EXHIBIT 4.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of August 10,
1998 by and among Aspect Telecommunications Corporation, a California
corporation ("the Company"), and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated and Credit
Suisse First Boston Corporation (the "Initial Purchasers") pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 10, 1998 (the "Purchase Agreement"),
among the Company and the Initial Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial
Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to
provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution of
this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.
The Company agrees with the Initial Purchasers, (i) for their benefit as
Initial Purchasers and (ii) for the benefit of the beneficial owners (including
the Initial Purchasers) from time to time of the Debentures (as defined herein)
and the beneficial owners from time to time of the Underlying Common Stock (as
defined herein) issued upon conversion of the Debentures (each of the foregoing
a "Holder" and together the "Holders"), as follows:
SECTION 1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without definition
shall have their respective meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement. As
used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Affiliate: With respect to any specified person, an "affiliate," as defined
in Rule 144, of such person.
Amendment Effectiveness Deadline Date: See Section 2(d) hereof.
Applicable Conversion Price: The Applicable Conversion Price as of any date
of determination means the Applicable Principal Amount per $1,000 principal
amount at maturity of Debentures as of such date of determination divided by the
Conversion Rate in effect as of such date of determination or, if no Debentures
are then outstanding, the Conversion Rate that would be in effect were
Debentures then outstanding.
Applicable Principal Amount: Applicable Principal Amount as of any date of
determination, with respect to each $1,000 principal amount at maturity of
Debentures means the sum of the initial issue price of such Debenture ($306.56)
plus accrued original issue discount with respect such Debenture through such
date of determination or, if no Debentures are then outstanding, such sum
calculated as if such Debentures were then outstanding.
Business Day: Each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is
not a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized
or obligated by law or executive order to close.
Common Stock: The shares of common stock $0.01 par value of the Company and
any other shares of common stock as may constitute "Common Stock" for purposes
of the Indenture, including the Underlying Common Stock.
Conversion Rate: Conversion Rate shall have the meaning assigned such term in
the Indenture.
Damages Accrual Period: See Section 2(e) hereof.
Damages Payment Date: Each February 10 and August 10 in the case of
Debentures and the Underlying Common Stock.
Debentures: The Zero Coupon Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2018 of
the Company to be purchased pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
Deferral Notice: See Section 3(i) hereof.
Deferral Period: See Section 3(i) hereof.
Effectiveness Deadline Date: See Section 2(a) hereof.
Effectiveness Period: The period of two years from the later of (a) the Issue
Date or (b) the last date of original issuance of the Debentures or such shorter
period ending on the date that all Registrable Securities have ceased to be
Registrable Securities.
Event: See Section 2(e) hereof.
Event Termination Date: See Section 2(e) hereof.
Event Date: See Section 2(e) hereof.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules
and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Filing Deadline Date: See Section 2(a) hereof.
Holder: See the second paragraph of this Agreement.
Indenture: The Indenture dated as of the date hereof between the Company and
State Street Bank and Trust Company of California, N.A., as trustee, pursuant to
which the Debentures are being issued.
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Initial Purchasers: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated and Credit Suisse First
Boston Corporation.
Initial Shelf Registration Statement: See Section 2(a) hereof.
Issue Date: August 10, 1998.
Liquidated Damages Amount: See Section 2(e) hereof.
Losses: See Section 6 hereof.
Material Event: See Section 3(i) hereof.
Notice and Questionnaire: A written notice delivered to the Company
containing substantially the information called for by the Selling
Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire attached as Appendix B to the Offering
Memorandum of the Company issued August 5, 1998 relating to the Debentures.
Notice Holder: On any date, any Holder that has delivered a Notice and
Questionnaire to the Company on or prior to such date.
Prospectus: The prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including,
without limitation, a prospectus that discloses information previously omitted
from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in
reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or
supplemented by any amendment or prospectus supplement, including post-effective
amendments, and all materials incorporated by reference or explicitly deemed to
be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
Purchase Agreement: See the first paragraph of this Agreement.
Record Holder: With respect to any Damages Payment Date relating to any
Debenture or Underlying Common Stock as to which any Liquidated Damages Amount
has accrued, the registered holder of such Debenture or Underlying Common Stock,
as the case may be, 15 days prior to the next succeeding Damages Payment Date.
Registrable Securities: The Debentures and the Underlying Common Stock, until
such securities have been converted or exchanged, and, at all times subsequent
to any such conversion or exchange, any securities into or for which such
securities have been converted or exchanged, and any security issued with
respect thereto upon any stock dividend, split or similar event until, in the
case of any such security, (A) the earliest of (i) its effective registration
under the Securities Act and resale in accordance with the Registration
Statement covering it, (ii) expiration of the holding period that would be
applicable thereto under Rule 144(k) were it not held by an Affiliate of the
Company or (iii) its sale to the public pursuant to
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Rule 144, and (B) as a result of the event or circumstance described in any of
the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii), the legends with respect to transfer
restrictions required under the Indenture are removed or removable in
accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
Registration Expenses: See Section 5 hereof.
Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company that covers
any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement,
including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration
statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits, and all materials
incorporated by reference or explicitly deemed to be incorporated by reference
in such registration statement.
Restricted Securities: As this term is defined in Rule 144.
Rule 144: Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from
time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.
Rule 144A: Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended
from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the
SEC.
SEC: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.
Shelf Registration Statement: See Section 2(a) hereof.
Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement: See Section 2(b) hereof.
TIA: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
Trustee: State Street Bank and Trust Company of California, N.A. (or any
successor entity), the Trustee under the Indenture.
Underlying Common Stock: The Common Stock into which the Debentures are
convertible or issued upon any such conversion.
SECTION 2. Shelf Registration. (a) The Company shall prepare and file or
cause to be prepared and filed with the SEC, as soon as practicable but in any
event by the date (the "Filing Deadline Date") ninety (90) days after the Issue
Date, a Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a delayed or
continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act (a "Shelf
Registration Statement") registering the resale from time to time by Holders
thereof of all of the Registrable Securities (the "Initial Shelf Registration
Statement"). The Initial
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Shelf Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 or another appropriate form
permitting registration of such Registrable Securities for resale by such
Holders in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by the Holders
and set forth in the Initial Shelf Registration Statement. The Company shall
use its best efforts to cause the Initial Shelf Registration Statement to be
declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is practicable but
in any event by the date (the "Effectiveness Deadline Date") that is one
hundred and eighty (180) days after the Issue Date, and to keep the Initial
Shelf Registration Statement (or any Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement)
continuously effective under the Securities Act until the expiration of the
Effectiveness Period. At the time the Initial Shelf Registration Statement is
declared effective, each Holder that became a Notice Holder on or prior to the
date 10 Business Days prior to such time of effectiveness shall be named as a
selling securityholder in the Initial Shelf Registration Statement and the
related Prospectus in such a manner as to permit such Holder to deliver such
Prospectus to purchasers of Registrable Securities in accordance with
applicable law. None of the Company's security holders (other than the Holders
of Registrable Securities) shall have the right to include any of the
Company's securities in the Shelf Registration Statement.
(b) If the Initial Shelf Registration Statement or any Subsequent Shelf
Registration Statement ceases to be effective for any reason at any time during
the Effectiveness Period (other than because all Registrable Securities
registered thereunder shall have been resold pursuant thereto or shall have
ceased to be Registrable Securities), the Company shall use its best efforts to
obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness thereof,
and in any event shall within thirty (30) days of such cessation of
effectiveness amend the Shelf Registration Statement in a manner reasonably
expected to obtain the withdrawal of the order suspending the effectiveness
thereof, or file an additional Shelf Registration Statement covering all of the
securities that as of the date of such filing are Registrable Securities (a
"Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement"). If a Subsequent Shelf Registration
Statement is filed, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause the
Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement to become effective as promptly as is
practicable after such filing and to keep such Registration Statement (or
subsequent Shelf Registration Statement) continuously effective until the end of
the Effectiveness Period.
(c) The Company shall supplement and amend the Shelf Registration Statement
if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the
registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement, if
required by the Securities Act or, to the extent to which the Company does not
reasonably object, as reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers or by the
Trustee on behalf of the registered Holders.
(d) Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees that if such Holder wishes
to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement and
related Prospectus, it will do so only in accordance with this Section 2(d) and
Section 3(i). Each Holder of Registrable Securities wishing to sell Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement and related Prospectus
agrees to deliver a Notice and Questionnaire to the Company at least three
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(3) Business Days prior to any intended distribution of Registrable Securities
under the Shelf Registration Statement. From and after the date the Initial
Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective, the Company shall, as
promptly as is practicable after the date a Notice and Questionnaire is
delivered, and in any event within five (5) Business Days after such date, (i)
if required by applicable law, file with the SEC a post-effective amendment to
the Shelf Registration Statement or prepare and, if required by applicable
law, file a supplement to the related Prospectus or a supplement or amendment
to any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required
document so that the Holder delivering such Notice and Questionnaire is named
as a selling securityholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and the
related Prospectus in such a manner as to permit such Holder to deliver such
Prospectus to purchasers of the Registrable Securities in accordance with
applicable law and, if the Company shall file a post-effective amendment to
the Shelf Registration Statement, use its best efforts to cause such post-
effective amendment to be declared effective under the Securities Act as
promptly as is practicable, but in any event by the date (the "Amendment
Effectiveness Deadline Date") that is forty-five (45) days after the date such
post-effective amendment is required by this clause to be filed; (ii) provide
such Holder copies of any documents filed pursuant to Section 2(d)(i); and
(iii) notify such Holder as promptly as practicable after the effectiveness
under the Securities Act of any post-effective amendment filed pursuant to
Section 2(d)(i); provided, that if such Notice and Questionnaire is delivered
during a Deferral Period, the Company shall so inform the Holder delivering
such Notice and Questionnaire and shall take the actions set forth in clauses
(i), (ii) and (iii) above upon expiration of the Deferral Period in accordance
with Section 3(i), provided, further, that if under applicable law the Company
has more than one option as to the type or manner of making any such filing,
it will make the required filing or filings in the manner or of a type
reasonably expected to result in the earliest availability of the Prospectus
for effecting resales of Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding anything
contained herein to the contrary, the Company shall be under no obligation to
name any Holder that is not a Notice Holder as a selling securityholder in any
Registration Statement or related Prospectus; provided, however, that any
Holder that becomes a Notice Holder pursuant to the provisions of Section 2(d)
of this Agreement (whether or not such Holder was a Notice Holder at the time
the Registration Statement was declared effective) shall be named as a selling
securityholder in the Registration Statement or related Prospectus in
accordance with the requirements of this Section 2(d).
(e) The parties hereto agree that the Holders of Registrable Securities will
suffer damages, and that it would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of
such damages with precision, if (i) the Initial Shelf Registration Statement has
not been filed on or prior to the Filing Deadline Date, (ii) the Initial Shelf
Registration Statement has not been declared effective under the Securities Act
on or prior to the Effectiveness Deadline Date, (iii) the Company has failed to
perform its obligations set forth in Section 2(d) within the time period
required therein, (iv) the aggregate duration of Deferral Periods in any period
exceeds the number of days permitted in respect of such period pursuant to
Section 3(i) hereof or (v) the number of Deferral Periods in any period exceeds
the number permitted in respect of such period pursuant to Section 3(i) (each of
the events of a type described in any of the foregoing
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clauses (i) through (v) are individually referred to herein as an "Event," and
the Filing Deadline Date in the case of clause (i), the Effectiveness Deadline
Date in the case of clause (ii), the date by which the Company is required to
perform its obligations set forth in Section 2(d) in the case of clause (iii)
(including the filing of any post-effective amendment prior to the Amendment
Effectiveness Deadline Date), the date on which the aggregate duration of
Deferral Periods in any period exceeds the number of days permitted by Section
3(i) hereof in the case of clause (iv), and the date of the commencement of a
Deferral Period that causes the limit on the number of Deferral Periods in any
period under Section 3(i) hereof to be exceeded in the case of clause (v),
being referred to herein as an "Event Date"). Events shall be deemed to
continue until the "Event Termination Date," which shall be the following
dates with respect to the respective types of Events: the date the Initial
Shelf Registration Statement is filed in the case of an Event of the type
described in clause (i), the date the Initial Shelf Registration Statement is
declared effective under the Securities Act in the case of an Event of the
type described in clause (ii), the date the Company performs its obligations
set forth in Section 2(d) in the case of an Event of the type described in
clause (iii) (including, without limitation, the date the relevant post-
effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective
under the Securities Act), termination of the Deferral Period that caused the
limit on the aggregate duration of Deferral Periods in a period set forth in
Section 3(i) to be exceeded in the case of the commencement of an Event of the
type described in clause (iv), and termination of the Deferral Period the
commencement of which caused the number of Deferral Periods in a period
permitted by Section 3(i) to be exceeded in the case of an Event of the type
described in clause (v).
Accordingly, commencing on (and including) any Event Date and ending on (but
excluding) the next date on which there are no Events that have occurred and are
continuing (a "Damages Accrual Period"), the Company agrees to pay, as
liquidated damages and not as a penalty, an amount (the "Liquidated Damages
Amount"), payable on the Damages Payment Dates to Record Holders of Debentures
that are Registrable Securities and of shares of Underlying Common Stock issued
upon conversion of Debentures that are Registrable Securities, as the case may
be, accruing, for each portion of such Damages Accrual Period beginning on and
including a Damages Payment Date (or, in respect of the first time that the
Liquidation Damages Amount is to be paid to Holders on a Damages Payment Date as
a result of the occurrence of any particular Event, from the Event Date) and
ending on but excluding the first to occur of (A) the date of the end of the
Damages Accrual Period or (B) the Next Damages Payment Date, at a rate per annum
equal to one-quarter of one percent (.25%) for the first 90-day period from the
Event Date and thereafter at a rate per annum equal to one-half of one percent
(.5%) of the aggregate Applicable Principal Amount of such Debentures and the
Applicable Conversion Price of such shares of Underlying Common Stock, as the
case may be, in each case determined as of the Business Day immediately
preceding the next Damages Payment Date; provided, that in the case of a Damages
Accrual Period that is in effect solely as a result of an Event of the type
described in clause (iii) of the immediately preceding paragraph, such
Liquidated Damages Amount shall be paid only to the Holders that have delivered
Notice and Questionnaires that caused the Company to incur the obligations set
forth
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in Section 2(d) the non-performance of which is the basis of such Event;
provided further, that any Liquidated Damages Amount accrued with respect to
any Debenture or portion thereof called for redemption on a redemption date or
converted into Underlying Common Stock on a conversion date prior to the
Damages Payment Date, shall, in any such event, be paid instead to the Holder
who submitted such Debenture or portion thereof for redemption or conversion
on the applicable redemption date or conversion date, as the case may be, on
such date (or promptly following the conversion date, in the case of
conversion). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Liquidated Damages Amounts
shall accrue as to any Registrable Security from and after the earlier of (x)
the date such security is no longer a Registrable Security and (y) expiration
of the Effectiveness Period. The rate of accrual of the Liquidated Damages
Amount with respect to any period shall not exceed the rate provided for in
this paragraph notwithstanding the occurrence of multiple concurrent Events.
Following the cure of all Events requiring the payment by the Company of
Liquidated Damages Amounts to the Holders of Registrable Securities pursuant
to this Section, the accrual of Liquidated Damages Amounts will cease (without
in any way limiting the effect of any subsequent Event requiring the payment
of Liquidated Damages Amount by the Company).
The Trustee shall be entitled, on behalf of Holders of Debentures or
Underlying Common Stock, to seek any available remedy for the enforcement of
this Agreement, including for the payment of any Liquidated Damages Amount.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties agree that the sole damages payable
for a violation of the terms of this Agreement with respect to which liquidated
damages are expressly provided shall be such liquidated damages. Nothing shall
preclude a Notice Holder or Holder of Registrable Securities from pursuing or
obtaining specific performance or other equitable relief with respect to this
Agreement.
All of the Company's obligations set forth in this Section 2(e) that are
outstanding with respect to any Registrable Security at the time such security
ceases to be a Registrable Security shall survive until such time as all such
obligations with respect to such security have been satisfied in full
(notwithstanding termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8(k)).
The parties hereto agree that the liquidated damages provided for in this
Section 2(e) constitute a reasonable estimate of the damages that may be
incurred by Holders of Registrable Securities by reason of the failure of the
Shelf Registration Statement to be filed or declared effective or available for
effecting resales of Registrable Securities in accordance with the provisions
hereof.
SECTION 3. Registration Procedures. In connection with the registration
obligations of the Company under Section 2 hereof, the Company shall:
(a) Before filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments
or supplements thereto with the SEC, furnish to the Initial Purchasers copies of
all such documents proposed to be filed and use its best efforts to reflect in
each such document when
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so filed with the SEC such comments as the Initial Purchasers reasonably shall
propose within two (2) Business Days of the delivery of such copies to the
Initial Purchasers.
(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective
amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such
Registration Statement continuously effective for the applicable period
specified in Section 2(a); cause the related Prospectus to be supplemented by
any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant
to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the Securities Act;
and use its best efforts to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act
applicable to it with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by
such Registration Statement during the Effectiveness Period in accordance with
the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such
Registration Statement as so amended or such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) As promptly as practicable give notice to the Notice Holders and the
Initial Purchasers (i) when any Prospectus, Prospectus supplement, Registration
Statement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement has been filed
with the SEC and, with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment, when the same has been declared effective, (ii) of any request,
following the effectiveness of the Initial Shelf Registration Statement under
the Securities Act, by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental
authority for amendments or supplements to any Registration Statement or related
Prospectus or for additional information, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or
any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending
the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening
of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption
from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such
purpose, (v) of the occurrence of (but not the nature of or details concerning)
a Material Event and (vi) of the determination by the Company that a post-
effective amendment to a Registration Statement will be filed with the SEC,
which notice may, at the discretion of the Company (or as required pursuant to
Section 3(i)), state that it constitutes a Deferral Notice, in which event the
provisions of Section 3(i) shall apply.
(d) Use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the
effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the lifting of any suspension of
the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable
Securities for sale in any jurisdiction in which they have been qualified for
sale, in either case at the earliest possible moment.
(e) If reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers or any Notice Holder,
as promptly as practicable incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-
effective amendment to a Registration Statement such information as the Initial
Purchasers or such Notice Holder shall, on the basis of an opinion of
nationally-recognized counsel experienced in such matters, determine to be
required to be included therein by applicable law and make any required filings
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of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment; provided, that
the Company shall not be required to take any actions under this Section 3(e)
that are not, in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Company, in
compliance with applicable law.
(f) As promptly as practicable furnish to each Notice Holder and the Initial
Purchasers, without charge, at least one (1) conformed copy of the Registration
Statement and any amendment thereto, including financial statements but
excluding schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
therein by reference and all exhibits (unless requested in writing to the
Company by such Notice Holder or the Initial Purchasers, as the case may be).
(g) During the Effectiveness Period, deliver to each Notice Holder in
connection with any sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration
Statement, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses
relating to such Registrable Securities (including each preliminary prospectus)
and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Notice Holder may reasonably
request; and the Company hereby consents (except during such periods that a
Deferral Notice is outstanding and has not been revoked) to the use of such
Prospectus or each amendment or supplement thereto by each Notice Holder in
connection with any offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by
such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in the manner set forth
therein.
(h) Prior to any public offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to
the Shelf Registration Statement, register or qualify or cooperate with the
Notice Holders in connection with the registration or qualification (or
exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable
Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions within the United States as any Notice Holder reasonably requests
in writing (which request may be included in the Notice and Questionnaire);
prior to any public offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf
Registration Statement, keep each such registration or qualification (or
exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period in connection
with such Notice Holder's offer and sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to
such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) and do any and all
other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such
jurisdictions of such Registrable Securities in the manner set forth in the
relevant Registration Statement and the related Prospectus; provided, that the
Company will not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a
dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be
required to qualify but for this Agreement or (ii) take any action that would
subject it to general service of process in suits or to taxation in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(i) Upon (A) the issuance by the SEC of a stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement or the initiation of
proceedings with respect to the Shelf Registration Statement under Section 8(d)
or 8(e) of the Securities Act, (B) the occurrence of any event or the existence
of any fact (a "Material Event") as a result of which any
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Registration Statement shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading, or any Prospectus shall contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or
(C) the occurrence or existence of any pending corporate development that, in
the discretion of the Company, makes it appropriate to suspend the
availability of the Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus,
(i) in the case of clause (B) above, subject to the next sentence, as promptly
as practicable prepare and file, if necessary pursuant to applicable law, a
post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement or a supplement to the
related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file
any other required document that would be incorporated by reference into such
Registration Statement and Prospectus so that such Registration Statement does
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, and such Prospectus does not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, as
thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities being
sold thereunder, and, in the case of a post-effective amendment to a
Registration Statement, subject to the next sentence, use its best efforts to
cause it to be declared effective as promptly as is practicable, and (ii) give
notice to the Notice Holders that the availability of the Shelf Registration
Statement is suspended (a "Deferral Notice") and, upon receipt of any Deferral
Notice, each Notice Holder agrees not to sell any Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Registration Statement until such Notice Holder's receipt of
copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus provided for in clause (i)
above, or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the Prospectus
may be used, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings
that are incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
The Company will use its best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus
may be resumed (x) in the case of clause (A) above, as promptly as is
practicable, (y) in the case of clause (B) above, as soon as, in the sole
judgment of the Company, public disclosure of such Material Event would not be
prejudicial to or contrary to the interests of the Company or, if necessary to
avoid unreasonable burden or expense, as soon as practicable thereafter and
(z) in the case of clause (C) above, as soon as, in the discretion of the
Company, such suspension is no longer appropriate. The Company shall be
entitled to exercise its right under this Section 3(i) to suspend the
availability of the Shelf Registration Statement or any Prospectus, without
incurring any obligation to pay liquidated damages pursuant to Section 2(e),
no more than one (1) time in any three (3) month period or three (3) times in
any twelve (12) month period, and the period during which the availability of
the Registration Statement and any Prospectus is suspended (the "Deferral
Period") shall, without incurring any obligation to pay liquidated damages
pursuant to Section 2(e), not exceed thirty (30) days; provided, that the
aggregate duration of any Deferral Periods shall not, without incurring any
obligation to pay liquidated damages pursuant to Section 2(e), exceed thirty
(30) days in any three (3) month period or ninety (90) days in any twelve (12)
month period.
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(j) If requested in writing in connection with a disposition of Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, make reasonably available for
inspection during normal business hours by a representative for the Notice
Holders of such Registrable Securities and any broker-dealers, attorneys and
accountants retained by such Notice Holders, all relevant financial and other
records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its
subsidiaries, and cause the appropriate executive officers, directors and
designated employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to make reasonably
available for inspection during normal business hours all relevant information
reasonably requested by such representative for the Notice Holders or any such
broker-dealers, attorneys or accountants in connection with such disposition, in
each case as is customary for similar "due diligence" examinations; provided,
however, that such persons shall first agree in writing with the Company that
any information that is reasonably and in good faith designated by the Company
in writing as confidential at the time of delivery of such information shall be
kept confidential by such persons and shall be used solely for the purposes of
exercising rights under this Agreement, unless (i) disclosure of such
information is required by court or administrative order or is necessary to
respond to inquiries of regulatory authorities, (ii) disclosure of such
information is required by law (including any disclosure requirements pursuant
to federal securities laws in connection with the filing of any Registration
Statement or the use of any Prospectus referred to in this Agreement), (iii)
such information becomes generally available to the public other than as a
result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard by any such person or (iv) such
information becomes available to any such person from a source other than the
Company and such source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement; and
provided further, that the foregoing inspection and information gathering shall,
to the greatest extent possible, be coordinated on behalf of all the Notice
Holders and the other parties entitled thereto by the counsel referred to in
Section 5.
(k) Use its best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations
of the SEC and make generally available to its securityholders earning
statements (which need not be audited) satisfying the provisions of Section
11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule
promulgated under the Securities Act) no later than 45 days after the end of any
12-month period (or 90 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period
is a fiscal year) commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the
Company commencing after the effective date of a Registration Statement, which
statements shall cover said 12-month periods.
(l) Cooperate with each Notice Holder to facilitate the timely preparation
and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities sold or to be
sold pursuant to a Registration Statement, which certificates shall not bear any
restrictive legends, and cause such Registrable Securities to be in such
denominations as are permitted by the Indenture and registered in such names as
such Notice Holder may request in writing at least two Business Days prior to
any sale of such Registrable Securities.
12
(m) Provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable Securities covered by each
Registration Statement not later than the effective date of such Registration
Statement and provide the Trustee and the transfer agent for the Common Stock
with printed certificates for the Registrable Securities that are in a form
eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.
(n) Make a reasonable effort to provide such information as is required for
any filings required to be made with the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc.
(o) Upon (i) the filing of the Initial Registration Statement and (ii) the
effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement, announce the same, in each
case by release to Reuters Economic Services and Bloomberg Business News.
SECTION 4. Holder's Obligations. Each Holder agrees, by acquisition of the
Registrable Securities, that no Holder of Registrable Securities shall be
entitled to sell any of such Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration
Statement or to receive a Prospectus relating thereto, unless such Holder has
furnished the Company with a Notice and Questionnaire as required pursuant to
Section 2(d) hereof (including the information required to be included in such
Notice and Questionnaire) and the information set forth in the next sentence.
Each Notice Holder agrees promptly to furnish to the Company all information
required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished
to the Company by such Notice Holder not misleading and any other information
regarding such Notice Holder and the distribution of such Registrable Securities
as the Company may from time to time reasonably request. Any sale of any
Registrable Securities by any Holder shall constitute a representation and
warranty by such Holder that the information relating to such Holder and its
plan of distribution is as set forth in the Prospectus delivered by such Holder
in connection with such disposition, that such Prospectus does not as of the
time of such sale contain any untrue statement of a material fact relating to or
provided by such Holder or its plan of distribution and that such Prospectus
does not as of the time of such sale omit to state any material fact relating to
or provided by such Holder or its plan of distribution necessary to make the
statements in such Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading.
SECTION 5. Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all fees and
expenses incurred in connection with the performance by the Company of its
obligations under Sections 2 and 3 of this Agreement whether or not any of the
Registration Statements are declared effective. Such fees and expenses shall
include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including,
without limitation, fees and expenses (x) with respect to filings required to be
made with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and (y) of
compliance with federal and state securities or Blue Sky laws (including,
without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of the counsel specified
in the next sentence in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the
Registrable Securities under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Notice
Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold pursuant to a
Registration
13
Statement may designate), (ii) printing expenses (including, without
limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities in a
form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company), (iii)
duplication expenses relating to copies of any Registration Statement or
Prospectus delivered to any Holders hereunder, (iv) fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement,
(v) reasonable fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel and of
the registrar and transfer agent for the Common Stock and (vi) Securities Act
liability insurance obtained by the Company in its sole discretion. In
addition, the Company shall bear or reimburse the Notice Holders for the
reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm of legal counsel for the
Holders, which shall initially be Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, P.C., but
which may, with the written consent of the Initial Purchasers (which shall not
be unreasonably withheld), be another nationally recognized law firm
experienced in securities law matters designated by the Company. In addition,
the Company shall pay the internal expenses of the Company (including, without
limitation, all salaries and expenses of officers and employees performing
legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit, the fees and
expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities
on any securities exchange on which similar securities of the Company are then
listed and the fees and expenses of any person, including special experts,
retained by the Company. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5,
each seller of Registrable Securities shall pay all registration expenses to
the extent required by applicable law.
SECTION 6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall indemnify and hold
harmless each Notice Holder and each person, if any, who controls any Notice
Holder (within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section
20 of the Exchange Act) from and against all losses, liabilities, claims,
damages and expenses (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such
action or claim) (collectively, "Losses"), arising out of or based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or based upon any omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, provided,
however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent
that any such Losses arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement contained in or omission or alleged omission from any
of such documents in reliance upon and conformity with any of the information
relating to such Holder furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder
expressly for use therein; provided further, that the indemnification contained
in this paragraph shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder of Registrable
Securities (or to the benefit of any person controlling such Holder) on account
of any such Losses arising out of or based upon an untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any preliminary
prospectus if either (A) (i) such Holder failed to send or deliver a copy of the
Prospectus with or prior to the delivery of written
14
confirmation of the sale by such Holder to the person asserting the claim from
which such Losses arise and (ii) the Prospectus would have corrected such
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or such omission or alleged
omission, or (B) (x) such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement,
omission or alleged omission is corrected in an amendment or supplement to the
Prospectus and (y) having previously been furnished by or on behalf of the
Company with copies of the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented, such
Holder thereafter fails to deliver such Prospectus as so amended or
supplemented, with or prior to the delivery of written confirmation of the
sale of a Registrable Security to the person asserting the claim from which
such Losses arise.
(b) Indemnification by Holders of Registrable Securities. Each Holder agrees
severally and not jointly to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its
respective directors and officers, and each person, if any, who controls the
Company (within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act), from and against all Losses arising out of or
based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or based
upon any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and
in conformity with information furnished to the Company by such Holder expressly
for use in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or amendment or supplement
thereto. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder of Registrable
Securities hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds
received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to
the Registration Statement giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. In case any proceeding
(including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any
person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either of the two
preceding paragraphs, such person (the "indemnified party") shall promptly
notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying
party") in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified
party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to
represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may
designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and disbursements
of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any
indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party
unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually
agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such
proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party
and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel
would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between
them. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the
legal expenses of any indemnified party in
15
connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same
jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate
firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all indemnified parties, and that
all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such
separate firm shall be designated in writing by, in the case of parties
indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a), the Holders of a majority (with Holders
of Debentures deemed to be the Holders, for purposes of determining such
majority, of the number of shares of Underlying Common Stock into which such
Debentures are or would be convertible or exchangeable as of the date on which
such designation is made) of the Registrable Securities covered by the
Registration Statement held by Holders that are indemnified parties pursuant
to Section 6(a) and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section
6(b), the Company. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any
settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if
settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff,
the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and
against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party
shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party
for fees and expenses of counsel and the indemnified party would be entitled
thereto pursuant to the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the
indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any
proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is
entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the
aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed
the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of
such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or
threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could
have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such
indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of
such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject
matter of such proceeding (and in the event of a settlement that involves an
unconditional release of such indemnified party, the indemnifying party will
send prompt written notice of such settlement to the indemnified party).
(d) Contribution. To the extent that the indemnification provided for in
this Section 6 is unavailable to an indemnified party under Section 6(a) or 6(b)
hereof in respect of any Losses or is insufficient to hold such indemnified
party harmless, then each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying
such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such Losses (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party
or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party or parties on the other
hand or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by
applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of
the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and of the indemnified party
or parties on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that
resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net
proceeds from the initial placement
16
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (before deducting expenses) of the
Registrable Securities to which such Losses relate. Benefits received by any
Holder shall be deemed to be equal to the value of receiving Registrable
Securities that are registered under the Securities Act. The relative fault of
the Holders on the one hand and the Company on the other hand shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to
state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Holders or by the
Company, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Holders'
respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this paragraph are several in
proportion to the respective number of Registrable Securities they have sold
pursuant to a Registration Statement, and not joint.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 6(d) were determined by pro rata
--- ----
allocation or by any other method or allocation that does not take into account
the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the Losses
referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include,
subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating
or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding this Section 6(d), an
indemnifying party that is a selling Holder of Registrable Securities shall not
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Registrable Securities sold by such indemnifying party and
distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any
damages that such indemnifying party has otherwise been required to pay by
reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from
any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
(e) The indemnity, contribution and expense reimbursement obligations of the
parties hereunder shall be in addition to any liability any indemnified party
may otherwise have hereunder, under the Purchase Agreement or otherwise.
(f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 6
shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any
termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of
any Holder or any person controlling any Holder, or the Company, or the
Company's officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii)
the sale of any Registrable Securities by any Holder.
SECTION 7. Information Requirements. (a) The Company covenants that, if at
any time before the end of the Effectiveness Period the Company is not subject
to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, it will cooperate with any
Holder of Registrable Securities and take such further reasonable action as any
Holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably
17
request in writing (including, without limitation, making such reasonable
representations as any such Holder may reasonably request), all to the extent
required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Registrable
Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation
of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 and Rule 144A under the Securities Act
and customarily taken in connection with sales pursuant to such exemptions.
Upon the written request of any Holder of Registrable Securities, the Company
shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied
with such filing requirements, unless such a statement has been included in
the Company's most recent report required to be filed and filed pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of Exchange Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require the Company to register
any of its securities (other than the Common Stock) under any section of the
Exchange Act.
SECTION 8. Miscellaneous.
(a) No Conflicting Agreements. The Company is not, as of the date hereof, a
party to, nor shall it, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into, any
agreement with respect to its securities that conflicts with the rights granted
to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement. The Company
represents and warrants that the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable
Securities hereunder do not in any way conflict with the rights granted to the
holders of the Company's securities under any other agreements.
(b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the
provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and
waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given,
unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority of
the then outstanding Underlying Common Stock constituting Registrable Securities
(with Holders of Debentures deemed to be the Holders, for purposes of this
Section, of the number of outstanding shares of Underlying Common Stock into
which such Debentures are or would be convertible or exchangeable as of the date
on which such consent is requested). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or
consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that
relates exclusively to the rights of Holders of Registrable Securities whose
securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not
directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders of Registrable
Securities may be given by Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable
Securities being sold by such Holders pursuant to such Registration Statement;
provided, that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or
supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the immediately
preceding sentence. Each Holder of Registrable Securities outstanding at the
time of any such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent or
thereafter shall be bound by any such amendment, modification, supplement,
waiver or consent effected pursuant to this Section 8(b), whether or not any
notice, writing or marking indicating such amendment, modification, supplement,
waiver or consent appears on the Registrable Securities or is delivered to such
Holder.
18
(c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted
hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, by telecopier, by courier
guaranteeing overnight delivery or by first-class mail, return receipt
requested, and shall be deemed given (i) when made, if made by hand delivery,
(ii) upon confirmation, if made by telecopier, (iii) one (1) Business Day after
being deposited with such courier, if made by overnight courier or (iv) on the
date indicated on the notice of receipt, if made by first-class mail, to the
parties as follows:
(w) if to a Holder of Registrable Securities, at the most current
address given by such Holder to the Company in a Notice and
Questionnaire or any amendment thereto;
(x) if to the Company, to:
Aspect Telecommunications Corporation
0000 Xxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Telecopy No.: (000) 000-0000
and
(y) if to the Initial Purchasers, to:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
Attention: Equity Capital Markets
Telecopy No.: (000) 000-0000
or to such other address as such person may have furnished to the other persons
identified in this Section 8(c) in writing in accordance herewith.
(d) Approval of Holders. Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of
a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder,
Registrable Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (as such term is
defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (other than the Initial Purchasers
or subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities if such subsequent Holders are
deemed to be such affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such
Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent
or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.
(e) Successors and Assigns. Any person who purchases any Registrable
Securities from the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed, for purposes of this
Agreement, to be an assignee of the Initial Purchasers. This Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each
of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon each Holder
of any Registrable Securities.
19
(f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be original and all of which taken together
shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(g) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(h) Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS
OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
(i) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the
remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein
shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated thereby, and the parties hereto shall use their best efforts to
find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the
same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or
restriction, it being intended that all of the rights and privileges of the
parties shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
(j) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a
final expression of their agreement and is intended to be a complete and
exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in
respect of the subject matter contained herein and the registration rights
granted by the Company with respect to the Registrable Securities. Except as
provided in the Purchase Agreement, there are no restrictions, promises,
warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein,
with respect to the registration rights granted by the Company with respect to
the Registrable Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and
undertakings among the parties with respect to such registration rights. No
party hereto shall have any rights, duties or obligations other than those
specifically set forth in this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, the Company shall have no obligation to participate in "road
show" or, except as specifically provided in this Agreement, "due diligence"
activities in connection with any underwritten public offering of Registrable
Securities, and the Company shall have no obligation to enter into underwriting
or indemnification agreements with respect to, or deliver opinions, comfort
letters or closing certificates in connection with, any such underwritten public
offering.
(k) Termination. This Agreement and the obligations of the parties
hereunder shall terminate upon the end of the Effectiveness Period, except for
any liabilities or obligations under Sections 4, 5 or 6 hereof and the
obligations to make payments of and provide for liquidated damages under Section
2(e) hereof to the extent such damages accrue prior to the end of the
Effectiveness Period, each of which shall remain in effect in accordance with
its terms.
20
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
ASPECT TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
_______________________________________________
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President, Finance and Chief
Financial Officer
Accepted as of the date first
above written:
XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
(for the benefit of themselves and for the benefit of the Holders)
By: XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
________________________________________________
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
Title: Vice President
