REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 4
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of October 14, 2005,
is by and among TRI-S SECURITY CORPORATION, a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), and each
of the investors whose names appear on the signature pages hereof (each an “Investor” and,
collectively, the “Investors”).
The Company has agreed, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Company’s
Confidential Private Offering Memorandum dated July 26, 2005, as may be amended or supplemented
from time to time (the “Memorandum”), and the Subscription Agreement executed by each
Investor and accepted by the Company on October 14, 2005 (collectively, the “Subscription
Agreements”), to issue and sell to each Investor a Note and Warrant (each as hereinafter
defined). The Notes are convertible into shares (the “Conversion Shares”) of the Company’s
common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), in accordance with their
terms, and the Warrants are exercisable into shares (the “Warrant Shares”) of Common Stock
in accordance with their terms.
In order to induce the Investors to purchase the Notes and Warrants, the Company has agreed to
provide certain registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“Securities Act”), and under applicable state securities laws.
In consideration of each Investor purchasing a Note and Warrant, and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as
follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings specified below:
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which the
Commission is closed or on which banks in the City of Atlanta, Georgia are authorized by law to be
closed.
“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Effective Date” means the date on which the Registration Statement covering the
resale of the Registrable Securities is declared effective by the Commission.
“Filing Deadline” means no later than March 1, 2006, which is the date on which the
Company will have been subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), for a period at least twelve calendar months and
will become eligible to file a Registration Statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act.
“Holder” means any person owning or having the right to acquire, through conversion of
the Notes, exercise of the Warrants or otherwise, Registrable Securities, including initially each
Investor and thereafter any permitted assignee thereof.
“Note” means each of the 10% Callable, Convertible Promissory Notes offered for sale
pursuant to the Memorandum and issued by the Company.
“Registrable Securities” means the Conversion Shares, the Warrant Shares and any
shares of capital stock issued or issuable from time to time (with any adjustments) in replacement
of, in exchange for or otherwise in respect of, the Conversion Shares or the Warrant Shares.
“Registration Deadline” means the earlier of: (i) the date which is thirty (30) days
prior to the earliest Maturity Date (as defined in each Note) of any of the Notes; and (ii) the
date on which the Company delivers a Prepayment Notice (as defined in the Notes) to any Investor.
“Registration Statement” means a registration statement or statements prepared in
compliance with the Securities Act and pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (“Rule
415”) or any successor rule providing for the offering of securities on a continuous or delayed
basis.
“Warrant” means each of the Warrants to purchase Common Stock offered for sale
pursuant to the Memorandum and issued by the Company.
2. REGISTRATION.
(a) Filing of Registration Statement. On or before the Filing Deadline, the Company
shall prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-3 as a “shelf”
registration statement under Rule 415 covering the resale of a number of shares of Registrable
Securities equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the number of shares of Common Stock issuable
upon conversion of the Notes and exercise of the Warrants in full (such number to be determined
without regard to any restriction on such conversion or exercise). Such Registration Statement
shall state, to the extent permitted by Rule 416 under the Securities Act, that it also covers such
indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock as may become issuable upon the
conversion of the Notes and exercise of the Warrants in order to prevent dilution resulting from
stock splits, stock dividends or similar events.
(b) Alternative Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph 2(a),
if on the Filing Deadline, the Company does not meet the eligibility requirements for filing a
Registration Statement on Form S-3, then in such case the Company shall instead prepare and file
with the Commission a Registration Statement meeting the foregoing requirements on Form S-1 or Form
S-2.
(c) Effectiveness. The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable following the filing thereof, but
in no event later than the Registration Deadline. The Company shall respond promptly to any and
all comments made by the staff of the Commission with respect to the Registration Statement, and
shall submit to the Commission, within three (3) Business Days after the Company learns that no
review
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of the Registration Statement will be made by the staff of the Commission or that the staff of the
Commission has no further comments on the Registration Statement, as the case may be, a request for
acceleration of the effectiveness of such Registration Statement to a time and date not later than
three (3) Business Days after the submission of such request. The Company will maintain the
effectiveness of each Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement until the earliest to
occur of: (i) the date on which all of the Registrable Securities eligible for resale thereunder
have been publicly sold pursuant to either the Registration Statement or Rule 144 under the
Securities Act or any successor provision (“Rule 144”); (ii) the date on which all of the
Registrable Securities remaining to be sold under such Registration Statement (in the reasonable
opinion of counsel to the Company) may be immediately sold to the public under Rule 144(k) under
the Securities Act or any successor provision; and (iii) the date that is 120 days after the
Effective Date (the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the earliest to occur of (i),
(ii) or (iii) above being referred to herein as the “Registration Period”).
(d) Registration of Other Securities. The Company shall not include any securities
other than Registrable Securities on any Registration Statement filed by the Company on behalf of
the Holders pursuant to the terms hereof.
3. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY.
In addition to performing its obligations hereunder, including, without limitation, those
pursuant to Section 2 above, the Company shall, with respect to each Registration Statement:
(a) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such Registration
Statement and the prospectus used in connection with such Registration Statement as may be
necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act or to maintain the effectiveness of
such Registration Statement during the Registration Period, or as may be reasonably requested by a
Holder in order to incorporate information concerning such Holder or such Holder’s intended method
of distribution;
(b) so long as a Registration Statement is effective covering the resale of the applicable
Registrable Securities owned by a Holder, furnish to each Holder such number of copies of the
prospectus included in such Registration Statement, including a preliminary prospectus, in
conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as such Holder may
reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Securities;
(c) use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities
under the securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as shall be
reasonably requested from time to time by a Holder, and do any and all other acts or things which
may reasonably be necessary or advisable to enable such Holder to consummate the public sale or
other disposition of the Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, that the Company
shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to qualify to do business
or to file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction;
(d) notify each Holder immediately after becoming aware of the occurrence of any event (but
shall not, without the prior written consent of such Holder, disclose to such Holder any facts or
circumstances constituting material non-public information) as a result of which the
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prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, contains an untrue statement
of material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing, and as
promptly as practicable prepare and file with the Commission and furnish to each Holder a
reasonable number of copies of a supplement or an amendment to such prospectus as may be necessary
so that such prospectus does not contain an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;
(e) use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or other
order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement and, if such an order is issued,
to use commercially reasonable efforts obtain the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible time
and to notify each Holder in writing of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof;
(f) furnish to each Holder no later than two (2) Business Days after the date that such
Registration Statement, or any successor registration statement, becomes effective, a letter, dated
such date, signed by an officer of the Company and addressed to such Holder, confirming such
effectiveness; and
(g) permit counsel for each Holder to review such Registration Statement and all amendments
and supplements thereto, and any comments made by the staff of the Commission concerning such
Holder and the Company’s responses thereto, within a reasonable period of time prior to the filing
thereof with the Commission (or, in the case of comments made by the staff of the Commission,
within a reasonable period of time following the receipt thereof by the Company).
4. OBLIGATIONS OF EACH HOLDER.
In connection with the registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration
Statement, each Holder shall:
(a) timely furnish to the Company (i) a completed shareholder questionnaire, in form and
substance which is reasonably acceptable to the Company, and (ii) such information in writing
regarding such Holder and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by
such Holder as the Company shall reasonably request in order to effect the registration thereof;
(b) upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind
described in paragraphs 3(d) or 3(e), immediately discontinue any sale or other disposition of such
Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement until the filing of an amendment or
supplement as described in paragraph 3(d) or withdrawal of the stop order referred to in paragraph
3(e), and use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the confidentiality of such notice and
its contents;
(c) to the extent required by applicable law, deliver a prospectus to the purchaser of such
Registrable Securities;
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(d) notify the Company when such Holder has sold all of the Registrable Securities held by
such Holder; and
(e) notify the Company in the event that any information supplied by such Holder in writing
for inclusion in such Registration Statement or related prospectus is untrue or omits to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make such information not misleading in
light of the circumstances then existing; immediately discontinue any sale or other disposition of
such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement until the filing of an
amendment or supplement to such prospectus as may be necessary so that such prospectus does not
contain an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances
then existing; and use commercially reasonable efforts to assist the Company as may be appropriate
to make such amendment or supplement effective for such purpose.
5. INDEMNIFICATION.
In the event that any Registrable Securities are included in a Registration Statement under
this Agreement:
(a) To the extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Holder,
the officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives of such Holder, and each person, if
any, who controls such Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), against any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (whether joint or several) (collectively,
including reasonable legal expenses or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with
investigating or defending same, “Losses”), insofar as any such Losses arise out of or are
based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
such Registration Statement under which such Registrable Securities were registered, including any
preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements
thereto; or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein 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. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 5(c) below, the
Company will reimburse such Holder, and each such officer, director, employee, agent,
representative or controlling person, for any reasonable legal expenses or other out-of-pocket
expenses as reasonably incurred by any such entity or person in connection with investigating or
defending any Loss; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity shall not apply to amounts paid
in settlement of any Loss if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), nor shall the Company be obligated to indemnify any
person for any Loss to the extent that such Loss arises out of or is based upon: (i) any disclosure
or any omission or alleged omission (to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make statements therein not misleading) that is based upon or in conformity with
written information furnished (or not furnished, in the case of an omission) by such person
expressly for use in such Registration Statement; or (ii) a failure of such person to deliver or
cause to be delivered the final prospectus contained in the Registration Statement and made
available by the Company, if such delivery is required by applicable law.
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(b) To the extent permitted by law, each Holder who is named in such Registration Statement as
a selling shareholder, acting severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, the officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives of the Company, and each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange
Act, against any Losses to the extent (and only to the extent) that any such Losses arise out of or
are based upon: (i) any disclosure or any omission or alleged omission (to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make statements therein not misleading) that is based
upon or in conformity with written information furnished (or not furnished, in the case of an
omission) by such person expressly for use in such Registration Statement; or (ii) a failure of
such Holder to deliver or cause to be delivered the final prospectus contained in the Registration
Statement and made available by the Company, if such delivery is required under applicable law.
Subject to the provisions of paragraph 5(c) below, such Holder will reimburse any legal or other
expenses as reasonably incurred by the Company and any such officer, director, employee, agent,
representative, or controlling person, in connection with investigating or defending any such Loss;
provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of
any such Loss if such settlement is effected without the consent of such Holder (which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld).
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5 (an “Indemnified
Party”) of notice of the commencement of any action (including any governmental action), such
Indemnified Party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party
under this Section 5 (an “Indemnifying Party”), promptly deliver to the Indemnifying Party
a written notice of the commencement thereof and the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to
participate in and to assume the defense thereof with counsel selected by the Indemnifying Party
and reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Party; provided, however, that an Indemnified Party
shall have the right to retain its own counsel, with the reasonably incurred fees and expenses of
one such counsel for all Indemnified Parties to be paid by the Indemnifying Party, if
representation of such Indemnified Party by the counsel retained by the Indemnifying Party would be
inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct due to actual or potential
conflicting interests between such Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such
counsel in such proceeding. The failure to deliver written notice to the Indemnifying Party within
a reasonable time of the delivery of notice of any such action, to the extent prejudicial to its
ability to defend such action, shall relieve such Indemnifying Party of any liability to the
Indemnified Party under this Section 5 with respect to such action, but the omission so to deliver
written notice to the Indemnifying Party will not relieve it of any liability that it may have to
any Indemnified Party otherwise than under this Section 5 or with respect to any other action
unless the Indemnifying Party is materially prejudiced as a result of not receiving such notice.
(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 5 is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified Party for any reason, the Company and
each Holder agree, severally and not jointly, to contribute to the aggregate Losses to which the
Company or such Holder may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
fault of the Company and such Holder in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted
in such Losses. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether any alleged untrue
statement or omission relates to information provided by the Company or by such Holder. The
Company and each Holder agree that it would not be just and equitable
if contribution were
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determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of
the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph
(d), 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 is not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 5, each person who controls a Holder
within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and each officer, director,
employee, agent or representative of such Holder shall have the same rights to contribution as such
Holder, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Securities Act or
the Exchange Act and each officer, director, employee, agent or representative of the Company shall
have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms
and conditions of this paragraph (d).
(e) The obligations of the Company and each Holder under this Section 5 shall survive the
conversion of the Notes and exercise of the Warrants in full and the completion of any offering or
sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement under this Agreement or
otherwise.
6. REPORTS.
With a view to making available to each Holder the benefits of Rule 144 and any other similar
rule or regulation of the Commission that may at any time permit such Holder to sell securities of
the Company to the public without registration, the Company agrees to:
(a) make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in
Rule 144;
(b) file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of
the Company under the Exchange Act; and
(c) furnish to such Holder, so long as such Holder owns any Registrable Securities, promptly
upon written request: (i) a written statement by the Company, if true, that it has complied with
the reporting requirements of Rule 144 and the Exchange Act; (ii) to the extent not publicly
available through the Commission’s XXXXX database, a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly
report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company with the
Commission; and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested by such Holder in
connection with such Holder’s compliance with any rule or regulation of the Commission which
permits the selling of any such securities without registration.
7. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) Expenses of Registration. All reasonable expenses, other than underwriting
discounts and commissions and fees and expenses of counsel and other advisors to each Holder,
incurred in connection with the registrations, filings or qualifications described herein,
including (without limitation) all registration, filing and qualification fees, printers’ and
accounting fees, shall be borne by the Company.
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(b) Amendment; Waiver. Except as expressly provided herein, neither this Agreement
nor any term hereof may be amended or waived except pursuant to a written instrument executed by
the Company and the Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities into which all of
the Notes and Warrants then outstanding are convertible or exercisable (without regard to any
limitation on such conversion or exercise). Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with
this paragraph shall be binding upon each Holder, each future Holder and the Company. The failure
of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or otherwise, or the delay by any
party in exercising such right or remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof.
(c) Notices. Any notice, demand or request required or permitted to be given by the
Company or a Holder pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed
delivered: (i) when delivered personally or by verifiable facsimile transmission, unless such
delivery is made on a day that is not a Business Day, in which case such delivery will be deemed to
be made on the next succeeding Business Day; (ii) on the next Business Day after timely delivery to
a reputable overnight courier; and (iii) on the Business Day actually received if deposited in the
U.S. mail (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid), addressed as
follows:
If to the Company:
Tri-S Security Corporation
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
Tel: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
Tel: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP
2700 International Tower
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx XX
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxx, Esq.
Tel: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
2700 International Tower
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx XX
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxx, Esq.
Tel: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
and if to a Holder, to such address as shall be designated by such Holder in writing to the
Company.
(d) Assignment. Upon the transfer of any Notes, Warrants or Registrable Securities by
a Holder, the rights of such Holder hereunder with respect to such securities so transferred shall
be assigned automatically to the transferee thereof, and such transferee shall thereupon be deemed
to be a “Holder” for purposes of this Agreement, as long as: (i) the Company is, within a
reasonable period of time following such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and
address of such transferee; (ii) the transferee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by
all of the provisions hereof; and (iii) such transfer is made in accordance with the applicable
requirements of the Notes, Warrants and all applicable law.
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(e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed an original, and all of which together shall be deemed one and the same instrument. This
Agreement, once executed by a party, may be delivered to any other party hereto by facsimile
transmission.
(f) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Georgia applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely
within the State of Georgia.
(g) Holder of Record. A person is deemed to be a Holder whenever such person owns or
is deemed to own of record such Registrable Securities. If the Company receives conflicting
instructions, notices or elections from two or more persons with respect to the same Registrable
Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions, notice or election received from
the record owner of such Registrable Securities.
(h) Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Notes, Warrants, Subscription Agreements
and Memorandum (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”) constitute the entire agreement
among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no
restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to
herein and therein. This Agreement and the other Transaction Documents supersede all prior
agreements and understandings among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof
and thereof.
(i) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only
and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(j) Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit
of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other person.
[Signature Page to Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the
date first-above written.
| TRI-S SECURITY CORPORATION |
||||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
| Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |||
| INVESTOR: SELECT CONTRARIAN VALUE PARTNERS LP |
||||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
| Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
| Its: Prin. of G.P. | ||||
