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EXHIBIT 4.4
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made
and entered into as of July 17, 1997, between Phoenix Network, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), JNC Opportunity Fund Ltd., a Cayman Islands
corporation ("JNC"), and such other mutually acceptable parties signatory
hereto (such other parties, together with JNC, the "Purchasers").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Convertible Preferred
Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof between the Company and
JNC (as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified in accordance
with its terms, the "Purchase Agreement").
The Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall
have the meanings given such terms in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this
Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
"Advice" shall have meaning set forth in Section 3(o).
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other
Person that directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or under common
control with such Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control," when
used with respect to any Person, means the possession, direct or indirect, of
the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of
such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise; and the terms of "affiliated," "controlling" and "controlled" have
meanings correlative to the foregoing.
"Business Day" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any
day which shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in
the state of New York generally are authorized or required by law or other
government actions to close.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Common Stock" means the Company's Common Stock, par value
$.001 per share.
"Effectiveness Date" means the 75th day after the Initial
Closing Date.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2(a).
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"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Filing Date" means the 30th day after the Initial Closing
Date.
"Holder" or "Holders" means the holder or holders, as the case
may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.
"Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5(c).
"Indemnifying Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5(c).
"Initial Closing Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the
Purchase Agreement.
"Losses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
"Person" means an individual or a corporation, partnership,
trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited
liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or political
subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.
"Preferred Stock" means the shares of Series I Convertible
Preferred Stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Company issued to the
Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
"Proceeding" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or
proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial
proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in the Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any
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 prospectus supplement, with
respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable
Securities covered by the Registration Statement, and all other amendments and
supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all
material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in
such Prospectus.
"Registrable Securities" means the shares of Common Stock
issuable (a) upon conversion of all shares of Preferred Stock (b) upon payment
of dividends in respect of the Preferred Stock and (c) upon exercise of the
Common Stock purchase warrants issued by the Company to the Purchasers, Xxxxxxx
Capital Partners, Ltd. and Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx in connection with the transactions
contemplated by the Purchase Agreement; provided, however that in order to
account for the fact that the number of shares of Common Stock that are
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issuable upon conversion of shares of Preferred Stock is determined in part
upon the market price of the Common Stock at the time of conversion,
Registrable Securities shall include (but not be limited to) a number of shares
of Common Stock equal to no less than the sum of (1) two times the number of
shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion in full of the Preferred Stock,
assuming such conversion occurred on the Closing Date, and (2) the number of
shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion in full of the warrants
described above. Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, if
the actual number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion in full of
the Preferred Stock at any time exceeds twice the number of shares of Common
Stock issuable if such conversion occurred on the Initial Closing Date
(assuming all shares of Preferred Stock were issued on the Initial Closing
Date), the term "Registrable Securities" shall be deemed to include such
additional shares of Common Stock and the Company shall promptly, but in any
case within 7 days of notice of such fact, file one or more additional
Registration Statements for such number of shares of Common Stock so that the
aggregate number of Registrable Securities then registered covers twice the
number of shares of Common Stock as would be issuable upon conversion in full
of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock then outstanding. The Company
shall use its best efforts to cause such additional Registration Statements to
be declared effective as promptly as possible, but in any event within 60 days
after the date of the notice triggering such requirement.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statement
contemplated by Section 2(a) (and any additional Registration Statements
contemplated in the definition of Registrable Securities), including (in each
case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement
or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits
thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
"Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time,
or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Rule 158" means Rule 158 promulgated by the Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time,
or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Rule 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time,
or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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"Special Counsel" means any special counsel to the Holders,
for which the Holders will be reimbursed by the Company pursuant to Section 4.
"Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering" means a
registration in connection with which securities of the Company are sold to an
underwriter for reoffering to the public pursuant to an effective registration
statement.
2. Shelf Registration
(a) On or prior to the Filing Date, the Company shall
prepare and file with the Commission a "Shelf" Registration Statement covering
all Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a continuous basis
pursuant to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 (except
if otherwise directed by the Holders in accordance herewith or if the Company
is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form
S- 3, in which case such registration shall be on another appropriate form in
accordance herewith). The Company shall (i) not permit any securities other
than the Registrable Securities to be included in the Registration Statement
and (ii) use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be
declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the
filing thereof, but in any event prior to the Effectiveness Date, and to keep
such Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act
until the date which is five years after the date that such Registration
Statement is declared effective by the Commission or such earlier date when all
Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold or
may be sold without volume restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 as determined by
the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter, addressed to
the Holders to such effect (the "Effectiveness Period"); provided, however,
that the Company shall not be deemed to have used its best efforts to keep the
Registration Statement effective during the Effectiveness Period if it
voluntarily takes any action that would result in the Holders not being able to
sell the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement during
the Effectiveness Period, unless such action is required under applicable law
or the Company has filed a post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement and the Commission has not declared it effective.
(b) If the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities so elect, an offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Registration Statement may be effected in the form of an Underwritten Offering.
In such event, and if the managing underwriters advise the Company and such
Holders in writing that in their opinion the amount of Registrable Securities
proposed to be sold in such Underwritten Offering exceeds the amount of
Registrable Securities which can be sold in such Underwritten Offering, there
shall be included in such Underwritten Offering the amount of such Registrable
Securities which in the opinion of such managing underwriters can be sold, and
such amount shall be allocated pro rata among the Holders proposing to sell
Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering.
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(c) If any of the Registrable Securities are to be sold
in an Underwritten Offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and
manager or managers that will administer the offering will be selected by the
Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such offering.
No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Offering hereunder unless such
Person (i) agrees to sell its Registrable Securities on the basis provided in
any underwriting agreements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to
approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires,
powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents
required under the terms of such arrangements.
3. Registration Procedures
In connection with the Company's registration obligations
hereunder, the Company shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the Commission on or prior to
the Filing Date a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or such other form if
directed by the Holders in connection with an Underwritten Offering hereunder
or if the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable
Securities on Form S-3, in which case such registration shall be on another
appropriate form in accordance herewith) in accordance with the method or
methods of distribution thereof as specified by the Holders (except if
otherwise directed by the Holders), and cause the Registration Statement to
become effective and remain effective as provided herein; provided, however,
that not less than five (5) Business Days prior to the filing of the
Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto (including any document that would be incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall (i) furnish to the
Holders, their Special Counsel and any managing underwriters, copies of all
such documents proposed to be filed, which documents (other than those
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference) will be subject to the
review of such Holders, their Special Counsel and such managing underwriters,
and (ii) cause its officers and directors, counsel and independent certified
public accountants to respond to such inquiries as shall be necessary, in the
opinion of respective counsel to such Holders and such underwriters, to conduct
a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act. The
Company shall not file the Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any
amendments or supplements thereto to which the Holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities, their Special Counsel, or any managing underwriters,
shall reasonably object within five (5) Business Days of their receipt thereof.
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such
amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement
as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement continuously effective
as to all Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period and prepare and
file with the Commission such additional Registration Statements in order to
register for resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable
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Securities; (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by
any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented or amended to be
filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force)
promulgated under the Securities Act; (iii) respond as promptly as practicable
to any comments received from the Commission with respect to the Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto and promptly provide the Holders true and
complete copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to
the Registration Statement; and (iv) comply with the provisions of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the disposition of all
Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement during the
applicable period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the
Holders thereof set forth in the Registration Statement as so amended or in
such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be
sold, their Special Counsel and any managing underwriters immediately (and, in
the case of (i)(A) below, not less than five (5) days prior to such filing) and
(if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than
one (1) Business Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement
is proposed to be filed; (B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether
there will be a "review" of such Registration Statement and whenever the
Commission comments in writing on such Registration Statement and (C) with
respect to the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the
same has become effective; (ii) of any request by the Commission or any other
Federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to the
Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; (iii) of
the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities
or the initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) if at any time any
of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any agreement
(including any underwriting agreement) contemplated hereby ceases to be true
and correct in all material respects; (v) 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; and (vi) of the occurrence of any event that makes any statement made
in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect
or that requires any revisions to the Registration Statement, Prospectus or
other documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, as the case may be, it will 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 light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.
(d) Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if
issued, obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or
exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in
any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.
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(e) If requested by any managing underwriter or the
Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be sold in connection
with an Underwritten Offering, (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement such
information as such managing underwriters and such Holders reasonably agree
should be included therein and (ii) make all required filings of such
Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as practicable
after the Company has received notification of the matters to be incorporated
in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be required to take any action pursuant to this
Section 3(e) that would, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, violate
applicable law.
(f) Furnish to each Holder, their Special Counsel and any
managing underwriters, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each
Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, including financial
statements and schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference, and all exhibits to the extent requested by
such Person (including those previously furnished or incorporated by reference)
promptly after the filing of such documents with the Commission.
(g) Promptly deliver to each Holder, their Special
Counsel, and any underwriters, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus
or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each amendment or
supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request; and the Company
hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement
thereto by each of the selling Holders and any underwriters in connection with
the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus
and any amendment or supplement thereto.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable
Securities, use its best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the
selling Holders, any underwriters and their Special Counsel 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 Holder or underwriter requests in writing, to keep each such registration
or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness
Period and to do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to
enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities
covered by a Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall
not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where
it is not then so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to
general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so
subject or subject the Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction
where it is not then so subject.
(i) Cooperate with the Holders and any managing
underwriters to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates
representing Registrable Securities to be sold, which certificates shall be
free of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable
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Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as any such
managing underwriters or Holders may request at least two Business Days prior
to any sale of Registrable Securities.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by
Section 3(c)(vi), as promptly as practicable, prepare a supplement or
amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to the Registration Statement
or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required
document so that, as thereafter delivered, neither the Registration Statement
nor such Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
(k) Use its best efforts to cause all Registrable
Securities relating to such Registration Statement to be listed on the American
Stock Exchange and any other securities exchange, quotation system, market or
over-the-counter bulletin board, if any, on which similar securities issued by
the Company are then listed as and when required pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement.
(l) Enter into such agreements (including an underwriting
agreement in form, scope and substance as is customary in Underwritten
Offerings) and take all such other actions in connection therewith (including
those reasonably requested by any managing underwriters and the Holders of a
majority of the Registrable Securities being sold) in order to expedite or
facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities, and whether or not
an underwriting agreement is entered into, (i) make such representations and
warranties to such Holders and such underwriters as are customarily made by
issuers to underwriters in underwritten public offerings, and confirm the same
if and when requested; (ii) obtain and deliver copies thereof to each Holder
and the managing underwriters, if any, of opinions of counsel to the Company
and updates thereof addressed to each selling Holder and each such underwriter,
in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to any such managing
underwriters and Special Counsel to the selling Holders covering the matters
customarily covered in opinions requested in Underwritten Offerings and such
other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Special Counsel and
underwriters; (iii) immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement, and, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, at the time of
delivery of any Registrable Securities sold pursuant thereto, obtain and
deliver copies to the Holders and the managing underwriters, if any, of "cold
comfort" letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public
accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified
public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired
by the Company for which financial statements and financial data is, or is
required to be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to each
selling Holder and each of the underwriters, if any, in form and substance as
are customary in connection with Underwritten Offerings; (iv) if an
underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall contain indemnification
provisions and procedures no less favorable to the
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selling Holders and the underwriters, if any, than those set forth in Section 6
(or such other provisions and procedures acceptable to the managing
underwriters, if any, and holders of a majority of Registrable Securities
participating in such Underwritten Offering; and (v) deliver such documents and
certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities being sold, their Special Counsel and any managing
underwriters to evidence the continued validity of the representations and
warranties made pursuant to clause 3(l)(i) above and to evidence compliance
with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other
agreement entered into by the Company.
(m) Make available for inspection by the selling Holders,
any representative of such Holders, any underwriter participating in any
disposition of Registrable Securities, and any attorney or accountant retained
by such selling Holders or underwriters, at the offices where normally kept,
during reasonable business hours, all financial and other records, pertinent
corporate documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, and
cause the officers, directors, agents and employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries to supply all information in each case requested by any such
Holder, representative, underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with
the Registration Statement; provided, however, that any information that is
determined in good faith by the Company in writing to be of a confidential
nature at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential
by such Persons, 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, in the opinion of counsel to
such Person, is required by law; (iii) such information becomes generally
available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to
safeguard by such Person; or (iv) such information becomes available to such
Person from a source other than the Company and such source is not known by
such Person to be bound by a confidentiality agreement with the Company.
(n) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of
the Commission and make generally available to its security holders earning
statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and
Rule 158 not 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) (i)
commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Securities are
sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts Underwritten Offering
and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, commencing on the
first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company after the effective date
of the Registration Statement, which statement shall cover said 12-month
period, or end shorter periods as is consistent with the requirements of Rule
158.
(o) Provide a CUSIP number for all Registrable
Securities, not later than the effective date of the Registration Statement.
The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the
Company such information regarding the distribution of such Registrable
Securities as is required by law to be
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disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Company may exclude from such
registration the Registrable Securities of any such Holder who unreasonably
fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such
request.
If the Registration Statement refers to any Holder by name or
otherwise as the holder of any securities of the Company, then such Holder
shall have the right to require (i) the inclusion therein of language, in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Holder, to the effect that the
ownership by such Holder of such securities is not to be construed as a
recommendation by such Holder of the investment quality of the Company's
securities covered thereby and that such ownership does not imply that such
Holder will assist in meeting any future financial requirements of the Company,
or (ii) if such reference to such Holder by name or otherwise is not required
by the Securities Act or any similar Federal statute then in force, the
deletion of the reference to such Holder in any amendment or supplement to the
Registration Statement filed or prepared subsequent to the time that such
reference ceases to be required.
Each Purchaser covenants and agrees that (i) it will not offer
or sell any Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until it
has received copies of the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented as
contemplated in Section 3(g) and notice from the Company that such Registration
Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto have become effective as
contemplated by Section 3(c) and (ii) such Purchaser and its officers,
directors or Affiliates, if any, will comply with the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to them in connection with
sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.
Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable
Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of
any event of the kind described in Section 3(c)(ii), 3(c)(iii), 3(c)(iv),
3(c)(v) or 3(c)(vi), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such
Registrable Securities until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement contemplated by
Section 3(j), or until it is advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company
that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case,
has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or
Registration Statement.
4. Registration Expenses
(a) All fees and expenses incident to the performance of
or compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall, except as and to the
extent specified in Section 4(b), be borne by the Company whether or not
pursuant to an Underwritten Offering and whether or not the Registration
Statement is filed or becomes effective and whether or not any Registrable
Securities are sold pursuant to the Registration Statement. The fees and
expenses referred to in the foregoing sentence shall include, without
limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees
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(including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings
required to be made with the American Stock Exchange and each other securities
exchange or market on which Registrable Securities are required hereunder to be
listed and (B) in compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws (including,
without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Holders in
connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities and
determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Securities for investment
under the laws of such jurisdictions as the managing underwriters, if any, or
the Holders of a majority of Registrable Securities may designate)), (ii)
printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing
certificates for Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses if the
printing of prospectuses is requested by the managing underwriters, if any, or
by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the
Registration Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv)
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and Special Counsel for the
Holders, in the case of the Special Counsel, to a maximum amount of $10,000,
(v) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such
insurance, and (vi) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the
Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement. In addition, the Company shall be responsible for all of its
internal expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation, all
salaries and expenses of its 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 as required hereunder.
(b) In connection with the Registration Statement, the
Company shall reimburse the Holders for up to $10,000 of the fees and
disbursements of one firm of attorneys chosen by the Holders of a majority of
the Registrable Securities.
(c) If the Holders require an Underwritten Offering
pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company shall be responsible for all costs,
fees and expenses in connection therewith, except for the fees and
disbursements of the Underwriters and their legal counsel and accountants
(which shall be borne by the Holders). Therefore, in such circumstances the
Holder shall bear the expenses of the fees and disbursements of any legal
counsel or accounting firm retained by the underwriters in connection with such
Underwritten Offering and the costs of any determination (but not filing) by
the underwriters of the eligibility of the Registrable Securities for
investment under the applicable state securities laws. By way of illustration
which is not intended to diminish from the provisions of Section 4(a), the
Holders shall not be responsible for, and the Company shall be required to pay
the fees or disbursements incurred by the Company (including by its legal
counsel and accountants) in connection with, the preparation and filing of a
Registration Statement and related Prospectus for such offering, the
maintenance of such Registration Statement in accordance with the terms hereof,
the listing of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the requirements
hereof, and printing expenses incurred to comply with the requirements hereof.
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5. Indemnification
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement and without limitation as to
time, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the officers, directors, agents
(including any underwriters retained by such Holder in connection with the
offer and sale of Registrable Securities), brokers (including brokers who offer
and sell Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or any
failure to perform under a margin call of Common Stock), investment advisors
and employees of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act) and the officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling
Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any
and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without
limitation, costs of preparation and attorneys' fees) and expenses
(collectively, "Losses"), as incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or
relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any
Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except to the extent,
but only to the extent, that such untrue statements or omissions are based
solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the
Company by or on behalf of such Holder expressly for use therein, which
information was reasonably relied on by the Company for use therein or to the
extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed
method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly
approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration
Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto. The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the
institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding of which the Company is
aware in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall,
severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the
directors, officers, agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company
(within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the
Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such
controlling Persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from
and against all Losses (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a
final judgment not subject to appeal or review) arising solely out of or based
solely upon any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or arising
solely out of or based solely upon any omission of 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 omission is
contained in any information so furnished in writing by such Holder to the
Company specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or such
Prospectus and that such information was reasonably
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relied upon by the Company for use in the Registration Statement, such
Prospectus or such form of prospectus or to the extent that such information
relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of distribution of
Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by
such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or
such form of Prospectus. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder
hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds
received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise
to such indemnification obligation.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any
Proceeding shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to
indemnity hereunder (an "Indemnified Party"), such Indemnified Party promptly
shall notify the Person from whom indemnity is sought (the "Indemnifying
Party") in writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense
thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Party and the payment of all fees and expenses incurred in
connection with defense thereof; provided, that the failure of any Indemnified
Party to give such notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its
obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement, except (and only) to the
extent that it shall be finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction
(which determination is not subject to appeal or further review) that such
failure shall have proximately and materially adversely prejudiced the
Indemnifying Party.
An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate
counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but
the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such
Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed to
pay such fees and expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed
promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel
reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or
(3) the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties)
include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such
Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of
interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent such
Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such
Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to
employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the
Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and
such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party). The
Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such
Proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written
consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending
Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a 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.
All fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including
reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with
investigating or preparing to defend such
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Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the
Indemnified Party, as incurred, within 10 Business Days of written notice
thereof to the Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately
determined that an Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification
hereunder; provided, that the Indemnifying Party may require such Indemnified
Party to undertake to reimburse all such fees and expenses to the extent it is
finally judicially determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to
indemnification hereunder).
(d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under
Section 5(a) or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party because of a
failure or refusal of a governmental authority to enforce such indemnification
in accordance with its terms (by reason of public policy or otherwise), then
each 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, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party in connection with the
actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any
other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such
Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to,
among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of
a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied
by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a
result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set
forth in Section 5(c), any attorneys' or other fees or expenses incurred by
such party in connection with any Proceeding to the extent such party would
have been indemnified for such fees or expenses if the indemnification provided
for in this Section was available to such party in accordance with its terms.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro
rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into
account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), a Purchaser
shall not be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of
the amount by which the proceeds actually received by such Purchaser from the
sale of the Registrable Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount
of any damages that such Purchaser 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.
The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have
to the Indemnified Parties.
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6. Rule 144
The Company shall file the reports required to be filed by it
under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in a timely manner and, if at any
time the Company is not required to file such reports, they will, upon the
request of any Holder, make publicly available other information so long as
necessary to permit sales of its securities pursuant to Rule 144. The Company
further covenants that it will take such further action as any 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. Upon the
request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written
certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with
such requirements.
7. Miscellaneous
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or
by a Holder, of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or
the Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all
rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages,
will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement.
The Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide
adequate compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of
any of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the
event of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it
shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Except as and to the
extent specifically set forth in Schedule 7(b) attached hereto, neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries has, as of the date hereof, nor shall the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, on or after the date of this Agreement,
enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent
with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts
with the provisions hereof. Except and to the extent specifically set forth on
Schedule 7(b) attached hereto, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
has previously entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with
respect to any of its securities to any Person. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, without the written consent of the Holders of a
majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities, the Company shall not
grant to any Person the right to request the Company to register any securities
of the Company under the Securities Act unless the rights so granted are
subject in all respects to the prior rights in full of the Holders set forth
herein, and are not otherwise in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions
of this Agreement.
(c) No Piggyback on Registrations. Except as and to the
extent specifically set forth on Schedule 7(c) attached hereto, neither the
Company nor any of its security holders (other than the Holders in such
capacity pursuant hereto) may include securities of the
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16
Company in the Registration Statement other than the Registrable Securities,
and the Company shall not enter into any agreement providing any such right to
any of its securityholders.
(d) Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time the Company
shall determine to prepare and file with the Commission a registration
statement relating to an offering for its own account or the account of others
under the Securities Act of any of its equity securities, other than on Form
S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the Securities Act) or their then
equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in connection
with any acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities issuable in
connection with stock option or other employee benefit plans, the Company shall
send to each holder of Registrable Securities written notice of such
determination and, if within twenty (20) days after receipt of such notice, any
such holder shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such
registration statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities such
holder requests to be registered. No right to registration of Registrable
Securities under this Section shall be construed to limit any registration
otherwise required hereunder.
(e) 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 same shall be in writing and
signed by the Company and the Holders of at least a majority of the then
outstanding Registrable Securities; provided, however, that, for the purposes
of this sentence, Registrable Securities that are owned, directly or
indirectly, by the Company, or an Affiliate of the Company are not deemed
outstanding. 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 and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of
other Holders may be given by Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable
Securities to which such waiver or consent relates; provided, however, that the
provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented
except in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence.
(f) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications
or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date
of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at
the facsimile telephone number specified in this Section prior to 4:30 p.m.
(New York City time) on a Business Day, (ii) the Business Day after the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified in the Purchase Agreement later than 4:30
p.m. (New York City time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m. (New York
City time) on such date, (iii) the Business Day following the date of mailing,
if sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual
receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given.
If to the Company: Phoenix Network, Inc.
0000 Xxxx Xxxx.
-00-
00
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
With copies to: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
& X'Xxxxxxx, P.C.
0000 00xx Xx., #0000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Fax: 000-000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
If to JNC: JNC Opportunity Fund Ltd.
Olympia Capital (Cayman) Ltd.
c/o Olympia Capital (Bermuda) Ltd.
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx XX00, Xxxxxxx
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
with copies to: Encore Capital Management,
L.L.C.
00000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxx Xxxx
- and -
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Aronsohn & Xxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxx
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18
If to any other Person who is then the registered Holder:
To the address of such Holder as it appears in
the stock transfer books of the Company
or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same
manner, by such Person.
(g) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure
to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of
each of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company
may not assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written
consent of each Holder. A Purchaser may assign its rights hereunder in the
manner and to the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement and as
permitted in Section 7(h).
(h) Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights of the
Holders hereunder, including the right to have the Company register for resale
Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, shall be
automatically assignable by the Holders to any assignee or transferee of all or
a portion of the shares of Preferred Stock, the Warrants or the Registrable
Securities if: (i) the Holders agree in writing with the transferee or assignee
to assign such rights, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company
within a reasonable time after such assignment, (ii) the Company is, within a
reasonable time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with written
notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or assignee, and (b) the
securities with respect to such registration rights are being transferred or
assigned, (iii) following such transfer or assignment the further disposition
of such securities by the transferee or assignees restricted under the
Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, (iv) at or before the time
the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this
Section, the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be
bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement, and (v) such transfer shall
have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Purchase
Agreement. The rights to assignment shall apply to the Holders' (and to
subsequent) successors and assigns.
(i) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an
original and, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
Agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile
transmission, such signature shall create a valid binding obligation of the
party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with
the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature were the original
thereof.
(j) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without
regard to principles of conflicts of law.
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19
(k) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein
are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(l) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction 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, and
the parties hereto shall use their reasonable 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 is hereby
stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have
executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without
including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or
unenforceable.
(m) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning hereof.
(n) Shares Held by The Company and its Affiliates.
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 (other than the Purchasers or transferees or
successors or assigns thereof if such Persons are deemed to be 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.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK,
SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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20
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.
PHOENIX NETWORK, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
---------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: President and CEO
JNC OPPORTUNITY FUND LTD.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Secretary
