EX-99.(K)(1) 11 dex99k1.htm FORM OF REGISTRAR FORM OF REGISTRAR

Exhibit k.1

 

TRANSFER AGENCY AND REGISTRAR SERVICES

AGREEMENT

 

by and between:

 

HERCULES TECHNOLOGY GROWTH CAPITAL, INC.

 

and

 

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY

 

Dated: May      , 2005

Table of Contents

 

Section 1.    Appointment of Agent    3
Section 2.    Standard Services    4
Section 3.    Fees and Expenses    6
Section 4.    Representations and Warranties of AST    7
Section 5.    Representations and Warranties of the Company    7
Section 6.    Reliance and Indemnification    8
Section 7.    Standard of Care    9
Section 8.    Limitations on AST’s Responsibilities    10
Section 9.    Covenants of the Company and AST    10
Section 10.    Term and Termination    11
Section 11.    Assignment    12
Section 12.    Notices    12
Section 13.    Successors    13
Section 14.    Amendment    13
Section 15.    Severability    13
Section 16.    Governing Law    13
Section 17.    Descriptive Headings    14
Section 18.    Third Party Beneficiaries    14
Section 19.    Survival    14
Section 20.    Merger of Agreement    14
Section 21.    Counterparts    14
     Signatures    15

 

 

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TRANSFER AGENCY AND REGISTRAR SERVICES AGREEMENT

 

This Transfer Agency and Registrar Services Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated as of May             , 2005 is between Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”) and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation (“AST”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires the appointment of AST as transfer agent and registrar;

 

WHEREAS, AST desires to accept such appointment and perform the services related to such appointment;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follow:

 

Section 1. Appointment of Agent

 

  1.01   The Company hereby appoints AST to act as sole transfer agent and registrar for the common stock of the Company and for any such other shares as the Company may request in writing (“the Shares”), in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and AST hereby accepts such appointment.

 

  1.02   In connection with the appointment of AST as transfer agent and registrar for the Company, the Company shall provide AST:

 

  (a)   A Certificate of Appointment in substantially the form furnished by AST (and a Supplemental Certificate each time there is any material change to the information contained in the original Certificate of Appointment). It is agreed, however, that any provisions explicitly addressed in this Agreement shall govern the relationship between the parties in the event of a conflict between the Certificate of Appointment and this Agreement;

 

  (b)   Specimens of all forms of outstanding stock certificates, in the forms approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, with a certificate of the Secretary of the Company as to such approval;

 

  (c)   Specimens of the signatures of the officers of the Company authorized to sign stock certificates and specimens of the signatures of the individuals authorized to sign written instructions and requests;

 

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  (d)   A copy of the Certificate of Incorporation and by-laws of the Company and, on a continuing basis, copies of all material amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation or by-laws made after the date of this Agreement (such amendments to be provided promptly after such amendments are made); and

 

  (e)   A sufficient supply of blank certificates signed by (or bearing the facsimile signature of) the officers of the Company authorized to sign stock certificates and bearing the Company’s corporate seal (if required). AST may use certificates bearing the signature of a person who at the time of use is no longer an officer of the Company.

 

Section 2. Standard Services

 

  2.01   In accordance with the procedures established from time to time by agreement between the Company and AST, AST shall provide the following services:

 

  (a)   Create and maintain shareholder accounts for all Shares;

 

  (b)   Provide online access capability for the Company’s personnel, including “read-only” access to individual shareholder files;

 

  (c)   Review transfer documents and certificates for acceptability;

 

  (d)   Complete transfer debit and credit transactions within applicable SEC guidelines;

 

  (e)   Provide for the original issuance of shares as directed by the Company;

 

  (f)   Maintain Treasury accounts in book entry;

 

  (g)   Furnish clear, simple, and detailed instructions to shareholders throughout the transfer process, as well as clear and concise written explanations of rejected transfers;

 

  (h)   Post transfers to the record system daily;

 

  (i)   Prepare a list of shareholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting as requested by the Company;

 

  (j)   As required by the Company, mail all proxy materials to shareholders of record as of the proxy record date or provide a list of the names (and other relevant information) of such shareholders

 

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of record to a designated third party for purposes of such mailing (it being understood, however, that production of such external files shall be billable as an expense at AST’s standard rates for the production of external tapes);

 

  (k)   Tabulate returned proxy cards;

 

  (l)   Provide the Company with access to shareholder voting records via online access and by written report prior to the Company’s annual meeting;

 

  (m)   Provide appropriate responses to electronic, telephonic and written inquiries from the Company’s shareholders;

 

  (n)   Provide a toll-free number and toll number in conjunction with an interactive telephone system capable of providing information and handling shareholder requests without talking to a representative;

 

  (o)   Prepare and submit appropriate tax and other reports required by State and Federal agencies, principal stock exchanges, and shareholders, as requested by the Company;

 

  (p)   Issue replacement certificates for those certificates alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, unless AST has received notice that such certificates were acquired by a bona fide purchaser. AST shall be entitled to demand an open penalty surety bond satisfactory to AST holding AST and the Company harmless. AST shall be entitled to demand payment of the premium and processing fee for such open penalty surety bond from the shareholder. AST, at its option, may issue replacement certificates in place of mutilated stock certificates upon presentation thereof without such indemnity;

 

  (q)   Compute quarterly dividend payment for each account as of the record date, balanced to the official share position;

 

  (r)   Prepare and transmit payments for dividends and distributions declared by the Company, provided good funds for said dividends or distributions are received by AST prior to the scheduled mailing date for said dividends or distributions;

 

  (s)   Code lost accounts to suppress printing and mailing of checks in accordance with applicable policies and guidelines;

 

  (t)   Replace lost or stolen dividend checks at a shareholder’s request, and place stop orders on such lost or stolen checks;

 

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  (u)   Withhold taxes on dividends at the appropriate rate when applicable; and

 

  (v)   Administer the Company’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

 

  2.02   AST shall have the obligation to discharge all applicable escheat and notification obligations.

 

  2.03   AST may, at its election, outsource any of the services to be provided hereunder, but shall retain ultimate responsibility for any of the services so provided.

 

  2.04   AST may provide further services to, or on behalf of, the Company as may be agreed upon between the Company and AST.

 

Section 3. Fees and Expenses

 

  3.01   Fees

 

The Company agrees to pay AST fees for the services performed pursuant to this agreement in the amount of $[            ] per month. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the scope of services to be provided by AST is increased substantially, the parties shall negotiate in good faith to determine reasonable compensation for such additional services.

 

  3.02   Out-of-Pocket Expenses

 

  (a)   In addition to the fees paid under Section 3.01 above, the Company agrees to reimburse AST for all reasonable expenses or other reasonable charges incurred by AST in connection with the provision of services to the Company (including reasonable attorneys fees).

 

  (b)   Notwithstanding section 3.03 below, AST reserves the right to request advance payment for substantial and reasonable out-of-pocket expenditures.

 

  3.03.   Payment of Fees and Expenses

 

The Company agrees to pay all fees and reimbursable expenses within thirty (30) days following the receipt of a billing notice. Interest charges will accrue on unpaid balances outstanding for more than sixty (60) days.

 

  3.04   Services Required by Legislation

 

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Services required by legislation or regulatory mandate that become effective after the effective date of this Agreement and that are not otherwise included in Section 2 of this Agreement shall not be part of the standard services, and shall be billed by agreement.

 

Section   4. Representations and Warranties of AST

 

AST represents and warrants to the Company that:

 

It is a corporation duly organized and validly existing in good standing under the laws of the State of New York;

 

It is duly qualified to carry on its business in the State of New York;

 

It is empowered under applicable laws and by its Charter and By-laws to enter into and perform this Agreement; and

 

All requisite corporate proceedings have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement.

 

It will comply with all applicable laws in the performance of its duties hereunder;

 

Section   5. Representations and Warranties of the Company

 

The Company represents and warrants to AST that:

 

It is a corporation duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland;

 

It is empowered under applicable laws and governing instruments to enter into and perform this Agreement;

 

All corporate proceedings required by said governing instruments and applicable law have been taken to authorize it to enter into and perform this Agreement;

 

All certificates representing Shares which were not issued pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“The shares represented by this certificate have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”). The shares may not be sold, transferred or assigned in the absence of an effective registration for these shares under the Act or an opinion

 

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of the Corporation’s counsel that registration is not required under the Act.”

 

All Shares not so registered were issued or transferred in a transaction or series of transactions exempt from the registration provisions of the Act, and in each such issuance or transfer, the Corporation was so advised by its legal counsel.

 

Section   6. Reliance and Indemnification

 

  6.01   AST may rely on any written or oral instructions received from any persons who are designated officers of the Company, provided (a) the Company furnishes AST with an appropriate incumbency certificate for such officers and their signatures; and (b) the Company thereafter keeps such designation current with an annual (or more frequent, if required) re-filing. AST may also rely on advice, opinions or instructions received from the Company’s legal counsel. AST may, in any event, rely on advice received from its legal counsel. AST may rely (a) on any writing or other instruction believed by it in good faith to have been furnished by or on behalf of a Shareholder; (b) on any statement of fact contained in any such writing or other instruction which it in good faith does not believe to be inaccurate; (c) on the apparent authority of any person to act on behalf of the Company or a Shareholder as having actual authority to the extent of such apparent authority; (d) on the authenticity of any signature (manual or facsimile) appearing on any writing; and (e) on the conformity to original of any copy.

 

  6.02   AST shall not be responsible for, and the Company shall indemnify and hold AST harmless from and against, any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement, reasonable counsel fees and expenses, payments, general expenses and/or liability arising out of or attributable to:

 

  (a)   AST’s (and/or its agents’ or subcontractors’) actions performed in its capacity as transfer agent and/or registrar, provided that such actions are taken in good faith and without negligence or willful misconduct;

 

  (b)   The Company’s lack of good faith, negligence or willful misconduct or the breach of any representation or warranty of the Company hereunder;

 

  (c)   Any action(s) taken in accordance with section 6.01 above;

 

  (d)   Any action(s) performed pursuant to a direction or request issued by a statutory, regulatory, governmental or quasi-governmental

 

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body (AST shall, however, provide the Company with prior notice when practicable, unless AST is not permitted to do so);

 

  (e)   Any reasonable expenses, including attorney fees, incurred in seeking to enforce the foregoing indemnities.

 

  6.03   AST will research the records delivered to it on its appointment as agent if it receives a stock certificate not reflected in said records. If neither the Company nor AST is able to reconcile said certificate with said records (so that the transfer of said certificate on the records maintained by AST would create an overissue), the Company shall either increase the number of its issued shares, or acquire and cancel a sufficient number of issued shares, to correct the overissue.

 

  6.04   AST shall be responsible for and shall indemnify and hold the Company harmless from and against any and all losses, damages, costs, charges, judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement, reasonable counsel fees, and expenses, payments, general expenses and/or liability arising out of or attributable to AST’s refusal or failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement, or which arise out of AST’s negligence or willful misconduct or which arise out of the breach of any representation or warranty of AST hereunder.

 

  6.05   Upon the assertion of a claim for which one party may be required to indemnify the other, the party seeking indemnification shall promptly notify the other party of such assertion, and shall keep the other party advised with respect to all developments concerning such claim. The indemnifying party shall have the option to participate with the indemnified party in the defense of such claim or to defend against said claim in its own name or the name of the indemnified party. The indemnified party shall in no case confess any claim or make any compromise in any case in which the indemnifying party may be required to indemnify it, except with the indemnifying party’s prior written consent.

 

  6.06   The foregoing indemnities shall not terminate on termination of AST’s acting as transfer agent and/or registrar, and they are irrevocable. AST’s acceptance of its appointment as transfer agent and/or registrar, evidenced by its acting as such for any period, shall be deemed sufficient consideration for the foregoing indemnities.

 

Section   7. Standard of Care

 

AST shall, at all times, act in good faith. AST agrees to use its best efforts, within reasonable time limits, to ensure the accuracy of all services performed under this Agreement.

 

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Section   8. Limitations on AST’s Responsibilities

 

AST shall not be responsible for the validity of the issuance, presentation or transfer of stock; the genuineness of endorsements; the authority of presentors; or the collection or payment of charges or taxes incident to the issuance or transfer of stock. AST may, however, delay or decline an issuance or transfer if it deems it to be in its or the Company’s best interests to receive evidence or assurance of such validity, authority, collection or payment. AST shall not be responsible for any discrepancies in its records or between its records and those of the Company, if it is a successor transfer agent or successor registrar, unless no discrepancy existed in the records of the Company and any predecessor transfer agent or predecessor registrar. AST shall not be deemed to have notice of, or to be required to inquire regarding, any provision of the Company’s charter, certificate of incorporation, or by-laws, any court or administrative order, or any other document, unless it is specifically advised of such in a writing from the Company, which writing shall set forth the manner in which it affects the Shares. In no event shall AST be responsible for any transfer or issuance not effected by it.

 

Section   9. Covenants of the Company and AST

 

  9.01   AST agrees to establish and maintain facilities and procedures reasonably acceptable to the Company for the safekeeping of stock certificates.

 

  9.02   AST shall keep records relating to the services to be performed hereunder, in the form and manner as it may deem advisable. AST agrees that all such records prepared or maintained by it relating to the services performed hereunder are the property of the Company and will be preserved, maintained and made available to the Company in accordance with the requirements of law, including the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “1940 Act”), and will be surrendered promptly to the Company on and in accordance with its request provided that the Company has satisfactorily performed its obligations under Sections 3.01, 3.02, 10.03 and 10.05 hereof, to the extent applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with the Company’s prior written consent, AST shall be entitled to destroy or otherwise dispose of records belonging to the Company in accordance with AST’s standard document and record retention practices and/or procedures.

 

  9.03   AST and the Company agree that all confidential books, records, information and data pertaining to the business of the other party which are exchanged or received pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this Agreement shall remain confidential, and shall not be voluntarily

 

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disclosed to any other person, except as may be required by law or as permitted by AST’s privacy policy as then in effect.

 

  9.04   AST shall provide, from time to time at the Company’s reasonable request, sub-certifications regarding certain of its services performed hereunder to the Company in connection with the Company’s Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 certification requirements.

 

  9.05   AST shall adopt and implement written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation of the Federal Securities laws by AST. AST shall provide the Company, at such times as the Company shall reasonably request and at AST’s expense, with a copy of such policies and procedures and, if reasonably available, a third party report of such policies and procedures; such report shall be of sufficient scope and in sufficient detail, as may reasonably be required by the Company to comply with Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act and to provide reasonable assurance that any material inadequacies would be disclosed by such examination, and, if there are no such inadequacies, the reports shall so state.

 

Section   10. Term and Termination

 

  10.01   The initial term of this Agreement shall be three (3) years from the date first referenced above and the appointment shall automatically be renewed for further three years successive terms without further action of the parties, unless written notice is provided by either party at least 90 days prior to the end of the initial or any subsequent three year period.

 

  10.02   In the event that (i) AST commits any continuing breach of its material obligations under this Agreement, and such breach remains uncured for more than sixty (60) days after written notice by the Company (which notice shall explicitly reference this provision of the Agreement), or (ii) the Company delists from a stock exchange and its capital stock is no longer actively traded, the Company shall be entitled to terminate this agreement with no further payments other than (a) payment of any amounts then outstanding under this Agreement and (b) payment of any amounts required pursuant to Section 10.05 hereof.

 

  10.03   In the event that the Company terminates this Agreement other than pursuant to Sections 10.01 and 10.02 above, the Company shall be obligated to immediately pay all amounts that would have otherwise accrued during the term of the Agreement pursuant to Section 3 above, as well as the charges accruing pursuant to Section 10.05 below.

 

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  10.04   In the event that the Company commits any breach of its material obligations to AST, including non-payment of any amount owing to AST, and such breach remains uncured for more than sixty (60) days, AST shall have the right to terminate or suspend its services without further notice to the Company. During such time as AST may suspend its services, AST shall have no obligation to act as transfer agent and/or registrar on behalf of the Company, and shall not be deemed its agent for such purposes. Such suspension shall not affect AST’s rights under the Certificate of Appointment or this Agreement.

 

  10.05   Should the Company elect not to renew this Agreement or otherwise terminate this Agreement, AST shall be entitled to reasonable additional compensation for the service of preparing records for delivery to its successor or to the Company, and for forwarding and maintaining records with respect to certificates received after such termination. AST shall be entitled to retain all transfer records and related documents until all amounts owing to AST have been paid in full. AST will perform its services in assisting with the transfer of records in a diligent and professional manner.

 

Section   11. Assignment

 

Neither this Agreement, nor any rights or obligations hereunder, may be assigned by either party without the written consent of the other party.

 

Section   12. Notices

 

Any notice or communication by AST or the Company to the other is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first class mail (postage prepaid), telex, telecopier or overnight air courier to the other’s address:

 

If to the Company:

 

Scott Harvey, Esq.

Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc.

525 University Avenue

Suite 700

Palo Alto, CA 94301

Telecopy No.: (650) 473-9194

 

If to AST:

 

Mr. George Karfunkel

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company

 

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59 Maiden Lane

New York, NY 10038

Telecopy No.: (718) 236-4588

 

With a copy to:

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company

Attn: General Counsel

59 Maiden Lane

New York, NY 10038

 

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

 

Section   13. Successors

 

All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or AST shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.

 

Section   14. Amendment

 

This agreement may be amended or modified by a written amendment executed by both parties hereto.

 

Section   15. Severability

 

If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. To the extent that any provision hereof is deemed to be unenforceable under applicable law, it shall be deemed replaced by an enforceable provision to the same or nearest possible effect.

 

Section   16. Governing Law

 

This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed in the State of New York.

 

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Section   17. Descriptive Headings

 

Descriptive headings of the several sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.

 

Section   18. Third Party Beneficiaries

 

The provisions of this Agreement are intended to benefit only AST and the Company and their respective successors and assigns. No rights shall be granted to any other person by virtue of this Agreement, and there are no third party beneficiaries hereof.

 

Section   19. Survival

 

All provisions regarding indemnification, liability and limits thereon shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

Section   20. Merger of Agreement

 

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof, whether oral or written.

 

Section   21. Counterparts

 

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed by one of its officers thereunto duly authorized, all as of the date first written above.

 

HERCULES TECHNOLOGY

GROWTH CAPITAL, INC.

 

By.                                                     

Name: Scott Harvey

Title: Chief Legal Officer

 

 

 

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER &

TRUST COMPANY

 

By:                                                     

 

Name:                                               

 

Title:                                                 

 

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