CAMBRIDGE SOUNDWORKS, INC.
INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Investor Rights Agreement (the "AGREEMENT") is made as of the 28th day
of February, 1997, by and among Cambridge SoundWorks, Inc., a Massachusetts
corporation (the COMPANY") and Creative Technology Ltd., a Singapore corporation
(the "INVESTOR").
RECITALS
The Company and the Investor have entered into a Common Stock and Warrant
Purchase Agreement (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT") of even date herewith pursuant to
which the Company desires to sell to the Investor and the Investor desires to
purchase from the Company shares of the Company's Common Stock (the "COMMON
SHARES") and a warrant (the "WARRANT") to purchase shares of the Company's
Common Stock (the "WARRANT SHARES," and together with the Common Shares, the
"STOCK"). A condition to the Investor's obligations under the Purchase
Agreement is that the Company and the Investor enter into this Agreement in
order to provide the Investor with (i) certain rights to register the Common
Shares and the Warrant Shares (when and if issued) held by the Investor, (ii)
certain rights to receive or inspect information pertaining to the Company, and
(iii) a right of first offer with respect to certain issuances by the Company of
its securities.
AGREEMENT
The parties hereby agree as follows:
1. REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
The Company and the Investor covenant and agree as follows:
1.1 DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Section 1:
(a) The terms "REGISTER," "REGISTERED," and "REGISTRATION" refer
to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or
similar document in compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"ACT"), and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such registration
statement or document;
(b) The term "REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means (i) the Stock, and
(ii) any other shares of Common Stock of the Company issued as (or issuable upon
the conversion or exercise of any warrant, right or other security which is
issued as) a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or in exchange for
or in replacement of, the Stock; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
foregoing definition shall exclude in all cases any Registrable Securities sold
by a person in a transaction in which its rights under this Agreement are not
assigned. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Common Stock or other securities
shall only be treated as Registrable Securities if and so long as they have not
been (A) sold to or through a broker or dealer or underwriter in a public
distribution or a public securities transaction, or (B) sold in a transaction
exempt from the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Act
under Section 4(1) thereof so that all transfer restrictions, and restrictive
legends with respect thereto, if any, are removed upon the consummation of such
sale;
(c) The number of shares of "REGISTRABLE SECURITIES THEN
OUTSTANDING" shall equal the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding which are Registrable Securities plus the number of shares of Common
Stock issuable pursuant to then exercisable or convertible securities which are
Registrable Securities;
(d) The term "HOLDER" means any person owning or having the
right to acquire Registrable Securities or any assignee thereof in accordance
with Section 1.13 hereof;
(e) The term "FORM S-3" means such form under the Act as in
effect on the date hereof or any successor form under the Act; and
(f) The term "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
1.2 REQUEST FOR REGISTRATION.
(a) If the Company shall receive at any time after the date
hereof a written request from the Holders of Registrable Securities that the
Company file a registration statement (which may be on Form S-1 or Form S-3, if
the Company is eligible for Form S-3) under the Act covering the registration of
Registrable Securities with an anticipated aggregate offering price, net of
underwriting discounts and commissions, of at least $500,000, then the Company
shall, within ten (10) days of the receipt thereof, give written notice of such
request to all Holders and shall, subject to the limitations of
subsection 1.2(b), use its best efforts to effect as soon as practicable, and in
any event within 60 days of the receipt of such request, the registration under
the Act of all Registrable Securities which the Holders request to be registered
within twenty (20) days of the mailing of such notice by the Company in
accordance with Section 4.5.
(b) If the Holders initiating the registration request hereunder
("INITIATING HOLDERS") intend to distribute the Registrable Securities covered
by their request by means of an underwriting, they shall so advise the Company
as a part of their request made pursuant to this Section 1.2 and the Company
shall include such information in the written notice referred to in
subsection 1.2(a). The underwriter will be selected by a majority in interest
of the Initiating Holders and shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company. In
such event, the right of any Holder to include its Registrable Securities in
such registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder's participation in such
underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder's Registrable Securities in the
underwriting (unless otherwise mutually agreed by a majority in interest of the
Initiating Holders and such Holder) to the extent provided herein. All Holders
proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting shall
(together with the Company as provided in subsection 1.4(e)) enter into an
underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters
selected for such underwriting by a majority in interest of the Initiating
Holders. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 1.2, if the
underwriter advises the Initiating Holders in writing that marketing factors
require a limitation of the number of shares to be underwritten, then the
Initiating Holders shall so advise all Holders of Registrable Securities which
would otherwise be underwritten pursuant hereto, and the number of shares of
Registrable Securities that may be included in the underwriting shall be
allocated among all Holders thereof, including the Initiating Holders, in
proportion (as nearly as practicable) to the amount of Registrable Securities of
the Company owned by each Holder; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the number of shares
of Registrable Securities to be included in such underwriting shall not be
reduced unless all other securities are first entirely excluded from the
underwriting.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company shall furnish
to Holders requesting a registration statement pursuant to this Section 1.2, a
certificate signed by the President of the Company stating that in the good
faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, it would be seriously
detrimental to the Company and its stockholders for such registration statement
to be filed and it is therefore essential to defer the filing of such
registration statement, the Company shall have the right to defer such filing
for a period of not more than 120 days after receipt of the request of the
Initiating Holders; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company may not utilize this
right more than once in any twelve-month period.
(d) In addition, the Company shall not be obligated to effect,
or to take any action to effect, more than two (2) registrations pursuant to
this Section 1.2, provided that each such registration has been declared or
ordered effective.
1.3 COMPANY REGISTRATION.
If (but without any obligation to do so) the Company proposes to
register (including for this purpose a registration effected by the Company for
stockholders other than the Holders) any of its stock under the Act in
connection with the public offering of such securities solely for cash (other
than a registration relating solely to the sale of securities to participants in
a Company stock plan or a transaction covered by Rule 145 under the Act, a
registration in which the only stock being registered is Common Stock issuable
upon conversion of debt securities which are also being registered, or any
registration on any form which does not include substantially the same
information as would be required to be included in a registration statement
covering the sale of the Registrable Securities), the Company shall, at such
time, promptly give each Holder written notice of such registration. Upon the
written request of each Holder given within twenty (20) days after mailing of
such notice by the Company in accordance with Section 4.5, the Company shall,
subject to the provisions of Section 1.8, cause to be included in such
registration, and to effect the registration of, all of the Registrable
Securities that each such Holder has requested to be registered.
1.4 OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY.
Whenever required under this Agreement to effect the registration of
any Registrable Securities, the Company shall, as expeditiously as reasonably
possible:
(a) Prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement with
respect to such Registrable Securities and use its best efforts to cause such
registration statement to become effective, and, upon the request of the Holders
of a majority of the Registrable Securities registered thereunder, keep such
registration statement effective for up to one year.
(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection
with such registration statement as may be necessary to comply with the
provisions of the Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered
by such registration statement for up to one year.
(c) Furnish to the Holders such numbers of copies of a
prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the
requirements of the Act, and such other documents as they may reasonably request
in order to facilitate the disposition of Registrable Securities owned by them.
(d) Use its best efforts to register and qualify the securities
covered by such registration statement under such other securities or Blue Sky
laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders,
provided that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a
condition thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to
service of process in any such states or jurisdictions.
(e) In the event of any underwritten public offering, enter into
and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and
customary form, with the managing underwriter of such offering. Each Holder
participating in such underwriting shall also enter into and perform its
obligations under such an agreement.
(f) Notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such
registration statement at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is
required to be delivered under the Act of the happening of any event as a result
of which the prospectus included in such registration statement, as then in
effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing, such
obligation to continue for one year.
(g) Cause all such Registrable Securities registered pursuant
hereunder to be listed on each securities exchange on which similar securities
issued by the Company are then listed.
(h) Provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable
Securities registered pursuant hereunder and a CUSIP number for all such
Registrable Securities, in each case not later than the effective date of such
registration.
(i) Use its best efforts to furnish, at the request of any
Holder requesting registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to this
Section 1, on the date that such Registrable Securities are delivered to the
underwriters for sale in connection with a registration pursuant to this
Section 1, if such securities are being sold through underwriters, or, if such
securities are not being sold through underwriters, on the date that the
registration statement with respect to such securities becomes effective, (i) an
opinion, dated such date, of the counsel representing the Company for the
purposes of such registration, in form and substance as is customarily given to
underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters,
if any, and to the Holders requesting registration of Registrable Securities and
(ii) a letter dated such date, from the independent certified public accountants
of the Company, in form and substance as is customarily given by independent
certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering,
addressed to the underwriters, if any, and to the Holders requesting
registration of Registrable Securities.
1.5 FURNISH INFORMATION.
It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to
take any action pursuant to this Section 1 with respect to the Registrable
Securities of any selling Holder that such Holder shall furnish to the Company
such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it, and
the intended method of disposition of such securities as shall be required to
effect the registration of such Holder's Registrable Securities. The Company
shall have no obligation with respect to any registration requested pursuant to
Section 1.2 or Section 1.12 of this Agreement if, as a result of the application
of the preceding sentence, the number of shares or the anticipated aggregate
offering price of the Registrable Securities to be included in the registration
does not equal or exceed the number of shares or the anticipated aggregate
offering price required to originally trigger the Company's obligation to
initiate such registration as specified in subsection 1.2(a) or subsection
1.12(b)(2), whichever is applicable.
1.6 EXPENSES OF DEMAND REGISTRATION.
All expenses other than underwriting discounts and commissions
incurred in connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to
Section 1.2, including (without limitation) all registration, filing and
qualification fees, printers' and accounting fees, fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of one
counsel for the selling Holders shall be borne by the Company; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be required to pay for any expenses of any
registration proceeding begun pursuant to Section 1.2 if the registration
request is subsequently withdrawn at the request of the Holders of a majority of
the Registrable Securities to be registered (in which case all participating
Holders shall bear such expenses), unless the Holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities agree to forfeit their right to one demand registration
pursuant to Section 1.2; provided further, however, that if at the time of such
withdrawal, the Holders have learned of a material adverse change in the
condition, business, or prospects of the Company from that known to the Holders
at the time of their request and have withdrawn the request with reasonable
promptness following disclosure by the Company of such material adverse change,
then the Holders shall not be required to pay any of such expenses and shall
retain their rights pursuant to Section 1.2.
1.7 EXPENSES OF COMPANY REGISTRATION.
The Company shall bear and pay all expenses incurred in connection
with any registration, filing or qualification of Registrable Securities with
respect to the registrations pursuant to Section 1.3 for each Holder (which
right may be assigned as provided in Section 1.13), including (without
limitation) all registration, filing, and qualification fees, printers' and
accounting fees relating or apportionable thereto and the reasonable fees and
disbursements of one counsel for the selling Holders selected by them with the
approval of the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, but
excluding underwriting discounts and commissions relating to Registrable
Securities.
1.8 UNDERWRITING REQUIREMENTS.
In connection with any offering involving an underwriting of shares of
the Company's capital stock, the Company shall not be required under Section 1.3
to include any of the Holders' securities in such underwriting unless they
accept the terms of the underwriting as agreed upon between the Company and the
underwriters selected by it (or by other persons entitled to select the
underwriters), and then only in such quantity as the underwriters determine in
their sole discretion will not jeopardize the success of the offering by the
Company. If the total amount of securities, including Registrable Securities,
requested by stockholders to be included in such offering exceeds the amount of
securities sold other than by the Company that the underwriters determine in
their sole discretion is compatible with the success of the offering, then the
Company shall be required to include in the offering only that number of such
securities, including Registrable Securities, which the underwriters determine
in their sole discretion will not jeopardize the success of the offering (the
securities so included to be apportioned pro rata among the selling stockholders
according to the total amount of securities entitled to be included therein
owned by each selling stockholder or in such other proportions as shall mutually
be agreed to by such selling stockholders) but in no event shall (i) the amount
of securities of the selling Holders included in the offering be reduced below
thirty percent (30%) of the total amount of securities included in such
offering, or (ii) notwithstanding (i) above, any shares being sold by a
stockholder exercising a demand registration right similar to that granted in
Section 1.2 be excluded from such offering. For purposes of the preceding
parenthetical concerning apportionment, for any selling stockholder which is a
holder of Registrable Securities and which is a partnership or corporation, the
partners, retired partners and stockholders of such holder, or the estates and
family members of any such partners and retired partners and any trusts for the
benefit of any of the foregoing persons shall be deemed to be a single "SELLING
STOCKHOLDER," and any pro-rata reduction with respect to such "selling
stockholder" shall be based upon the aggregate amount of shares carrying
registration rights owned by all entities and individuals included in such
"selling stockholder," as defined in this sentence.
1.9 DELAY OF REGISTRATION.
No Holder shall have any right to obtain or seek an injunction
restraining or otherwise delaying any such registration as the result of any
controversy that might arise with respect to the interpretation or
implementation of this Section 1.
1.10 INDEMNIFICATION.
In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a registration
statement under this Section 1:
(a) To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify
and hold harmless each Holder, any underwriter (as defined in the Act) for such
Holder and each person, if any, who controls such Holder or underwriter within
the meaning of the Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"EXCHANGE ACT"), against any losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (joint or
several) to which they may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or
other federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any
of the following statements, omissions or violations (collectively a
"VIOLATION"): (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in such registration statement, including any
preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments
or supplements thereto, (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the
Company of the Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law or any rule or
regulation promulgated under the Act, the Exchange Act or any state securities
law; and the Company will pay to each such Holder, underwriter or controlling
person, as incurred, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in
connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability, or action; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained
in this subsection 1.10(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any
such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action if such settlement is effected
without the consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld), nor shall the Company be liable in any such case for any such loss,
claim, damage, liability, or action to the extent that it arises out of or is
based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished expressly for use in connection with such
registration by any such Holder, underwriter or controlling person.
(b) To the extent permitted by law, each selling Holder will
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its
officers who has signed the registration statement, each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the Act, any underwriter, any other
Holder selling securities in such registration statement and any controlling
person of any such underwriter or other Holder, against any losses, claims,
damages, or liabilities (joint or several) to which any of the foregoing persons
may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state
law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereto) arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case to
the extent (and only to the extent) that such Violation occurs in reliance upon
and in conformity with written information furnished by such Holder expressly
for use in connection with such registration; and each such Holder will pay, as
incurred, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by any person intended to be indemnified pursuant to this
subsection 1.10(b), in connection with investigating or defending any such loss,
claim, damage, liability, or action; provided, however, that the indemnity
agreement contained in this subsection 1.10(b) shall not apply to amounts paid
in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such
settlement is effected without the consent of the Holder, which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld; provided, that, in no event shall any indemnity
under this subsection 1.10(b) exceed the net proceeds from the offering received
by such Holder, except in the case of willful fraud by such Holder.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 1.10 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any
governmental action), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof
is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 1.10, deliver to
the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof and the
indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent
the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party
similarly noticed, to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually
satisfactory to the parties; provided, however, that an indemnified party
(together with all other indemnified parties which may be represented without
conflict by one counsel) shall have the right to retain one separate counsel,
with the reasonable fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if
representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the
indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing
interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such
counsel in such proceeding. The failure to deliver written notice to the
indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such
action, if prejudicial to its ability to defend such action, shall relieve such
indemnifying party of any liability to the indemnified party under this
Section 1.10, but the omission so to deliver written notice to the indemnifying
party will not relieve it of any liability that it may have to any indemnified
party otherwise than under this Section 1.10.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 1.10 is
held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified
party with respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense referred to
therein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified
party hereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the
indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party on the other in
connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss,
liability, claim, damage, or expense as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations; provided, that, in no event shall any contribution by a Holder
under this Subsection 1.10(d) exceed the net proceeds from the offering received
by such Holder, except in the case of willful fraud by such Holder. The
relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified
party and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information, and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the
provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in the underwriting
agreement entered into in connection with the underwritten public offering are
in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the provisions in the underwriting
agreement shall control.
(f) The obligations of the Company and Holders under this
Section 1.10 shall survive the completion of any offering of Registrable
Securities in a registration statement under this Section 1, and otherwise.
1.11 REPORTS UNDER SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
With a view to making available to the Holders the benefits of
Rule 144 promulgated under the Act and any other rule or regulation of the SEC
that may at any time permit a Holder to sell securities of the Company to the
public without registration or pursuant to a registration on Form S-3, the
Company agrees to:
(a) make and keep public information available, as those terms
are understood and defined in SEC Rule 144, at all times after ninety (90) days
after the effective date of the first registration statement filed by the
Company for the offering of its securities to the general public so long as the
Company remains subject to the periodic reporting requirements under Sections 13
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;
(b) take such action, including the voluntary registration of
its Common Stock under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, as is necessary to enable
the Holders to utilize Form S-3 for the sale of their Registrable Securities,
such action to be taken as soon as practicable after the end of the fiscal year
in which the first registration statement filed by the Company for the offering
of its securities to the general public is declared effective;
(c) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other
documents required of the Company under the Act and the Exchange Act; and
(d) furnish to any Holder, so long as the Holder owns any
Registrable Securities, forthwith upon request (i) a written statement by the
Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of SEC Rule 144 (at
any time after ninety (90) days after the effective date of the first
registration statement filed by the Company), the Act and the Exchange Act (at
any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements), or that it
qualifies as a registrant whose securities may be resold pursuant to Form S-3
(at any time after it so qualifies), (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or
quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by
the Company, and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested in
availing any Holder of any rule or regulation of the SEC which permits the
selling of any such securities without registration or pursuant to such form.
1.12 FORM S-3 REGISTRATION.
In case the Company shall receive from any Holder or Holders of not
less than twenty percent (20%) of the Registrable Securities then outstanding a
written request or requests that the Company effect a registration on Form S-3
and any related qualification or compliance with respect to all or a part of the
Registrable Securities owned by such Holder or Holders, the Company will:
(a) promptly give written notice of the proposed registration,
and any related qualification or compliance, to all other Holders; and
(b) as soon as practicable, effect such registration and all
such qualifications and compliances as may be so requested and as would permit
or facilitate the sale and distribution of all or such portion of such Holder's
or Holders' Registrable Securities as are specified in such request, together
with all or such portion of the Registrable Securities of any other Holder or
Holders joining in such request as are specified in a written request given
within 15 days after receipt of such written notice from the Company; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such
registration, qualification or compliance, pursuant to this Section 1.12:
(1) if Form S-3 is not available for such offering by the Holders; (2) if the
Holders, together with the holders of any other securities of the Company
entitled to inclusion in such registration, propose to sell Registrable
Securities and such other securities (if any) at an aggregate price to the
public (net of any underwriters' discounts or commissions) of less than
$500,000; (3) if the Company shall furnish to the Holders a certificate signed
by the President of the Company stating that in the good faith judgment of the
Board of Directors of the Company, it would be seriously detrimental to the
Company and its stockholders for such Form S-3 Registration to be effected at
such time, in which event the Company shall have the right to defer the filing
of the Form S-3 registration statement for a period of not more than 120 days
after receipt of the request of the Holder or Holders under this Section 1.12;
provided, however, that the Company shall not utilize this right more than once
in any twelve month period; (4) if the Company has, within the twelve (12) month
period preceding the date of such request, already effected two registrations
for the Holders pursuant to this Section 1.12 or Section 1.2, collectively; or
(5) in any particular jurisdiction in which the Company would be required to
qualify to do business or to execute a general consent to service of process in
effecting such registration, qualification or compliance.
(c) Subject to the foregoing, the Company shall file a
registration statement covering the Registrable Securities and other securities
so requested to be registered as soon as practicable after receipt of the
request or requests of the Holders. All expenses incurred in connection with a
registration requested pursuant to Section 1.12, including (without limitation)
all registration, filing, qualification, printers' and accounting fees and the
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the selling Holder or Holders
and counsel for the Company, but excluding any underwriters' discounts or
commissions associated with Registrable Securities, shall be borne by the
Company. Registrations effected pursuant to this Section 1.12 shall not be
counted as demands for registration or registrations effected pursuant to
Sections 1.2 or 1.3, respectively.
1.13 ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
The rights to cause the Company to register Registrable Securities
pursuant to this Section 1 may be assigned (but only with all related
obligations) by a Holder to a transferee or assignee of at least 456,142 shares
of such securities, provided the Company is, within a reasonable time after such
transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such
transferee or assignee and the securities with respect to which such
registration rights are being assigned; and provided, further, that such
assignment shall be effective only if immediately following such transfer the
further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is
restricted under the Act. For the purposes of determining the number of shares
of Registrable Securities held by a transferee or assignee, the holdings of
transferees and assignees of a corporation who are constituent shareholders,
majority owned subsidiaries or parent corporations holding a majority ownership
interest of such corporation shall be aggregated together and with such
corporation; provided that all assignees and transferees who would not qualify
individually for assignment of registration rights shall have a single
attorney-in-fact for the purpose of exercising any rights, receiving notices or
taking any action under Section 1.
1.14 LIMITATIONS ON SUBSEQUENT REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
From and after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not,
without the prior written consent of the Holders of a majority of the
outstanding Registrable Securities, enter into any agreement with any holder or
prospective holder of any securities of the Company which would allow such
holder or prospective holder to include such securities in any registration
filed under Section 1.2 hereof, unless under the terms of such agreement, such
holder or prospective holder may include such securities in any such
registration only to the extent that the inclusion of its securities will not
reduce the amount of the Registrable Securities of the Holders which is
included.
1.15 TERMINATION OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
No Holder shall be entitled to exercise any right provided for in this
Section 1 after such time as Rule 144 or another similar exemption under the Act
is available for the sale of all of such Holder's shares during a three
(3)-month period without registration.
2. PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS.
2.1 For so long as the Investor holds at least 456,142 shares of
Stock (as adjusted for stock splits, etc.), the Investor shall be entitled to a
right of first refusal to purchase, on a pro rata basis, all or any part of New
Securities (as defined below) which the Company may, from time to time, propose
to sell and issue, subject to the terms and conditions set forth below. The pro
rata share of the Investor shall equal a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock then held by the Investor or issuable upon
exercise or conversion of any options, rights, warrants or other convertible
securities then held by the Investor, and the denominator of which is the total
number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding plus the number of shares of
Common Stock issuable upon exercise of then outstanding options, rights or
warrants or any other then outstanding convertible securities.
2.2 "NEW SECURITIES" shall mean any capital stock of the Company
whether now authorized or not, and rights, options or warrants to purchase
capital stock, and securities of any type whatsoever which are, or may become,
convertible into capital stock; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the term "New
Securities" shall not include (i) the Stock; (ii) up to 619,425 shares of the
Company's Common Stock or options therefor (and the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of such options), net of repurchases, issued pursuant to
the Company's 1993 Stock Option Plan, a stock plan or stock option plan approved
by the Board of Directors of the Company, which amount shall include the options
to purchase 582,700 shares of the Company's Common Stock outstanding on the date
hereof; (iii) shares of Common Stock issued upon the exercise of any warrant or
option or conversion of any convertible security outstanding prior to the date
hereof; (iv) securities issued as a result of any stock split, stock dividend or
reclassification of Common Stock, distributable on a pro rata basis to all
holders of Common Stock, and (v) securities issued as consideration for the
acquisition of another entity, provided that at or within thirty days after any
such acquisition the Company provides the Investor the opportunity to purchase
such number of shares of Common Stock of the Company at a price equal to the
then current fair market value of such shares as would enable the Investor to
maintain the same pro rata share (as contemplated in Section 2.1 above) as held
by the Investor immediately prior to any such acquisition. Any such purchase
shall be offered on the terms set forth in this Section 2.
2.3 In the event the Company intends to issue New Securities, it
shall give the Investor written notice of such intention, describing the type of
New Securities to be issued, the price thereof and the general terms upon which
the Company proposes to effect such issuance. The Investor shall have 15
business days from the date of any such notice to agree to purchase all or part
of its pro rata share of such New Securities for the price and upon the general
terms and conditions specified in the Company's notice by giving written notice
to the Company stating the quantity of New Securities to be so purchased.
2.4 In the event the Investor fails to exercise the foregoing right
of first refusal with respect to any New Securities within such 15-day period,
the Company may within 90 days thereafter sell any or all of such New Securities
not agreed to be purchased by the Investor at a price and upon general terms no
more favorable to the purchasers thereof than specified in the notice given to
the Investor pursuant to paragraph (c) above. In the event the Company has not
sold such New Securities within such 90-day period, the Company shall not
thereafter issue or sell any New Securities without first offering such New
Securities to the Investor in the manner provided above.
2.5 For purposes of this Section 2, the "INVESTOR" shall include the
Investor, its affiliates and its subsidiaries or other affiliated entities to
whom the Investor transfers Stock.
3. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.
3.1 DELIVERY OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
In the event that the Company becomes no longer subject to, or has
failed to comply with for a period of ninety (90) days, the periodic reporting
requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company shall
deliver to the Investor (provided that the Investor and its affiliated entities
hold not less than 250,000 shares of Registrable Securities (as adjusted for
stock splits, etc.):
(a) as soon as practicable, but in any event within ninety (90)
days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an income statement for
such fiscal year, a balance sheet of the Company and statement of stockholder's
equity as of the end of such year, and a statement of cash flows for such year,
such year-end financial reports to be in reasonable detail, prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), and audited
and certified by an independent public accounting firm of nationally recognized
standing selected by the Company;
(b) as soon as practicable, but in any event within thirty (30)
days after the end of each of the first three (3) quarters of each fiscal year
of the Company, an unaudited profit or loss statement, a statement of cash flows
for such fiscal quarter and an unaudited balance sheet as of the end of such
fiscal quarter;
(c) within thirty (30) days of the end of each month, an
unaudited income statement and a statement of cash flows and balance sheet for
and as of the end of such month, in reasonable detail;
(d) as soon as practicable, but in any event thirty (30) days
prior to the end of each fiscal year, a budget and business plan for the next
fiscal year, prepared on a monthly basis, including balance sheets and sources
and applications of funds statements for such months and, as soon as prepared,
any other budgets or revised budgets prepared by the Company;
(e) with respect to the financial statements called for in
subsections (b) and (c) of this Section 3.1, an instrument executed by the Chief
Financial Officer or President of the Company and certifying that such
financials were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied with prior
practice for earlier periods (with the exception of footnotes that may be
required by GAAP) and fairly present the financial condition of the Company and
its results of operation for the period specified, subject to year-end audit
adjustment, provided that the foregoing shall not restrict the right of the
Company to change its accounting principles consistent with GAAP, if the Board
of Directors determines that it is in the best interest of the Company to do so;
and
(f) such other information relating to the financial condition,
business, prospects or corporate affairs of the Company as the Investor or any
assignee of the Investor may from time to time reasonably request, provided,
however, that the Company shall not be obligated under this subsection (f) or
any other subsection of Section 3.1 to provide information which it deems in
good faith to be a trade secret or similar confidential information.
3.2 INSPECTION.
The Company shall permit the Investor (provided that the Investor and
its affiliated entities hold not less than 250,000 shares of Registrable
Securities (as adjusted for stock splits, etc.)), at such Investor's expense, to
visit and inspect the Company's properties, to examine its books of account and
records and to discuss the Company's affairs, finances and accounts with its
officers, all at such reasonable times as may be requested by the Investor;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to this
Section 3.2 to provide access to any information which it reasonably considers
to be a trade secret or similar confidential information.
3.3 BOARD RIGHTS.
For so long as the Investor (including entities affiliated with the
Investor) holds at least 456,147 shares of Stock (as adjusted for stock splits,
etc.), the Investor shall have the right to designate one nominee for election
to the Board of Directors, and the Company shall use its best efforts to cause
the Investor's nominee to be elected to the Board of Directors. In addition,
for so long as the Investor (including entities affiliated with the Investor)
holds at least 456,147 shares of Stock (as adjusted for stock splits, etc.),
unless a representative of the Investor is a member of the Board of Directors,
the Company shall invite a representative of the Investor to attend all meetings
of the Board of Directors of the Company in a nonvoting observer capacity and,
in this respect, shall give such representative copies of all notice, minutes,
consents and other materials that it provides to its directors and at the same
time such materials are provided to its directors; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such
representative shall agree to hold in confidence and to act in a fiduciary
manner with respect to all information so provided.
4. MISCELLANEOUS.
4.1 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.
Except as otherwise provided herein, the terms and conditions of this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective
successors and assigns of the parties (including transferees of any of the
Stock). Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer
upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and
assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of
this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
4.2 GOVERNING LAW.
This Agreement and all acts and transactions pursuant hereto shall be
governed, construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of
Massachusetts, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws.
4.3 COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.
4.4 TITLES AND SUBTITLES.
The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for
convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this
Agreement.
4.5 NOTICES.
Unless otherwise provided, any notice required or permitted by this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed sufficient upon delivery, when
delivered personally or by overnight courier or sent by telegram or fax,
addressed to the party to be notified at such party's address as set forth
below, or as subsequently modified by written notice, and (a) if to the Company,
with a copy to Peabody & Arnold, 50 Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA 02110 (attn: Joseph
D.S. Hinkley), or (b) if to the Purchaser, to the attention of Ng Keh Long,
Chief Financial Officer, with copies to Venture Law Group, 2800 Sand Hill Road,
Menlo Park, CA 94025 (attn: Donald M. Keller, Jr.) and to Creative Labs, 1901
McCarthy Blvd., Milpitas, CA 95035 (attn: General Counsel).
4.6 EXPENSES.
If any action at law or in equity is necessary to enforce or interpret
the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonale
attorneys' fees, costs and necessary disbursements in addition to any other
relief to which such party may be entitled.
4.7 AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS.
Any term of this Agreement may be amended and the observance of any
term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular
instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only with the written
consent of the Company and the holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities then outstanding,. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance
with this paragraph shall be binding upon each holder of any Registrable
Securities then outstanding, each future holder of all such Registrable
Securities, and the Company.
4.8 SEVERABILITY.
If one or more provisions of this Agreement are held to be
unenforceable under applicable law, the parties agree to renegotiate such
provision in good faith. In the event that the parties cannot reach a mutually
agreeable and enforceable replacement for such provision, then (x) such
provision shall be excluded from this Agreement, (y) the balance of the
Agreement shall be interpreted as if such provision were so excluded and (z) the
balance of the Agreement shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms.
4.9 AGGREGATION OF STOCK.
All shares of Stock and Registrable Securities held or acquired by
affiliated entities or persons shall be aggregated together for the purpose of
determining the availability of any rights under this Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
The parties have executed this Investor Rights Agreement as of the date
first above written.
COMPANY: INVESTOR:
CAMBRIDGE SOUNDWORKS, INC. CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY LTD.
By: /s/ Thomas J. Devesto By: /s/ Sim Wong Hoo
--------------------------- ------------------------------
Title: President and CEO Title: Chairman and CEO
Address: 311 Needham Street Address: 67 Ayer Rajah Crescent #03-18
Newton, MA 02164 Singapore 139950