EXHIBIT 2.4
TWIN Entertainment Inc.
INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Investor Rights Agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into as of the
31 day of January 2000, by and among TWIN Entertainment Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company") and the purchasers of the Company's common stock
("Common Stock") set forth on Exhibit A of that certain Joint Venture and Stock
Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 6, 1999 (the "Purchase Agreement") and
Exhibit A hereto. The purchasers of the Common Stock shall be referred to
hereinafter as the "Investors" and each individually as an "Investor."
Recitals
Whereas, the Company proposes to sell and issue Five Million (5,000,000)
shares of its Common Stock pursuant to the Purchase Agreement;
Whereas, as a condition of purchasing the Common Stock pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement, the Investors have requested that the Company extend to them
registration rights, information rights and other rights as set forth below.
Now, Therefore, in consideration of the mutual promises, representations,
warranties, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement and in the
Purchase Agreement, the parties mutually agree as follows:
SECTION 1. GENERAL
1.1 Definitions. As used in this Agreement the following terms shall
have the following respective meanings:
"Affiliate" means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one
or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or which is controlled by
an entity which controls, another Person; provided, however, that "control"
shall mean the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause
the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Form S-3" means such form under the Securities Act as in effect on
the date hereof or any successor registration form under the Securities Act
subsequently adopted by the SEC which permits inclusion or incorporation of
substantial information by reference to other documents filed by the Company
with the SEC.
1.
"Holder" means any person owning of record Registrable Securities
that have not been sold to the public or any assignee of record of such
Registrable Securities in accordance with this Agreement.
"Initial Offering" means the Company's first firm commitment
underwritten public offering of its Common Stock registered under the Securities
Act.
"Register," "registered," and "registration" refer to a registration
effected by preparing and filing a registration statement in compliance with the
Securities Act, and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such
registration statement or document.
"Person" means any natural person, partnership, corporation, limited
liability company, trust, estate, association, custodian or nominee or any other
individual or entity in its own or any representative capacity.
"Registrable Securities" means (a) shares of Common Stock purchased
under the Purchase Agreement (including, without limitation, those shares of
Common Stock acquired by an Investor pursuant to that certain stockholders
agreement dated as of the date hereof between the Investors and the Company (the
"Stockholders Agreement")); and (b) any 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, such above-described securities.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Registrable Securities shall not include any
securities sold by a person to the public either pursuant to a registration
statement or Rule 144 or sold in a private transaction in which the transferor's
rights under Section 2 of this Agreement are not assigned.
"Registration Expenses" shall mean all expenses incurred by the
Company in complying with Sections 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4 hereof, including, without
limitation, all registration and filing fees, printing expenses, fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company, reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Holders, blue sky fees and expenses and the expense of any
special audits incident to or required by any such registration (but excluding
the compensation of regular employees of the Company which shall be paid in any
event by the Company).
"SEC" or "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Selling Expenses" shall mean all underwriting discounts and selling
commissions applicable to the sale.
"Shares" shall mean the Company's Common Stock when and if issued by
the Company pursuant to a purchase agreement.
2.
SECTION 2. REGISTRATION; RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER
2.1 Restrictions on Transfer.
(a) Without limiting in any way any additional restrictions on
transfer set forth in the Stockholders Agreement, each Holder agrees not to make
any disposition of all or any portion of the Shares (if issued) or Registrable
Securities unless and until:
(i) There is then in effect a registration statement
under the Securities Act covering such proposed disposition and such disposition
is made in accordance with such registration statement; or
(ii) (A) The transferee has agreed in writing to be bound
by the terms of this Agreement, (B) such Holder shall have notified the Company
of the proposed disposition and shall have furnished the Company with a detailed
statement of the circumstances surrounding the proposed disposition, and (C) if
reasonably requested by the Company, such Holder shall have furnished the
Company with an opinion of counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that
such disposition will not require registration of such shares under the
Securities Act. It is agreed that the Company will not require opinions of
counsel for transactions made pursuant to Rule 144 except in unusual
circumstances.
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rights of the
Company and the Holders in this Section 2 shall not apply to any transfer to any
Affiliate of any Holder; provided that (A) the Holder (or its representative)
shall inform the Company of such transfer prior to effecting it and (B) the
transferee shall furnish the Company with a written agreement to be bound by and
comply with all provisions of this Section 2. Such transferred Shares shall
remain "Shares" hereunder, and such transferee shall be treated as the "Holder"
for purposes of this Agreement.
(b) Each certificate representing Shares (if issued) or
Registrable Securities shall (unless otherwise permitted by the provisions of
the Agreement) be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend substantially
similar to that set forth in Section 6 of the Stockholders Agreement.
(c) The Company shall be obligated to reissue promptly
unlegended certificates at the request of any holder thereof if the holder shall
have obtained an opinion of counsel (which counsel may be counsel to the
Company) reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that the securities
proposed to be disposed of may lawfully be so disposed of without registration,
qualification or legend.
(d) Any legend endorsed on an instrument pursuant to applicable
state securities laws and the stop-transfer instructions with respect to such
securities shall be removed upon receipt by the Company of an order of the
appropriate blue sky authority authorizing such removal.
3.
2.2 Demand Registration.
(a) Subject to the conditions of this Section 2.2, if the
Company shall receive a written request from the Holders of two-thirds of the
Registrable Securities then outstanding (the "Initiating Holders") that the
Company file a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the
registration of a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding (or a
lesser percent if the anticipated aggregate offering price, net of underwriting
discounts and commissions, would exceed $15,000,000 at a per share price
reflecting a pre-money valuation of the Company of $60,000,000 (a "Qualified
Public Offering")), then the Company shall, within thirty (30) days of the
receipt thereof, give written notice of such request to all Holders, and subject
to the limitations of this Section 2.2, use its best efforts to effect, as soon
as practicable, the registration under the Securities Act of all Registrable
Securities that the Holders request to be registered.
(b) If the 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 2.2 or any request pursuant to Section 2.4 and the Company shall
include such information in the written notice referred to in Section 2.2(a) or
Section 2.4(a), as applicable. 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 to the extent provided herein. All
Holders proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting shall
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 (which underwriter or underwriters shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Company). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section
2.2 or Section 2.4, if the underwriter advises the Company that marketing
factors require a limitation of the number of securities to be underwritten
(including Registrable Securities) then the Company shall so advise all Holders
of Registrable Securities which would otherwise be underwritten pursuant hereto,
and the number of shares that may be included in the underwriting shall be
allocated to the Holders of such Registrable Securities on a pro rata basis
based on the number of Registrable Securities held by all such Holders
(including the Initiating Holders); provided, however, that the number of shares
of Registrable Securities to be included in such underwriting and registration
shall not be reduced unless all other securities of the Company are first
entirely excluded from the underwriting and registration. Any Registrable
Securities excluded or withdrawn from such underwriting shall be withdrawn from
the registration.
(c) The Company shall not be required to effect a registration
pursuant to this Section 2.2:
(i) prior to the earlier of (A) the third anniversary
of the date of this Agreement or (B) one hundred eighty (180) days following the
effective date of the registration statement pertaining to the Initial Offering;
(ii) after the Company has effected two (2)
registrations pursuant to this Section 2.2, and such registrations have been
declared or ordered effective;
4.
(iii) if within thirty (30) days of receipt of a written
request from Initiating Holders pursuant to Section 2.2(a), the Company gives
notice to the Holders of the Company's intention to make its Initial Offering
within ninety (90) days;
(iv) if the Company shall furnish to Holders requesting
a registration statement pursuant to this Section 2.2, a certificate signed by
the Chairman of the Board 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 shareholders for such registration statement to be effected at such
time, in which event the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a
period of not more than one hundred twenty (120) days after receipt of the
request of the Initiating Holders; provided that such right to delay a request
shall be exercised by the Company not more than once in any twelve (12) month
period; or
(v) if the Initiating Holders propose to dispose of
shares of Registrable Securities that may be immediately registered on Form S-3
pursuant to a request made pursuant to Section 2.4 below.
2.3 Piggyback Registrations. The Company shall notify all Holders of
Registrable Securities in writing at least fifteen (15) days prior to the filing
of any registration statement under the Securities Act for purposes of a public
offering of securities of the Company (including, but not limited to,
registration statements relating to secondary offerings of securities of the
Company, but excluding registration statements relating to employee benefit
plans or with respect to corporate reorganizations or other transactions under
Rule 145 of the Securities Act) and will afford each such Holder an opportunity
to include in such registration statement all or part of such Registrable
Securities held by such Holder. Each Holder desiring to include in any such
registration statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities held by it
shall, within fifteen (15) days after the above-described notice from the
Company, so notify the Company in writing. Such notice shall state the intended
method of disposition of the Registrable Securities by such Holder. If a Holder
decides not to include all of its Registrable Securities in any registration
statement thereafter filed by the Company, such Holder shall nevertheless
continue to have the right to include any Registrable Securities in any
subsequent registration statement or registration statements as may be filed by
the Company with respect to offerings of its securities, all upon the terms and
conditions set forth herein.
(a) Underwriting. If the registration statement under which the
Company gives notice under this Section 2.3 is for an underwritten offering, the
Company shall so advise the Holders of Registrable Securities. In such event,
the right of any such Holder to be included in a registration pursuant to this
Section 2.3 shall be conditioned upon such Holder's participation in such
underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder's Registrable Securities in the
underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to distribute
their Registrable Securities through such underwriting shall enter into an
underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters
selected for such underwriting by the Company. Notwithstanding any other
provision of the Agreement, if the underwriter determines in good faith that
marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be
underwritten, the number of shares that may be included in the underwriting
shall be allocated, first, to the Company; second, to the Holders on a pro rata
basis based on the total number of Registrable Securities held by the Holders
that the Holders seek to register pursuant to the
5.
provisions hereof; and third, to any shareholder of the Company (other than a
Holder) on a pro rata basis. No such reduction shall (i) reduce the securities
being offered by the Company for its own account to be included in the
registration and underwriting, or (ii) reduce the amount of securities of the
selling Holders included in the registration below twenty-five percent (25%) of
the total amount of securities included in such registration, unless such
offering is the Initial Offering and such registration does not include shares
of any other selling shareholders, in which event any or all of the Registrable
Securities of the Holders may be excluded in accordance with the immediately
preceding sentence. In no event will shares of any other selling shareholder be
included in such registration which would reduce the number of shares which may
be included by Holders without the written consent of Holders of not less than
ninety percent (90%) of the Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the
offering. If any Holder disapproves of the terms of any such underwriting, such
Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company and the
underwriter, delivered at least ten (10) business days prior to the effective
date of the registration statement. Any Registrable Securities excluded or
withdrawn from such underwriting shall be excluded and withdrawn from the
registration.
(b) Right to Terminate Registration. The Company shall have the
right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this
Section 2.3 prior to the effectiveness of such registration whether or not any
Holder has elected to include securities in such registration. The Registration
Expenses of such withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Company in
accordance with Section 2.5 hereof.
2.4 Form S-3 Registration. In case the Company shall receive from any
Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities a written request or requests that
the Company effect a registration on Form S-3 (or any successor to Form S-3) or
any similar short-form registration statement 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 of Registrable
Securities; 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
fifteen (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 2.4:
(i) if Form S-3 (or any successor or similar form) is not
available for such offering by the Holders, or
(ii) 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 of less than one million dollars ($1,000,000), or
6.
(iii) if within thirty (30) days of receipt of a written
request from Initiating Holders pursuant to Section 2.2(a), the Company gives
notice to the Holders of the Company's intention to make a public offering
within ninety (90) days;
(iv) if the Company shall furnish to the Holders a
certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors 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 shareholders
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 ninety (90) days after receipt of the
request of the Holder or Holders under this Section 2.4; provided, that such
right to delay a request shall be exercised by the Company not more than once in
any twelve (12) month period, or
(v) if the Company has, within the twelve (12) month period
preceding the date of such request, already effected two (2) registrations on
Form S-3 for the Holders pursuant to this Section 2.4, or
(vi) 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 Form S-3
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. Registrations effected pursuant to this
Section 2.4 shall not be counted as demands for registration or registrations
effected pursuant to Sections 2.2 or 2.3, respectively. All such Registration
Expenses incurred in connection with registrations requested pursuant to this
Section 2.4 after the first two (2) registrations shall be paid by the selling
Holders pro rata in proportion to the number of shares sold by each.
2.5 Expenses of Registration. Except as specifically provided herein,
all Registration Expenses incurred in connection with any registration,
qualification or compliance pursuant to Section 2.2 or any registration under
Section 2.3 or Section 2.4 herein shall be borne by the Company. All Selling
Expenses incurred in connection with any registrations hereunder, shall be borne
by the holders of the securities so registered pro rata on the basis of the
number of shares so registered. The Company shall not, however, be required to
pay for expenses of any registration proceeding begun pursuant to Section 2.2 or
2.4, the request of which has been subsequently withdrawn by the Initiating
Holders unless (a) the withdrawal is based upon material adverse information
concerning the Company of which the Initiating Holders were not aware at the
time of such request or (b) the Holders of a majority of Registrable Securities
agree to forfeit their right to one requested registration pursuant to Section
2.2 or Section 2.4, as applicable (in which event such right shall be forfeited
by all Holders). If the Holders are required to pay the Registration Expenses,
such expenses shall be borne by the holders of securities (including Registrable
Securities) requesting such registration in proportion to the number of shares
for which registration was requested. If the Company is required to pay the
Registration Expenses of a withdrawn offering pursuant to clause (a) above, then
the Holders shall not forfeit their rights pursuant to Section 2.2 or Section
2.4 to a demand registration.
7.
2.6 Obligations of the Company. Whenever required 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 all reasonable efforts to cause
such 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 thirty (30) days or, if earlier,
until the Holder or Holders have completed the distribution related thereto. The
Company shall not be required to file, cause to become effective or maintain the
effectiveness of any registration statement that contemplates a distribution of
securities on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the
Securities Act.
(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
Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such
registration statement for the period set forth in paragraph (a) above.
(c) Furnish to the Holders such number of copies of a prospectus,
including a preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the
Securities 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 reasonable 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(s) 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 Securities 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.
(g) Use its best efforts to furnish, on the date that such
Registrable Securities are delivered to the underwriters for sale, if such
securities are being sold through underwriters, (i) an opinion, dated as of 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 (ii)
a letter dated as of such date, from the independent certified public
accountants of the Company, in form and
8.
substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to
underwriters in an underwritten public offering addressed to the underwriters.
2.7 Termination of Registration Rights. All registration rights granted
under this Section 2 shall terminate and be of no further force and effect three
(3) years after the date of the Company's Initial Offering. In addition, a
Holder's registration rights shall expire if (a) such Holder (together with its
affiliates, partners and former partners) holds less than 1% of the Company's
outstanding Common Stock; and (b) all Registrable Securities held by and
issuable to such Holder (and its affiliates, partners, former partners, members
and former members) may be sold under Rule 144 during any ninety (90) day
period.
2.8 Delay of Registration; Furnishing Information.
(a) 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 2.
(b) It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the
Company to take any action pursuant to Section 2.2, 2.3 or 2.4 that the selling
Holders shall furnish to the Company such information regarding themselves, the
Registrable Securities held by them and the intended method of disposition of
such securities as shall be required to effect the registration of their
Registrable Securities.
(c) The Company shall have no obligation with respect to any
registration requested pursuant to Section 2.2 or Section 2.4 if, due to the
operation of subsection 2.2(b), 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 Section 2.2 or Section 2.4,
whichever is applicable.
2.9 Indemnification. In the event any Registrable Securities are included
in a registration statement under Sections 2.2, 2.3 or 2.4:
(a) To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify and
hold harmless each Holder, the partners, officers and directors of each Holder,
any underwriter (as defined in the Securities Act) for such Holder and each
person, if any, who controls such Holder or underwriter within the meaning of
the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages, or
liabilities (joint or several) to which they may become subject under the
Securities 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") by the Company: (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 Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state
securities law or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities
9.
Act, the Exchange Act or any state securities law in connection with the
offering covered by such registration statement; and the Company will pay as
incurred to each such Holder, partner, officer, director, underwriter or
controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them
in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action; provided however, that the indemnity agreement contained in
this Section 2.9(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 by such Holder, partner, officer, director, underwriter or
controlling person of such Holder under an instrument duly executed by such
person and stated to be specifically for use in connection with such
registration.
(b) To the extent permitted by law, each Holder will, if
Registrable Securities held by such Holder are included in the securities as to
which such registration qualifications or compliance is being effected,
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, its officers and
each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the
Securities Act, any underwriter and any other Holder selling securities under
such registration statement or any of such other Holder's partners, directors or
officers or any person who controls such Holder, against any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (joint or several) to which the Company or any such
director, officer, controlling person, underwriter or other such Holder, or
partner, director, officer or controlling person of such other Holder may become
subject under the Securities 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 under an
instrument duly executed by such Holder and stated to be specifically for use in
connection with such registration; and each such Holder will pay as incurred any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such director,
officer, controlling person, underwriter or other Holder, or partner, officer,
director or controlling person of such other Holder in connection with
investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if
it is judicially determined that there was such a Violation; provided, however,
that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 2.9(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 further, that in no event shall any
indemnity under this Section 2.9 exceed the net proceeds from the offering
received by such Holder.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 2.9 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 2.9, 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 shall
have the right to retain its own counsel, with the fees and
10.
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 materially
prejudicial to its ability to defend such action, shall relieve such
indemnifying party of any liability to the indemnified party under this Section
2.9, 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 2.9.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 2.9 is held
by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified party
with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to herein,
the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party
thereunder, shall to the extent permitted by applicable law contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss,
claim, damage or liability 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 Violation(s) that resulted in such
loss, claim, damage or liability, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the
indemnified party shall be determined by a court of law 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; provided, that in no event shall any contribution by a
Holder hereunder exceed the net proceeds from the offering received by such
Holder.
(e) The obligations of the Company and Holders under this Section 2.9
shall survive completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in a
registration statement and the termination of this agreement. No Indemnifying
Party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation, shall, except with the
consent of each Indemnified Party, 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 a release from
all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
2.10 Amendment of Registration Rights. Any provision of this Section 2 may
be amended and the observance thereof 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 at least ninety percent (90%)
of the Registrable Securities then outstanding. Any amendment or waiver effected
in accordance with this Section 2.10 shall be binding upon each Holder and the
Company. By acceptance of any benefits under this Section 2, Holders of
Registrable Securities hereby agree to be bound by the provisions hereunder.
2.11 Limitation on Subsequent Registration Rights. After the date of this
Agreement, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the
Holders of ninety percent (90%) of the Registrable Securities then outstanding,
enter into any agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities
of the Company that would grant such holder registration rights pari passu or
senior to those granted to the Holders hereunder.
11.
2.12 "Market Stand-Off" Agreement; Agreement to Furnish Information. Each
Holder hereby agrees that such Holder shall not sell, transfer, make any short
sale of, grant any option for the purchase of, or enter into any hedging or
similar transaction with the same economic effect as a sale, any Common Stock
(or other securities) of the Company held by such Holder (other than those
included in the registration) for a period specified by the representative of
the underwriters of Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company not to
exceed one hundred eighty (180) days following the effective date of a
registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act; provided
that:
(i) such agreement shall apply only to the Company's Initial
Offering; and
(ii) all officers and directors of the Company and holders of at
least one percent (1%) of the Company's voting securities enter into similar
agreements.
Each Holder agrees to execute and deliver such other agreements as may be
reasonably requested by the Company or the underwriter which are consistent with
the foregoing or which are necessary to give further effect thereto. In
addition, if requested by the Company or the representative of the underwriters
of Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company, each Holder shall provide,
within ten (10) days of such request, such information as may be required by the
Company or such representative in connection with the completion of any public
offering of the Company's securities pursuant to a registration statement filed
under the Securities Act. The obligations described in this Section 2.12 shall
not apply to a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans on Form S-
1 or Form S-8 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future, or a
registration relating solely to a Commission Rule 145 transaction on Form S-4 or
similar forms that may be promulgated in the future. The Company may impose
stop-transfer instructions with respect to the shares of Common Stock (or other
securities) subject to the foregoing restriction until the end of said one
hundred eighty (180) day period.
2.13 Rule 144 Reporting. With a view to making available to the Holders
the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC which may permit the
sale of the Registrable Securities to the public without registration, the
Company agrees to use its best efforts to:
(a) Make and keep public information available, as those terms are
understood and defined in SEC Rule 144 or any similar or analogous rule
promulgated under the Securities Act, at all times after the effective date of
the first registration filed by the Company for an offering of its securities to
the general public;
(b) File with the SEC, in a timely manner, all reports and other
documents required of the Company under the Exchange Act; and
(c) So long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish to
such Holder forthwith upon request: a written statement by the Company as to its
compliance with the reporting requirements of said Rule 144 of the Securities
Act, and of the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such
reporting requirements); a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of
the Company; and such other reports and documents as a Holder
12.
may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the SEC
allowing it to sell any such securities without registration.
SECTION 3. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
3.1 Basic Financial Information and Reporting.
(a) As soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year of the
Company, and in any event within ninety (90) days thereafter, the Company will
furnish each Investor a balance sheet of the Company, as at the end of such
fiscal year, and a statement of income and a statement of cash flows of the
Company, for such year, all prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied and setting forth in each case in
comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable
detail. Such financial statements shall be audited and accompanied by a report
and opinion thereon by independent public accountants of national standing
selected by the Company's Board of Directors.
(b) The Company will furnish each Investor, as soon as practicable
after the end of each calendar quarter, and in any event within thirty (30) days
thereafter, a balance sheet of the Company as of the end of each such quarterly
period, and a statement of income and a statement of cash flows of the Company
for such period and for the current fiscal year to date, prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles, with the exception that no notes
need be attached to such statements and year-end audit adjustments may not have
been made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time the Company prepares a
balance sheet, statement of income or statement of cash flows for any period
other than as set forth above, then the Company shall furnish to each Investor
such balance sheet, statement of income or statement of cash flows upon
completion.
(c) So long as an Investor (with its affiliates) shall own not less
than ten percent (10%) of the Registrable Securities (as adjusted for stock
splits and combinations) (a "Major Investor"), the Company will furnish each
such Major Investor at least sixty (60) days prior to the beginning of each
fiscal year an annual operating plan and budget, prepared on a monthly basis for
the ensuing fiscal year, and on a basis consistent with prior periods
(including, among other items, appropriate reserves, accruals and provisions for
income taxes) and representing the best estimate of the Company based upon
available information. The Company shall also furnish to such Major Investor,
within a reasonable time of its preparation, amendments to the annual budget, if
any. Such budget shall include underlying assumptions and a brief qualitative
description of the Company's plan by the Chief Executive Officer in support of
that budget.
(d) The Company will notify each Major Investor, as soon as
practicable, and in any event within ten (10) days of discovery, of (i) any
event (including pending or threatened litigation) which could have a material
adverse effect upon the financial condition or results of operations of the
Company considered in the aggregate; (ii) any change in any material fact or
circumstance represented or warranted in this Agreement, (iii) a default or any
event or occurrence which with the lapse of time or notice or both could become
a default under the Purchase Agreement and (iv) a material default or any event
or occurrence which with the lapse of time or notice or both could become a
default under any of the Company's material
13.
agreements. Such notice shall contain a reasonably detailed statement outlining
such default or event, and the Company's proposed response.
(e) In the event the Company fails to provide the reports or
financial statements required by this Section 3.1, the Major Investors may give
the Company notice requesting immediate delivery of such reports. If the Company
fails to deliver such reports upon receipt of such notice, then any of the Major
Investors shall have the right and authority, at the Company's sole expense, to
request an audit by a single accounting firm of its or their choice, such that
the reports or financial statements are produced to its or their sole
satisfaction.
3.2 Inspection Rights. Each Major Investor shall have the right to visit
and inspect any of the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and
to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries with its officers, and to review such information as is reasonably
requested all at such reasonable times and as often as may be reasonably
requested; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated under this
Section 3.2 with respect to a competitor of the Company or with respect to
information which the Board of Directors determines in good faith is
confidential and should not, therefore, be disclosed; and, provided further,
that the preceding proviso shall not, in any case, apply to the Investors listed
on Exhibit A hereto.
3.3 Confidentiality of Records. Each Investor agrees to use, and to use
its best efforts to insure that its authorized representatives use, the same
degree of care as such Investor uses to protect its own confidential information
to keep confidential any information furnished to it which the Company
identifies as being confidential or proprietary (so long as such information is
not in the public domain), except that such Investor may disclose such
proprietary or confidential information to any partner, subsidiary or parent of
such Investor for the purpose of evaluating its investment in the Company as
long as such partner, subsidiary or parent is advised of the confidentiality
provisions of this Section 3.3.
SECTION 4. RIGHTS OF FIRST REFUSAL
4.1 Subsequent Offerings. Each Investor owning at least ten percent (10%)
of the Company's Shares (a "Participating Holder") shall have a right of first
refusal to purchase its pro rata share of all Equity Securities, as defined
below, that the Company may, from time to time, propose to sell and issue after
the date of this Agreement, other than the Equity Securities excluded by Section
4.6 hereof. Each Participating Holder's pro rata share is equal to the ratio of
(a) the number of shares of the Company's Common Stock which such Participating
Holder is deemed to be a holder immediately prior to the issuance of such Equity
Securities to (b) the total number of shares of the Company's outstanding Common
Stock (including all shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion
of any preferred shares or upon the exercise of any outstanding warrants or
options) immediately prior to the issuance of the Equity Securities. The term
"Equity Securities" shall mean (i) any Common Stock or other security of the
Company, (ii) any security convertible, with or without consideration, into any
Common Stock or other security (including any option to purchase such a
convertible security), (iii) any security carrying any warrant or right to
subscribe to or purchase any Common Stock or other security or (iv) any such
warrant or right.
14.
4.2 Exercise of Rights. If the Company proposes to issue any Equity
Securities, it shall give each Participating Holder written notice of its
intention, describing the Equity Securities, the price and the terms and
conditions upon which the Company proposes to issue the same. Each Participating
Holder shall have thirty (30) days from the giving of such notice to agree to
purchase its pro rata share of the Equity Securities for the price and upon the
terms and conditions specified in the notice by giving written notice to the
Company and stating therein the quantity of Equity Securities to be purchased.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to offer or
sell such Equity Securities to any Participating Holder who would cause the
Company to be in violation of applicable federal securities laws by virtue of
such offer or sale.
4.3 Issuance of Equity Securities to Other Persons. If not all of the
Participating Holders elect to purchase their pro rata share of the Equity
Securities, then the Company shall promptly notify in writing the Participating
Holders who do so elect and shall offer such Participating Holders the right to
acquire such unsubscribed shares. The Participating Holders shall have five (5)
days after receipt of such notice to notify the Company of its election to
purchase all or a portion thereof of the unsubscribed shares. If the
Participating Holders fail to exercise in full the rights of first refusal, the
Company shall have ninety (90) days thereafter to sell the Equity Securities in
respect of which the Participating Holder's rights were not exercised, at a
price and upon general terms and conditions materially no more favorable to the
purchasers thereof than specified in the Company's notice to the Participating
Holders pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof. If the Company has not sold such Equity
Securities within ninety (90) days of the notice provided pursuant to Section
4.2, the Company shall not thereafter issue or sell any Equity Securities,
without first offering such securities to the Participating Holders in the
manner provided above.
4.4 Termination and Waiver of Rights of First Refusal. The rights of first
refusal established by this Section 4 shall not apply to, and shall terminate
upon the effective date of the registration statement pertaining to the
Company's Initial Offering.
4.5 Excluded Securities. The rights of first refusal established by this
Section 4 shall have no application to any of the following Equity Securities:
(a) shares of Common Stock (and/or options, warrants or other Common
Stock purchase rights issued pursuant to such options, warrants or other
rights), as adjusted for any stock dividends, combinations, splits,
recapitalizations and the like, issued or to be issued to employees, officers or
directors of, or consultants or advisors to the Company or any subsidiary,
pursuant to stock purchase or stock option plans or other arrangements that are
approved by the Board of Directors, including the representatives designated by
the Investors;
(b) stock issued pursuant to any rights or agreements granted after
the date of this Agreement; provided that the rights of first refusal
established by this Section 4 applied with respect to the initial sale or grant
by the Company of such rights or agreements;
(c) any Equity Securities issued for consideration other than cash
pursuant to a merger, consolidation, acquisition or similar business combination
approved by the Board of Directors;
15.
(d) shares of Common Stock issued in connection with any stock split,
stock dividend or recapitalization by the Company affecting all such shares
equally;
(e) any Equity Securities issued pursuant to any equipment leasing or
loan arrangement, or debt financing from a bank or similar financial or lending
institution approved by the Board of Directors;
(f) any Equity Securities that are issued by the Company pursuant to
a registration statement filed under the Securities Act; and
(g) shares of the Company's Common Stock or other Equity Securities
issued in connection with strategic transactions involving the Company and other
entities, including (i) joint ventures, manufacturing, marketing or distribution
arrangements or (ii) technology transfer or development arrangements; provided
that such strategic transactions and the issuance of shares therein, has been
approved by the Company's Board of Directors, including the representatives
designated by the Investors.
SECTION 5. MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under
the laws of the State of Delaware.
5.2 Survival. The representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements
made herein shall survive any investigation made by any Holder and the closing
of the transactions contemplated hereby. All statements as to factual matters
contained in any certificate or other instrument delivered by or on behalf of
the Company pursuant hereto in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby shall be deemed to be representations and warranties by the Company
hereunder solely as of the date of such certificate or instrument.
5.3 Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein,
the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the
permitted successors, assigns, heirs, executors, and administrators of the
parties hereto and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each
person who shall be a holder of Registrable Securities from time to time;
provided, however, that prior to the receipt by the Company of adequate written
notice of the transfer of any Registrable Securities specifying the full name
and address of the transferee, the Company may deem and treat the person listed
as the holder of such shares in its records as the absolute owner and holder of
such shares for all purposes, including the payment of dividends or any
redemption price; and, provided further, that no assignment of Registrable
Securities shall be valid hereunder unless exercised in accordance with Section
2.1.
5.4 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Exhibits and Schedules hereto,
the Purchase Agreement and the other documents delivered pursuant thereto
constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties
with regard to the subjects hereof and no party shall be liable or bound to any
other in any manner by any representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
except as specifically set forth herein and therein.
5.5 Severability. In the event one or more of the provisions of this
Agreement should, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect, such
16.
invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other
provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be construed as if such
invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
5.6 Amendment and Waiver.
(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided, this Agreement may be
amended or modified only upon the written consent of the Company and the holders
of at least ninety percent (90%) of the Registrable Securities.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be amended with
only the written consent of the Company to include purchasers of Shares as
"Investors," "Holders" and parties hereto.
5.7 Delays or Omissions. It is agreed that no delay or omission to
exercise any right, power, or remedy accruing to any Holder, upon any breach,
default or noncompliance of the Company under this Agreement shall impair any
such right, power, or remedy, nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any
such breach, default or noncompliance, or any acquiescence therein, or of any
similar breach, default or noncompliance thereafter occurring. It is further
agreed that any waiver, permit, consent, or approval of any kind or character on
any Holder's part of any breach, default or noncompliance under the Agreement or
any waiver on such Holder's part of any provisions or conditions of this
Agreement must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent
specifically set forth in such writing. All remedies, either under this
Agreement, by law, or otherwise afforded to Holders, shall be cumulative and not
alternative.
5.8 Notices. All notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon personal delivery to the
party to be notified, (b) when sent by confirmed telex or facsimile if sent
during normal business hours of the recipient; if not, then on the next business
day, (c) five (5) days after having been sent by registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (d) one (1) day after deposit with
a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with
written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to the party
to be notified at the address as set forth on the signature pages hereof or
Exhibit A hereto or at such other address as such party may designate by ten
(10) days advance written notice to the other parties hereto.
5.9 Attorneys' Fees. In the event that any suit or action is instituted to
enforce any provision in this Agreement, the prevailing party in such dispute
shall be entitled to recover from the losing party all fees, costs and expenses
of enforcing any right of such prevailing party under or with respect to this
Agreement, including without limitation, such reasonable fees and expenses of
attorneys and accountants, which shall include, without limitation, all fees,
costs and expenses of appeals.
5.10 Titles and Subtitles. The titles of the sections and subsections of
this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be
considered in construing this Agreement.
5.11 Additional Investors. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, if the Company shall issue shares of its Common Stock pursuant
to any purchase agreement, any purchaser of such shares of Common Stock may
become a party to this
17.
Agreement by executing and delivering an additional counterpart signature page
to this Agreement and shall be deemed an "Investor" hereunder.
5.12 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together
shall constitute one instrument.
18.
In Witness Whereof, the parties hereto have executed this Investor Rights
Agreement as of the date set forth in the first paragraph hereof.
COMPANY: INVESTORS:
- -------- ---------
TWIN Entertainment Inc. Two Way TV Limited
By: /s/ Bruce W. Bauer By: /s/ Piers Wilson
------------------------------ ------------------------------
Name: Bruce W. Bauer Name: Piers Wilson
Title: President Title: Finance Director
By: /s/ Piers Wilson Interactive Network, Inc.
------------------------------
Name: Piers Wilson
Title: Secretary and Treasurer By: /s/ Bruce W. Bauer
------------------------------
Name: Bruce W. Bauer
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer