REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
10.10
This
Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into
as of June 26, 2008, among Global Diversified Industries, Inc., a Nevada
corporation (the “Company”), and
each securityholder identified on the signature pages hereto (each, including
its successors and assigns, a “Holder” and collectively the “Holders”).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof between the Company
and the Purchasers (as defined therein) (the “Purchase
Agreement”).
The Company and each Holder hereby
agrees as follows:
1. Definitions. Capitalized
terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined in the Purchase
Agreement 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 the meaning set forth in Section 6(c).
“Effectiveness
Date” means, with respect to the initial Registration
Statement required to be filed hereunder, the 150th calendar day following the
date hereof (or the 180th
calendar day following the date hereof if the Registration Statement is reviewed
by the Commission) and, with respect to any additional Registration Statements
which may be required pursuant to Section 2(b) or 3(c), the 90th calendar day
following the date on which the Company first knows, or reasonably should have
known, that such additional Registration Statement is required hereunder; provided, however, in the event
the Company is notified by the Commission that one of the above Registration
Statements will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further review and
comments, the Effectiveness Date as to such Registration Statement shall be the
tenth Trading Day following the date on which the Company is so notified if such
date precedes the dates required above.
“Effectiveness
Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(a).
“Event” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
“Event
Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(b).
“Filing
Date” means, with respect to the initial Registration
Statement required hereunder, the 60th calendar day following the date hereof
and, with respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be
required pursuant to Section 3(c), the 30th day following the date on which the
Company first knows, or reasonably should have known that such additional
Registration Statement is required hereunder.
“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).
“Losses” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
“Plan of
Distribution” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(a).
“Placement
Agent” means Midtown Partners & Co., LLC.
“Prospectus” means the
prospectus included in a 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 a 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 (i) any shares of Common Stock underlying
the Series 3 Common Stock Purchase Warrants, any shares of Common Stock
underlying warrants issued to the Placement Agent in connection with the
Company’s sale of the Company’s Series C Convertible Preferred Stock
(collectively, the “Warrants”), (ii) any
additional shares issuable in connection with any anti-dilution provisions in
the Warrants (in each case, without giving effect to any limitations on exercise
set forth in the Warrant) and (iii) any securities issued or issuable upon any
stock split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization or similar event
with respect to the foregoing.
“Registration
Statement” means the registration statements required to be
filed hereunder and any additional registration statements contemplated by
Section 3(c), 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
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 purpose and effect as such Rule.
“Rule
424” means Rule 424 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 purpose and effect as such Rule.
“Selling Shareholder
Questionnaire” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3(a).
2. Shelf
Registration.
(a) On or
prior to each Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file with the
Commission a “Shelf” Registration Statement covering the resale of 100% of the
Registrable Securities on such Filing Date for an offering to be made on a
continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. The Registration Statement
shall be on Form SB-2 (except, if the Company is not then eligible to register
for resale the Registrable Securities on Form SB-2, then such registration shall
be on another appropriate form in accordance herewith) and shall contain (unless
otherwise directed by at least a majority in interest of the Holders)
substantially the “Plan of Distribution”
attached hereto as Annex
A. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall
use its best efforts to cause a 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 applicable Effectiveness Date, and shall use its best
efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective under the
Securities Act until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration
Statement have been sold, or may be sold without volume restrictions pursuant to
Rule 144(k), as determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written
opinion letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to the Company’s
transfer agent and the affected Holders (the “Effectiveness
Period”). The Company shall telephonically request effectiveness of a
Registration Statement as of 5:00 p.m. New York City time on a Trading
Day. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders via facsimile
of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement on the same Trading Day that
the Company telephonically confirms effectiveness with the Commission, which
shall be the date requested for effectiveness of a Registration
Statement. The Company shall, by 9:30 a.m. New York City time on the
Trading Day after the Effective Date (as defined in the Purchase Agreement),
file a final Prospectus with the Commission as required by Rule
424.
(b) If a
Registration Statement filed or required to be filed hereunder is not declared
effective by the Commission by its Effectiveness Date (which need not be
consecutive calendar days) (any such failure or breach being referred to as an
“Event”, or
an “Event
Date”), then in addition to any other rights the Holders may have
hereunder or under applicable law, on each such Event Date and on each monthly
anniversary of each such Event Date (if the applicable Event shall not have been
cured by such date) until the applicable Event is cured, the Company shall
immediately pay to each Holder an amount equal to one and a half percent (1.5%)
of the Stated Value of the Series C Convertible Preferred Stock held by each
such Holder; provided, however, that in no
event shall the aggregate amount paid pursuant to this Section exceed nine
percent (9.0%) of the Stated Value of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock held
by each such Holder. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
to the extent that the registration of any or all of the Registrable Securities
by the Company on a registration statement is prohibited (the "Non-Registered
Shares") as a result of rules, regulations, positions or releases issued
or actions taken by the SEC pursuant to its authority with respect to Rule 415
and the Company has registered at such time the maximum number of Registrable
Securities permissible upon consultation with the SEC, then the liquidated
damages described in this Section 2(b) shall not be applicable to such
Non-Registered Shares; provided, however, the Company shall file a second
Registration Statement registering the Non-Registered Shares as soon as
permitted under Federal securities laws.
3. Registration
Procedures. In connection with the Company’s registration obligations
hereunder, the Company shall:
(a) Not less
than five (5) Trading Days prior to the filing of each Registration Statement
and not less than one (1) Trading Day prior to the filing of any related
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto materially relating to the
Holder (including any document that would be incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall, (i) furnish to each
Holder 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, and (ii) cause its officers and
directors, counsel and independent certified public accountants to respond to
such inquiries as shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of respective
counsel to each Holder to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning
of the Securities Act. The Company shall not file a Registration
Statement or any such Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto to
which the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities shall reasonably
object in good faith, provided that, the Company is notified of such objection
in writing no later than five (5) Trading Days after the Holders have been so
furnished copies of a Registration Statement or one (1) Trading Day after the
Holders have been so furnished copies of any related Prospectus or amendments or
supplements thereto. Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Company a
completed Questionnaire in the form attached hereto as Annex B (a “Selling Shareholder
Questionnaire”) not less than two (2) Trading Days prior to the Filing
Date or by the end of the fourth (4th) Trading Day following the date on which
such Holder receives draft materials in accordance with this
Section.
(b) (i)
Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective
amendments, to a Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection
therewith as may be necessary to keep a Registration Statement continuously
effective as to the applicable 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 Securities; (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or
supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement (subject to the terms of this
Agreement), and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(iii) respond as promptly as reasonably possible to any comments received from
the Commission with respect to a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto
and, upon written request of a Holder, as promptly as reasonably possible
provide the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to
the Commission relating to a Registration Statement (provided that the Company
may excise any information contained therein which would constitute material
non-public information as to any Holder which has not executed a confidentiality
agreement with the Company); and (iv) comply in all material respects with the
provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the
disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement
during the applicable period in accordance (subject to the terms of this
Agreement) with the intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set
forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so
supplemented.
(c) If during
the Effectiveness Period, the number of Registrable Securities at any time
exceeds one-hundred percent (100%) of the number of shares of Common Stock then
registered in a Registration Statement, then the Company shall file as soon as
reasonably practicable, but in any case prior to the applicable Filing Date, an
additional Registration Statement covering the resale by the Holders of such
additional Registrable Securities.
(d) Notify
the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold (which notice shall, pursuant
to clauses (iii) through (vi) hereof, be accompanied by an instruction to
suspend the use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes have been made) as
promptly as reasonably possible (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than
one (1) Trading Day prior to such filing) and (if requested by any such Holder)
confirm such notice in writing no later than one (1) Trading Day following the
day (i) with respect to a 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 a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional
information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or
state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the
initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) of the receipt by the
Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification
or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in
any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such
purpose; (v) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes the
financial statements included in a Registration Statement ineligible for
inclusion therein or any statement made in a 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 a
Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of a
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; and
(vi) the occurrence or existence of any pending corporate development with
respect to the Company that the Company believes may be material and that, in
the determination of the Company, makes it not in the best interest of the
Company to allow continued availability of a Registration Statement or
Prospectus; provided that any and all of such information shall remain
confidential to each Holder until such information otherwise becomes public,
unless disclosure by a Holder is required by law; provided, further,
notwithstanding each Holder’s agreement to keep such information confidential,
the Holders make no acknowledgement that any such information is material,
non-public information.
(e) Use its
best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued, obtain the withdrawal of
(i) any order suspending the effectiveness of a 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.
(f) Furnish
to each Holder, upon written request of the Holder, without charge, at least one
conformed copy of each such Registration Statement and each amendment thereto,
including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated therein by reference to the extent requested by such
Holder, and all exhibits to the extent requested by such Holder (including those
previously furnished or incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of
such documents with the Commission.
(g) Subject
to the terms of this Agreement, the Company hereby consents to the use of such
Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities
covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, except after
the giving of any notice pursuant to Section 3(d).
(h) If NASDR
Rule 2710 requires any broker-dealer to make a filing prior to executing a sale
by a Holder, the Company shall (i) make an Issuer Filing with the NASDR, Inc.
Corporate Financing Department pursuant to proposed NASDR Rule
2710(b)(10)(A)(i), (ii) respond within five (5) Trading Days to any comments
received from NASDR in connection therewith, (iii) and pay the filing fee
required in connection therewith.
(i) Prior to
any resale of Registrable Securities by a Holder, use its commercially
reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders
in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from the
Registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for the resale by
the Holder under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within
the United States as any Holder reasonably requests in writing, to keep each
registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the
Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or things reasonably
necessary to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable
Securities covered by each Registration Statement; provided, that the Company
shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction
where it is not then so qualified, subject the Company to any material tax in
any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or file a general consent
to service of process in any such jurisdiction.
(j) If
requested by the Holders, cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to
be delivered to a transferee pursuant to a Registration Statement, which
certificates shall be free, to the extent permitted by the Purchase Agreement,
of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in
such denominations and registered in such names as any such Holders may
request.
(k) Upon the
occurrence of any event contemplated by this Section 3, as promptly as
reasonably possible under the circumstances taking into account the Company’s
good faith assessment of any adverse consequences to the Company and its
stockholders of the premature disclosure of such event, prepare a supplement or
amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to a 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 a 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. If the Company notifies the Holders in accordance with
clauses (iii) through (vi) of Section 3(d) above to suspend the use of any
Prospectus until the requisite changes to such Prospectus have been made, then
the Holders shall suspend use of such Prospectus. The Company will
use its best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as
promptly as is practicable. The Company shall be entitled to exercise
its right under this Section 3(k) to suspend the availability of a Registration
Statement and Prospectus, subject to the payment of partial liquidated damages
pursuant to Section 2(b), for a period not to exceed sixty (60) calendar days
(which need not be consecutive days) in any twelve (12) month
period.
(l) Comply
with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission.
(m) The
Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the Company a certified
statement as to the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such
Holder and, if required by the Commission, the natural persons thereof that have
voting and dispositive control over the Shares. During any periods
that the Company is unable to meet its obligations hereunder with respect to the
registration of the Registrable Securities solely because any Holder fails to
furnish such information within three Trading Days of the Company’s request, any
liquidated damages that are accruing at such time as to such Holder only shall
be tolled and any Event that may otherwise occur solely because of such delay
shall be suspended as to such Holder only, until such information is delivered
to the Company.
4. Registration
Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the performance of
or compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the Company
whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to a Registration
Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing
sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees
(including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings
required to be made with any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then
listed for trading, (B) in compliance with applicable state securities or Blue
Sky laws reasonably agreed to by the Company in writing (including, without
limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company in connection with
Blue Sky qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities) and (C) if
not previously paid by the Company in connection with an Issuer Filing, with
respect to any filing that may be required to be made by any broker through
which a Holder intends to make sales of Registrable Securities with NASD
Regulation, Inc. pursuant to the NASD Rule 2710, so long as the broker is
receiving no more than a customary brokerage commission in connection with such
sale, (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of
printing certificates for Registrable Securities), (iii) messenger, telephone
and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company,
(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 and the fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any
securities exchange as required hereunder. In no event shall the
Company be responsible for any broker or similar commissions of any Holder or,
except to the extent provided for in the Transaction Documents, any legal fees
or other costs of the Holders.
5. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the
Company. The Company shall, notwithstanding any termination of
this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the officers,
directors, members, partners, agents, 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 (and any other persons with a functionally equivalent role of a person
holding such titles, notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) 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, members, shareholders, partners, agents and employees (and
any other persons with a functionally equivalent role of a person holding such
titles, notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) 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, reasonable attorneys’ fees) and expenses (collectively,
“Losses”), as
incurred, arising out of or relating to (1) any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a 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 or (2) any violation or alleged violation by the
Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any state securities law, or
any rule or regulation thereunder, in connection with the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement, except to the extent, but only to the extent,
that (i) such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information
regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder
expressly 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 a Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of
Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (it being understood that
the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose) or (ii) in the case of
an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(d)(iii)-(vi), the
use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has
notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and
prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section
6(c). The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the
institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding arising from or in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement of which the Company is
aware.
(b) Indemnification by
Holders. Each Holder shall, severally and not jointly,
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its 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 incurred, to the
extent arising out of or based solely upon: (x) such Holder’s failure to comply
with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act or (y) any
untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
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 not misleading
(i) 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 such Registration Statement or such
Prospectus or (ii) to the extent that such information relates to 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 a Registration
Statement (it being understood that the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for
this purpose), such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or (ii) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type
specified in Section 3(d)(iii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an outdated or
defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that
the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder
of the Advice contemplated in Section 6(c). 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 shall promptly notify the person from whom indemnity is
sought (the “Indemnifying Party”)
in writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to 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 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 in writing to pay such fees and
expenses; (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 counsel to the Indemnified Party shall
reasonably believe that a material 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 the reasonable fees and expenses of no more than one
separate 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 or delayed. 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.
Subject
to the terms of this Agreement, all reasonable 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 Proceeding in a
manner not inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified
Party, as incurred, within ten Trading Days of written notice thereof to the
Indemnifying Party; provided, that the Indemnified Party shall promptly
reimburse the Indemnifying Party for that portion of such fees and expenses
applicable to such actions for which such Indemnified Party is judicially
determined to be 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 or
court of law to enforce such indemnification in accordance with its terms by
reason of public policy or otherwise, then each Indemnifying Party shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party, 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 this
Agreement, any reasonable 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), no Holder shall be required
to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the
net proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable
Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that such
Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission, except in the case of fraud by
such Holder.
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.
6. Miscellaneous.
(a) Remedies. In
the event of a breach by the Company or by a Holder, of any of their respective
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 not assert
or shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) Compliance. Each
Holder covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to it in connection with sales
of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.
(c) Discontinued
Disposition. Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of
Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the
occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section 3(d)(iii) through (vi),
such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable
Securities under a Registration Statement until it is advised in writing (the
“Advice”) by
the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus (as it may have been
supplemented or amended) may be resumed. The Company will use its
best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly
as it practicable. The Company agrees and acknowledges that any
periods during which the Holder is required to discontinue the disposition of
the Registrable Securities hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of
Section 2(b).
(d) Piggy-Back
Registrations. If at any time during the Effectiveness Period
there is not an effective Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable
Securities and 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 the stock option or other employee
benefit plans, then the Company shall send to each Holder a written notice of
such determination and, if within fifteen days after the date of such notice,
any such Holder shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such
registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such
Holder requests to be registered; provided, however, that, the
Company shall not be required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to
this Section 6(d) that are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144(k)
promulgated under the Securities Act or that are the subject of a then effective
Registration Statement.
(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 each Holder of
the then outstanding Registrable Securities. 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 all 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 delivered as set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
(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 (except by merger) its
rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of all of the
Holders of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities. Each Holder
may assign their respective rights hereunder in the manner and to the persons as
permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
(h) No Inconsistent
Agreements. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
has entered, 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 would have the effect of impairing the
rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the
provisions hereof. Except as set forth on Annex C, 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 that have not been satisfied in full.
(i) Execution and
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the
same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by
each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both
parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any
signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a
“.pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding
obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is
executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf”
signature page were an original thereof.
(j) Governing
Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity,
enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be determined in
accordance with the provisions of the Purchase Agreement.
(k) Cumulative
Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not
exclusive of any other 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 commercially
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 only, do not constitute a part of
the Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions
hereof.
(n) Independent Nature of
Holders’ Obligations and Rights. The obligations of each
Holder hereunder are several and not joint with the obligations of any other
Holder hereunder, and no Holder shall be responsible in any way for the
performance of the obligations of any other Holder hereunder. Nothing
contained herein or in any other agreement or document delivered at any closing,
and no action taken by any Holder pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to
constitute the Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any
other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Holders are in any way
acting in concert with respect to such obligations or the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. Each Holder shall be entitled to
protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation the rights arising
out of this Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Holder to be
joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.
********************
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as
of June _____, 2008, effective as of the date first written above.
|
GLOBAL
DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES, INC.
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|
By:_________________________
Name:
Title:
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[SIGNATURE
PAGE OF HOLDERS FOLLOWS]
[SIGNATURE
PAGE OF HOLDERS TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]
Name of
Holder:
Signature of Authorized Signatory of
Holder:
Name of
Authorized Signatory:
Title of
Authorized Signatory:
[SIGNATURE
PAGE OF HOLDERS TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]
Name of
Holder: Midtown Partners & Co., LLC
Signature of Authorized Signatory of
Holder:
Name of
Authorized Signatory:
Title of
Authorized Signatory:
Annex
A
Plan of
Distribution
Each
Selling Stockholder (the “Selling
Stockholders”) of the common stock and any of their pledgees, assignees
and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their
shares of common stock on the OTC Bulletin Board or any other stock exchange,
market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private
transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated
prices. A Selling Stockholder may use any one or more of the
following methods when selling shares:
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·
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ordinary
brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer
solicits purchasers;
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|
·
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block
trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent
but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to
facilitate the transaction;
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|
·
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purchases
by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its
account;
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|
·
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an
exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
exchange;
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|
·
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privately
negotiated transactions;
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|
·
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settlement
of short sales entered into after the effective date of the registration
statement of which this prospectus is a
part;
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|
·
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broker-dealers
may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a specified number of such
shares at a stipulated price per
share;
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|
·
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through
the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions,
whether through an options exchange or
otherwise;
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|
·
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a
combination of any such methods of sale;
or
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|
·
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any
other method permitted pursuant to applicable
law.
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The
Selling Stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), if
available, rather than under this prospectus.
Broker-dealers
engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to
participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or
discounts from the Selling Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent
for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated,
but, except as set forth in a supplement to this Prospectus, in the case of an
agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in
compliance with NASDR Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a
markup or markdown in compliance with NASDR IM-2440.
In
connection with the sale of the common stock or interests therein, the Selling
Stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other
financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the common
stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The Selling
Stockholders may also sell shares of the common stock short and deliver these
securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the common
stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The
Selling Stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with
broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more
derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other
financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such
broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this
prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such
transaction).
The
Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in
selling the shares may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the
Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any
commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the
resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting
commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Each Selling
Stockholder has informed the Company that it does not have any written or oral
agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to
distribute the Common Stock. In no event shall any broker-dealer
receive fees, commissions and markups which, in the aggregate, would exceed
eight percent (8%).
The
Company is required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the Company
incident to the registration of the shares. The Company has agreed to
indemnify the Selling Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
Because
Selling Stockholders may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of
the Securities Act, they will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements
of the Securities Act including Rule 172 thereunder. In addition, any
securities covered by this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule
144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than under this
prospectus. There is no underwriter or coordinating broker acting in
connection with the proposed sale of the resale shares by the Selling
Stockholders.
We agreed
to keep this prospectus effective until the earlier of (i) the date on which the
shares may be resold by the Selling Stockholders without registration and
without regard to any volume limitations by reason of Rule 144(k) under the
Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect or (ii) all of the shares
have been sold pursuant to this prospectus or Rule 144 under the Securities Act
or any other rule of similar effect. The resale shares will be sold
only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under
applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the
resale shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for
sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or
qualification requirement is available and is complied with.
Under
applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in
the distribution of the resale shares may not simultaneously engage in market
making activities with respect to the common stock for the applicable restricted
period, as defined in Regulation M, prior to the commencement of the
distribution. In addition, the Selling Stockholders will be subject
to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and
sales of shares of the common stock by the Selling Stockholders or any other
person. We will make copies of this prospectus available to the
Selling Stockholders and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of
this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including
by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).
Annex
B
Selling
Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire
The
undersigned beneficial owner of preferred stock, par value $.___ per share (the
“Common
Stock”), of Global
Diversified Industries, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), (the
“Registrable
Securities”) understands that the Company has filed or intends to file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a
registration statement on Form SB-2 (the “Registration
Statement”) for the registration and resale under Rule 415 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of
the Registrable Securities, in accordance with the terms of the Registration
Rights Agreement, dated as of February __, 2008 (the “Registration Rights
Agreement”), among the Company and the Purchasers named
therein. A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement is available
from the Company upon request at the address set forth below. All
capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed
thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement.
Certain
legal consequences arise from being named as a selling securityholder in the
Registration Statement and the related prospectus. Accordingly,
holders and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised to consult
their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or
not being named as a selling securityholder in the Registration Statement and
the related prospectus.
NOTICE
The
undersigned beneficial owner (the “Selling
Securityholder”) of Registrable Securities hereby elects to include the
Registrable Securities owned by it and listed below in Item 3 (unless otherwise
specified under such Item 3) in the Registration Statement.
The
undersigned hereby provides the following information to the Company and
represents and warrants that such information is accurate:
QUESTIONNAIRE
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1.
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Name.
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(a)
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Full
Legal Name of Selling
Securityholder
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(b)
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Full
Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as (a) above) through
which Registrable Securities Listed in Item 3 below are
held:
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(c)
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Full
Legal Name of Natural Control Person (which means a natural person who
directly or indirectly alone or with others has power to vote or dispose
of the securities covered by the
questionnaire):
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2.
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Address
for Notices to Selling
Securityholder:
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Telephone:
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Fax:
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Contact
Person:
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3.
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Beneficial
Ownership of Registrable
Securities:
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(a)
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Type
and Principal Amount of Registrable Securities beneficially owned (not
including the Registrable Securities that are issuable pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement):
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4.
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Broker-Dealer
Status:
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(a)
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Are
you a broker-dealer?
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Yes No
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(b)
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If
“yes” to Section 4(a), did you receive your Registrable Securities as
compensation for investment banking services to the
Company.
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Yes No
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Note:
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If
no, the Commission’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as
an underwriter in the Registration
Statement.
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(c)
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Are
you an affiliate of a
broker-dealer?
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Yes No
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(d)
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If
you are an affiliate of a broker-dealer, do you certify that you bought
the Registrable Securities in the ordinary course of business, and at the
time of the purchase of the Registrable Securities to be resold, you had
no agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person
to distribute the Registrable
Securities?
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Yes No
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Note:
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If
no, the Commission’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as
an underwriter in the Registration
Statement.
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|
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5.
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Beneficial
Ownership of Other Securities of the Company Owned by the Selling
Securityholder.
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Except
as set forth below in this Item 5, the undersigned is not the beneficial or
registered owner of any securities of the Company other than the Registrable
Securities listed above in Item 3.
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(a)
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Type
and Amount of Other Securities beneficially owned by the Selling
Securityholder:
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|
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6.
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Relationships
with the Company:
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Except
as set forth below, neither the undersigned nor any of its affiliates, officers,
directors or principal equity holders (owners of 5% of more of the equity
securities of the undersigned) has held any position or office or has had any
other material relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or affiliates)
during the past three years.
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|
State
any exceptions here:
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The
undersigned agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies or changes
in the information provided herein that may occur subsequent to the date hereof
at any time while the Registration Statement remains effective.
By
signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the information
contained herein in its answers to Items 1 through 6 and the inclusion of such
information in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus and any amendments or supplements
thereto. The undersigned understands that such information
will be relied upon by the Company in connection with the preparation or
amendment of the Registration Statement and the related prospectus.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Notice
and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its duly
authorized agent.
PLEASE
FAX A COPY OF THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE, AND RETURN
THE ORIGINAL BY OVERNIGHT MAIL, TO:
