Document:

Exhibit 10.4

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of [·], 2015 (this “Agreement”), is by and among Houlihan Lokey, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the HL Management Stockholders (as defined below).

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO (as defined below), the Company desires to grant registration rights to the HL Management Stockholders on the terms and conditions set out in this Agreement.

 

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

 

Article 1
  DEFINITIONS

 

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

 

“Action” means any demand, action, suit, countersuit, arbitration, inquiry, proceeding or investigation by or before any Governmental Authority or any federal, state, local, foreign or international arbitration or mediation tribunal.

 

“Affiliate” of any Person means a Person that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person; provided, however, that, for purposes of this Agreement, the Company and its subsidiaries shall not be considered to be “Affiliates” of any HL Management Stockholder, and no HL Management Stockholder shall not be considered to be an “Affiliate” of the Company or its subsidiaries or any other HL Management Stockholder.  As used herein, “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such entity, whether through ownership of voting securities or other interests, by contract or otherwise.

 

“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized or obligated by law to be closed in New York, New York.

 

“Common Stock” means shares of Class A common stock of the Company.

 

“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

“Company Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(a).

 

“Demand Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(a).

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

 

“Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any state, municipality or other political subdivision thereof, and any entity, body, agency, commission, department, board, bureau, court, tribunal or other instrumentality, whether federal, state, local, domestic, foreign or multinational, exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory, administrative or other similar functions of, or pertaining to, government and any executive official thereof.

 

“HL Management Stockholder” means a holder of Shares who is (x) party to this Agreement and (y) party to an HL Lock-Up Agreement (as defined in the Stockholders’ Agreement) or subject to similar transfer restrictions under an equity award agreement or other agreement entered into between the Company and such holder of Shares, and shall include his or her successors.

 

“HL Management Stockholder Representative” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.13.

 

“IPO” means the initial public offering of Common Stock pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act.

 

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

 

“ORIX” means ORIX HLHZ Holding, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and shall include its successors, by merger, acquisition, reorganization or otherwise.

 

“ORIX Registration Rights Agreement” means that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of       , 2015, between the Company and ORIX.

 

“Person” means an individual, a general or limited partnership, a corporation, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, a limited liability entity, any other entity and any Governmental Authority.

 

“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 post-effective amendments, and all other material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

 

“Registrable Securities” means any Shares and any securities issued or issuable directly or indirectly with respect to, in exchange for, upon the conversion of or in replacement of the Shares, whether by way of a dividend or distribution or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, exchange or other reorganization; provided that any such Shares shall cease to be Registrable Securities if (i) they have been Registered and sold pursuant to an effective Registration Statement or sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, (ii) they have been transferred by the applicable HL Management Stockholder in a transaction in which such HL Management Stockholder’s rights under this Agreement are not, or cannot be, assigned, or (iii) they have ceased to be outstanding.

 

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“Registration” means a registration with the SEC of the offer and sale to the public of Common Stock under a Registration Statement.  The terms “Register,” “Registered” and “Registering” shall have a correlative meaning.

 

“Registration Expenses” means all expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with this Agreement, including all (i) registration, qualification and filing fees; (ii) expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any issuer free writing prospectus and the distribution thereof; (iii) the fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and independent accountants; (iv) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification and determination of eligibility for investment of the Shares under the state or foreign securities or blue sky laws and the preparation, printing and distribution of a World Sky Memorandum (including the related fees and expenses of counsel); (v) the costs and charges of any transfer agent and any registrar; (vi) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of an offering by, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; (vii) expenses incurred in connection with any “road show” presentation to potential investors; (viii) printing expenses, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses; (ix) internal expenses of the Company (including all salaries and expenses of employees of the Company performing legal or accounting duties); (x) reasonable fees and expenses of outside counsel for the HL Management Stockholders; and (xi) and fees and expenses of listing any Registrable Securities on any securities exchange on which shares of Common Stock are then listed; but excluding any Selling Expenses.

 

“Registration Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(c).

 

“Registration Rights” means the rights of the HL Management Stockholders to cause the Company to Register Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement.

 

“Registration Statement” means any registration statement of the Company filed with, or to be filed with, the SEC under the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act, including the related Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, and all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

 

“SEC” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

“Selected Courts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.05.

 

“Selling Expenses” means all underwriting discounts, selling commissions and transfer taxes applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities hereunder.

 

“Shares” means all shares of Common Stock.

 

“Share Restrictions” means the (i) restrictions on the sale of shares (subject to any exceptions thereto) set forth in the individual lock-up agreement entered into by each HL Management Stockholder and the Company (which each HL Management Stockholder

 

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acknowledges shall continue to apply as provided therein, and which, for the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Agreement or the ORIX Registration Rights Agreement is intended to, or shall be interpreted to, waive or supersede), and (ii) any restrictions, limitations, or conditions on the sale of shares imposed on HL Management Stockholders by the Company, in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, or as a result of any current or future obligation of the Company.

 

“Shelf Registration” means a Registration Statement of the Company for an offering to be made on a delayed or continuous basis of Common Stock pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or similar provisions then in effect).

 

“Stockholders’ Agreement” means that certain Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Company and the Holders identified therein.

 

“Takedown Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(f).

 

“Underwritten Offering” means a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter or underwriters for reoffering to the public.

 

Section 1.02                General Interpretive Principles.  Whenever used in this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires, any noun or pronoun shall be deemed to include the plural as well as the singular and to cover all genders.  Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” Unless otherwise specified, the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereunder” and similar terms refer to this Agreement as a whole (including the exhibits hereto), and references herein to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement.  Except as otherwise indicated, all periods of time referred to herein shall include all Saturdays, Sundays and holidays; provided, however, that if the date to perform the act or give any notice with respect to this Agreement shall fall on a day other than a Business Day, such act or notice may be performed or given timely if performed or given on the next succeeding Business Day.  References to a Person are also to its permitted successors and assigns.  The parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as jointly drafted by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.

 

Article 2
 REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

Section 2.01                Registration.

 

(a)                               Request.  The HL Management Stockholder Representative, on behalf of the HL Management Stockholders, shall have the right to request that the Company file a Registration Statement with the SEC on the appropriate registration form for all or part of the Registrable Securities held by the HL Management Stockholders by delivering a written request to the Company specifying the kind and number of shares of Registrable Securities the HL Management Stockholders wish to Register and the intended method of distribution thereof (a “Demand Registration”); provided that any sale by an HL Management Stockholder in connection with any Demand Registration must comply with the applicable Share Restrictions;.

 

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The Company shall (i) within 10 Business Days of the receipt of such request, give written notice of such Demand Registration to ORIX (the “Company Notice”) but only if ORIX then owns Registrable Securities, (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to file a Registration Statement (or an amendment or supplement to a previously filed shelf Registration Statement) in respect of such Demand Registration as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within 60 days of the receipt of the request, and (iii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective (if necessary) as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter.  Subject to Section 2.01(e) below, the Company shall include in such Registration all Registrable Securities that ORIX requests to be included within the 10 Business Days following its receipt of the Company Notice, as applicable.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the HL Management Stockholder Representative shall not, nor shall the Company be required to, take any action that would otherwise be permitted or required under this Section 2.01 if such action would violate Section 2.05 hereof or any similar provision contained in the underwriting agreement or any lock-up agreement entered into in connection with the IPO or any Underwritten Offering.

 

(b)                              Limitations of Demand Registrations.  The HL Management Stockholder Representative, on behalf of the HL Management Stockholders, shall have the right to require the Company to make up to two Demand Registrations pursuant to Section 2.01(a) during the first 12 months after the effective date of the registration statement related to the IPO, and up to three Demand Registrations per year thereafter; provided, however, that the HL Management Stockholder Representative may not require the Company to effect a Demand Registration within 90 days of the date a previous Demand Registration was requested by the HL Management Stockholder Representative.  To the extent the HL Management Stockholder Representative has requested to include Registrable Securities in a Piggyback Registration but no such Registrable Securities were required to be included in such Piggyback Registration pursuant to Section 2.02(c), the Company shall not be required to effect a Demand Registration on behalf of the HL Management Stockholders prior to the consummation of such Piggyback Registration (and the conclusion of any related holdback periods pursuant to Section 2.05).

 

(c)                               Effective Registration.  The Company shall be deemed to have effected a Registration for purposes of Section 2.01(b) if the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC or becomes effective upon filing with the SEC, and remains effective until the earlier of (i) the date when all Registrable Securities thereunder have been sold and (ii) 40 days from the effective date of the Registration Statement (the “Registration Period”).  No Registration shall be deemed to have been effective if the conditions to closing specified in the underwriting agreement, if any, entered into in connection with such Registration are not satisfied by reason of the Company and by no act or omission of the HL Management Stockholders.  If, during the Registration Period, such Registration is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or other Governmental Authority, the Registration Period shall be extended on a day-for-day basis for any period the HL Management Stockholders are unable to complete an offering as a result of such stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or other Governmental Authority.

 

(d)                             Underwritten Offering.  If the HL Management Stockholder Representative so indicates at the time of its request pursuant to Section 2.01(a), such offering of Registrable Securities shall be in the form of an Underwritten Offering and the Company shall include such information in the Company Notice, as applicable.  In the event that the HL Management

 

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Stockholders intend to distribute the Registrable Securities by means of an Underwritten Offering, the HL Management Stockholders may not include Registrable Securities in such Registration unless the HL Management Stockholders, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2.06, (i) agree to sell their Registrable Securities on the basis provided in the applicable underwriting arrangements; (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements and (iii) cooperates with the Company’s reasonable requests in connection with such Registration (it being understood that the Company’s failure to perform its obligations hereunder, which failure is caused by the HL Management Stockholders’ failure to cooperate, will not constitute a breach by the Company of this Agreement).  The selection of underwriters will be in accordance with Section 2.03 and the HL Management Stockholder Representative shall have the right to cause the Company and its employees to participate in all reasonable marketing efforts that the underwriters deem appropriate.

 

(e)                               Priority of Securities in an Offering pursuant to a Demand Registration.  If the managing underwriter or underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Demand Registration by the HL Management Stockholder Representative under Section 2.01 determines that, in their opinion, the number of securities requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering exceeds the number that can be sold in such Underwritten 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 managing underwriter or underwriters shall inform the HL Management Stockholder Representative in writing of such determination, and the shares included in such Underwritten Offering shall be included in the following order of priority: (a) if ORIX participates in the Underwritten Offering, first, any securities to be sold for the account of ORIX and the HL Management Stockholders, 25% for the account of the HL Management Stockholders and 75% for the account of ORIX (or as close to such ratio as possible, given the desired sale amounts and the size of any necessary reduction); second, any securities to be sold for the account of the Company; and lastly, any other securities or (b) if ORIX does not participate in the Underwritten Offering, first, any securities to be sold for the account of the HL Management Stockholders; second, any securities to be sold for the account of the Company; and lastly, any other securities.

 

(f)                                Shelf Registration.  At any time after the date hereof when the Company is eligible to Register the applicable Registrable Securities on Form S-3 (or a successor form), the HL Management Stockholder Representative may request the Company to Register some or all of the HL Management Stockholders’ Registrable Securities on a Shelf Registration.  If the HL Management Stockholders are holders of Registrable Securities included on a Shelf Registration, the HL Management Stockholder Representative shall have the right to request that the Company cooperate in a shelf takedown at any time, subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 2.01(b) and (h), by delivering a written request thereof to the Company specifying the kind and number of shares of Registrable Securities the HL Management Stockholders wish to include in the shelf takedown (“Takedown Notice”).  The Company shall as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within five Business Days of the receipt of a Takedown Notice take all actions reasonably requested by the HL Management Stockholder Representative, including the filing of a Prospectus supplement and the other actions described in Section 2.04, in accordance with the intended method of distribution set forth in the Takedown Notice as expeditiously as practicable.  Any request by the HL Management Stockholder Representative to effect an Underwritten

 

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Offering as a shelf takedown shall be subject to the requirements, limitations and provisions relating to Demand Registrations and Underwritten Offerings in this Section 2.01.

 

(g)                              SEC Form.  Except as set forth in the next sentence, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause Demand Registrations to be Registered on Form S-3 (or any successor form), and if the Company is not then eligible under the Securities Act to use Form S-3, Demand Registrations shall be Registered on Form S-1 (or any successor form).  The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to become eligible to use Form S-3 and, after becoming eligible to use Form S-3, shall use its reasonable best efforts to remain so eligible.  All Demand Registrations shall comply with applicable requirements of the Securities Act and, together with each Prospectus included, filed or otherwise furnished by the Company in connection therewith, shall not contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

(h)                              Suspension Periods.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled, from time to time, by providing written notice to the HL Management Stockholder Representative and the other holders of Common Stock who elected to participate in a Registration, to postpone the filing or effectiveness of a Registration, or, to the extent a Registration is effective, to require such holders of Common Stock to suspend the use of the Prospectus for sales of Registrable Securities under the Registration, in each case for a reasonable period of time not to exceed 90 days in succession or 120 days in the aggregate in any 12-month period (a “Suspension Period”) if the board of directors of the Company determines in good faith and in its reasonable judgment that it is required to disclose in the Registration material, non-public information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential. Immediately upon receipt of such notice, the holders of Common Stock covered by the Registration shall suspend the use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes to the Prospectus have been made as required below. Any Suspension Period shall terminate at such time as the public disclosure of such information is made. After the expiration of any Suspension Period and without any further request from the holders of Common Stock, the Company shall as soon as reasonably practicable file and seek the effectiveness of the Registration, or prepare a post-effective amendment or supplement to the Registration or the Prospectus, or any document incorporated therein by reference, as applicable, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Registrable Securities included therein, the Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

Section 2.02                Piggyback Registrations.

 

(a)                               Participation.

 

(i)                                  If the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to any offering of Common Stock for its own account and/or for the account of another stockholder (other than a Registration (i) pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-8, or other registration solely relating to an offering or sale to employees or directors of the Company pursuant to any employee stock plan or other employee benefit arrangement, or

 

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Form S-4 or similar form that relates to a transaction subject to Rule 145 under the Securities Act, (ii) pursuant to any form that does not include substantially the same information as would be required to be included in a Registration Statement covering the sale of Registrable Securities, (iii) in connection with any dividend reinvestment or similar plan or (iv) for the sole purpose of offering securities to another entity or its security holders in connection with the acquisition of assets or securities of such entity or any similar transaction), then, as soon as practicable (but in no event less than 15 days prior to the proposed date of filing such Registration Statement), the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to the HL Management Stockholder Representative, and such notice shall offer the HL Management Stockholders the opportunity to Register under such Registration Statement such number of Registrable Securities as the HL Management Stockholder Representative may request in writing (a “Piggyback Registration”).

 

(ii)                              Subject to Section 2.02(a) and Section 2.02(c), the Company shall include in such Registration Statement all such Registrable Securities that are requested to be included therein within 12 days after the receipt of any such notice; provided, however, that if, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to Register any securities pursuant to this Section 2.01(a) and prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement filed in connection with such Registration, the Company shall determine for any reason not to Register or to delay Registration of such securities, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to the HL Management Stockholder Representative and, thereupon, (i) in the case of a determination not to Register, shall be relieved of its obligation to Register any Registrable Securities in connection with such Registration and shall have no liability to the HL Management Stockholders in connection with such termination, without prejudice, however, to the rights of the HL Management Stockholder Representative to request that such Registration be effected as a Demand Registration under Section 2.01, and (ii) in the case of a determination to delay Registration, shall be permitted to delay Registering any Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in Registering such other shares of Common Stock.  Registration effected under this Section 2.02 shall not relieve the Company of its obligation to effect any Demand Registration under Section 2.01.

 

(iii)                          If the offering pursuant to a Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 2.02 is to be an Underwritten Offering and the HL Management Stockholder Representative makes a request for a Piggyback Registration pursuant to Section 2.02(a), then the Company and the HL Management Stockholder Representative shall each use their reasonable best efforts to coordinate arrangements with the underwriters so that the HL Management Stockholders may participate in such Underwritten Offering.  If the offering pursuant to such Registration Statement is to be on any other basis and the HL Management Stockholder Representative makes a request for a Piggyback Registration pursuant to Section 2.02(a), then the Company and the HL Management Stockholder Representative shall each use their reasonable best efforts to coordinate arrangements so that the HL Management Stockholders may participate in such offering on such basis.  If the Company files a Shelf Registration for its own account and/or for the account of any other Persons, the Company agrees that it shall use its reasonable best efforts to include in such Registration Statement such disclosures as may be required by Rule 430B under the Securities Act in order to ensure that the HL Management Stockholders may be added to such Shelf Registration at a later time through the filing of a Prospectus supplement rather than a post-effective amendment.

 

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(iv)                                                                          Notwithstanding the foregoing, any sale by an HL Management Stockholder in connection with any Piggyback Registration must comply with the applicable Share Restrictions.

 

(b)                              Right to Withdraw.  The HL Management Stockholder Representative shall have the right to withdraw its request for inclusion of the HL Management Stockholders’ Registrable Securities in any Underwritten Offering pursuant to this Section 2.02 at any time prior to the execution of an underwriting agreement with respect thereto by giving written notice to the Company of its request to withdraw and, subject to the preceding clause, the HL Management Stockholders shall be permitted to withdraw all or part of their Registrable Securities from a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effective date thereof.

 

(c)                               Priority of Piggyback Registration.  If the managing underwriter or underwriters of any proposed Underwritten Offering of a class of Registrable Securities included in a Piggyback Registration informs the Company and the HL Management Stockholder Representative in writing that, in its or their opinion, the number of securities of such class which the HL Management Stockholder Representative and any other Persons intend to include in such Underwritten Offering exceeds the number which can be sold in such Underwritten 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 Underwritten Offering shall be included in the following order of priority:

 

(i)                                  if the Piggyback Registration relates to an offering for the Company’s own account, then first, there shall be included in the Underwritten Offering any securities to be sold for the account of the Company; second, (A) if ORIX and the HL Management Stockholders each intend to participate in such Underwritten Offering, there shall be included in the Underwritten Offering any securities to be sold for the account of ORIX and the HL Management Stockholders, 25% for the account of the HL Management Stockholders and 75% for the account of ORIX (or as close to such ratio as possible, given the desired sale amounts and the size of any necessary reduction) or (B) if ORIX does not participate in the offering, there shall be included in the Underwritten Offering any securities to be sold for the account of the HL Management Stockholders; and lastly, there shall be included in the Underwritten Offering any other securities; or

 

(ii)                              if the Piggyback Registration relates to an offering other than for the Company’s own account, then first, any securities that were originally proposed to be sold (other than any securities to be sold for the account of ORIX), prior to the initiation of the Piggyback Registration, second, (A) if ORIX and the HL Management Stockholders both intend to participate in such Underwritten Offering, there shall be included in the Underwritten Offering any securities to be sold for the account of ORIX and the HL Management Stockholders, 25% for the account of the HL Management Stockholders and 75% for the account of ORIX (or as close to such ratio as possible, given the desired sale amounts and the size of any necessary reduction) or (B) if ORIX does not participate in the offering, there shall be included in the Underwritten Offering any securities to be sold for the account of the HL Management Stockholders; and lastly, there shall be included in the Underwritten Offering any other securities.

 

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Section 2.03                Selection of Underwriter(s).  In any Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.01 in which ORIX participates, ORIX shall select the lead managing underwriter(s), provided that, in each case, the Company shall have the right to designate co-managing underwriters and passive bookrunners in any such Underwritten Offering.  In any Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.01 in which ORIX does not participate, the HL Management Stockholder Representative shall select the lead managing underwriter(s), provided that, in each case, the Company shall have the right to designate co-managing underwriters and passive bookrunners in any such Underwritten Offering.  In an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.02 where the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to any offering of securities for its own account and/or for the account of ORIX, or any stockholder other than the HL Management Stockholders, the Company or such stockholder shall select the underwriter; provided that prior to the 18-month anniversary of the IPO, upon the request of ORIX, ORIX may select an underwriter (which shall be a nationally-recognized financial institution, but need not be the lead managing underwriter for such offering) to advise the board of directors of the Company regarding the advisability of such an offering.

 

Section 2.04                Registration Procedures.

 

(a)                               In connection with the Registration and/or sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement, through an Underwritten Offering or otherwise, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to effect or cause the Registration and the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended methods of disposition thereof and:

 

(i)                                  prepare and file the required Registration Statement, including all exhibits and financial statements required under the Securities Act to be filed therewith, and before filing with the SEC a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, (A) furnish to the underwriters, if any, and to the HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating in such Registration, copies of all documents prepared to be filed, which documents will be subject to the review of such underwriters and the HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, and their respective counsel, and (B) consider in good faith any comments of the underwriters and the HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, and their respective counsel on such documents;

 

(ii)                              prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all of the Shares Registered thereon;

 

(iii)                          in the case of a Shelf Registration, prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Shares subject thereto for a period ending on the 3rd anniversary after the effective date of such Registration Statement;

 

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(iv)                          notify the HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, 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, or when the applicable Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Prospectus has been filed, (B) of any written comments by the SEC or any request by the SEC or any other Governmental Authority for amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement or such Prospectus or for additional information, (C) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary or final 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, and (E) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose;

 

(v)                              as soon as reasonably practicable notify the HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, when the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any event as a result of which the applicable Registration Statement or the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (as then in effect) 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 and any preliminary Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such time period to amend or supplement such Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act and, in either case as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, at the Company’s option, suspend the use of such Registration Statement or Prospectus pursuant to Section 2.01(h), or prepare and file with the SEC, and furnish without charge to the HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, an amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance;

 

(vi)                          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;

 

(vii)                      as soon as reasonably practicable incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the managing underwriters, if any, and the HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, may reasonably request to be included therein in order to permit the intended method of distribution of the Registrable Securities; and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably

 

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practicable after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

 

(viii)                  furnish to the HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, and each underwriter, if any, without charge, as many conformed copies as the HL Management Stockholders Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, 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);

 

(ix)                          deliver to the HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, and each underwriter, if any, without charge, as many copies of the applicable Prospectus (including each preliminary Prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as the HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, or such underwriter may reasonably request (it being understood that the Company consents to the use of such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by the HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, and the underwriters, if any, in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto) and such other documents as the HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, or such underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities by the HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, or such underwriter;

 

(x)                              on or prior to the date on which the applicable Registration Statement is declared effective or becomes effective, use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify, and cooperate with the HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, 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 the HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, or such 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 so long as such Registration Statement remains in effect and so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings in such jurisdictions of the United States for so long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement; provided that the Company will 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;

 

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(xi)                          in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities that will result in such securities no longer being Registrable Securities, cooperate with the HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, 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 Securities Act legends; and to register such Registrable Securities in such denominations and such names as the HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, or the underwriter(s), if any, may request at least two Business Days prior to such sale of Registrable Securities; provided that the Company may satisfy its obligations hereunder without issuing physical stock certificates through the use of The Depository Trust Company’s Direct Registration System;

 

(xii)                      cooperate and assist in any filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and each securities exchange, if any, on which any of the Company’s securities are then listed or quoted and on each inter-dealer quotation system on which any of the Company’s securities are then quoted, and in the performance of any due diligence investigation by any underwriter (including any “qualified independent underwriter”) that is required to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of each such exchange, and 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;

 

(xiii)                  not later than the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement, provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities and provide the applicable transfer agent with printed certificates for the Registrable Securities which are in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company; provided that the Company may satisfy its obligations hereunder without issuing physical stock certificates through the use of The Depository Trust Company’s Direct Registration System;

 

(xiv)                  in the case of an Underwritten Offering, obtain for delivery to and addressed to the HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, and the underwriter or underwriters, an opinion from the Company’s outside counsel in customary form and content for the type of Underwritten Offering, dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement;

 

(xv)                      in the case of an Underwritten Offering, obtain for delivery to and addressed to the underwriter or underwriters and, to the extent agreed by the Company’s independent certified public accountants, the HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, a comfort letter from the Company’s independent certified public accountants in customary form and content for the type of Underwritten Offering, dated the date of execution of the underwriting agreement and brought down to the closing under the underwriting agreement;

 

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(xvi)                  use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and make generally available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, but no later than 90 days after the end of the 12-month period beginning with the first day of the Company’s first quarter commencing after the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement, an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and covering the period of at least 12 months, but not more than 18 months, beginning with the first month after the effective date of the Registration Statement;

 

(xvii)              provide and use its reasonable best efforts 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;

 

(xviii)          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’s securities are then listed or quoted and on each inter-dealer quotation system on which any of the Company’s securities are then quoted;

 

(xix)                  provide (A) the HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating in the Registration, (B) the underwriters (which term, for purposes of this Agreement, shall include a Person deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act), if any, of the Registrable Securities to be Registered, (C) the sale or placement agent therefor, if any, (D) counsel for such underwriters or agent, and (E) any attorney, accountant or other agent or representative retained by the HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, or any such underwriter, as selected by the HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, the opportunity to participate in the preparation of such Registration Statement, each Prospectus included therein or filed with the SEC, and each amendment or supplement thereto, and to require the insertion therein of material, furnished to the Company in writing with respect to the HL Management Stockholder Representative, which in the reasonable judgment of the HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, and their counsel should be included; and for a reasonable period prior to the filing of such Registration Statement, make available upon reasonable notice at reasonable times and for reasonable periods for inspection by the parties referred to in (A) through (E) above (which activities shall, to the extent possible, be coordinated among all participants in the Registration to minimize the demands on the Company), all pertinent financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company that are available to the Company, and use its reasonable best efforts to 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 at reasonable times and for reasonable periods, to discuss the business of the Company and to supply all information available to the Company reasonably requested by any such Person in connection with such Registration Statement as shall be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence

 

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responsibility, subject to the foregoing, provided that any such Person gaining access to information or personnel pursuant to this Section 2.04(a)(xix) shall agree to use reasonable efforts to protect the confidentiality of any information regarding the Company which the Company determines in good faith to be confidential, and of which determination such Person is notified, unless (A) the release of such information is required by law or regulation or is requested or required by deposition, interrogatory, requests for information or documents by a governmental entity, subpoena or similar process, (B) such information is or becomes publicly known without a breach of this Agreement, (C) such information is or becomes available to such Person on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company or (D) such information is independently developed by such Person;

 

(xx)                      to use its reasonable best efforts to cause the 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 Underwritten Offering and otherwise to facilitate, cooperate with, and participate in each proposed offering contemplated herein and customary selling efforts related thereto; and

 

(xxi)                  take all other customary steps reasonably necessary to effect the Registration, offering and sale of the Registrable Securities.

 

(b)                              As a condition precedent to any Registration hereunder, the Company may require the HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, to furnish to the Company such information regarding the distribution of Registrable Securities being offered in connection with the Registration and such other necessary information relating to the HL Management Stockholders and their ownership of Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request from the HL Management Stockholder Representative as far in advance as practicable before the expected filing date of each Registration Statement pursuant to this agreement.  The HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, 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)                               The HL Management Stockholder Representative, if the HL Management Stockholders are participating, agrees that, upon receipt of any written notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section 2.04(a)(v), it will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement until its receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 2.04(a)(v), or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and if so directed by the Company, it will deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in its possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.  In the event the Company shall give any such notice, the period during which the applicable Registration Statement for a Demand Registration 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 contemplated

 

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by Section 2.04(a)(v) or is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed.

 

Section 2.05                Holdback Agreements.  Each of the Company and the HL Management Stockholders that have elected to participate in any Underwritten Offering agree, upon notice from the managing underwriter or underwriters in connection with any Registration for such Underwritten Offering of the Company’s securities (other than pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 or any similar or successor form or pursuant to a registration solely relating to an offering and sale to employees or directors of the Company pursuant to any employee stock plan or other employee benefit plan arrangement), not to effect (other than pursuant to such Registration) any public sale or distribution of Registrable Securities, including, but not limited to, any sale pursuant to Rule 144, or make any short sale of, loan, grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose of, any Registrable Securities, any other equity securities of the Company or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity securities of the Company without the prior written consent of the managing underwriters during such period as reasonably requested by the managing underwriters (but in no event longer than the seven days before and the 90 days after the pricing of such Underwritten Offering or during any 12-month period for more than an aggregate of 180 days); provided that (a) with respect to the Company, such restrictions shall be subject to exceptions no less favorable than those contained in any underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the IPO and (b) such restrictions shall not apply in any circumstance to Registrable Securities acquired by the HL Management Stockholders in the public market subsequent to the IPO.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no holdback agreements of the type contemplated by this Section 2.05 shall be required of the HL Management Stockholders that have elected to participate in any Underwritten Offering unless each of the Company’s directors and executive officers, and ORIX, agrees to be bound by a substantially identical holdback agreement for at least the same period of time.

 

Section 2.06                Underwriting Agreement in Underwritten Offerings.  If requested by the managing underwriters for any Underwritten Offering, the Company and the HL Management Stockholders shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with such underwriters for such offering; provided, however, that the HL Management Stockholders shall not be required to make any representations or warranties to the Company or the underwriters (other than representations and warranties regarding (i) the HL Management Stockholders’ ownership of Registrable Securities to be transferred free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances created by the HL Management Stockholders, (ii) the HL Management Stockholders’ power and authority to effect such transfer, (iii) such matters pertaining to the HL Management Stockholders’ compliance with securities laws as reasonably may be requested and (iv) the HL Management Stockholders’ intended method of distribution) or to undertake any indemnification obligations to the Company with respect thereto, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.08 hereof.

 

Section 2.07                Registration Expenses Paid By Company.  In the case of any Registration of Registrable Securities required pursuant to this Agreement (including any Registration that is delayed or withdrawn) or proposed Underwritten Offering pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall pay all Registration Expenses regardless of whether the Registration Statement

 

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becomes effective or the Underwritten Offering is completed.  The Company shall have no obligation to pay any Selling Expenses.

 

Section 2.08                Indemnification.

 

(a)                               Indemnification by the Company.  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the full extent permitted by law, each HL Management Stockholder and, to the extent applicable, such HL Management Stockholder’s officers, directors, employees, advisors, Affiliates and agents and each Person who controls (within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act) such HL Management Stockholder from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (or Actions in respect thereof, whether or not such indemnified party is named or a party thereto) and expenses (including reasonable costs of investigation and legal expenses), whether joint or several, (each, a “Loss” and collectively “Losses”) arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the sale of Registrable Securities was Registered under the Securities Act (including any final or preliminary Prospectus contained therein or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any documents incorporated by reference therein), or any such statement made in any free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that the Company has filed or is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act, or (ii) 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 free writing prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable to any particular indemnified party in any such case to the extent that any such Loss arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any such Registration Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the HL Management Stockholder Representative expressly for use in the preparation thereof.  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 the HL Management Stockholders or any indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of such applicable securities by the HL Management Stockholders.

 

(b)                              Indemnification by the HL Management Stockholders.  Each HL Management Stockholder, if such HL Management Stockholder is participating in a Registration, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the full extent permitted by law, the Company and the Company’s directors, officers, employees, advisors, Affiliates and agents and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) from and against any Losses arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the sale of such Registrable Securities was Registered under the Securities Act (including any final or preliminary Prospectus contained therein or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any documents incorporated by reference therein), or any such statement made in any free writing prospectus that the Company has filed or is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act, or (ii) 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 free writing prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not

 

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misleading, but in each case of (i) or (ii), only to the extent, that such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission is contained in any information furnished in writing by such HL Management Stockholder, if such HL Management Stockholder is participating, to the Company expressly for inclusion in such Registration Statement, Prospectus, preliminary Prospectus or free writing prospectus.  In no event shall the liability of a HL Management Stockholder, if such HL Management Stockholder is participating, hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such HL Management Stockholder under the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.  This indemnity shall be in addition to any liability such HL Management Stockholder may otherwise have.  Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or any indemnified party.

 

(c)                               Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings.  Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder will (i) as soon as reasonably practicable give 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 to the extent that it is 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, however, 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 (other than reasonable costs of investigation, supervision and monitoring) 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 receipt of notice of such claim from the Person entitled to indemnification hereunder or fails to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Person or to pursue the defense of such claim, (c) the named parties to any proceeding include both such indemnified and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on written advice of 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 written 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 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 consent, but such consent may not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.  If the indemnifying party assumes the defense, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to settle such action without the consent of the indemnified party.  No indemnifying party shall consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include 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.  It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any appropriate local counsel) at any one time from all such indemnified party or parties unless (x) the employment of more than one counsel has been

 

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authorized in writing by the indemnifying party or parties, (y) an indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on written 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 in the reasonable judgment of such Person may exist (based on advice of counsel to an indemnified party) between such indemnified party or parties 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.

 

(d)                             Contribution.  If for any reason the indemnification provided for in Section 2.08(a) or Section 2.08(b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient to hold it harmless as contemplated by Section 2.08(a) or Section 2.08(b), then the indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, 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 on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Loss as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission.  Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.08(d) to the contrary, no indemnifying party (other than the Company) shall be required pursuant to this Section 2.08(d) to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such indemnifying party from the sale of Registrable Securities in the offering to which the Losses of the indemnified parties relate (before deducting expenses, if any) exceeds the amount of any damages which such indemnifying party has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue statement or omission.  The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and 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 hereunder shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 2.08(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending against or appearing as a third party witness in respect of, or otherwise incurred in connection with, any such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding.  If indemnification is available under this Section 2.08, the indemnifying parties shall indemnify each indemnified party to the full extent provided in Section 2.08(a) and Section 2.08(b) hereof without regard to the relative fault of said indemnifying parties or indemnified party.

 

Section 2.09                Reporting Requirements; Rule 144.  The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to be and remain in compliance with the periodic filing requirements imposed under the SEC’s rules and regulations, including the Exchange Act, and thereafter shall timely file such information, documents and reports as the SEC may require or prescribe under Section 13 or 15(d) (whichever is applicable) of the Exchange Act.  If the Company is not required to file such reports during such period, it will, upon the request of the HL Management Stockholder

 

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Representative, make publicly available such necessary information for so long as necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 or Regulation S under the Securities Act, and it will take such further action as the HL Management Stockholder Representative may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable the HL Management Stockholders to sell Registrable Securities without Registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (a) Rule 144 or Regulation S under the Securities Act, as such Rules may be amended from time to time, or (b) any rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.  From and after the date hereof through the date upon which the HL Management Stockholders no longer own any Registrable Securities, the Company shall forthwith upon request furnish the HL Management Stockholder Representative (i) a written statement by the Company as to whether it has complied with such requirements and, if not, the specifics thereof, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and (iii) such other reports and documents filed by the Company with the SEC as the HL Management Stockholder Representative may reasonably request in availing itself of an exemption for the sale of Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act.

 

Article 3
 MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 3.01                Term.  This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) such time as there are no Registrable Securities and (ii) such time when the parties shall unanimously agree, except for the provisions of Section 2.07 and Section 2.08 and all of this Article 3, which shall survive any such termination.

 

Section 3.02                Notices.  All notices or other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be duly given when (a) delivered in person or (b) deposited in the United States mail or private express mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

 

If to the HL Management Stockholders, to the HL Management Stockholder Representative:

 

Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

10250 Constellation Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Attention: Lindsey Alley, Chief Financial Officer

Christopher Crain, General Counsel

 

If to the Company to:

 

Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

10250 Constellation Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Attention: Lindsey Alley, Chief Financial Officer

Christopher Crain, General Counsel

 

Any party may, by notice to the other parties, change the address to which such notices are to be given.

 

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Section 3.03                Successors, Assigns and Transferees.  This Agreement and all provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.  The Company may assign this Agreement at any time in connection with a sale or acquisition of the Company, whether by merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, or similar transaction, without the consent of any HL Management Stockholder; provided that the successor or acquiring Person agrees in writing to assume all of the Company’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Each HL Management Stockholder may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any transferee that acquires Registrable Shares from such HL Management Stockholder in a transaction that does not violate the Share Restrictions; provided that such transferee executes an agreement to be bound hereby in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (a “Joinder”), an executed counterpart of which shall be furnished to the Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such transfer is subject to covenants, agreements or other undertakings restricting transferability thereof, the Registration Rights shall not be transferred in connection with such transfer unless such transferee complies with all such covenants, agreements and other undertakings.

 

Section 3.04                Governing Law; Equitable Remedies.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF).  The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with its specific terms or was otherwise breached.  It is accordingly agreed that the parties hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions and other equitable remedies to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any of the Selected Courts (as defined below), this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.  Any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with respect to such remedy are hereby waived by each of the parties hereto.  Each party further agrees that, in the event of any Action for an injunction or other equitable remedy in respect of such breach or enforcement of specific performance, it will not assert the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

Section 3.05                Consent to Jurisdiction.  With respect to any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably (i) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York or the Court of Chancery located in the State of Delaware, County of Newcastle (the “Selected Courts”) and waives any objection to venue being laid in the Selected Courts whether based on the grounds of forum non conveniens or otherwise and hereby agrees not to commence any such Actions other than before one of the Selected Courts; provided, however, that a party may commence any Action in a court other than a Selected Court solely for the purpose of enforcing an order or judgment issued by one of the Selected Courts; (ii) consents to service of process in any Action by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or by recognized international express carrier or delivery service, to the Company at its address referred to in Section 3.02; provided, however, that nothing herein shall affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by law; and (iii) TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW THAT CANNOT BE WAIVED, WAIVES, AND COVENANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ASSERT

 

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(WHETHER AS PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT OR OTHERWISE) ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION ARISING IN WHOLE OR IN PART UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE CONTEMPLATED TRANSACTIONS, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, AND AGREES THAT ANY OF THEM MAY FILE A COPY OF THIS PARAGRAPH WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE KNOWING, VOLUNTARY AND BARGAINED-FOR AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY TO WAIVE ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION WHATSOEVER BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE CONTEMPLATED TRANSACTIONS WILL INSTEAD BE TRIED IN A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION BY A JUDGE SITTING WITHOUT A JURY.

 

Section 3.06                Specific Performance.  In the event of any actual or threatened default in, or breach of, any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement, the party or parties who are or are to be thereby aggrieved shall have the right to seek specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief of its rights under this Agreement, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies at law or in equity, and all such rights and remedies shall be cumulative.

 

Section 3.07                Headings.  The article, section and paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

Section 3.08                Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof or the application of such provision to Persons or circumstances or in jurisdictions other than those as to which it has been held invalid or unenforceable, shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby, so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner adverse to any party.  Upon such determination, the parties shall negotiate in good faith in an effort to agree upon such a suitable and equitable provision to effect the original intent of the parties.

 

Section 3.09                Amendment; Waiver; Future Rights.

 

(a)                               This Agreement may not be amended or modified and waivers and consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, except by an instrument or instruments in writing making specific reference to this Agreement and signed by the Company and the HL Management Stockholder Representative.

 

(b)                              Waiver by any party of any default by the other party of any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver by the waiving party of any subsequent or other default, nor shall it prejudice the rights of the other party.

 

(c)                               The Company shall not grant any shelf, demand, piggyback or incidental registration rights that are senior to the rights granted to the HL Management Stockholders

 

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hereunder to any other Person without the prior written consent of the HL Management Stockholders; provided that this provision shall not restrict ORIX’s ability to exercise its rights under the ORIX Registration Rights Agreement.  The Company shall not agree to an amendment to the ORIX Registration Rights Agreement that adversely impacts the HL Management Stockholders’ rights hereunder.

 

Section 3.10                Additional Parties; Joinder.  The Company may permit any Person who acquires Shares or rights to acquire Shares from the Company after the date hereof to become a party to this Agreement (each such Person, an “Additional Investor”) and to succeed to all of the rights and obligations of an HL Management Stockholder under this Agreement by delivering to the Company a duly executed Joinder.  Upon the execution and delivery of a Joinder by such Additional Investor, the Shares of such Additional Investor (the “Acquired Shares”) shall be Registrable Securities to the extent provided herein, and such Additional Investor shall be an HL Management Stockholder under this Agreement with respect to the Acquired Shares.

 

Section 3.11                Further Assurances.  Each of the parties hereto shall execute and deliver all additional documents, agreements and instruments and shall do any and all acts and things reasonably requested by the other party hereto in connection with the performance of its obligations undertaken in this Agreement.

 

Section 3.12                Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party.  Execution of this Agreement or any other documents pursuant to this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic copy of a signature shall be deemed to be, and shall have the same effect as, executed by an original signature.

 

Section 3.13                HL Management Stockholder Representative.

 

(a)                               Each HL Management Stockholder party hereto hereby appoints and authorizes [              ] to act as the initial HL Management Stockholder Representative (the “Initial HL Management Stockholder Representative”), to act on behalf of the HL Management Stockholders party hereto to the extent set forth in Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the HL Management Stockholder Representative shall have no obligation to act on behalf of the HL Management Stockholders, except as expressly provided herein.  All decisions, actions, consents, settlements and instructions by the HL Management Stockholder Representative shall be binding upon all of the HL Management Stockholders, and each HL Management Stockholder’s successors, and no HL Management Stockholder shall have the right to object to, dissent from, protest or otherwise contest the same.  The Company shall not have the right to object to, dissent from, protest or otherwise contest the authority of the HL Management Stockholder Representative.  The Company shall be entitled to rely on any decision, action taken or omitted to be taken, consent or instruction of the HL Management Stockholder Representative in accordance with this Agreement as being the decision, action taken or omitted to be taken, consent or instruction of the HL Management Stockholders.

 

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(b)                              Any individual comprising the Initial HL Management Stockholder Representative may be removed from office by a majority vote of (i) the other individuals comprising the HL Management Stockholder Representative or (ii) the HL Management Stockholders.  Within three months of removing and/or replacing any HL Management Stockholder Representative, the remaining individual HL Management Stockholder Representative shall send written notice to the Company of the person designated as the successor to such HL Management Stockholder Representative.  Each HL Management Stockholder Representative must be (i) an employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company and (ii) a holder of Shares. The HL Management Stockholder Representative may act on behalf of the HL Management Stockholders individually or collectively in its capacity as such. As a condition to becoming an HL Management Stockholder Representative, the successor HL Management Stockholder Representative, to the extent not already a party hereto, must become a party to this Agreement by executing documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Company (each successor HL Management Stockholder Representative appointed pursuant to the terms of this Section 3.12 is referred to as a “Successor HL Management Stockholder Representative,” and, collectively with the Initial HL Management Stockholder Representative, are referred to as the “HL Management Stockholder Representative”).  Each HL Management Stockholder Representative hereby accepts his or her appointment as such pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and agrees to act in such capacity in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, unless and until replaced by a Successor HL Management Stockholder Representative as herein provided.

 

(c)                               The HL Management Stockholder Representative shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of fact or law, or for any action or omission under this Agreement, except for the HL Management Stockholder Representative’s fraud, bad faith or willful misconduct.  The HL Management Stockholder Representative shall not be liable for acting on any notice, request or instruction or other document believed to be genuine and to have been executed by or on behalf of the proper party or parties.  The Company shall pay all reasonable expenses of the HL Management Stockholder Representative, including counsel fees, and shall discharge all liabilities incurred by the HL Management Stockholder Representative in connection with the exercise of the HL Management Stockholder Representative’s powers and the performance of the HL Management Stockholder Representative’s duties under this Agreement.  Any action or omission undertaken by the HL Management Stockholder Representative in good faith in accordance with the advice of legal counsel shall be binding and conclusive on the parties to this Agreement.  The Company shall also defend, indemnify and hold the HL Management Stockholder Representative harmless from and against any and all claims and liabilities in connection with or arising out of the exercise of any powers or the performance of any duties by the HL Management Stockholder Representative as herein provided or contemplated, except such as shall arise from the fraud, bad faith or willful misconduct of the HL Management Stockholder Representative.

 

 

 

 

[Signature page follows]

 

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

 

 

	
[HL MANAGEMENT   STOCKHOLDER]
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
			

 

 

 

 

 

	
HOULIHAN LOKEY, INC.
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
			

 

 

 

 

 

	
[HL MANAGEMENT   STOCKHOLDER
   REPRESENTATIVE]
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
			

 

25

 

Exhibit A

 

Joinder Agreement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A-1Exhibit 10.5

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

 

	
 
    

 

 

TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT

 

by and between

 

ORIX USA, LP

a Delaware limited partnership

 

and

 

HOULIHAN LOKEY, INC.
  a Delaware corporation

 

Dated as of [ · ], 2015

 

	
 
    

 

 

TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT

 

THIS TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of [ · ], 2015, is entered into by and between ORIX USA, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ORIX”), and Houlihan Lokey, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“HL”).  ORIX and HL are referred herein as the “Parties” and, each, a “Party”.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, Houlihan, Lokey, Howard & Zukin, Inc., a California corporation and a predecessor of HL and ORIX previously entered into that certain Support Services Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2006 (as amended from time to time, the “Existing Services Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, HL desires to engage ORIX, and ORIX desires to provide to HL, certain services in connection with the operation of HL’s business following the initial public offering (the “IPO”) of the common stock of HL, under the terms and conditions and in exchange for the consideration set forth herein; and

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO, the Existing Services Agreement will be terminated and will be replaced by this Agreement.

 

 

AGREEMENT

 

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

 

ARTICLE I.
  PROVISION OF SERVICES

 

1.1                            Services.  Subject to Article VI hereof, ORIX shall cause to be provided, through itself, its affiliates, Permitted Subcontractors (as defined below), and their respective employees, agents and contractors, to HL and its subsidiaries the services listed and described on Annex A attached hereto (collectively, the “Services”).  ORIX shall not be obligated to provide any services not set forth on Annex A.  ORIX shall use commercially reasonable efforts to perform each of its duties hereunder in a competent and timely fashion.  In the event that ORIX has engaged third parties to perform one or more Services under the supervision of ORIX for HL, ORIX shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such third parties to deliver such Service in a competent and timely fashion.  Any one or more of the Services may be terminated or modified at any time upon mutual agreement of HL and ORIX, in which case the Parties may amend Annex A by mutual agreement as appropriate to reflect the termination or modification of the Services.

 

1.2                            Additional Services.  In the event that, during the term of this Agreement, HL requests ORIX to provide any service not contemplated by Section 1.1 hereof, if ORIX agrees to provide such additional service, ORIX shall be entitled to additional compensation for such

 

 

services as may be mutually agreed to in writing by ORIX and HL; provided, that, if the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the amount of such additional compensation, the relevant terms of Annex B will apply.  The Parties shall amend Annex A as appropriate to reflect any additional Services.

 

1.3                            Permitted Subcontractors.  ORIX reserves the right to subcontract any Services to a third party (a “Permitted Subcontractor”), as follows:

 

(a)                               ORIX may subcontract to Sunera LLC (“Sunera”) any Services under the headings “Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance” and “Internal Audit” on Annex A hereto to the extent such Services relate to HL’s information technology without prior approval by, but with prior notice to, HL;

 

(b)                              ORIX may subcontract to Sunera any other Services as ORIX deems reasonably necessary to ensure timely completion of such other Services, without prior approval by, but with prior notice to, HL; and

 

(c)                               ORIX may subcontract Services to any other Permitted Subcontractor that ORIX reasonably believes is capable of performing the Services in accordance with this Agreement with HL’s prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.  In the event that ORIX has subcontracted Services to any such Permitted Subcontractor, ORIX shall use commercially reasonable efforts to select such Permitted Subcontractors and cause such Permitted Subcontractor to deliver such Services in a competent and timely fashion.

 

(d)                             Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, ORIX shall retain responsibility for the provision to HL of any Services performed by ORIX’s affiliates, Permitted Subcontractors and their respective employees, agents and contractors, and shall remain liable for any acts or omissions of such persons or entities in their performance hereunder.

 

1.4                            Access; Cooperation.  HL shall provide and shall cause its affiliates and service providers (as applicable) (the “Providing Parties”) to provide ORIX, any of its affiliates or any Permitted Subcontractor providing Services under this Agreement (the “Accessing Party”) with commercially reasonable and (as necessary) supervised access to information, personnel, equipment, facilities, software, databases, office and storage space and systems of the Providing Parties during their regular business hours and without interrupting the operations of the Providing Parties, solely to the extent (i) reasonably necessary for the performance of the relevant Services or (ii) reasonably necessary to access historical information by virtue of HL’s prior affiliation with ORIX or in connection with services previously provided by ORIX, its affiliates and permitted subcontractors to HL and its affiliates pursuant to the Existing Services Agreement.  The Accessing Party shall give a Providing Party reasonable prior notice of the need for such access and shall comply with any written instructions or written policies provided by the Providing Party in connection with the use of or access to any of the Providing Party’s information, personnel, equipment, facilities, software, databases, office and storage space or systems.  Without limiting the foregoing, each Party shall cooperate with the other in all commercially reasonable respects in order to accomplish the objectives of this Agreement. Such access shall include using commercially reasonable efforts to provide ORIX appropriate

 

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information as reasonably necessary in connection with any audits of ORIX consolidated group returns (which requirement shall extend beyond the termination of this Agreement for relevant statute periods).

 

1.5                            Standard of Performance.  The Services to be provided hereunder shall be performed in a competent and timely fashion with the same general degree of care, at the same general level, and at the same general degree of accuracy and responsiveness, as when performed within ORIX’s organization.  It is understood and agreed that ORIX is not a professional provider of the types of services included in the Services and that ORIX personnel performing such Services have other responsibilities, and will not be dedicated full-time to performance of the Services.  In providing, or causing to be provided, the Services, ORIX shall not be obligated to (a) maintain the employment of any specific employee, agent or contractor or hire additional employees, agents or contractors, (b) purchase, lease, or license any additional equipment (including, without limitation, computer equipment, software, furniture, furnishings, fixtures, machinery, vehicles, tools, and other tangible personal property) that it would not acquire in the ordinary course of its business, (c) make modifications to its existing systems, or (d) subject to the provisions of Section 6.3, pay any costs related to the transfer or conversion of data of HL.  It is not the intent of ORIX to render, nor of HL to receive from ORIX, professional advice or opinions, whether with regard to risk management, regulatory compliance, internal audit, legal, finance, information systems, or other business and financial matters, or technical advice, whether with regard to information systems or other matters; HL shall not rely on, or construe, any Service rendered by or on behalf of ORIX as such professional advice or opinions or technical advice; and HL shall seek all third party professional advice and opinions or technical advice as it may desire or need, and in any event HL shall be responsible for and assume all risks associated with the Services (except those arising from a material breach of this Agreement by ORIX).

 

ARTICLE II.
  PAYMENT FOR SERVICES

 

2.1                            Service Fee. Commencing on the closing date of the IPO (the “Closing Date”), the Services shall be provided by ORIX to HL in exchange for the service fee set forth on Annex B (the “Service Fee”).  This Article II shall survive any termination of this Agreement with respect to Services performed by ORIX under this Agreement for which ORIX has not yet been paid.

 

2.2                            Pass-Through Expenses. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Service Fee” shall not include any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by ORIX and bona fide pass-through payments by ORIX to third parties on behalf of HL, in each case related to (i) the provision of any Services for the benefit of HL under this Agreement (including but not limited to telecommunication expenses and travel-related expenses in accordance with ORIX’s then-applicable business travel policies) and (ii) expenses under pre-existing software contracts in place by virtue of HL’s prior affiliation with ORIX or in connection with services previously provided by ORIX to the extent such contracts expire after the Closing Date, provided that such expenses under this clause (ii) shall not exceed a total aggregate amount of $10,000, and such expenses under clauses (i) and (ii) shall not exceed an aggregate amount of $25,000 without the prior written consent of HL (collectively expenses under clauses (i) and (ii), the “Pass-Through Expenses”). HL shall

 

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reimburse ORIX in full for all such Pass-Through Expenses reasonably incurred promptly upon receipt of ORIX’s invoice therefor.

 

ARTICLE III.
  LIMITATION ON LIABILITY; INDEMNITY

 

Except in the case of gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct, ORIX’s maximum liability to, and the sole remedy of, HL for ORIX’s failure to provide the Services is a refund of the price paid for the particular service or, at the option of HL, a redelivery (or delivery) of the service.  In no event shall ORIX be liable to HL or any other party for any consequential, incidental, special or punitive damages or lost profits or diminution in value damages, suffered by HL or such other party arising out of this Agreement or the Services, whether resulting from actual or alleged negligence of ORIX or otherwise.  HL shall indemnify and hold harmless ORIX, its affiliates and its employees, directors, agents and contractors against any liability, expense, claim or loss (including attorneys’ fees), other than any taxes imposed or based on the Service Fee (payment of which shall be governed exclusively by Annex B), arising out of this Agreement or the Services, except to the extent such liability, expense, claim or loss arose out of a breach of this Agreement by, or the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of, ORIX.

 

ARTICLE IV.
  FORCE MAJEURE

 

ORIX shall not be responsible for the failure or delay in the delivery of any Service, nor shall HL be responsible for the failure or delay in receiving such Service, if such failure or delay is caused by an act of God or public enemy, war, government acts, regulations or orders, fire, flood, embargo, quarantine, epidemic, labor stoppages or other disruptions, accident, unusually severe weather or other cause similar or dissimilar, beyond ORIX’s reasonable control.

 

ARTICLE V.
  PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND RIGHTS

 

5.1                            Proprietary Information and Rights.  Each Party acknowledges that the other possesses, and will continue to possess, information that has been created, discovered or developed by them and/or in which property rights have been assigned or otherwise conveyed to them, which information has commercial value and is not in the public domain (the “Proprietary Information”).  The Proprietary Information of each Party will be and remain the sole property of such Party and its assigns.  Each Party shall use the same degree of care that it normally uses to protect its own Proprietary Information to prevent the disclosure to third parties of information that has been identified as proprietary by written notice to such Party from the other Party.  Neither Party shall make any use of the information of the other which has been identified as proprietary except as contemplated or required by the terms of this Agreement or pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Article V shall not apply to any information that a Party can demonstrate:  (a) was, at the time of disclosure to it, in the public domain through no fault of such Party; (b) was received after disclosure to it from a third party who had a lawful right to disclose such information to it; or (c) was independently developed by the receiving Party.

 

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5.2                            Compelled Disclosure.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any Party is required by rule, law, statute or regulation, court order or stock exchange to disclose any Proprietary Information, such Party shall (a) to the extent permitted, notify the other Party in writing as soon as reasonably practicable, but in no event less than ten (10) calendar days prior to any such disclosure; (b) reasonably cooperate with the other Party to preserve the confidentiality of such Proprietary Information consistent with applicable rule, law, statute or regulation and (c) use its reasonable best efforts to limit any such disclosure to the minimum disclosure necessary to comply with such rule, law, statute or regulation or court order.

 

ARTICLE VI.
  TERM; TERMINATION

 

6.1                            Term; Termination.  The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Closing Date and continue until the six-month anniversary of the Closing Date; provided, however, that the term of this Agreement shall automatically extend for successive three-month terms unless HL notifies ORIX at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to the end of the initial six-month period or any successive three-month period that it is electing to terminate the Agreement at the end of such period.  Notwithstanding the foregoing:

 

(a)                               ORIX may elect to terminate this Agreement as of any date following the initial six-month period upon ninety (90) days’ notice to HL; or

 

(b)                              Each of ORIX and HL may elect to terminate this Agreement in the event of a breach or failure to perform any material term, covenant, condition or agreement on the part of the other Party to be observed or performed pursuant to the terms of this Agreement after due notice to such Party, subject to the following cure period.  Written notice of default shall be sent to the defaulting Party and the defaulting Party shall have thirty (30) days (except in the case of payment defaults which shall have a 10-day cure period) following receipt of such notice to remedy the default.  If the breach is not cured to the satisfaction of the non-defaulting Party within such cure period, the non-defaulting Party may terminate this Agreement immediately by giving further notice to such effect to the defaulting Party.

 

6.2                            Effect of Termination.  Upon any termination of this Agreement, the obligations of the Parties hereunder shall also terminate, except (a) HL shall continue to be obligated to ORIX for any payments for any unpaid fees or expenses incurred prior to any such termination; (b) HL’s obligations under Article III hereof shall survive any such termination; and (c) the provisions of this Article V, Article VI, Article VII, Article VIII, Article IX and Article X shall survive any such termination.  All accrued and unpaid charges for Services shall be payable upon termination of this Agreement with respect to such Services in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to Article III, in the event of the termination of this Agreement, no Party shall be relieved of any liability for any gross negligence bad faith or willful misconduct, or a material breach of this Agreement by, such Party.

 

6.3                            Post-termination Cooperation.  Following any termination of this Agreement, each Party shall cooperate in good faith with the other to transfer and/or retain all records and take all other actions necessary to provide ORIX and HL and their respective successors and assigns with sufficient information in the form requested by ORIX or HL, or their respective

 

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successors and assigns, as the case may be, to make alternative service arrangements substantially consistent with those contemplated by this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE VII.
  NO IMPLIED ASSIGNMENTS OR LICENSES

 

Nothing in this Agreement is to be construed as an assignment or grant of any right, title or interest in any trademark, copyright, patent right or other intellectual or industrial property right.

 

ARTICLE VIII.
  ASSIGNMENT AND DELEGATION

 

Subject to Section 1.1 hereof, this Agreement shall not be assigned and is not assignable by any Party without the prior written consent of the other Party hereto; provided, however, that ORIX may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including the right to receive any payment hereunder) to any of its subsidiaries or affiliates with the prior consent of HL, not to be unreasonably withheld.  Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns.

 

ARTICLE IX.
  NOTICES

 

All notices, requests, demands and other communications which are required or may be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when received if personally delivered; when transmitted if transmitted by telecopy, electronic or digital transmission method (including e-mail); the day after it is sent, if sent for next day delivery to a domestic address by recognized overnight delivery service (e.g., Federal Express); and upon receipt, if sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.  In each case notice shall be sent:

 

To ORIX:

 

ORIX USA Corporation
 1717 Main Street, Suite 900
 Dallas, Texas  75201
 Attn:                                      Paul Wilson, Chief Financial Officer

Ron Barger, General Counsel

Facsimile:        (469) 385-1534

 

with a copy to:

 

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
 125 Broad Street
 New York, New York  10004
 Attn:                                      David Harms (harmsd@sullcrom.com)

Glen Schleyer (schleyerg@sullcrom.com)

 

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Facsimile:        (212) 558-3588

 

To HL:

 

Houlihan Lokey, Inc.
 10250 Constellation Blvd., 5th Floor
 Los Angeles, CA  90067
 Attn:                                      Lindsey Alley, Chief Financial Officer

Christopher Crain, General Counsel

Facsimile:        (310) 553-2173

 

with a copy to:

 

Latham & Watkins LLP
 355 S. Grand Avenue
 Los Angeles, California  90071
 Attn:                                      Jeffrey Kateman

David Zaheer

Facsimile:        (213) 891-8763

 

ARTICLE X.
  MISCELLANEOUS

 

10.1                    Entire Agreement:  Amendments.  This Agreement and its Annexes contain all of the terms and conditions agreed upon by the Parties hereto in connection with the subject matter hereof.  This Agreement and its Annexes may not be amended, modified or changed except as specifically set forth herein or by written instrument signed by all of the Parties hereto.

 

10.2                    Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York (without giving effect to its choice of law principles).

 

10.3                    Attorneys’ Fees.  If any legal action is brought concerning any matter relating to this Agreement, or by reason of any breach of any covenant, condition or agreement referred to herein, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to have and recover from the other Party to the action all costs and expenses of suit, including attorneys’ fees.

 

10.4                    Arbitration.

 

(a)                               It is understood and agreed between the Parties hereto that any and all claims, grievances, demands, controversies, causes of action or disputes of any nature whatsoever (including but not limited to tort and contract claims, and claims upon any law, statute, order, or regulation) (collectively, “Claims”), arising out of, in connection with, or in relation to (i) the interpretation, performance or breach of this Agreement or (ii) the arbitrability of any Claims under this Agreement, shall be resolved in accordance with a two-step dispute resolution process involving, first, negotiations between the executives referenced in Section 10.4(b), followed, if necessary, by final and binding arbitration before a retired judge

 

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from the JAMS/Endispute panel.  Such dispute resolution process shall be confidential and the arbitration portion shall be conducted in accordance with the Federal Rules of Evidence.

 

(b)                              The Parties agree that any Claim solely for monetary damages should initially regarded as a business problem to be resolved promptly through business-oriented negotiations before resorting to arbitration pursuant to Section 10.4(c).  The Parties therefore agree to attempt in good faith to resolve any Claim solely for monetary damages promptly by negotiation between the individuals then serving as the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of HL (on behalf of HL) and the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of ORIX (on behalf of ORIX).  Such negotiations shall commence upon the mailing of a notice (the “Dispute Notice”) (i) from the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of HL to the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of ORIX or (ii) from the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of ORIX to the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of HL.  Each such representative (each a “Senior Executive”) shall have authority to settle the Claim.  If the Claim has not been resolved by the Senior Executives within twenty (20) calendar days of the date of the Dispute Notice, unless the Parties agree in writing to a longer period, the Claim shall be settled pursuant to binding arbitration pursuant to Section 10.4(c).  All negotiations pursuant to this Section 10.4(b) shall be confidential and shall be treated as compromise and settlement negotiations for purposes of applicable rules of evidence and shall not be used for, or admitted in, any arbitration or court proceedings under this Agreement.

 

(c)                               Should any Claims remain after the completion of the 20-day negotiation process described in Section 10.4(b), the Parties agree to submit all remaining Claims to final and binding arbitration administered by the New York, New York offices of JAMS/Endispute in accordance with the then-existing JAMS/Endispute Arbitration Rules, except to the extent such rules conflict with the procedures set forth in this Section 10.4(c), in which case these procedures shall govern.  The Parties shall select a mutually acceptable neutral arbitrator from the panel of arbitrators serving with any of JAMS/Endispute’s offices, but in the event the Parties cannot agree on an arbitrator, the administrator of JAMS/Endispute shall appoint an arbitrator from such panel (the arbitrator so selected or appointed, the “Arbitrator”).  The Parties expressly agree that the Arbitrator may provide all appropriate remedies (at law and equity) or judgments that could be awarded by a court of law in New York, and that, upon good cause shown, the Arbitrator shall afford the parties adequate discovery, including deposition discovery.  Neither a Party nor the Arbitrator shall disclose the existence, content, or results of any arbitration hereunder without the prior written consent of all Parties.  Except as provided herein, the Federal Arbitration Act shall govern the interpretation, enforcement and all Claims pursuant to this Section 10.4(c).  The Arbitrator shall be bound by and shall strictly enforce the terms of this Section 10.4(c) and may not limit, expand or otherwise modify its terms.  The Arbitrator shall make a good faith effort to apply the substantive law (and the law of remedies, if applicable) of the state of New York, federal law, or both, as applicable, without reference to its conflicts of laws provisions.  The Arbitrator is without jurisdiction to apply any different substantive law.  The Arbitrator shall be bound to honor claims of privilege or work-product doctrine recognized at law, but the Arbitrator shall have the discretion to determine whether any such claim of privilege or work product doctrine applies.  The Arbitrator shall render an award and a written, reasoned opinion in support thereof.  The Arbitrator shall have power and authority to award any appropriate remedy (in law or equity) or judgment that could be awarded by a court of law in New York, which may include

 

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reasonable attorneys’ fees to the prevailing Party.  The award rendered by arbitration shall be final and binding upon the Parties; and judgment upon the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.

 

(d)                             Adherence to this dispute resolution process shall not limit the Parties’ right to obtain any provisional remedy, including, without limitation, injunctive or similar relief, from any court of competent jurisdiction as may be necessary to protect their rights and interests.  Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, this dispute resolution procedure is intended to be the exclusive method of resolving any Claims arising out of or relating to this Agreement.

 

(e)                               Subject to the Arbitrator’s award, each Party shall bear its own fees and expenses with respect to this dispute resolution process and any Claim related thereto and the Parties shall share equally the fees and expenses of the JAMS/Endispute and the Arbitrator.

 

10.5                    Construction and Interpretation.  This Agreement shall not be construed for or against either Party by reason of the authorship or alleged authorship of any provision hereof or by reason of the status of the respective Parties.  This Agreement shall be construed reasonably to carry out its intent without presumption against or in favor of either Party.  The natural persons executing this Agreement on behalf of each Party have the full right, power and authority to do and affirm the foregoing warranty on behalf of each Party and on their own behalf.  The captions on sections are provided for purposes of convenience and are not intended to limit, define the scope of or aid in interpretation of any of the provisions hereof.  All pronouns and singular or plural references as used herein shall be deemed to have interchangeably (where the sense of the sentence requires) a masculine, feminine or neuter, and/or singular or plural meaning, as the case may be.

 

10.6                    Severability.  If any term, provision or condition of this Agreement is determined by a court or other judicial or administrative tribunal to be illegal, void or otherwise ineffective or not in accordance with public policy, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby and shall remain in full force and effect and shall be construed in such manner so as to preserve the validity hereof and the substance of the transactions herein contemplated to the extent possible.

 

10.7                    Independent Contractors.  The relationship of ORIX and HL established by this Agreement is that of independent contractors, and nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to (a) constitute the Parties as partners, joint venturers, co-owners or otherwise as participants in a joint or common undertaking; (b) prevent ORIX from entering into any other business; or (c) allow ORIX to create or assume obligations on behalf of or in the name of HL, except as provided herein.

 

10.8                    No Third Party Beneficiaries.  No persons (including, without limitation, any Permitted Subcontractors), other than the Parties hereto, are beneficiaries of this Agreement and no such persons will be entitled to enforce any provision hereof.

 

10.9                    Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

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10.10   Termination of the Existing Services Agreement.  The Existing Services Agreement is hereby terminated and of no further force and effect, except that any obligations under the Existing Services Agreement arising out of or relating to the period prior to the date hereof shall survive until fully performed.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Transition Services Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

 

	
 
    	
ORIX USA, LP
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
HOULIHAN   LOKEY, INC.
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    

 

[Signature Page to Transition Services Agreement]

 

 

ANNEX A

 

SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED

 

Sarbanes-Oxley (“SOX”) Compliance:  Assist HL in:

·                                         Performing the scoping and documentation of SOX controls.

·                                         Performing the testing of financial reporting controls in three phases:  interim, update/remediation, and year-end/quarterly controls.

·                                         Preparing reports of results for management and the audit committee.

 

Internal Audit:  Assist HL in:

·                                         Performing risk assessment of business and IT to identify risks and develop an audit plan.

·                                         Performing business and IT audits using the COSO risk-based methodology focusing on financial reporting, operations, and compliance risks.

·                                         Leveraging the testing performed in SOX to prevent duplication of efforts.

·                                         Preparing reports of audit results for management and the audit committee.

·                                         Performing follow-up audits of issues noted to ensure completion of management action plans.

 

Tax:  Assist HL in:

·                                         Performing compliance with tax preparation, provision and compliance with tax audits.

·                                         Analysis of tax related structural matters.

 

KPMG Assistance:  In connection with financial statement audits and reviews by HL’s independent accounting firm, assist in the following areas:

·                                         Testing of revenue recognition, including accounts receivable/work-in-progress.

·                                         Quarterly review and recalculation of the HL incentive calculation.

·                                         Semi-annual journal entry analysis/testing.

 

Services Arising out of the Termination of the Existing Services Agreement:  Assist HL with:

·                                         Services previously provided by ORIX, its affiliates and permitted subcontractors to HL and its affiliates pursuant to the Existing Services Agreement, including those services listed in Annex A thereto under the rubrics “Executive,” “Finance and Accounting,” “External Audit and Institutional,” to the extent not yet fully performed as of the date hereof and arising out of or relating to the period prior to the date hereof.

·                                         Queries relating to or arising out of the cessation of services previously provided by ORIX, its affiliates and permitted subcontractors to HL and its affiliates pursuant to the Existing Services Agreement.

·                                         Any other services or queries that may arise in connection with the termination of the Existing Services Agreement.

 

 

ANNEX B

 

PAYMENT FOR SERVICES

 

The Service Fee shall be equal to $125 multiplied by the number of hours spent by ORIX employees, agents and contractors (including Permitted Subcontractor personnel), in providing the Services, reduced by any amount paid by HL directly to a Permitted Subcontractor with ORIX’s prior consent.

 

Promptly following the end of each fiscal quarter of HL during which this Agreement is in effect, ORIX shall deliver to HL an invoice summarizing the calculation of the Service Fee payable for such quarter (or portion thereof for which this Agreement is in effect).  Within ten (10) business days following receipt of such invoice, HL shall submit the specified Service Fee to ORIX by wire transfer in immediately available funds to an account specified by ORIX, or otherwise as ORIX may from time to time provide.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the Service Fee paid by HL (including any amount paid by HL directly to Sunera or any Permitted Subcontractor for its Services performed as Permitted Subcontractor pursuant to Section 1.3 hereof) for the first 12 months following the Closing Date is less than $200,000, then HL shall make an additional payment promptly following the end of such 12-month to cause the Service Fee for such 12-month period to equal $200,000.

 

HL shall be entitled to withhold such portion of each payment as is required to be withheld by applicable law and any taxing authority of competent jurisdiction, but shall not be entitled to withhold payments due to ORIX on grounds of alleged nonperformance by ORIX of any of its obligations under this Agreement, or to set-off any other amount owed to HL by ORIX or any affiliate. So long as ORIX cooperates with HL to the extent reasonable to obtain reduction of or relief from such withholding, HL shall be required to gross up any payments on which withholding is made to ensure that the net amount ORIX receives in cash is equal to the required amounts as detailed herein; provided, however, that if ORIX assigns its rights to receive payments hereunder to any other person or entity, HL shall not be required to pay any amounts pursuant to this sentence that are in excess of amounts HL would otherwise have been required to pay had ORIX not so assigned its rights.

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