Document:

d1373396_ex10-2.htm

EXHIBIT 10.2

 

 

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

BY AND AMONG

 

STAR BULK CARRIERS CORP.

 

AND

 

THE OTHER PARTIES LISTED

 

ON SCHEDULE I HERETO

 

 

 

 

Dated as of May 1, 2013

 

 

  

  

  

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

	  ARTICLE I
	  	  
	
DEFINITIONS

	  	
1

	 	 	 
	
SECTION 1.01.

	
Defined Terms

	
1

	
SECTION 1.02.

	
Other Interpretive Provisions

	
6

	 	 	 
	  ARTICLE II
	  	  	  
	
REGISTRATION RIGHTS

	  	
7

	 	 	 
	
SECTION 2.01.

	
Shelf Registration

	
7

	
SECTION 2.02.

	
Piggyback Registration

	
11

	
SECTION 2.03.

	
Black-out Periods

	
13

	
SECTION 2.04.

	
Registration Procedures

	
15

	
SECTION 2.05.

	
Underwritten Offerings

	
19

	
SECTION 2.06.

	
No Inconsistent Agreements; Additional Rights

	
21

	
SECTION 2.07.

	
Registration Expenses

	
21

	
SECTION 2.08.

	
Indemnification

	
22

	
SECTION 2.09.

	
Rules 144 and 144A and Regulation S

	
25

	
SECTION 2.10.

	
Limitation on Registrations and Underwritten Offerings

	
26

	
SECTION 2.11.

	
Clear Market

	
26

	
SECTION 2.12.

	
In-Kind Distributions

	
26

	
SECTION 2.13.

	
Representations and Warranties

	
26

	 	 	 
	  ARTICLE III
	  	  
	
MISCELLANEOUS

	  	
28

	 	 	 
	
SECTION 3.01.

	
Term

	
28

	
SECTION 3.02.

	
Injunctive Relief

	
28

	
SECTION 3.03.

	
Notices

	
28

	
SECTION 3.04.

	
Recapitalization

	
29

	
SECTION 3.05.

	
Amendment

	
29

	
SECTION 3.06.

	
Successors, Assigns and Transferees

	
29

	
SECTION 3.07.

	
Binding Effect

	
30

	
SECTION 3.08.

	
Third Party Beneficiaries

	
30

	
SECTION 3.09.

	
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Agent For Service

	
30

	
SECTION 3.10.

	
Waiver of Jury Trial

	
31

	
SECTION 3.11.

	
Immunity Waiver

	
31

	
SECTION 3.12.

	
Entire Agreement

	
31

	
SECTION 3.13.

	
Severability

	
31

	
SECTION 3.14.

	
Counterparts

	
32

	
SECTION 3.15.

	
Headings

	
32

	
SECTION 3.16.

	
Joinder

	
32

 

  

  

  

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (the "Agreement"), is made, entered into and effective May 1, 2013 by and between Star Bulk Carriers Corp., a Marshall Islands corporation (including any of its successors by merger, acquisition, reorganization, conversion or otherwise, the "Company"), and the Persons set forth on Schedule I hereto.  Unless otherwise indicated, capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in Section 1.01.

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Company has proposed to conduct a rights offering (the "Rights Offering") by distributing, at no charge, to each holder of record of shares as of May 15, 2013, of the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), one non-transferable right (each, a "Right"), for each share of Common Stock held by such shareholder, to purchase shares of Common Stock, which Rights, if exercised in full by each holder of record as of such record date, would provide gross proceeds to the Company of $75.0 million;

 

 WHEREAS, in order to facilitate the Rights Offering and concurrently herewith, the Company, the Investors and certain other Persons have entered into that certain Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement"), dated as of the date hereof, pursuant to which, subject to satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth therein, (i) the Investors and such other Persons agreed, severally and not jointly, to subscribe for and purchase upon expiration of the Rights Offering, shares of Common Stock, and (ii) the Company agreed to issue and sell to each of the Investors and such other Persons shares of Common Stock upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the Company has committed to prepare and file a resale registration statement, registering offers and sales of the Company Shares acquired pursuant to the Purchase Agreement by each of the Investors, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act; and

 

WHEREAS, in consideration of the commitment of the Investors to purchase certain shares of Common Stock pursuant to, and upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in, the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed, among other things, and in addition to the preparation and filing of the Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to the first sentence of Section 2.01(a), to provide registration rights to the Investors with respect to all shares of Common Stock owned or hereafter acquired by the Investors and their respective Affiliates.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual promises, covenants and agreements of the parties hereto, and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions hereof, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

SECTION 1.01.          Defined Terms.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

  

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"Adverse Disclosure" means public disclosure of material non-public information that, in the Board of Directors' good faith judgment, after consultation with independent outside counsel to the Company, would be required to be made in any Registration Statement filed with the Commission by the Company so that such Registration Statement would not be materially misleading and would not be required to be made at such time but for the filing of such Registration Statement, but which information the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not disclosing publicly.

 

"Affiliate" has the meaning specified in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act; provided that no Holder shall be deemed an Affiliate of the Company or its Subsidiaries for purposes of this Agreement; provided further that neither portfolio companies (as such term is commonly used in the private equity industry) of an Investor nor limited partners, non-managing members or other similar direct or indirect investors in an Investor shall be deemed to be Affiliates of such Investor.  The term "Affiliated" has a correlative meaning.

 

"Agreement" has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

"Authorized Agent" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10.

 

"Board of Directors" means the board of directors of the Company.

 

"Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which commercial banks located in New York, New York are required or authorized by law or executive order to be closed.

 

"Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

"Commission" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

"Common Stock" has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

"Company" has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

"Company Public Sale" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a).

 

"Company Share Equivalent" means securities exercisable, exchangeable or convertible into Company Shares.

 

"Company Shares" means shares of Common Stock, any securities into which such shares of Common Stock shall have been changed, or any securities resulting from any reclassification, recapitalization or similar transactions with respect to such shares of Common Stock.

 

"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor thereto, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time to time.

 

  

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"Filing Date" means, with respect to the Shelf Registration Statement required pursuant to the first sentence of Section 2.01(a), the 30th day following the Closing Date, provided, further, that if the Filing Date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or other day that the Commission is closed for business, the Filing Date shall be extended to the next Business Day on which the Commission is open for business.

 

"FINRA" means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

 

"Form F-1" means a registration statement on Form F-1 under the Securities Act, or any comparable or successor form or forms thereto.

 

"Form F-3" means a registration statement on Form F-3 under the Securities Act, or any comparable or successor form or forms thereto.

 

"Form F-4" means a registration statement on Form F-4 under the Securities Act, or any comparable or successor form or forms thereto.

 

"Form S-8" means a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act, or any comparable or successor form or forms thereto.

 

"Holder" means any holder of Registrable Securities that is a party hereto or that succeeds to rights hereunder pursuant to Section 3.06.

 

"Initiating Shelf Take-Down Holder" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(e)(i).

 

"Investor" means each of the Monarch Holders and each of the Oaktree Holders.

 

"Issuer Free Writing Prospectus" means an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, relating to an offer of Registrable Securities.

 

"Loss" or "Losses" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.08(a).

 

"Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(e)(iii).

 

"Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(e)(iii).

 

"Monarch" means Monarch Alternative Solutions Master Fund Ltd., Monarch Capital Master Partners II A LP, Monarch Capital Master Partners II LP, Monarch Debt Recovery Master Fund Ltd., Monarch Opportunities Master Fund Ltd., and P Monarch Recovery Ltd.

 

"Monarch Holders" means Monarch and any successor funds thereto, and their respective Affiliates that are direct or indirect equity investors in the Company.

 

  

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"Monarch Holders Majority" means, as of any date, Monarch Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities then held by all Monarch Holders.

 

"Oaktree Holders" means Oaktree Value Opportunities Fund, L.P. and any successor funds thereto, and their respective Affiliates that are direct or indirect equity investors in the Company.

 

"Oaktree Holders Majority" means, as of any date, Oaktree Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities then held by all Oaktree Holders.

 

"Participating Holder" means, with respect to any Registration, any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement.

 

"Participating Investor" means, with respect to any Registration, any Investor that is a Holder of Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement.

 

"Permitted Assignee" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06.

 

"Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, unincorporated organization, trust or joint venture, or a governmental agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

 

"Piggyback Registration" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a).

 

"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, all amendments and supplements to such prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement, and all other material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

 

"Purchase Agreement" has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

"Registrable Securities" means any Company Shares and any securities that may be issued or distributed or be issuable or distributable in respect of, or in substitution for, any Company Shares by way of conversion, exercise, dividend, stock split or other distribution, merger, consolidation, exchange, recapitalization or reclassification or similar transaction, in each case whether now owned or hereafter acquired by an Investor; provided, however, that any such Registrable Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities to the extent (i) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such Registrable Securities has been declared effective under the Securities Act and such Registrable Securities have been disposed of in accordance with the plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement, (ii) such Registrable Securities have been distributed pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 145 of the Securities Act (or any successor rule) and new certificates for them not bearing a legend restricting transfer shall have been delivered by the Company, (iii) a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (or any successor form) covering such securities is effective or (iv) such security ceases to be outstanding.  For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood that, with respect to any Registrable Securities for which a Holder holds vested but unexercised options or other Company Share Equivalents at such time exercisable for, convertible into or exchangeable for Company Shares, to the extent that such Registrable Securities are to be sold pursuant to this Agreement, such Holder must exercise the relevant option or exercise, convert or exchange such other relevant Company Share Equivalent and transfer the underlying Registrable Securities (in each case, net of any amounts required to be withheld by the Company in connection with such exercise).

 

  

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"Registration" means a registration with the Commission of the Company's securities for offer and sale to the public under a Registration Statement.  The term "Register" shall have a correlative meaning.

 

"Registration Expenses" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07.

 

"Registration Statement" means any registration statement of the Company that covers Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement filed with, or to be filed with, the Commission under the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act, including the related Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including pre- and post-effective amendments, and all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

 

"Representatives" means, with respect to any Person, any of such Person's officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys, accountants, actuaries, consultants, equity financing partners or financial advisors or other Person associated with, or acting on behalf of, such Person.

 

"Right" has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

"Rights Offering" has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

"Rule 144" means Rule 144 (or any successor provisions) under the Securities Act.

 

"Rule 415 Limitation" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(a).

 

"SEC Guidance"  means (i) any publicly available written or oral questions and answers, guidance, comments, requirements or requests of the Commission staff and (ii) the Securities Act.

 

"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor thereto, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time to time.

 

"Shelf Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(b).

 

"Shelf Registration" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(a).

 

"Shelf Registration Statement" means a Registration Statement filed with the Commission on either (i) Form F-3 or (ii) solely if the Company is not permitted to file a Registration Statement on Form F-3, an evergreen Registration Statement on Form F-1, in each case for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor provision) covering all or any portion of the Registrable Securities, as applicable.

 

"Shelf Suspension" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(d).

 

  

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"Shelf Take-Down" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(e)(i).

 

"Special Registration" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.

 

"Specified Courts" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10.

 

"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any entity of which (i) a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock or equivalent ownership interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers, trustees or other members of the applicable governing body thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if no such governing body exists at such entity, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock or equivalent ownership interests of the entity is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof.  For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or control the managing member or general partner of such limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity.

 

"Underwritten Offering" means a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter or underwriters on a firm commitment basis for reoffering to the public.

 

"Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(e)(ii).

 

SECTION 1.02.         Other Interpretive Provisions.  (a)  In this Agreement, except as otherwise provided:

 

(i)           A reference to an Article, Section, Schedule or Exhibit is a reference to an Article or Section of, or Schedule or Exhibit to, this Agreement, and references to this Agreement include any recital in or Schedule or Exhibit to this Agreement.

 

(ii)           The Schedules and Exhibits form an integral part of and are hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement.

 

(iii)          Headings and the Table of Contents are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

(iv)          Unless the context otherwise requires, words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa, words importing the masculine include the feminine and vice versa, and words importing persons include corporations, associations, partnerships, joint ventures and limited liability companies and vice versa.

 

(v)           Unless the context otherwise requires, the words "hereof" and "herein", and words of similar meaning refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular 

 

  

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Article, Section or clause.  The words "include", "includes" and "including" shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without limitation."

 

(vi)          A reference to any legislation or to any provision of any legislation shall include any amendment, modification or re-enactment thereof and any legislative provision substituted therefor.

 

(vii)        All determinations to be made by the Monarch Holders hereunder may be made by Monarch in its sole discretion, and Monarch may determine, in its sole discretion, whether or not to take actions that are permitted, but not required, by this Agreement to be taken by Monarch, including the giving of consents required hereunder.

 

(viii)       All determinations to be made by the Oaktree Holders hereunder may be made by the Oaktree Holders in their sole discretion, and the Oaktree Holders may determine, in their sole discretion, whether or not to take actions that are permitted, but not required, by this Agreement to be taken by the Oaktree Holders, including the giving of consents required hereunder.

 

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

 

ARTICLE II

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

SECTION 2.01.         Shelf Registration.

 

(a)           Filing.  On or prior to the Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a Shelf Registration Statement covering the resale of all Registrable Securities acquired by the Investors pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (including the Additional Shares (as defined in the Purchase Agreement)).  In addition, upon the written request of an Investor, the Company shall promptly prepare and file with the Commission a Shelf Registration Statement covering the resale of all other Registrable Securities beneficially owned by such Investor; provided, that, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not be obligated to prepare and file any such Shelf Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities (x) more than once per calendar quarter or (y) if the Registrable Securities to be covered by such Shelf Registration Statement represent less than one percent (1%) of the then-outstanding Company Shares.  The Shelf Registration Statements described in this Section 2.01(a) shall relate to the offer and sale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution set forth in the applicable Shelf Registration Statement (including any plan of distribution that the Investors may request from time to time) and Rule 415 under the Securities Act, together with any registration statement to replace such registration statement upon expiration thereof, if any (hereinafter the "Shelf Registration").  Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company 

 

  

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shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause each such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing thereof.  The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to address any comments from the Commission regarding such Shelf Registration Statement and to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all Registrable Securities in accordance with SEC Guidance.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Commission prevents the Company from including any or all of the Registrable Securities on any Shelf Registration Statement due to limitations on the use of Rule 415 of the Securities Act for the resale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders (a "Rule 415 Limitation") or otherwise, such Shelf Registration Statement shall register the resale of a number of Company Shares which is equal to the maximum number of shares as is permitted by the Commission, and, subject to the provisions of this Section 2.01, the Company shall continue to use its reasonable best efforts to register all remaining Registrable Securities as set forth in this Article II.  In such event, the number of Company Shares to be registered for each Holder in the applicable Shelf Registration Statement shall be reduced pro rata among all Holders.  The Company shall continue to use its reasonable best efforts to register all remaining Registrable Securities as promptly as practicable in accordance with the applicable rules, regulations and SEC Guidance.

 

(b)           Continued Effectiveness.  Except as provided herein, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep any Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2.01(a) continuously effective under the Securities Act until the earliest of (i) the date as of which all Registrable Securities have been sold pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement or another Registration Statement filed under the Securities Act (but in no event prior to the applicable period referred to in Section 4(3) of the Securities Act and Rule 174 thereunder), (ii) the date on which this Agreement terminates under Section 3.01(a)(ii) with respect to all Investors and (iii) such shorter period as all of the Investors with respect to such Shelf Registration shall agree in writing (such period of effectiveness, the "Shelf Period").  Subject to Section 2.01(d), the Company shall not be deemed to have used its reasonable best efforts to keep any Shelf Registration Statement effective during the Shelf Period if the Company voluntarily takes any action or omits to take any action that would result in Holders not being able to offer and sell any Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement during the Shelf Period, unless such action or omission is (x) a Shelf Suspension permitted pursuant to Section 2.01(d) or (y) required by applicable law, rule or regulation.

 

(c)           Certain Undertakings.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall cause (i) each Shelf Registration Statement (as of the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement), any amendment thereof (as of the effective date thereof) or supplement thereto (as of its date), (A) to comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the rules and regulations of the Commission and SEC Guidance and (B) not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, and (ii) any related Prospectus (including any preliminary Prospectus) or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, as of its date, (A) to comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the rules and regulations of the Commission and SEC Guidance and (B) not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances 

 

  

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under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, the Company shall have no such obligations or liabilities with respect to any written information pertaining to any Holder and furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein.

 

(d)           Suspension of Registration.  If the Company shall furnish to the Holders a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer or equivalent senior executive officer of the Company stating that the continued use of a Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2.01(a) would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure, then the Company may suspend use of such Shelf Registration Statement (a "Shelf Suspension"); provided, however, that the Company, unless otherwise approved in writing by each of (i) the Monarch Holders Majority and (ii) the Oaktree Holders Majority (for so long as the Monarch Holders and the Oaktree Holders hold any Registrable Securities, respectively), shall not be permitted to exercise aggregate Shelf Suspensions more than twice, or for more than an aggregate of 90 days, in each case, during any 12-month period; provided, further, that in the event of a Shelf Suspension, such Shelf Suspension shall terminate at such earlier time as the Company would no longer be required to make any Adverse Disclosure.  Each Holder agrees that, upon delivery of any certificate by the Company set forth in the first sentence of this Section, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the applicable Shelf Registration Statement until the Company informs such Holder in accordance with the penultimate sentence of this Section 2.01(d) that the Shelf Suspension has been terminated.  Each Holder shall keep confidential the fact that a Shelf Suspension is in effect, the certificate referred to above and its contents unless and until otherwise notified by the Company, except (A) for disclosure to such Holder's employees, agents and professional advisers who reasonably need to know such information for purposes of assisting the Holder with respect to its investment in the Company Shares and agree to keep it confidential, (B) for disclosures to the extent required in order to comply with reporting obligations to its limited partners or other direct or indirect investors who have agreed to keep such information confidential, (C) if and to the extent such matters are publicly disclosed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any other Person that, to the actual knowledge of such Holder, was not subject to an obligation or duty of confidentiality to the Company and its Subsidiaries, (D) as required by law, rule or regulation and (E) for disclosure to any other Holder.  In the case of a Shelf Suspension, the Holders agree to suspend use of the applicable Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in connection with any sale or purchase of, or offer to sell or purchase, Registrable Securities, upon delivery of the notice referred to above.  The Company shall immediately notify the Holders upon the termination of any Shelf Suspension, amend or supplement the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if necessary, so it does not contain any untrue statement or omission and furnish to the Holders such numbers of copies of the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as so amended or supplemented as the Holders may reasonably request.  The Company agrees, if necessary, to supplement or make amendments to each Shelf Registration Statement if required by the registration form used by the Company for the applicable Registration or by the instructions applicable to such registration form or by the Securities Act or the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, or as may reasonably be requested by any Holder.

 

  

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(e)           Shelf Take-Downs.

 

(i)            An offering or sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement (each, a "Shelf Take-Down") may be initiated only by an Investor (an "Initiating Shelf Take-Down Holder").  Except as set forth in Section 2.01(e)(iii) with respect to Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Downs, each such Initiating Shelf Take-Down Holder shall not be required to permit the offer and sale of Registrable Securities by other Holders in connection with any such Shelf Take-Down initiated by such Initiating Shelf Take-Down Holder.

 

(ii)           Subject to Section 2.10, if the Initiating Shelf Take-Down Holder elects by written request to the Company, a Shelf Take-Down shall be in the form of an Underwritten Offering (an "Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice") and the Company shall amend or supplement the applicable Shelf Registration Statement for such purpose as soon as practicable.  Subject to clause (iii) below, such Initiating Shelf Take-Down Holder shall have the right to select the managing underwriter or underwriters to administer such offering.

 

(iii)          If the plan of distribution set forth in any Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice includes a customary "road show" (including an "electronic road show") or other substantial marketing effort by the Company and the underwriters over a period expected to exceed 48 hours (a "Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down"), promptly upon delivery of such Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice (but in no event more than three (3) Business Days thereafter), the Company shall promptly deliver a written notice (a "Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice") of such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down to all Holders (other than the Initiating Shelf Take-Down Holder), and the Company shall include in such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down all such Registrable Securities of such Holders that are Registered on such Shelf Registration Statement for which the Company has received written requests, which requests must specify the aggregate amount of such Registrable Securities of such Holder to be offered and sold pursuant to such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, for inclusion therein within three (3) Business Days after the date that such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down Notice has been delivered; provided, that if the managing underwriter or underwriters of any proposed Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down informs the Holders that have requested to participate in such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down in writing that, in its or their opinion, the number of securities which such Holders intend to include in such offering exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without being likely to have a significant adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the securities offered or the market for the securities offered, then the securities to be included in such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down shall be (i) first, the number of Registrable Securities that, in the opinion of such managing underwriter or underwriters, can be sold without having such adverse effect in such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, which such number shall be allocated pro rata among the Investors that have requested to participate in such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down based on the relative number of Registrable Securities then held by each such Investor (provided that any securities thereby allocated to an Investor that exceed such Investor's request shall be reallocated among the remaining requesting 

 

  

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Investors in like manner) and (ii) second, and only if all the securities referred to in clause (i) have been included, the number of Registrable Securities that, in the opinion of such managing underwriter or underwriters, can be sold without having such adverse effect in such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, which such number shall be allocated pro rata among the Holders (excluding the Investors) that have requested to participate in such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down based on the relative number of Registrable Securities then held by each such Holder (provided that any securities thereby allocated to a Holder that exceed such Holder's request shall be reallocated among the remaining requesting Holders in like manner).  The Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be included in any Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down shall have the right to select the managing underwriter or underwriters to administer such offering.

 

SECTION 2.02.         Piggyback Registration.

 

(a)           Participation.  If the Company at any time proposes to file a Registration Statement with respect to any offering of its equity securities for its own account or for the account of any other Persons (other than (i) a Registration under Section 2.01, it being understood that this clause (i) does not limit the rights of Holders to make written requests pursuant to Section 2.01 or otherwise limit the applicability thereof, (ii) a Registration Statement on Form F-4 or S-8 (or such other similar successor forms then in effect under the Securities Act), (iii) a registration of securities solely relating to an offering and sale to employees, directors or consultants of the Company or its Subsidiaries pursuant to any employee stock plan or other employee benefit plan arrangement, (iv) a registration not otherwise covered by clause (ii) above pursuant to which the Company is offering to exchange its own securities for other securities, (v) a Registration Statement relating solely to dividend reinvestment or similar plans or (vi) a shelf registration statement pursuant to which only the initial purchasers and subsequent transferees of debt securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that are convertible or exchangeable for Company Shares and that are initially issued pursuant to Rule 144A and/or Regulation S (or any successor provisions) of the Securities Act may resell such notes and sell the Company Shares into which such notes may be converted or exchanged) (each of clauses (i)-(vi), a "Company Public Sale")), then, (A) as soon as practicable (but in no event less than 30 days prior to the proposed date of filing of such Registration Statement), the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to the Investors, and such notice shall offer each Investor the opportunity to Register under such Registration Statement such number of Registrable Securities as such Investor may request in writing delivered to the Company within ten (10) days of delivery of such written notice by the Company, and (B) subject to Section 2.02(c), as soon as practicable after the expiration of such 10-day period (but in no event less than fifteen (15) days prior to the proposed date of filing of such Registration Statement), the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to the Holders (other than the Investors), and such notice shall offer each such Holder the opportunity to Register under such Registration Statement such number of Registrable Securities as such Holder may request in writing within ten (10) days of delivery of such written notice by the Company.  Subject to Sections 2.02(b) and (c), the Company shall include in such Registration Statement all such Registrable Securities that are requested by Holders to be included therein in compliance with the immediately foregoing sentence (a "Piggyback Registration"); provided, that 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 

 

 

  

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Statement filed in connection with such Piggyback Registration, the Company shall determine for any reason not to Register or to delay Registration of the equity securities covered by such Piggyback Registration, the Company shall give written notice of such determination to each Holder that had requested to Register its, his or her Registrable Securities in such Registration Statement and, thereupon, (1) in the case of a determination not to Register, shall be relieved of its obligation to Register any Registrable Securities in connection with such Registration (but not from its obligation to pay the Registration Expenses in connection therewith, to the extent payable) and (2) in the case of a determination to delay Registering, shall be permitted to delay Registering any Registrable Securities, for the same period as the delay in Registering the other equity securities covered by such Piggyback Registration.  If the offering pursuant to such Registration Statement is to be underwritten, the Company shall so advise the Holders as a part of the written notice given pursuant this Section 2.02(a), and each Holder making a request for a Piggyback Registration pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must, and the Company shall make such arrangements with the managing underwriter or underwriters so that each such Holder may, participate in such Underwritten Offering, subject to the conditions of Section 2.02(b) and (c).  If the offering pursuant to such Registration Statement is to be on any other basis, the Company shall so advise the Holders as part of the written notice given pursuant to this Section 2.02(a), and each Holder making a request for a Piggyback Registration pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must, and the Company shall make such arrangements so that each such Holder may, participate in such offering on such basis, subject to the conditions of Section 2.02(b) and (c).  Each Holder shall be permitted to withdraw all or part of its Registrable Securities from a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement.

 

(b)           Priority of Piggyback Registration.  If the managing underwriter or underwriters of any proposed Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities included in a Piggyback Registration informs the Company and the Holders that have requested to participate in such Piggyback Registration in writing that, in its or their opinion, the number of securities which such Holders and any other Persons intend to include in such offering exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without being likely to have a significant adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the securities offered or the market for the securities offered, then the securities to be included in such Registration shall be (i) first, 100% of the securities that the Company proposes to sell, (ii) second, and only if all the securities referred to in clause (i) have been included, the number of Registrable Securities that, in the opinion of such managing underwriter or underwriters, can be sold without having such adverse effect in such Registration, which such number shall be allocated pro rata among the Investors that have requested to participate in such Registration based on the relative number of Registrable Securities then held by each such Investor (provided that any securities thereby allocated to an Investor that exceed such Investor's request shall be reallocated among the remaining requesting Investors in like manner), (iii) third, and only if all the securities referred to in clause (ii) have been included, the number of Registrable Securities that, in the opinion of such managing underwriter or underwriters, can be sold without having such adverse effect in such Registration, which such number shall be allocated pro rata among the Holders (excluding the Investors) that have requested to participate in such Registration based on the relative number of Registrable Securities then held by each such Holder (provided that any securities thereby allocated to a Holder that exceed such Holder's request shall be reallocated among the remaining requesting Holders in like manner) and (iv) fourth, and only if all of the Registrable Securities referred to in clause (iii) have been included in such Registration, any other securities eligible for inclusion in 

 

  

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such Registration that, in the opinion of the managing underwriter or underwriters, can be sold without having such adverse effect in such Registration.

 

(c)           Restrictions on Non-Investor Holders.  Notwithstanding any provisions contained herein, Holders other than any Investor shall not be able to exercise the right to a Piggyback Registration unless at least one Investor exercises its rights with respect to such Piggyback Registration.

 

(d)           No Effect on Shelf Registrations.  No Registration of Registrable Securities effected pursuant to a request under this Section 2.02 shall be deemed to have been effected pursuant to Section 2.01 or shall relieve the Company of its obligations under Section 2.01.

 

SECTION 2.03.         Black-out Periods.

 

(a)           Black-out Periods for Holders.  In the event of a Company Public Sale of the Company's equity securities in an Underwritten Offering, each of the Holders agrees with the Company, if requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters in such Underwritten Offering (and, with respect to a Company Public Sale, if and only if each Investor agrees to such request), not to (1) offer for sale, sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction or device that is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition by any person at any time in the future of) any Company Shares (including Company Shares that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission and Company Shares that may be issued upon exercise of any options or warrants) or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Company Shares, (2) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of Company Shares, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Company Shares or other securities, in cash or otherwise, (3) exercise any right or cause to be filed a Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto, with respect to the registration of any Company Shares or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Company Shares or any other securities of the Company or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, in each case, during the period beginning 90 days (or such other period as may be reasonably requested by the Company or the managing underwriter or underwriters to accommodate regulatory restrictions on (i) the publication or other distribution of research reports and (ii) analyst recommendations and opinions, including, but not limited to, the restrictions contained in the FINRA rules or any successor provisions or amendments thereto) after the date of the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with such Company Public Sale, to the extent timely notified in writing by the Company or the managing underwriter or underwriters.  If requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters of any such Company Public Sale (and, with respect to any such Company Public Sale, if and only if each Investor agrees to such request), the Holders shall execute a separate agreement to the foregoing effect.  The Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the Company Shares (or other securities) subject to the foregoing restriction until the end of the period referenced above.

 

(b)           Black-out Period for the Company and Others.  In the case of an offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 that is a Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-

 

  

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Down, the Company and each of the Holders agree with the Company, if requested by a Participating Investor or the managing underwriter or underwriters with respect to such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, not to (1) offer for sale, sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction or device that is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition by any person at any time in the future of) any Company Shares (including Company Shares that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission and Company Shares that may be issued upon exercise of any options or warrants) or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Company Shares, (2) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of Company Shares, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Company Shares or other securities, in cash or otherwise, (3) exercise any right or cause to be filed a Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto, with respect to the registration of any Company Shares or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Company Shares or any other securities of the Company or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, in each case, during the period beginning seven (7) days before, and ending 90 days (or such lesser period as may be agreed by a Participating Investor or, if applicable, the managing underwriter or underwriters) (or such other period as may be reasonably requested by a Participating Investor or the managing underwriter or underwriters to accommodate regulatory restrictions on (i) the publication or other distribution of research reports and (ii) analyst recommendations and opinions, including, but not limited to, the restrictions contained in the FINRA rules or any successor provisions or amendments thereto) after, the date of the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with such Marketed Underwritten Shelf Take-Down, to the extent timely notified in writing by a Participating Investor or the managing underwriter or underwriters, as the case may be.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may effect a public sale or distribution of securities of the type described above and during the periods described above if such sale or distribution is made pursuant to Registrations on Form F-4 or S-8 or any successor form to such Forms or as part of any Registration of securities for offering and sale to employees, directors or consultants of the Company and its Subsidiaries pursuant to any employee stock plan or other employee benefit plan arrangement.

 

(c)           Other Shareholders.  The Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain from each of its directors, officers and Affiliates, an agreement not to effect any public sale or distribution of such securities during any period referred to in this Section 2.03, except as part of any such Registration, if permitted.  Without limiting the foregoing (but subject to Section 2.06), if after the date hereof the Company or any of its Subsidiaries grants any Person any rights to demand or participate in a Registration, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, provide that the agreement with respect thereto shall include such Person's agreement to comply with any black-out period required by this Section 2.03 as if it were a Holder hereunder.  If requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters of any such Underwritten Offering, the Holders shall execute a separate agreement to the foregoing effect.  The Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the Company Shares (or other securities) subject to the foregoing restriction until the end of the period referenced above.

 

  

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SECTION 2.04.         Registration Procedures.

 

(a)           In connection with the Company's Registration obligations under Sections 2.01 and 2.02 and subject to the applicable terms and conditions set forth therein, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the plan of distribution requested by the Participating Investors and set forth in the applicable Registration Statement as expeditiously as reasonably practicable, and in connection therewith the Company shall:

 

(i)            prepare the required Registration Statement including all exhibits and financial statements required under the Securities Act to be filed therewith, and before filing a Registration Statement, Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, (x) furnish to the underwriters, if any, and the Participating Investors, if any, copies of all documents prepared to be filed, which documents shall be subject to the review of such underwriters and the Participating Investors and their respective counsel and (y) except in the case of a Registration under Section 2.02, not file any Registration Statement or Prospectus or amendments or supplements thereto to which any Participating Investor or the underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object;

 

(ii)           prepare and file with the Commission such pre- and post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement, supplements to the Prospectus and such amendments or supplements to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as may be (x) reasonably requested by any Participating Investor, (y) reasonably requested by any other Participating Holder (to the extent such request relates to information relating to such Holder), or (z) necessary to keep such Registration effective for the period of time required by this Agreement, and comply with provisions of the applicable securities laws with respect to the sale or other disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during such period in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration Statement;

 

(iii)          promptly notify the Participating Holders and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, and (if requested) confirm such advice in writing and provide copies of the relevant documents, as soon as reasonably practicable after notice thereof is received by the Company (A) when the applicable Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has been filed or becomes effective, and when the applicable Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto has been filed, (B) of any written comments by the Commission or any request by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement, Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information, (C) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or any order by the Commission or any other regulatory authority preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary or final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for such purposes, (D) if, at any time, the representations and warranties of the Company in any applicable underwriting agreement cease to be true and correct in all material respects, (E) of the receipt by the Company of 

 

  

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any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction and (F) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction;

 

(iv)          promptly notify the Participating Holders and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, when the Company becomes aware of the happening of any event as a result of which the applicable Registration Statement, the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (as then in effect) or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of such Prospectus, any preliminary Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, when any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus includes information that may conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such time period to amend or supplement such Registration Statement, Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act and, in either case as promptly as reasonably practicable thereafter, prepare and file with the Commission, and furnish without charge to the Participating Holders and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, an amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement, Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus which shall correct such misstatement or omission or effect such compliance;

 

(v)           use its reasonable best efforts to prevent, or obtain the withdrawal of, any stop order or other order suspending the use of any preliminary or final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus;

 

(vi)          promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or post-effective amendment to the applicable Registration Statement such information as the managing underwriter or underwriters and the Participating Investor(s) agree should be included therein relating to the plan of distribution with respect to such Registrable Securities, and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or post-effective amendment;

 

(vii)         furnish to each Participating Holder and each underwriter, if any, without charge, as many conformed copies as such Holder or underwriter may reasonably request of the applicable Registration Statement and any amendment or post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits (including those incorporated by reference);

 

(viii)        deliver to each Participating Holder and each underwriter, if any, without charge, as many copies of the applicable Prospectus (including each preliminary Prospectus), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Holder or underwriter may reasonably request (it being understood that the Company consents to the use of such Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement 

 

  

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thereto by such Holder and the underwriters, if any, in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities thereby) and such other documents as such Holder or underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities by such Holder or underwriter;

 

(ix)          on or prior to the date on which the applicable Registration Statement is declared effective, use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify, and cooperate with the Participating Holders, the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel, in connection with the registration or qualification of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or "Blue Sky" laws of each state and other jurisdiction of the United States as any Participating Holder or managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or their respective counsel reasonably request in writing and do any and all other acts or things reasonably necessary or advisable to keep such registration or qualification in effect for such period as required by Section 2.01(b), whichever is applicable, provided that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action which would subject it to taxation or general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;

 

(x)           cooperate with the Participating Holders and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends, and enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriters may request at least two (2) Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities to the underwriters;

 

(xi)          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 or authorities as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the underwriter or underwriters, if any, to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

 

(xii)         make such representations and warranties to the Participating Holders and the underwriters or agents, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers in secondary underwritten public offerings;

 

(xiii)        enter into such customary agreements (including underwriting and indemnification agreements) and take all such other actions as any Participating Investor or the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the registration and disposition of such Registrable Securities;

 

(xiv)        obtain for delivery to the Participating Holders and to the underwriter or underwriters, if any, an opinion or opinions from counsel for the Company dated the effective date of the Registration Statement or, in the event of an Underwritten Offering, the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement, in customary form, scope and 

 

  

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substance, which opinions shall be reasonably satisfactory to such Holders or underwriters, as the case may be, and their respective counsel;

 

(xv)         in the case of an Underwritten Offering, obtain for delivery to the Company and the managing underwriter or underwriters, with copies to the Participating Holders, a cold comfort letter from the Company's independent certified public accountants in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by cold comfort letters as the managing underwriter or underwriters reasonably request, dated the date of execution of the underwriting agreement and brought down to the closing under the underwriting agreement;

 

(xvi)        cooperate with each Participating Holder and each underwriter, if any, participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with the FINRA;

 

(xvii)       use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable securities laws and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;

 

(xviii)      provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement from and after a date not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

 

(xix)         use its reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange on which any of the Company Shares are then listed or quoted and on each inter-dealer quotation system on which any of the Company Shares are then quoted;

 

(xx)          in connection with an Underwritten Offering, make available upon reasonable notice at reasonable times and for reasonable periods for inspection by any Participating Investor, by any underwriter participating in any disposition to be effected pursuant to such Registration Statement and by any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by such Participating Investor(s) or any such underwriter, all pertinent financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, and cause all of the Company's officers, directors and employees and the independent public accountants who have certified its financial statements to make themselves available to discuss the business of the Company and to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Person in connection with such Registration Statement as shall be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility; provided that any such Person gaining access to information regarding the Company pursuant to this Section 2.04(a)(xx) shall agree to hold in strict confidence and shall not make any disclosure or use any information regarding the Company that the Company determines in good faith to be confidential, and of which determination such Person is notified, unless (w) the release of such information is requested or required by law or by deposition, interrogatory, requests for information or documents by a governmental entity, subpoena or similar process, (x) such information is or becomes publicly known other than through 

 

  

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a breach of this or any other agreement of which such Person has actual knowledge, (y) such information is or becomes available to such Person on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company or (z) such information is independently developed by such Person; and

 

(xxi)         in the case of an Underwritten Offering of Registrable Securities in an amount of at least one percent (1%) of the then-outstanding Company Shares, cause the senior executive officers of the Company to participate in the customary "road show" presentations that may be reasonably requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters in any such Underwritten Offering no more than once per calendar quarter and otherwise to facilitate, cooperate with, and participate in each proposed offering contemplated herein and customary selling efforts related thereto.

 

(b)           The Company may require each Participating Holder to furnish to the Company such information regarding the distribution of such securities and such other information relating to such Holder and its ownership of Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing.  Each Participating Holder agrees to furnish such information to the Company and to cooperate with the Company as reasonably necessary to enable the Company to comply with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(c)           Each Participating Holder agrees that, upon delivery of any notice by the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 2.04(a)(iii)(C), (D), or (E) or Section 2.04(a)(iv), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement until (i) such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus contemplated by Section 2.04(a)(iv), (ii) such Holder is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, may be resumed, (iii) such Holder is advised in writing by the Company of the termination, expiration or cessation of such order or suspension referenced in Section 2.04(a)(iii)(C) or (E) or (iv) such Holder is advised in writing by the Company that the representations and warranties of the Company in such applicable underwriting agreement are true and correct in all material respects.  If so directed by the Company, such Holder shall 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 or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of delivery of such notice.  In the event the Company shall give any such notice, the period during which the applicable Registration Statement is required to be maintained effective shall be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when each seller of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement either receives the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus contemplated by Section 2.04(a)(iv) or is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus may be resumed.

 

SECTION 2.05.         Underwritten Offerings.

 

(a)           Shelf Registrations.  If requested by the underwriters for any Underwritten Offering requested by any Participating Investor pursuant to a Registration under Section 2.01, the Company shall enter into an underwriting agreement with such underwriters for such 

 

  

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offering, such agreement to be reasonably satisfactory in substance and form to the Company, each Participating Investor and the underwriters, and to contain such representations and warranties by the Company and such other terms as are generally prevailing in agreements of that type, including indemnities no less favorable to the recipient thereof than those provided in Section 2.08.  Each Participating Investor shall cooperate with the Company in the negotiation of such underwriting agreement and shall give consideration to the reasonable suggestions of the Company regarding the form thereof.  The Participating Holders shall be parties to such underwriting agreement, which underwriting agreement shall (i) contain such representations and warranties by, and the other agreements on the part of, the Company to and for the benefit of such Participating Holders as are customarily made by issuers to selling stockholders in secondary underwritten public offerings and (ii) provide that any or all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of such underwriters under such underwriting agreement also shall be conditions precedent to the obligations of such Participating Holders.  Any such Participating Holder shall not be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the underwriters in connection with such underwriting agreement other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Participating Holder, such Participating Holder's title to the Registrable Securities, such Participating Holder's authority to sell the Registrable Securities, such Participating Holder's intended method of distribution, absence of liens with respect to the Registrable Securities, enforceability of the applicable underwriting agreement as against such Participating Holder, receipt of all consents and approvals with respect to the entry into such underwriting agreement and the sale of such Registrable Securities and any other representations required to be made by such Participating Holder under applicable law, rule or regulation, and the aggregate amount of the liability of such Participating Holder in connection with such underwriting agreement shall not exceed such Participating Holder's net proceeds from such Underwritten Offering.

 

(b)           Piggyback Registrations.  If the Company proposes to register any of its securities under the Securities Act as contemplated by Section 2.02 and such securities are to be distributed in an Underwritten Offering through one or more underwriters, the Company shall, if requested by any Holder pursuant to Section 2.02 and subject to the provisions of Sections 2.02(b) and (c), use its reasonable best efforts to arrange for such underwriters to include on the same terms and conditions that apply to the other sellers in such Registration all the Registrable Securities to be offered and sold by such Holder among the securities of the Company to be distributed by such underwriters in such Registration.  The Participating Holders shall be parties to the underwriting agreement between the Company and such underwriters, which underwriting agreement shall (i) contain such representations and warranties by, and the other agreements on the part of, the Company to and for the benefit of such Participating Holders as are customarily made by issuers to selling stockholders in secondary underwritten public offerings and (ii) provide that any or all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of such underwriters under such underwriting agreement also shall be conditions precedent to the obligations of such Participating Holders.  Any such Participating Holder shall not be required to make any representations or warranties to, or agreements with the Company or the underwriters in connection with such underwriting agreement other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Participating Holder, such Participating Holder's title to the Registrable Securities, such Participating Holder's authority to sell the Registrable Securities, such Holder's intended method of distribution, absence of liens with respect to the Registrable Securities, enforceability of the applicable underwriting agreement as against such Participating 

 

  

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Holder, receipt of all consents and approvals with respect to the entry into such underwriting agreement and the sale of such Registrable Securities or any other representations required to be made by such Participating Holder under applicable law, rule or regulation, and the aggregate amount of the liability of such Participating Holder in connection with such underwriting agreement shall not exceed such Participating Holder's net proceeds from such Underwritten Offering.

 

(c)           Participation in Underwritten Registrations.  Subject to the provisions of Sections 2.05(a) and (b) above, no Person may participate in any Underwritten Offering hereunder unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person's securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

(d)           Price and Underwriting Discounts.  In the case of an Underwritten Offering under Section 2.01, the price, underwriting discount and other financial terms for the Registrable Securities shall be determined by the Investor(s) in such Registration.

 

SECTION 2.06.         No Inconsistent Agreements; Additional Rights.  The Company is not currently a party to, and shall not hereafter enter into without the prior written consent of (i) the Monarch Holders Majority and (ii) the Oaktree Holders Majority (for so long as the Monarch Holders and the Oaktree Holders hold any Registrable Securities, respectively), any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders by this Agreement, including allowing any other holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company (a) registration rights in the nature or substantially in the nature of those set forth in Section 2.01 or Section 2.02 that would have priority over the Registrable Securities with respect to the inclusion of such securities in any Registration (except to the extent such registration rights are solely related to registrations of the type contemplated by Section 2.02(a)(ii) through (iv)) or (b) demand registration rights in the nature or substantially in the nature of those set forth in Section 2.01 that are exercisable prior to such time as the Investors can first exercise their rights under Section 2.01.

 

SECTION 2.07.         Registration Expenses.  All expenses incident to the Company's performance of or compliance with this Agreement shall be paid by the Company, including (i) all registration and filing fees, and any other fees and expenses associated with filings required to be made with the Commission, FINRA and if applicable, the fees and expenses of any "qualified independent underwriter," as such term is defined in Rule 2720 of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (or any successor provision), and of its counsel, (ii) all fees and expenses in connection with compliance with any securities or "Blue Sky" laws (including fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters in connection with "Blue Sky" qualifications of the Registrable Securities up to a maximum of $25,000), (iii) all printing, duplicating, word processing, messenger, telephone, facsimile and delivery expenses (including expenses of printing certificates for the Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company and of printing Prospectuses and Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses), (iv) all fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and of all independent certified public accountants of the Company (including the expenses of any special audit and cold comfort letters required by or incident to such performance), (v) Securities Act liability 

 

  

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insurance or similar insurance if the Company so desires or the underwriters so require in accordance with then-customary underwriting practice, (vi) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of Registrable Securities on any securities exchange or quotation of the Registrable Securities on any inter-dealer quotation system, (vii) all fees and expenses of any special experts or other Persons retained by the Company in connection with any Registration, (viii) all of the Company's internal expenses (including all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), (ix) all expenses incurred by the Company and its directors and officers related to the "road-show" for any Underwritten Offering, including all travel, meals and lodging and (x) any other fees and disbursements customarily paid by the issuers of securities.  All such fees and expenses are referred to herein as "Registration Expenses."  The Company shall not be required to pay any underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, attributable to the sale of Registrable Securities.

 

SECTION 2.08.         Indemnification.

 

(a)           Indemnification by the Company.  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each of the Holders, each of their respective direct or indirect partners, members or shareholders and each of such partner's, member's or shareholder's partners members or shareholders and, with respect to all of the foregoing Persons, each of their respective Affiliates, employees, directors, officers, trustees or agents and each Person who controls (within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act) such Persons and each of their respective Representatives from and against any and all losses, penalties, judgments, suits, costs, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses, joint or several (including reasonable costs of investigation and legal expenses) (each, a "Loss" and collectively "Losses") insofar as such Losses arise out of or are based upon (i) any inaccuracy in or breach of any representation or warranty of the Company contained in this Agreement, (ii) any failure by the Company to comply with the covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, (iii) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which such Registrable Securities were Registered under the Securities Act (including any final, preliminary or summary Prospectus contained therein or any amendment or supplement thereto or any documents incorporated by reference therein), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, or any other disclosure document produced by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries including reports and other documents filed under the Exchange Act, (iv) any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a Prospectus, preliminary Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (v) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of any federal, state or common law rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any such registration, qualification, compliance or sale of Registrable Securities, (vi) any failure to register or qualify Registrable Securities in any state where the Company or its agents have affirmatively undertaken or agreed in writing that the Company (the undertaking of any underwriter being attributed to the Company) will undertake such registration or qualification on behalf of the Holders of such Registrable Securities (provided that in such instance the Company shall not be so liable if it has undertaken its reasonable best efforts to so register or qualify such Registrable Securities) or (vii) any actions or inactions or proceedings in respect of the foregoing, and the Company will reimburse, as incurred, each such Holder and each of their respective direct or indirect partners, members or 

 

  

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shareholders and each of such partner's, member's or shareholder's partners members or shareholders and, with respect to all of the foregoing Persons, each of their respective Affiliates, employees, directors, officers, trustees or agents and controlling Persons and each of their respective Representatives, for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such claim, loss, damage, liability or action; provided, that the Company shall not be liable to any particular indemnified party to the extent that any such Loss arises out of or is based upon (A) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any such Registration Statement or other document in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such indemnified party expressly for use in the preparation thereof or (B) an untrue statement or omission in a preliminary Prospectus relating to Registrable Securities, if a Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented) that would have cured the defect was furnished to the indemnified party from whom the Person asserting the claim giving rise to such Loss purchased Registrable Securities at least five (5) days prior to the written confirmation of the sale of the Registrable Securities to such Person and a copy of such Prospectus (as amended and supplemented) was not sent or given by or on behalf of such indemnified party to such Person at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of the Registrable Securities to such Person.  This indemnity shall be in addition to any liability the Company may otherwise have.  Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Holder or any indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such Holder.  The Company shall also indemnify underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, their officers and directors and each Person who controls such Persons (within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the indemnified parties.

 

(b)           Indemnification by the Participating Holders.  Each Participating Holder agrees (severally and not jointly) to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company, its directors and officers and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act), and each other Holder, each of such other Holder's respective direct or indirect partners, members or shareholders and each of such partner's, member's or shareholder's partners members or shareholders and, with respect to all of the foregoing Persons, each of their respective Affiliates, employees, directors, officers, trustees or agents and each Person who controls (within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act) such Persons and each of their respective Representatives from and against any Losses resulting from (i) any untrue statement of a material fact in any Registration Statement under which such Registrable Securities were Registered under the Securities Act (including any final, preliminary or summary Prospectus contained therein or any amendment or supplement thereto or any documents incorporated by reference therein) or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, or (ii) any omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a Prospectus, preliminary Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information furnished in writing by such Holder to the Company specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement and has not been corrected in a subsequent writing prior to or concurrently with the sale of the Registrable Securities to the Person asserting the claim, in each case to the extent, but only to the 

 

  

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extent, that such untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or alleged omission) was made in such Registration Statement, prospectus, offering circular, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or other document, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein.  In no event shall the liability of such Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder under the sale of Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

 

(c)           Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings.  Any Person entitled to indemnification under this Section 2.08 shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that any delay or failure to so notify the indemnifying party shall relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations hereunder only to the extent, if at all, that it is actually and materially prejudiced by reason of such delay or failure) and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided that any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to select and employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Person unless (A) the indemnifying party has agreed in writing to pay such fees or expenses, (B) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim within a reasonable time after delivery of notice of such claim from the Person entitled to indemnification hereunder and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Person, (C) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based upon advice of its counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, or (D) in the reasonable judgment of any such Person (based upon advice of its counsel) a conflict of interest may exist between such Person and the indemnifying party with respect to such claims (in which case, if the Person notifies the indemnifying party in writing that such Person elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such claim on behalf of such Person).  If the indemnifying party assumes the defense, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to settle such action, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement, in each case without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, unless the entry of such judgment or settlement (i) includes as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of an unconditional release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of such indemnified party, and provided that any sums payable in connection with such settlement are paid in full by the indemnifying party.  If such defense is not assumed by the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made without its prior written consent, but such consent may not be unreasonably withheld.  It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, except as specifically set forth in this Section 2.08(c), in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements or other charges of more than one separate firm admitted to practice in such jurisdiction at any one time unless (x) the employment of more than one counsel has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party or parties, (y) an indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on the advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the other indemnified parties, or (z) a conflict or potential conflict exists or may exist (based upon advice of counsel to an 

 

  

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indemnified party) between such indemnified party and the other indemnified parties, in each of which cases the indemnifying party shall be obligated to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such additional counsel or counsels.

 

(d)           Contribution.  If for any reason the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 2.08 is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any Losses referred to therein, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such Loss in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party or parties on the other hand in connection with the acts, statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  In connection with any Registration Statement filed with the Commission by the Company, the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any 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 by the indemnified party and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  The parties hereto agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 2.08(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 2.08(d).  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.  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the Losses referred to in Sections 2.08(a) and 2.08(b) shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 2.08(d), in connection with any Registration Statement filed by the Company, a Participating Holder shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder under the sale of Registrable Securities giving rise to such contribution obligation less any amount paid by such Holders pursuant to Section 2.08(b).  If indemnification is available under this Section 2.08, the indemnifying parties shall indemnify each indemnified party to the full extent provided in Sections 2.08(a) and 2.08(b) hereof without regard to the provisions of this Section 2.08(d).

 

(e)           No Exclusivity.  The remedies provided for in this Section 2.08 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity or pursuant to any other agreement.

 

(f)           Survival.  The indemnities provided in this Section 2.08 shall survive the transfer of any Registrable Securities by such Holder.

 

SECTION 2.09.         Rules 144 and 144A and Regulation S.  The Company covenants that it will file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder (or, if the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the reasonable request of any Investor, make publicly available such necessary information for so long as necessary to permit sales 

 

  

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pursuant to Rules 144, 144A or Regulation S under the Securities Act), and it will take such further action as any Investor may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable the Holders, to sell Registrable Securities without Registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (i) Rules 144, 144A or Regulation S under the Securities Act, as such Rules may be amended from time to time, or (ii) any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission.  Upon the reasonable request of a Holder, the Company will deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements and, if not, the specifics thereof.

 

SECTION 2.10.         Limitation on Registrations and Underwritten Offerings.  Notwithstanding the rights and obligations set forth in Section 2.01, in no event shall the Company be obligated to take any action to (i) effect more than one Marketed Underwritten Offering in any consecutive 90-day period or (ii) effect any Underwritten Shelf Take-Down unless the Investor initiating such Underwritten Offering proposes to sell Registrable Securities in an amount of at least one percent (1%) of the then-outstanding Company Shares or 100% of the Registrable Securities then held by such Investor.

 

SECTION 2.11.         Clear Market.  With respect to any Underwritten Offerings of Registrable Securities by an Investor, the Company agrees not to effect (other than pursuant to the Registration applicable to such Underwritten Offering or pursuant to a Special Registration or pursuant to the exercise by another Investor of any of its rights under Section 2.01) any public sale or distribution, or to file any Registration Statement (other than pursuant to the Registration applicable to such Underwritten Offering or pursuant to a Special Registration or pursuant to the exercise by an Investor of any of its rights under Section 2.01) covering any of its equity securities or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such securities, during the period not to exceed ten (10) days prior and sixty (60) days following the effective date of such offering or such longer period up to ninety (90) days as may be requested by the managing underwriter for such Underwritten Offering.  "Special Registration" means the registration of (A) equity securities and/or options or other rights in respect thereof solely registered on Form F-4 or Form S-8 (or successor form) or (B) shares of equity securities and/or options or other rights in respect thereof to be offered to directors, employees, consultants, customers, lenders or vendors of the Company or its Subsidiaries or in connection with dividend reinvestment plans.

 

SECTION 2.12.         In-Kind Distributions.  If any Holder seeks to effectuate an in-kind distribution of all or part of its Company Shares to its direct or indirect equityholders, the Company will reasonably cooperate with and assist such Holder, such equityholders and the Company's transfer agent to facilitate such in-kind distribution in the manner reasonably requested by such Holder (including the delivery of instruction letters by the Company or its counsel to the Company's transfer agent, the delivery of customary legal opinions by counsel to the Company and the delivery of Company Shares without restrictive legends, to the extent no longer applicable).

 

SECTION 2.13.         Representations and Warranties.  The Company hereby represents and warrants to each Investor as follows:

 

  

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(a)           Due Authorization.  The Company has the requisite power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform and consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the performance and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (i) are within the power and authority of the Company and (ii) have been duly authorized by all necessary action of the Company.  This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company.  Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Investors of this Agreement, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws relating to enforcement of creditors' rights generally, and general equitable principles relating to the availability of remedies and the public policy underlying such laws, and except as rights to indemnity or contribution, including but not limited to, indemnification provisions set forth in Section 2.08 of this Agreement, may be limited by federal or state securities law or the public policy underlying such laws.  The Board of Directors, at a duly called meeting or by written consent, has unanimously adopted and approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, and no other corporate actions on the part of the Company are necessary in connection with the authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the performance by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(b)           No Conflicts.  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the performance by the Company, or the consummation, of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the compliance by the Company with the terms of this Agreement do not and will not conflict with or do not result and will not result in any breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or do not constitute or will not constitute a default under, do not cause or will not cause (or do not permit or will not permit) the maturation or acceleration of any liability or obligation or the termination of any right under, or do not result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon, any property or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of (i) the charter or bylaws or other applicable organizational documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, voting trust agreement, shareholders' agreement, registration rights agreement, note agreement or other material agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it is bound or to which its respective property is subject; or (iii) any law, statute, judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any government, arbitrator, court, regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or its activities or properties.

 

(c)           Consents and Approvals.  No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration, notice, filing, license, recording or qualification of or with any court, government or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction (other than under the Securities Act) over the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their properties, is required for the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement, the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

  

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ARTICLE III

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 3.01.         Term.  This Agreement shall terminate (a) with respect to any Holder, (i) with the prior written consent of each of (A) the Monarch Holders Majority and (B) the Oaktree Holders Majority (for so long as the Monarch Holders and the Oaktree Holders hold any Registrable Securities, respectively), (ii) if such Holder and its Affiliates beneficially own less than 5% of the outstanding Company Shares, if all of the Registrable Securities then owned by such Holder and its Affiliates could be sold in any ninety (90)-day period pursuant to Rule 144 without restriction as to volume or manner of sale, or (iii) if all of the Registrable Securities held by such Holder have been sold in a Registration pursuant to the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption therefrom and (b) in its entirety and shall be null and void ab initio, in the event that the Purchase Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms without the Closing (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) in respect of all of the Investors having occurred.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of Sections 2.08, 2.09 and 2.12 and all of this Article III shall survive any such termination.  Upon the written request of the Company, each Holder agrees to promptly deliver a certificate to the Company setting forth the number of Registrable Securities then beneficially owned by such Holder.

 

SECTION 3.02.         Injunctive Relief.  It is hereby agreed and acknowledged that it will be impossible to measure in money the damage that would be suffered if the parties fail to comply with any of the obligations herein imposed on them and that in the event of any such failure, an aggrieved Person will be irreparably damaged and will not have an adequate remedy at law.  Any such Person shall, therefore, be entitled (in addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled in law or in equity) to injunctive relief, including specific performance, to enforce such obligations, 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.

 

SECTION 3.03.         Notices.  Unless otherwise specified herein, all notices, consents, approvals, reports, designations, requests, waivers, elections and other communications authorized or required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given (a) when personally delivered, (b) when transmitted via facsimile to the number set out below or on Schedule I, as applicable, if the sender on the same day sends a confirming copy of such notice by a recognized overnight delivery service (charges prepaid), (c) the day following the day (except if not a Business Day then the next Business Day) on which the same has been delivered prepaid to a reputable national overnight air courier service, (d) when transmitted via email (including via attached pdf document) to the email address set out below or on Schedule I, as applicable, if the sender on the same day sends a confirming copy of such notice by a recognized overnight delivery service (charges prepaid) or (e) the third Business Day following the day on which the same is sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, in each case to the respective parties as applicable, at the address, facsimile number or email address set forth on Schedule I (or such other address, facsimile number or email address as such Holder may specify by notice to the Company in accordance with this Section 3.03) and the Company at the following addresses:

 

  

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To the Company:

 

Star Bulk Carriers Corp.

c/o Star Bulk Management Inc.

40 Agiou Konstantinou Street,

15124 Maroussi,

Athens, Greece

 

Attention: Georgia Mastagaki

Facsimile: +30 (210) 617-8378

Email: gmastagaki@starbulk.com

 

with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Seward & Kissel LLP

One Battery Park Plaza

New York, NY 10004

Attention: Robert E. Lustrin, Esq.

Facsimile: (212) 480-8421

Email: lustrin@sewkis.com

 

SECTION 3.04.         Recapitalization.  The provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the full extent set forth herein with respect to any and all equity securities of the Company or any successor or assign of the Company (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) which may be issued in respect of, in conversion of, in exchange for or in substitution of, the Registrable Securities and shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividends, splits, reverse splits, combinations, recapitalizations and the like occurring after the date hereof. The Company shall cause any successor or assign (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) to assume this Agreement or enter into a new registration rights agreement with the Holders on terms substantially the same as this Agreement as a condition of any such transaction.

 

SECTION 3.05.         Amendment.  The terms and provisions of this Agreement may only be amended, modified or waived at any time and from time to time by a writing executed by the Company, the Monarch Holders Majority and the Oaktree Holders Majority (for so long as the Monarch Holders and the Oaktree Holders hold any Registrable Securities, respectively).

 

SECTION 3.06.         Successors, Assigns and Transferees.  The rights and obligations of each party hereto may not be assigned, in whole or in part, without the written consent of the Company, the Monarch Holders Majority and the Oaktree Holders Majority (for so long as the Monarch Holders and the Oaktree Holders hold any Registrable Securities, respectively); provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the rights and obligations set forth herein may be assigned, in whole or in part, by any Investor to any transferee of Registrable Securities that holds (after giving effect to such transfer) in excess of one percent (1%) of the then-outstanding Company Shares and such transferee shall, with the consent of the 

 

  

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transferring Investor, be treated as an "Investor" for all purposes of this Agreement (it being understood that, without such consent from the transferring Investor, such transferee shall be treated as a "Holder" for all purposes of this Agreement) (each Person to whom the rights and obligations are assigned in compliance with this Section 3.06 is a "Permitted Assignee" and all such Persons, collectively, are "Permitted Assignees"); provided, further, that such transferee shall only be admitted as a party hereunder upon its, his or her execution and delivery of a joinder agreement, in form and substance acceptable to each Investor, agreeing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement as if such Person were a party hereto (together with any other documents the Investors determine are necessary to make such Person a party hereto), whereupon such Person will be treated as a Holder for all purposes of this Agreement, with the same rights, benefits and obligations hereunder as the transferring Holder with respect to the transferred Registrable Securities (except that if the transferee was a Holder prior to such transfer, such transferee shall have the same rights, benefits and obligations with respect to the such transferred Registrable Securities as were applicable to Registrable Securities held by such transferee prior to such transfer).

 

SECTION 3.07.         Binding Effect.  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of each of the parties hereto and their respective successors.

 

SECTION 3.08.         Third Party Beneficiaries.  Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended or shall be construed to confer upon any Person not a party hereto (other than those Persons entitled to indemnity or contribution under Section 2.08, each of whom shall be a third party beneficiary thereof) any right, remedy or claim under or by virtue of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 3.09.         Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Agent For Service.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY (I) AGREES THAT ANY LEGAL SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING AGAINST THE COMPANY ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY MAY BE INSTITUTED IN THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK OR THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN EACH CASE LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK (COLLECTIVELY, THE "SPECIFIED COURTS"), (II) WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY EFFECTIVELY DO SO, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING IN THE SPECIFIED COURTS AND IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE AND AGREE NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH COURT THAT ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM AND (III) SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION (EXCEPT FOR PROCEEDINGS INSTITUTED IN REGARD TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF A JUDGMENT OF ANY SUCH COURT, AS TO WHICH SUCH JURISDICTION IS NON-EXCLUSIVE) OF SUCH COURTS IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING.  THE COMPANY HAS APPOINTED 

 

  

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SEWARD & KISSEL LLP AT C/O ROBERT E. LUSTRIN, ONE BATTERY PARK PLAZA, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004, USA AS ITS AUTHORIZED AGENT (THE "AUTHORIZED AGENT") UPON WHOM PROCESS MAY BE SERVED IN ANY SUCH ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR BASED ON THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY WHICH MAY BE INSTITUTED IN ANY SPECIFIED COURT AND HEREBY WAIVES ANY REQUIREMENTS OF OR OBJECTIONS TO PERSONAL JURISDICTION WITH RESPECT THERETO.  SUCH APPOINTMENT SHALL BE IRREVOCABLE.  THE COMPANY REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT THE AUTHORIZED AGENT HAS AGREED TO ACT AS SUCH AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS AND AGREES TO TAKE ANY AND ALL ACTION, INCLUDING THE FILING OF ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS AND INSTRUMENTS, THAT MAY BE NECESSARY TO CONTINUE SUCH APPOINTMENT IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT AS AFORESAID.  SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON THE AUTHORIZED AGENT AND WRITTEN NOTICE OF SUCH SERVICE TO THE COMPANY SHALL BE DEEMED, IN EVERY RESPECT, EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON THE COMPANY.

 

SECTION 3.10.         Waiver of Jury Trial.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF THE OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 3.10.

 

SECTION 3.11.         Immunity Waiver.  The Company hereby irrevocably waives, to the extent permitted by law, any immunity to jurisdiction to which it may otherwise be entitled (including, without limitation, immunity to pre-judgment attachment, post-judgment attachment and execution) in any legal suit, action or proceeding against it arising out of or based on this Agreement.

 

SECTION 3.12.         Entire Agreement.  This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.  Any prior agreements or understandings among the parties hereto regarding the subject matter hereof, whether written or oral, are superseded by this Agreement.

 

SECTION 3.13.         Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

  

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SECTION 3.14.         Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

SECTION 3.15.         Headings.  The heading references herein and in the table of contents hereto are for convenience purposes only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.

 

SECTION 3.16.         Joinder.  Any Person that holds Company Shares may, with the prior written consent of each Investor, be admitted as a party to this Agreement upon its execution and delivery of a joinder agreement, in form and substance acceptable to the Investors, agreeing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement as if such Person were a party hereto (together with any other documents the Investors determine are necessary to make such Person a party hereto), whereupon such Person will be treated as a Holder for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank

  

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

STAR BULK CARRIERS CORP.

By:  ______________________                                                               

Name:       Simos Spyrou

Title:         Chief Financial Officer

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

  

  

  

INVESTORS:

 

OAKTREE VALUE OPPORTUNITIES FUND, L.P.

By: Oaktree Value Opportunities Fund GP, L.P.

Its:  General Partner

By: Oaktree Value Opportunities Fund GP Ltd.

Its:  General Partner

By: Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.

Its:  Director

 

 

 

By:  ______________________                                                               

Name:       

Title:         

 

 

 

By:  ______________________                                                               

Name:       

Title:         

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]

  

  

  

 

MONARCH ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS MASTER FUND LTD

MONARCH CAPITAL MASTER PARTNERS II-A LP

MONARCH CAPITAL MASTER PARTNERS II LP

MONARCH DEBT RECOVERY MASTER FUND LTD

MONARCH OPPORTUNITIES MASTER FUND LTD

P MONARCH RECOVERY LTD

 

By: Monarch Alternative Capital LP, as investment manager

 

 

 

 

 

By: ___________________________

       Name:

       Title:

 

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]d1367803_ex10-3.htm

 

SUBSCRIPTION AGENT AGREEMENT

This SUBSCRIPTION AGENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into as of April [•], 2013, by and between American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the "Subscription Agent") and Star Bulk Carriers Corp. (the "Company").

	
1.

	
The Company is offering (the "Rights Offering") to the holders of shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Common Stock"), on [•], 2013 (the "Record Date"), the right ("Rights") to subscribe for shares of Common Stock.  Except as set forth in Sections 8 and 9 below, Rights shall cease to be exercisable at 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the expiration date set forth in the Prospectus or such other date of which the Company notifies the Subscription Agent orally and confirms in writing (the "Expiration Date").  One (1) Right is being issued for each share of Common Stock held on the Record Date.  For every one Right the holders receive, the holders will be entitled to purchase 2.5957 shares of Common Stock at a subscription price (the "Subscription Price") of $5.35 per share (the "Subscription Privilege").  Exercise of the Right(s) and payment in full of the Subscription Price are required to subscribe for shares of Common Stock.  Rights are evidenced by non-transferable subscription certificates in registered form ("Subscription Certificates").  No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued. The Company has filed a Registration Statement on Form F-1

	
  

	
(File No. 333-            ) relating to the Rights Offering with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "Registration Statement").  The terms of the Rights Offering are more fully described in the Prospectus (the "Prospectus") forming part of the Registration Statement as such Registration Statement may be declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").  Promptly after the Record Date, the Agent, in its capacity as transfer agent, will generate a list of holders of Common Stock as of the Record Date (the "Record Shareholders List").

	
2.

	
The Subscription Agent is hereby appointed to affect the Rights Offering as set forth herein. The Subscription Agent may rely on, and shall be protected in acting upon, any certificate, instrument, opinion, representation, notice letter or other document delivered to it and believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed by the proper party or parties.

	
3.

	
Enclosed herewith are the following, the receipt of which the Subscription Agent acknowledges by its execution hereof:

	
  

	
(a)

	
a copy of the Prospectus;

	
  

	
(b)

	
the form of Subscription Certificate (with instructions); and

 

  

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(c)

	
resolutions adopted by the board of directors of the Company in connection with the Rights Offering, certified by the secretary of the Company.

	
4.

	
As soon as is reasonably practical after the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, and no later than one (1) business day following such date, the Subscription Agent shall mail or cause to be mailed or deliver (which delivery may be done electronically through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or otherwise) to each holder listed on the Record Shareholders List a Subscription Certificate evidencing the Rights to which such holder is entitled, a Prospectus and an envelope addressed to the Subscription Agent.  [AST TO ADVISE] [Prior to mailing, the Company shall provide the Subscription Agent with blank Subscription Certificates which the Subscription Agent shall prepare and issue in the names of holders of Common Stock of record at the close of business on the Record Date and for the number of Rights to which they are entitled.]  The Company shall also provide the Subscription Agent with a sufficient number of copies of each of the documents to be mailed with the Subscription Certificates.

	
  

	 

	
5.

	
Subscription Procedure.

	
  

	
(a)

	
Upon the Subscription Agent's receipt prior to 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date (by mail or delivery) of (i) any Subscription Certificate completed and endorsed for exercise, as provided on the reverse side of the Subscription Certificate (except as provided in Section 8 hereof), and (ii) payment in full of the Subscription Price in U.S. funds by check, bank draft or money order payable at par (without deduction for bank service charges or otherwise) to the order of "American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC" the Subscription Agent shall as soon as practicable after the Expiration Date, but after performing the procedures described in subsection (b) below, certificates representing the shares of Common Stock duly subscribed for pursuant to the Subscription Privilege and furnish a list of all such information to the Company.

	
  

	
(b)

	
As soon as practicable after the Expiration Date and in no event later than three (3) Business Days, the Subscription Agent shall calculate the number of shares of Common Stock to which each subscriber is entitled pursuant to the Subscription Privilege.

	
  

	
(c)

	
Funds received by the Subscription Agent pursuant to the Subscription Privilege shall be held by it in a segregated non-interest bearing account. Upon mailing certificates representing the securities and refunding subscribers for additional shares of Common Stock subscribed for but not allocated, if any, the Subscription Agent shall promptly remit to the Company all funds received in payment of the Subscription Price for shares of Common Stock issued in the Rights Offering. The Subscription Agent will not be obligated to calculate or pay interest to any holder or party.

	
6.

	
Until 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the third Business Day prior to the Expiration Date, the Subscription Agent shall facilitate subdivision or transfers of Subscription Certificates by issuing new Subscription Certificates in accordance with the instructions set forth on the reverse side of the Subscription Certificates. As used herein, "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday,  or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York and Athens, Greece are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

  

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7.

	
The Company shall have the absolute right to reject any defective exercise of Rights or to waive any defect in exercise. Unless requested to do so by the Company, the Subscription Agent shall not be under any duty to give notification to holders of Subscription Certificates of any defects or irregularities in subscriptions. Subscriptions will not be deemed to have been made until any such defects or irregularities have been cured or waived within such time as the Company shall determine. The Subscription Agent shall as soon as practicable return Subscription Certificates with the defects or irregularities which have not been cured or waived to the holder of the Rights. If any Subscription Certificate is alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, the Subscription Agent should follow the same procedures followed for lost stock certificates representing Common Stock it uses in its capacity as transfer agent for the Company's Common Stock.

	
8.

	
The Subscription Agent shall deliver to the Company the exercised Subscription Certificates in accordance with written directions received from the Company and shall deliver to the subscribers who have duly exercised Rights at their registered addresses certificates representing the securities subscribed for as instructed on the reverse side of the Subscription Certificates.

	
9.

	
The Subscription Agent shall notify the Company, Oaktree Capital Management L.P. ("Oaktree") and Monarch Alternative Capital L.P. ("Monarch") on each Friday occurring prior to the Expiration Date and on each Business Day during the five (5) Business Days prior to the Expiration Date (or more frequently if reasonably requested by Oaktree or Monarch) of the aggregate number of Rights known by the Subscription Agent to have been exercised pursuant to the Rights Offering as of the close of business on the preceding Business Day or the most recent practicable time before such request, as the case may be, (a "daily notice"), which notice shall thereafter be confirmed in writing, of (i) the number of Rights exercised on the day covered by such daily notice, (ii) the number of Rights subject to guaranteed exercises on the day covered by such daily notice, (iii) the number of Rights for which defective exercises have been received on the day covered by such daily notice, and (iv) the cumulative total of the information set forth in clauses (i) through (iii) above.  At or before 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the first Trading Day following the Expiration Date the Subscription Agent shall certify in writing to the Company the cumulative total through the Expiration Date of all the information set forth in clauses (i) through (iii) above. At or before 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the fifth Nasdaq Global Select Market trading day ("Trading Day") following the Expiration Date, the Subscription Agent will execute and deliver to the Company a certificate setting forth the number of Rights exercised pursuant to a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and as to which Subscription Certificates have been timely received. The Subscription Agent shall also maintain and update a listing of holders who have fully or partially exercised their Rights, holders who have transferred their Rights and their transferees, and holders who have not exercised their Rights.  The Subscription Agent shall provide the Company or its designees with such information compiled by the Subscription Agent pursuant to this Section 9 as any of them shall request.

 

  

3

  

 

	
10.

	
With respect to notices or instructions to be provided by the Company hereunder, the Subscription Agent may rely and act on any written instruction signed by any one or more of the following authorized officers or employees of the Company:

	
Name

	
Title

	
Spyros Capralos

	
Chief Executive Officer

	
Simos Spyrou

	
Chief Financial Officer

	
Georgia Mastagaki

	
In-house legal counsel

	
Seward & Kissel LLP

	
Outside legal counsel

	
11.

	
Whether or not the Rights Offering is consummated, the Company agrees to pay the Subscription Agent for services rendered hereunder, as set forth in the schedule attached to this Agreement.  The Rights Offering may be terminated by the Company in its sole discretion at any time prior to the Expiration Date.

 

	
12.

	
The Subscription Agent may employ or retain such agents (including but not limited to, vendors, advisors and subcontractors) as it reasonably requires to perform its duties and obligations hereunder; may pay reasonable remuneration for all services so performed by such agents; shall not be responsible for any misconduct on the part of such agents; and in the case of counsel, may rely on the written advice or opinion of such counsel, which shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Subscription Agent hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.  Additionally, the Subscription Agent shall identify, report and deliver any unclaimed property and/or payments to all states and jurisdictions for the Company in accordance with applicable abandoned property law.  The Subscription Agent shall also provide information agent services to the Company on terms to be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto.

	
13.

	
The Company hereby covenants and agrees to indemnify, reimburse and hold the Subscription Agent and its officers, directors, employees and agents harmless against any loss, liability or reasonable expense (including legal and other fees and expenses) incurred by the Subscription Agent arising out of or in connection with entering into this Agreement or the performance of its duties hereunder, except for such losses, liabilities or expenses incurred as a result of its gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.  The Company shall not be liable under this indemnity with respect to any claim against the Subscription Agent unless the Company is notified of the written assertion of a claim against it, or of any action commenced against it, promptly and no later than five (5) Business Days after it shall have received any such written information as to the nature and basis of the claim; provided, however that failure by the Subscription Agent to provide such notice shall not relieve the Company of any liability hereunder if no prejudice occurs.

 

  

4

  

 

In no event shall the Subscription Agent have any liability for any incidental, special, statutory, indirect or consequential damages, or for any loss of profits, revenue, data or cost of cover.

All provisions regarding indemnification, liability and limits thereon shall survive the resignation or removal of the Subscription Agent or the termination of this Agreement.

	
14.

	
Any notice or communication by the Subscription Agent or the Company to the other is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or via first class mail (postage prepaid), or overnight air courier to the other's address.

If to the Company:

Star Bulk Carriers Corp.

c/o Star Bulk Management Inc.

40 Agiou Konstantinou Str.

Maroussi 15124, Athens, Greece

Attention: Spyros Capralos

Telephone: 011 30 210 617 8400

with a copy to:

Seward & Kissel LLP

One Battery Park Plaza

New York, NY 10004

Attention Robert E. Lustrin

Telephone: (212) 574-1420

If to the Subscription Agent:

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, New York 11219

Attn: Corporate Actions

Tel: (718) 921-8200

with copy to:

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, New York 11219

Attn: General Counsel

Tel: (718) 921-8200

 

 

  

5

  

 

The Subscription Agent and the Company may, by notice to the other, designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

	
15.

	
If any provision of this Agreement shall be held illegal, invalid, or unenforceable by any court, this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such provision had not been contained herein and shall be deemed an Agreement between us to the full extent permitted by applicable law.

	
16.

	
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law, and shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of the parties hereto.

	
17.

	
Neither this Agreement, nor any rights or obligations hereunder, may be assigned by either party without the written consent of the other party. However, the Subscription Agent may assign this Agreement or any rights granted hereunder, in whole or in part, either to affiliates, another division, subsidiaries or in connection with its reorganization or to successors of all or a majority of the Subscription Agent's assets or business without the prior written consent of the Company.

	
18.

	
No provision of this Agreement may be amended, modified or waived, except in writing signed by all of the parties hereto.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be for all purposes deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

	
19.

	
Nothing herein contained shall amend, replace or supersede any agreement between the Company and the Subscription Agent to act as the Company's transfer agent, which agreement shall remain of full force and effect.

[signature page follows]

 

  

6

  

 

This Subscription Agent Agreement has been executed by the parties hereto as of the date first written above.

STAR BULK CARRIERS CORP.

By:      ____________________________________

Name:

Title:

Agreed & Accepted:

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC

By:    __________________________________

Name:

Title:

 

  

7

  

 

Fee Schedule

Flat fee of $___________.

Plus reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

Additional fee equal to 1/3rd (one-third) of the flat fee for each extension of the Rights Offering, plus reasonable out-of-pocket expenses associated with such extension.

The party below is responsible for payment of the fees:

Name: Star Bulk Carriers Corp.

Attention: Spyros Capralos

Address: c/o Star Bulk Management Inc.

Address: 40 Agiou Konstantinou Str.

Address: Maroussi 15124, Athens, Greece

Phone: 011 30 210 617 8400

Email: scapralos@starbulk.com

The fees quoted in this schedule apply to services ordinarily rendered by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC ("AST") as subscription agent and are subject to reasonable adjustment based on final review of documents, or when AST is called upon to undertake unusual duties or responsibilities, or as changes in law, procedures, or the cost of doing business demand.  Furthermore, the fees quoted in this schedule are based upon information provided to AST and are subject to change upon modification or supplementation of such information resulting in the provision of additional services by AST.  Services in addition to and not contemplated in this Agreement, including, but not limited to, document amendments and revisions, calculations, notices and reports, legal fees and unanticipated transaction costs (including charges for wire transfers, checks, internal transfers and securities transactions) will be billed as extraordinary expenses.

SK 25767 0001 1367803 v5

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