be filed (including all exhibits thereto and each document incorporated by reference therein to the extent then required by the rules and regulations of the SEC), which documents will be subject to the reasonable review and reasonable comment of such counsel (including any objections to any information pertaining to any Participating Holder and its plan of distribution and otherwise to the extent necessary, if at all, to complete the filing or maintain the effectiveness thereof), and the Company shall make the changes reasonably requested by such counsel and shall not file any Offering Document to which the Majority Participating Holders or the underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object, provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be required to file any document with the SEC which in the view of the Company or its counsel does not comply with the requirements of the Securities Act or of the rules of regulations 

 

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thereunder or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make any statement therein not misleading;

 

(b)                                 (i) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments, post-effective amendments and supplements (including, without limitation, any reports required to be filed pursuant to the Exchange Act) to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement continuously effective for such period as any Participating Holder pursuant to such registration statement shall request and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the sale or other disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement; provided, however, that the Company may discontinue any registration of its securities that cease to be Registrable Securities; and (ii) provide notice to such sellers of Registrable Securities and the Manager, if any, of the Company’s reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to a registration statement would be appropriate;

 

(c)                                  furnish, without charge, to each Participating Holder and each underwriter, if any, of the securities covered by such registration statement such number of copies of such registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits), the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus) and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 under the Securities Act, each free writing prospectus utilized in connection therewith, in each case, in all material respects in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act or of the rules or regulations thereunder, and other documents, as such seller and underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller (the Company hereby consenting to the use in accordance with all applicable laws of each such Offering Document by each such Participating Holder and the underwriters, if any, in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement or prospectus);

 

(d)                                 use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or state “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as any sellers of Registrable Securities or any managing underwriter, if any, shall reasonably request in writing, and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such sellers or underwriter, if any, to consummate the disposition of the Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions (including keeping such registration or qualification in effect for so long as such registration statement remains in effect), except that in no event shall the Company be required to qualify to do business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction where it would not, but for the requirements of this paragraph (d), be required to be so qualified, to subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or to consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction;

 

(e)                                  promptly notify each Participating Holder and each managing underwriter, if any and, if requested by any such Person, confirm such notice in writing: (i) when the registration statement or any other Offering Document has been filed with the SEC and, with respect to the Offering Document, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any comment letter or request by the SEC or state securities authority for amendments or supplements to the registration 

 

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statement or the prospectus related thereto or for additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or state “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose; (v) of the existence of any fact of which the Company becomes aware which results in the Offering Document or the information conveyed to any purchaser at the time of sale to such purchaser containing an untrue statement of a material fact or omitting to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make any statement therein not misleading; and (vi) if at any time the representations and warranties contemplated by any underwriting agreement, securities sale agreement, or other similar agreement, relating to the offering shall cease to be true and correct in all material respects; and, if the notification relates to an event described in clause (v), unless the Company has declared that a Postponement Period exists, the Company shall promptly prepare and furnish to each such seller and each underwriter, if any, a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus supplemented or amended so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading;

 

(f)                                   comply (and continue to comply) with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC (including, without limitation, maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) in accordance with the Exchange Act), and make generally available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable after the effective date of the registration statement (and in any event within forty-five (45) days, or ninety (90) days if it is a fiscal year, after the end of such twelve month period described hereafter), an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering the period of at least twelve (12) consecutive months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first calendar quarter after the effective date of the registration statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder;

 

(g)                                  (i) (A) cause all such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be listed on the principal securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed (if any), if the listing of such Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange, or (B) if no similar securities are then so listed, to cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on a national securities exchange and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, take all actions that may be required by the Company as the issuer of such Registrable Securities in order to facilitate the managing underwriter’s arranging for the registration of at least two market makers as such with respect to such shares with FINRA, and (ii) comply (and continue to comply) with the requirements of any self-regulatory organization applicable to the Company, including without limitation all corporate governance requirements;

 

(h)                                 (i) provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement not later than the effective date of such registration statement; (ii) instruct such transfer agent (A) to release, on such effective date,

 

15

 

any stop transfer order with respect to the certificates with respect to the Registrable Securities being sold, and (B) to furnish certificates without restrictive legends representing ownership of the shares being sold, in such denominations requested by the sellers of the Registrable Securities or any managing underwriter; and (iii) in the case of any secondary equity offering, provide and enter into any reasonable agreements with a custodian for the Registrable Securities;

 

(i)                                     enter into such customary agreements (including, if applicable, an underwriting agreement) and take such other actions as the Majority Participating Holders or the underwriters shall reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities (it being understood that the Holders of the Registrable Securities which are to be distributed by any underwriters shall be parties to any such underwriting agreement and may, at their option, require that the Company make to and for the benefit of such Holders the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company which are being made to and for the benefit of such underwriters);

 

(j)                                    use its reasonable best efforts (i) to obtain an opinion from the Company’s counsel and a “cold comfort” letter and updates thereof from the independent public accountants who have certified the Company’s financial statements (and/or any other financial statements) included or incorporated by reference in such registration statement, in each case, in customary form and covering such matters as are customarily covered by such opinions and “cold comfort” letters (including, in the case of such “cold comfort” letter, events subsequent to the date of such financial statements) delivered to underwriters in underwritten public offerings, which opinion and letter shall be dated the dates such opinions and “cold comfort” letters are customarily dated and otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the underwriters, if any, and to the Majority Participating Holders, and (ii) furnish to each Participating Holder upon its request and to each underwriter, if any, a copy of such opinion and letter addressed to such underwriter;

 

(k)                                 deliver promptly to counsel for each Participating Holder and to each managing underwriter, if any, copies of all correspondence between the SEC and the Company, its counsel or auditors and all memoranda relating to discussions with the SEC or its staff with respect to the registration statement, and, upon receipt of such confidentiality agreements as the Company may reasonably request, make reasonably available for inspection by counsel for each Participating Holder, by counsel for any underwriter participating in any disposition to be effected pursuant to such registration statement and by any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any Participating Holder or any such underwriter, (collectively, the “Inspectors”), all pertinent financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company (the “Records”), as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and to use reasonable best efforts to cause applicable personnel and representatives of the Company to meet with the Inspectors (if so requested) and to supply the information reasonably requested by any such Inspector in connection with such registration statement;

 

(l)                                     use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance or obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement, or the lifting of any suspension of the qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, in each case, as promptly as reasonably practicable;

 

16

 

(m)                             provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities, not later than the effective date of the registration statement;

 

(n)                                 use its reasonable best efforts to make available its employees and personnel for participation in “road shows” and other marketing efforts and otherwise provide reasonable assistance to the underwriters (taking into account the needs of the businesses of the Company, any Subsidiary, and, in each case, any successor thereto, and the requirements of the marketing process) in the marketing of Registrable Securities in any underwritten offering;

 

(o)                                 promptly prior to the filing of any document which is to be incorporated by reference into the registration statement or the prospectus (after the initial filing of such registration statement), and prior to the filing or use of any free writing prospectus, provide copies of such document to counsel for each Participating Holder and to each managing underwriter, if any, and make the representatives of the Company, any Subsidiary, and, in each case, any successor thereto, reasonably available for discussion of such document and make such changes in such document concerning the Participating Holders prior to the filing thereof as counsel for such Participating Holders or underwriters may reasonably request (provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be required to file any document with the SEC which in the view of the Company or its counsel contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make any statement therein not misleading);

 

(p)                                 furnish to counsel for each Participating Holder upon its request and to each managing underwriter, without charge, upon request, at least one conformed copy of the registration statement and any post-effective amendments or supplements thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference, the prospectus contained in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus), any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 under the Securities Act and all exhibits (including those incorporated by reference) and any free writing prospectus utilized in connection therewith;

 

(q)                                 cooperate with the Participating Holders and the managing underwriter, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates not bearing any restrictive legends representing the Registrable Securities to be sold, and cause such Registrable Securities to be issued in such denominations and registered in such names in accordance with the underwriting agreement at least two (2) Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities to the underwriters or, if not an underwritten offering, in accordance with the instructions of the Participating Holders at least two (2) Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities and instruct any transfer agent and registrar of Registrable Securities to release any stop transfer orders in respect thereof (and, in the case of Registrable Securities registered on a Shelf Registration Statement, at the request of any Holder, prepare and deliver certificates representing such Registrable Securities not bearing any restrictive legends and deliver or cause to be delivered an opinion or instructions to the transfer agent in order to allow such Registrable Securities to be sold from time to time);

 

17

 

(r)                                    take no direct or indirect action prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that to the extent that any prohibition is applicable to the Company, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to make any such prohibition inapplicable;

 

(s)                                   use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by the applicable registration statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies, authorities or self-regulatory bodies (including any filings as may be required to be made with FINRA) as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company, any Subsidiary, and, in each case, any successor thereto, to enable the Participating Holders or the underwriters, if any, to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities, in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition thereof;

 

(t)                                    take all such other commercially reasonable actions as are necessary or advisable in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

 

(u)                                 ensure that any free writing prospectus utilized in connection with any registration covered by Section 2.1 or 2.2 complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, is filed in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby, is retained in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby and, when taken together with the related prospectus, prospectus supplement and related documents, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and

 

(v)                                 in connection with any underwritten offering, if at any time the information conveyed to a purchaser at the time of sale includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, promptly file with the SEC such amendments or supplements to such information as may be necessary so that the statements as so amended or supplemented will not, in light of the circumstances, be misleading.

 

To the extent the Company is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (a “WKSI”) at the time any Demand Registration Request is submitted to the Company, and such Demand Registration Request requests that the Company file an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (an “Automatic Shelf Registration Statement”) on Form S-3, the Company shall file an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement which covers those Registrable Securities which are requested to be registered.  The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to remain a WKSI (and not become an ineligible issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act)) during the period during which such Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is required to remain effective.

 

If the Company does not pay the filing fee covering the Registrable Securities at the time the Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is filed, the Company agrees to pay such fee at such time or times as the Registrable Securities are to be sold.  If the Automatic Shelf Registration Statement has been outstanding for at least three (3) years, at the end of the third year the Company shall refile a new Automatic Shelf Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities.  If at any time when the Company is required to re-evaluate its WKSI status the Company determines that it is not a WKSI, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to

 

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refile the shelf registration statement on Form S-3 and, if such form is not available, Form S-1 and keep such registration statement effective during the period during which such registration statement is required to be kept effective.

 

If the Company files any shelf registration statement for the benefit of the holders of any of its securities other than the Holders, and the Holders do not request that their Registrable Securities be included in such Shelf Registration Statement, the Company agrees that it shall include in such registration statement such disclosures as may be required by Rule 430B under the Securities Act (referring to the unnamed selling security holders in a generic manner by identifying the initial offering of the securities to the Holders) in order to ensure that the Holders may be added to such shelf registration statement at a later time through the filing of a prospectus supplement rather than a post-effective amendment.

 

The Company may require as a condition precedent to the Company’s obligations under this Section 2.4 that each Participating Holder as to which any registration is being effected furnish the Company such information regarding such seller and the distribution of such securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request provided that such information is necessary for the Company to consummate such registration and shall be used only in connection with such registration or as shall be required by law in connection with the action taken by the Company.

 

Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees that upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in clause (v) of paragraph (e) of this Section 2.4, such Holder will discontinue such Holder’s disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement covering such Registrable Securities until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by paragraph (e) of this Section 2.4 and, if so directed by the Company, will deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies, then in such Holder’s possession of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities that was in effect at the time of receipt of such notice.  In the event the Company shall give any such notice, the applicable period mentioned in paragraph (b) of this Section 2.4 shall be extended by the number of days during such period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when each Participating Holder covered by such registration statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by paragraph (e) of this Section 2.4.

 

If any such registration statement or comparable statement under state “blue sky” laws refers to any Holder by name or otherwise as the Holder of any securities of the Company, then such Holder shall have the right to require (i) the insertion therein of language, in form and substance satisfactory to such Holder and the Company, to the effect that the holding by such Holder of such securities is not to be construed as a recommendation by such Holder of the investment quality of the Company’s securities covered thereby and that such holding does not imply that such Holder will assist in meeting any future financial requirements of the Company, or (ii) in the event that such reference to such Holder by name or otherwise is not in the judgment of the Company, as advised by counsel, required by the Securities Act or any similar federal statute or any state “blue sky” or securities law then in force, the deletion of the reference to such Holder.

 

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2.5.                            Registration Expenses.

 

(a)                                 The Company shall pay all Expenses with respect to any registration or offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2, whether or not a registration statement becomes effective or the offering is consummated.

 

(b)                                 Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) the provisions of this Section 2.5 shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to cause these expense provisions to comply with state “blue sky” laws of each state in which the offering is made and (y) in connection with any underwritten offering hereunder, each Participating Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions and any transfer taxes, if any, attributable to the sale of such Registrable Securities, pro rata with respect to payments of discounts and commissions in accordance with the number of shares sold in the offering by such Holder.

 

2.6.                            Certain Limitations on Registration Rights.  In the case of any registration under Section 2.1 involving an underwritten offering, or, in the case of a registration under Section 2.2, if the Company has determined to enter into an underwriting agreement in connection therewith, all securities to be included in such underwritten offering shall be subject to such underwriting agreement and no Person may participate in such underwritten offering unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided therein and completes and executes all reasonable questionnaires, and other customary documents (including custody agreements and powers of attorney) which must be executed in connection therewith; provided, however, that all such documents shall be consistent with the provisions hereof and (ii) provides such other information to the Company or the underwriter as may be necessary to register such Person’s securities.

 

2.7.                            Limitations on Sale or Distribution of Other Securities.

 

(a)                                 Each Holder agrees:

 

(i)                                     to the extent requested in writing by a managing underwriter, if any, of any underwritten public offering pursuant to a registration or offering effected pursuant to Section 2.1, not to, subject to customary exceptions, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, including any sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, any Common Stock, or any other equity security of the Company or any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity security of the Company (other than as part of such underwritten public offering) during the time period reasonably requested by the managing underwriter, not to exceed ninety (90) days or such shorter period as the managing underwriter shall agree to; provided, that (x) such shorter period shall apply to all Holders who are subject to such period and (y) if a managing underwriter of an offering releases any Holder of its obligations under this Section 2.7(a)(i), all other Holders shall be released from their obligations under this Section 2.7(a)(i), on a pro rata basis, in accordance with the number of Registrable Securities held by them at such time (and the Company hereby also so agrees (except that the Company may effect any sale or distribution of any such securities pursuant to a Special Registration Statement which is (x) then in effect or (y) shall become effective upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of any then outstanding Common Stock Equivalent), to use its reasonable best efforts to

 

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cause each holder of any equity security or any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity security of the Company purchased from the Company at any time other than in a public offering so to agree); and

 

(ii)                                  to the extent requested in writing by a managing underwriter of any underwritten public offering effected by the Company for its own account (including without limitation any offering in which one or more Holders is selling Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of piggyback rights under Section 2.2 hereof), it will not, subject to customary exceptions, sell any Common Stock (other than as part of such underwritten public offering) during the time period reasonably requested by the managing underwriter, which period shall not exceed ninety (90) days or such shorter period as the managing underwriter shall agree to (other than in the case of the IPO, which time period shall be 180 days), provided that (x) such shorter period shall apply to all Holders who are subject to such period and (y) if a managing underwriter of an offering releases any Holder of its obligations under this Section 2.7(a)(ii), all other Holders shall be released from their obligations under this Section 2.7(a)(ii), on a pro rata basis, in accordance with the number of Registrable Securities held by them at such time (and the Company hereby also so agrees (except that the Company may effect any sale or distribution of any such securities pursuant to a Special Registration Statement which is (x) then in effect or (y) shall become effective upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of any then outstanding Common Stock Equivalent), to use its reasonable best efforts to cause each holder of any equity security or any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity security of the Company purchased from the Company at any time other than in a public offering so to agree).

 

(b)                                 The Company hereby agrees that, in connection with an offering pursuant to Section 2.1 or 2.2, the Company shall not sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of, any Common Stock, or any other equity security of the Company or any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity security of the Company (other than as part of such Public Offering, or other than pursuant to a Special Registration Statement which is (x) then in effect or (y) shall become effective upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of any then outstanding Common Stock Equivalent), until a period of ninety (90) days (or such shorter period to which the Majority Participating Holders shall agree) shall have elapsed from the pricing date of such offering; and the Company shall (i) so provide in any registration rights agreements hereafter entered into with respect to any of its securities and (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause each holder of any equity security or any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity security of the Company purchased from the Company at any time other than in a public offering to so agree.

 

2.8.                            No Required Sale.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to create an independent obligation on the part of any Holder to sell any Registrable Securities pursuant to any effective registration statement.

 

2.9.                            Indemnification.

 

(a)                                 In the event of any registration or offer and sale of any securities of the Company under the Securities Act pursuant to this Section 2, the Company will, and hereby agrees to, and

 

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hereby does, indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each Participating Holder, its directors, officers, fiduciaries, employees, stockholders, members or general and limited partners (and the directors, officers, fiduciaries, employees, stockholders, members or general and limited partners thereof), each other Person who participates as a seller (and its directors, officers, fiduciaries, employees, stockholders, members or general and limited partners), underwriter or Qualified Independent Underwriter, if any, in the offering or sale of such securities, each officer, director, employee, stockholder, fiduciary, managing director, agent, affiliate, consultant, representative, successor, assign or partner of such underwriter or Qualified Independent Underwriter, and each other Person, if any, who controls such seller or any such underwriter or Qualified Independent Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, actions or proceedings (whether commenced or threatened) and expenses (including reasonable fees of counsel and any amounts paid in any settlement effected with the Company’s consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to which each such indemnified party may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise in respect thereof (collectively, “Claims”), insofar as such Claims arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement under which such securities were registered under the Securities Act or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Offering Document, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (iii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in the information conveyed by the Company to any purchaser at the time of the sale to such purchaser, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or (iv) any violation by the Company of any federal, state or common law rule or regulation applicable to the Company and relating to action required of or inaction by the Company in connection with any such registration, and the Company will reimburse any such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable to any such indemnified party in any such case to the extent such Claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact made in such Offering Document in reliance upon written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such indemnified party expressly for inclusion therein.  Such indemnity and reimbursement of expenses shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such seller.

 

(b)                                 Each Participating Holder (and, if the Company requires as a condition to including any Registrable Securities in any registration statement filed in accordance with Section 2.1 or 2.2, any underwriter and Qualified Independent Underwriter, if any) shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless (in the same manner and to the same extent as set forth in paragraph (a) of this Section 2.9) to the extent permitted by law the Company, its Subsidiaries (and, in each case, any successor thereto) officers and directors, each Person controlling the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and all other prospective sellers and their directors, officers, stockholders, fiduciaries, managing 

 

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directors, agents, affiliates, consultants, representatives, successors, assigns or general and limited partners and respective controlling Persons with respect to any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact in, or omission or alleged omission of any material fact from, such Offering Document, if such statement or alleged statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in strict conformity with written information furnished to the Company or its representatives by or on behalf of such Participating Holder or underwriter or Qualified Independent Underwriter, if any, specifically for use therein, and each such Participating Holder, underwriter or Qualified Independent Underwriter, if any, shall reimburse such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the aggregate amount which any such Participating Holder shall be required to pay pursuant to this Section 2.9 (including pursuant to indemnity, contribution or otherwise) shall in no case be greater than the amount of the net proceeds received by such Participating Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement giving rise to such Claim; provided further that such Participating Holder shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that prior to the filing of any such Offering Document, such Participating Holder corrected or made not misleading information previously furnished to the Company.  The Company and each Participating Holder hereby acknowledge and agree that, unless otherwise expressly agreed to in writing by such Participating Holders to the contrary, for all purposes of this Agreement, the only information furnished or to be furnished to the Company for use in any such Offering Document are statements specifically relating to (i) the Beneficial Ownership of shares of Common Stock by such Participating Holder and its Affiliates as disclosed in the section of such document entitled “Selling Stockholders” or “Principal and Selling Stockholders” or other documents thereof and (ii) the name and address of such Participating Holder.  If any additional information about such Holder or the plan of distribution (other than for an underwritten offering) is required by law to be disclosed in any such document, then such Holder shall not unreasonably withhold its agreement referred to in the immediately preceding sentence. Such indemnity and reimbursement of expenses shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such Holder.

 

(c)                                  Indemnification similar to that specified in the preceding paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 2.9 (with appropriate modifications) shall be given by the Company and each Participating Holder with respect to any required registration or other qualification of securities under any applicable securities and state “blue sky” laws.

 

(d)                                 Any Person entitled to indemnification under this Agreement shall notify promptly the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of any action or proceeding with respect to which a claim for indemnification may be made pursuant to this Section 2.9, but the failure of any indemnified party to provide such notice shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 2.9, except to the extent the indemnifying party is materially and actually prejudiced thereby and shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 2.  In case any action or proceeding is brought against an indemnified party and such indemnified party shall have notified the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof (as required above), the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, unless in the reasonable opinion of outside counsel to the indemnified party a conflict of interest

 

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between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist in respect of such Claim, to assume the defense thereof jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to the extent that it chooses, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party that it so chooses, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that (i) if the indemnifying party fails to take reasonable steps necessary to defend diligently the action or proceeding within twenty (20) days after receiving notice from such indemnified party that the indemnified party believes it has failed to do so; or (ii) if such indemnified party who is a defendant in any action or proceeding which is also brought against the indemnifying party reasonably shall have concluded that there may be one or more legal or equitable defenses available to such indemnified party which are not available to the indemnifying party or which may conflict with those available to another indemnified party with respect to such Claim; or (iii) if representation of both parties by the same counsel is otherwise inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct, then, in any such case, the indemnified party shall have the right to assume or continue its own defense as set forth above (but with no more than one firm of counsel for all indemnified parties in each jurisdiction, except to the extent any indemnified party or parties reasonably shall have made a conclusion described in clause (ii) or (iii) above) and the indemnifying party shall be liable for any expenses therefor.  No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (A) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (B) 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.

 

(e)                                  If for any reason the foregoing indemnity is unavailable, unenforceable or is insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Sections 2.9(a), (b) or (c), then each applicable indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable to such indemnified party as a result of any Claim in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and the indemnified party, on the other hand, with respect to such Claim.  The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission.  If, however, the allocation provided in the second preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative faults but also the relative benefits of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if any contribution pursuant to this Section 2.9(e) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the preceding sentences of this Section 2.9(e).  The amount paid or payable in respect of any Claim shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred

 

24

 

by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim.  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.  Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.9(e) to the contrary, no indemnifying party (other than the Company, any Subsidiary, and, in each case, any successor thereto) shall be required pursuant to this Section 2.9(e) to contribute any amount greater than the amount of the net proceeds received by such indemnifying party from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement giving rise to such Claim, less the amount of any indemnification payment made by such indemnifying party pursuant to Sections 2.9(b) and (c).  In addition, no Holder of Registrable Securities or any Affiliate thereof shall be required to pay any amount under this Section 2.9(e) unless such Person or entity would have been required to pay an amount pursuant to Section 2.9(b) if it had been applicable in accordance with its terms.

 

(f)                                   The indemnity and contribution agreements contained herein shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution which any indemnified party may have pursuant to law or contract and shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made or omitted by or on behalf of any indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by any such party.

 

(g)                                  The indemnification and contribution required by this Section 2.9 shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or expense, loss, damage or liability is incurred; provided, however, that the recipient thereof hereby undertakes to repay such payments if and to the extent it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such recipient is not entitled to such payment hereunder.

 

2.10.                     Limitations on Registration of Other Securities; Representation.  From and after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Holders that hold or Beneficially Own more than 50% of the Registrable Securities, enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company that (i) would allow such holder or prospective holder to include such securities in any registration statement of the Company unless, under the terms of such agreement, such holder or prospective holder may include such securities in any such registration statement only to the extent that the inclusion of such securities will not reduce the number of the Registrable Securities of the Holders that are included in such registration statement; (ii) would allow such holder or prospective holder to initiate a demand for registration of any securities held by such holder or prospective holder; or (iii) otherwise provide any such holder or prospective holder of securities of the Company with rights which conflict with or impair the registration rights granted to the Holders hereunder.

 

2.11.                     No Inconsistent Agreements.  The Company shall not hereafter enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent in any material respects with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement.

 

Section 3.                                           Underwritten Offerings.

 

3.1.                            Requested Underwritten Offerings.  If requested by the underwriters for any underwritten offering pursuant to a registration requested under Section 2.1, the Company shall 

 

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enter into a customary underwriting agreement with the underwriters.  Such underwriting agreement shall (i) be satisfactory in form and substance to the Majority Participating Holders, (ii) contain terms not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement and (iii) contain such representations and warranties by, and such other agreements on the part of, the Company and such other terms as are generally prevailing in agreements of that type, including, without limitation, indemnities and contribution agreements on substantially the same terms as those contained herein.  In connection with a registration requested under Section 2.1, any  Participating Holder shall be a party to such underwriting agreement and may, at its option, require that any or all of the representations and warranties by, and the other agreements on the part of, the Company to and for the benefit of such underwriters shall also be made to and for the benefit of such Participating Holder and that any or all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of such underwriters under such underwriting agreement be conditions precedent to the obligations of such Participating Holder; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to make any representations or warranties with respect to written information specifically provided by a Participating Holder for inclusion in the registration statement.  In connection with a registration requested under Section 2.1, unless otherwise agreed by the respective Participating Holders and the underwriters, each such Participating Holder shall not be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Participating Holder, its ownership of and title to the Registrable Securities, any written information specifically provided by such Participating Holder for inclusion in the registration statement and its intended method of distribution; and any liability of such Participating Holder to any underwriter or other Person under such underwriting agreement for indemnity, contribution or otherwise shall in no case be greater than the amount of the net proceeds received by such Participating Holder upon the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement and in no event shall relate to anything other than information about such Holder specifically provided by such Holder for use in the registration statement and prospectus.

 

3.2.                            Piggyback Underwritten Offerings.  In the case of a registration pursuant to Section 2.2, if the Company shall have determined to enter into an underwriting agreement in connection therewith, all of the Participating Holders’ Registrable Securities to be included in such registration shall be subject to such underwriting agreement.  In the case of a registration pursuant to Section 2.2, any Participating Holder may, at its option, require that any or all of the representations and warranties by, and the other agreements on the part of, the Company to and for the benefit of such underwriters shall also be made to and for the benefit of such Participating Holder and that any or all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of such underwriters under such underwriting agreement be conditions precedent to the obligations of such Participating Holder; provided that the Company shall not be required to make any representations or warranties with respect to written information specifically provided by a Participating Holder for inclusion in the registration statement.  In the case of a registration pursuant to Section 2.2, unless otherwise agreed by the respective Participating Holders and the underwriters, each such Participating Holder shall not be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Participating Holder, its ownership of and title to the Registrable Securities, any written information specifically provided by such Participating Holder for inclusion in the registration statement and its intended method of distribution; and any liability of such Participating Holder to any underwriter or other Person under such underwriting 

 

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agreement shall in no case be greater than the amount of the net proceeds received by such Participating Holder upon the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement and in no event shall relate to anything other than information about such Holder specifically provided by such Holder for use in the registration statement and prospectus.

 

Section 4.                                           General

 

4.1.                            Rule 144.  The Company covenants that (i) so long as it remains subject to the reporting provisions of the Exchange Act, it will timely file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (including, but not limited to, the reports under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act referred to in subparagraph (c)(1)(i) of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended (“Rule 144”)) or, if the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder, make publicly available other information so long as necessary to permit sales by such Holder under Rule 144 or any similar rules or regulations hereafter adopted by the SEC, and (ii) it will take such further action as any 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 (A) Rule 144 or (B) any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.  Upon the request of any Holder of Registrable Securities, the Company will deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

 

4.2.                            Nominees for Beneficial Owners.  If Registrable Securities are held by a nominee for the Beneficial Owner thereof the Beneficial Owner thereof may, at its option, be treated as the Holder of such Registrable Securities for purposes of any request or other action by any Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement (or any determination of any number or percentage of shares constituting Registrable Securities held by any Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities contemplated by this Agreement), provided that the Company shall have received assurances reasonably satisfactory to it of such Beneficial Ownership.

 

4.3.                            Amendments and Waivers.  Except as otherwise provided herein, no modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective against the Company or any Holder unless such modification, amendment or waiver is approved in writing by (i) the Company and (ii) the Holders holding or Beneficially Owning more than 50% of the Registrable Securities then held by all Holders; provided that any amendment, modification, supplement or waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement which disproportionately materially adversely affects any Holder shall not be effective without the written approval of such Holder.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof (whether or not similar).  No failure or delay on the part of any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof or of any other or future exercise of any such right, power or privilege.

 

4.4.                            Notices.

 

(a)                                 All notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given (i) when delivered personally by hand (with written confirmation of 

 

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receipt), (ii) when sent by e-mail, (iii) when received or rejected by the addressee if sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or (iv) one Business Day following the day sent by reputable overnight courier (with written confirmation of receipt), in each case at the following addresses (or to such other address as a party may have specified by notice given to the other party pursuant to this provision):

 

(i)                                     if to the Company, to:

 

Southeastern Grocers, Inc.
 8928 Prominence Parkway, #220
 Jacksonville, Florida 32256
 Attention: Chief Legal Officer
 E-mail: SandyGrimm@segrocers.com

 

with a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to:

 

Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP
 767 Fifth Avenue
 New York, NY 10153
 Attention:  Alexander D. Lynch and Gavin Westerman
 Email: alex.lynch@weil.com; gavin.westerman@weil.com

 

(ii)                                  if to the Holders, to the address indicated in the records of the Company.

 

(b)                                 Whenever any notice is required to be given by Law or this Agreement, a written waiver thereof, signed by the Person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.

 

4.5.                            Successors and Assigns.  Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and the respective successors, permitted assigns, heirs and personal representatives of the parties hereto, whether so expressed or not.  Each Holder shall have the right to assign all or part of its or his rights and obligations under this Agreement only in accordance with transfers of Registrable Securities to such Holder’s Permitted Transferees.  Upon any such assignment, such assignee shall have and be able to exercise and enforce all rights of the assigning Holder which are assigned to it and, to the extent such rights are assigned, any reference to the assigning Holder shall be treated as a reference to the assignee.  If any Holder shall acquire additional Registrable Securities, such Registrable Securities shall be subject to all of the terms, and entitled to all the benefits, of this Agreement.  The parties hereto and their respective successors may assign their rights under this Agreement, in whole or in part, to any purchaser of shares of Registrable Securities held by them.

 

4.6.                            Entire Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof.

 

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4.7.                            Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a)                                 GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS AND JUDICIAL DECISIONS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS EXECUTED AND PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE, REGARDLESS OF THE LAWS THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE GOVERN UNDER APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS THEREOF.

 

(b)                                 Jurisdiction.  Each of the parties hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of (i) the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and (ii) the United States District Court located in the State of Delaware for the purposes of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in (I) the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or (II) the United States District Court located in the State of Delaware and waives any claim that such suit or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum.  Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final and unappealable judgment in any action or proceeding so brought shall be conclusive and may be enforced by suit on the judgment in any jurisdiction within or outside the United States or in any other manner provided in law or in equity

 

(c)                                  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY OF THE AGREEMENTS DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.  EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (I) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (II) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH WAIVER, (III) IT MAKES SUCH WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (IV) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVER AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS 4.8.

 

4.8.                            Interpretation; Construction.

 

(a)                                 The table of contents and headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, do not constitute part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions hereof.  Where a reference in this Agreement is made to a Section, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.  Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”

 

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(b)                                 The parties have participated jointly in negotiating and drafting this Agreement.  In the event that an ambiguity or a question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.

 

4.9.                            Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed and delivered in any number of separate counterparts (including by facsimile or electronic mail), each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

4.10.                     Severability.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof.  If any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any person or any circumstance, is invalid or unenforceable, (a) a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted therefor in order to carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid or unenforceable provision and (b) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity or unenforceability affect the validity or enforceability of such provision, or the application thereof, in any other jurisdiction.

 

4.11.                     Remedies.  The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached.  It is accordingly agreed that each party hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, without the posting of any bond, and, if any action should be brought in equity to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement, none of the parties hereto shall raise the defense that there is an adequate remedy at law.  All remedies, either under this Agreement, by law, or otherwise afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

 

4.12.                     Further Assurances.  Each party hereto shall do and perform or cause to be done and performed all such further acts and things and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments, and documents as any other party hereto reasonably may request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

4.13.                     Confidentiality.

 

(a)                                 Each Holder acknowledges that the provisions of this Agreement that require communications by the Corporation or other Holders to such Holder may result in such Holder and its Section 4.13 Representatives (as defined below) acquiring material non-public information (which may include, solely by way of illustration, the fact that an offering of the Corporation’s securities is pending or the number of Corporation securities or the identity of the selling Holders).

 

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(b)                                 Each Holder agrees that it will maintain the confidentiality of such material non-public information and, to the extent such Holder is not a natural person, such confidential treatment shall be in accordance with procedures adopted by it in good faith to protect confidential information of third parties delivered to such Holder (“Policies”); provided that a Holder may deliver or disclose material non-public information to (i) its directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, affiliates and financial and other advisors, in each case, who reasonably need to know such information (collectively, the “Section 4.13 Representatives”), (ii) any federal or state regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Holder, (iii) any Person if necessary to effect compliance with any law, rule, regulation or order applicable to such Holder, (iv) in response to any subpoena or other legal process, or (v) in connection with any litigation to which such Holder is a party and such Holder is advised by counsel that such information reasonably needs to be disclosed in connection with such litigation; provided further, that in the case of clause (i), the recipients of such material non-public information are subject to the Policies or are directed to hold confidential the material non-public information in a manner substantially consistent with the terms of this Section 4.13.

 

(c)                                  Each Holder shall have the right, at any time and from time to time (including after receiving information regarding any potential sale or distribution to the public of Common Stock of the Company pursuant to an offering registered under the Securities Act, whether by the Company, by Holders and/or by any other holders of the Company’s Common Stock), to elect to not receive any notice that the Company or any other Holders otherwise are required to deliver pursuant to this Agreement by delivering to the Company a written statement signed by such Holder that it does not want to receive any notices hereunder (an “Opt-Out Request”); in which case and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement the Corporation and other Holders shall not be required to, and shall not, deliver any notice or other information required to be provided to Holders hereunder to the extent that the Company or such other Holders reasonably expect would result in a Holder acquiring material non-public information. An Opt-Out Request may state a date on which it expires or, if no such date is specified, shall remain in effect indefinitely. A Holder who previously has given the Company an Opt-Out Request may revoke such request at any time, and there shall be no limit on the ability of a Holder to issue and revoke subsequent Opt-Out Requests; provided that each Holder shall use commercially reasonable efforts to minimize the administrative burden on the Corporation arising in connection with any such Opt-Out Requests.

 

4.14.                     Termination and Effect of Termination.  This Agreement shall terminate with respect to each Holder when such Holder no longer holds any Registrable Securities and will terminate in full when no Holder holds any Registrable Securities, except for the provisions of Sections 2.9, which shall survive any such termination. No termination under this Agreement shall relieve any Person of liability for breach or Expenses incurred prior to termination. In the event this Agreement is terminated, each Person entitled to indemnification rights pursuant to Section 2.9 shall retain such indemnification rights with respect to any matter that (i) may be an indemnified liability thereunder and (ii) occurred prior to such termination.

 

4.15.                     Additional Rights.  In the event the Company engages in a merger or consolidation in which the Common Stock is converted into securities of another company and the securities received would meet the definition of Registrable Securities under this Agreement if this Agreement was with such other company, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts 

 

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to provide for appropriate arrangements so that the registration rights provided under this Agreement continue to be provided to the Holders by the issuer of such securities.  To the extent such new issuer, or any other company acquired by the Company in a merger or consolidation, was bound by registration rights that would conflict with the provisions of this Agreement, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to modify any such “inherited” registration rights so as not to interfere in any material respects with the rights provided under this Agreement, unless otherwise agreed by the Holders then holding a majority of the Registrable Securities.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

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

 

 

	
 
    	
COMPANY:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
SOUTHEASTERN GROCERS, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]

 

 

	
 
    	
HOLDERS:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
[  ]
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF
 JOINDER AGREEMENT

 

THIS JOINDER AGREEMENT (this “Joinder”) is made and entered into as of [         ] by the undersigned (the “New Holder”) in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in that certain Registration Rights Agreement by and among Southeastern Grocers, Inc., a Delaware corporation (including any successor, the “Company”), and the Holders party thereto, dated as of [          ], 2021 (as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Registration Rights Agreement”), for the benefit of, and for reliance upon by, the Company and the Holders party thereto. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given to them in the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the New Holder desires to exercise certain rights granted to it under the Registration Rights Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, the execution and delivery to the Company of this Joinder by the New Holder is a condition precedent to the New Holder’s exercise of any of its rights under the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and covenants herein, and for other good and valuable consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged), the New Holder hereby agrees as follows:

 

1.                                      Joinder. By the execution and delivery of this Joinder, the New Holder hereby agrees to become, and to be deemed to be, and shall become and be deemed to be, for all purposes under the Registration Rights Agreement, a Holder, with the same force and effect as if the New Holder had been an original signatory thereto, and the New Holder agrees to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of, and to assume all of the obligations of, a Holder under, the Registration Rights Agreement. All of the terms, provisions, representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement with respect to a Holder are incorporated by reference herein and shall be legally binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the New Holder.

 

2.                                      Further Assurances. The New Holder agrees to perform any further acts and execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments that may be necessary or reasonably requested by the Company to carry out the provisions of this Joinder or the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

3.                                      Binding Effect. This Joinder and the Registration Rights Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the New Holder and its successors and permitted assigns, subject to the terms and provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement. It shall not be necessary in connection with the New Holder’s status as a Holder to make reference to this Joinder.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the New Holder has executed this Joinder as of the date first above written.

 

 

	
 
    	
[NEW HOLDER]
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Address:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    

 

Accepted and agreed:

 

SOUTHEASTERN GROCERS, INC.

 

 

	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Name:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:

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