REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit
10.3
This
Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”)
is
made as of June 16th, 2006, among HRDQ Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the
“Company”),
and
Top Rider Group Limited, a BVI corporation (the “Investor”
).
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
the
Company, Telecom Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Alpha Century
Holdings Ltd. a BVI corporation (“Alpha”),
and
China Dongguan Networks, Inc., a BVI corporation (“CDN”),
have
entered into that certain Acquisition Agreement (the “Acquisition
Agreement”)
of
even date herewith pursuant to which each of Alpha and CDN have contributed
to
the Company, and the Company has accepted, the Acquired Assets (as defined
in
the Acquisition Agreement);
WHEREAS,
the
Company and Investor have entered into a Series A Preferred and Common Stock
Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase
Agreement”)
of
even date herewith pursuant to which the Company wants to sell to Investor
and
Investor wants to purchase from the Company shares of the Company’s Series A
Preferred Stock (the “Series
A Preferred Stock”)
and
Common Stock (the “Common
Stock”);
WHEREAS,
one
condition to Alpha’s and CDN’s obligation to contribute assets pursuant to the
Acquisition Agreement and one condition to Investor’s obligations to purchase
shares of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock and Common Stock pursuant to
the Purchase Agreement is that the Company and the Investors enter into this
Agreement in order to provide such Investors with certain rights to register
shares of the Company’s Common Stock, including without limitation Common Stock
issued or issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock held by
Investor; and
WHEREAS,
the
Company wants to induce Alpha and CDN to enter into the Acquisition Agreement
and the Company wants to induce Investor to purchase shares of Series A
Preferred Stock and Common Stock pursuant to the Purchase Agreement by agreeing
to the terms and conditions set forth herein.
AGREEMENT
NOW,
THEREFORE,
in
consideration of the mutual promises set forth above and the covenants set
forth
herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy
of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby, intending to be
legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
1. |
Registration
Rights.
|
1.1 Certain
Definitions.
As used
in this Agreement, the following terms have the following respective
meanings:
“Affiliate”
means
(i) with respect to any individual, (A) a spouse or descendant, through blood
or
adoption, of such individual, (B) any trust, family partnership or limited
liability company whose beneficiaries shall primarily be such individual and/or
such individual’s spouse and/or any Person related by blood or adoption to such
individual or such individual’s spouse, and (C) the estate or heirs of such
individual, and (ii) with respect to any Person that is not an individual,
any
other Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries
Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such Person and/or
one or more Affiliates thereof.
“Board”
means
the board of directors of the Company.
“Commission”
means
the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal agency at the time
administering the Securities Act.
“Control”, “Controls”
or “Controlled
means
the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies (investment or otherwise) of a Person,
whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Exchange
Act”
means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar successor
federal statute, and the rules and regulations thereunder, all as the same
shall
be in effect from time to time.
“Form
S-3 Initiating Holders”
means
any Holder or Holders of the Registrable Securities then outstanding and who
propose to register securities on Form S-3, the aggregate offering price of
which, net of underwriting discounts and commissions, exceeds $1,000,000.
“Holder”
means
(i) any Investor holding Registrable Securities and (ii) any person holding
Registrable Securities to whom the rights under this Agreement have been
transferred in accordance with Section 1.10 hereof.
“Initiating
Holders”
means
any Holder or Holders who in the aggregate hold not less than fifty percent
(50%) of the Registrable Securities then outstanding and who propose to register
securities the aggregate offering price of which, net of underwriting discounts
and commissions, exceeds $10,000,000.
“Investor”
means
Top Rider Group Limited, a BVI corporation.
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“IPO”
means
the first public offering of the Common Stock of the Company to the general
public that is affected pursuant to a registration statement filed with, and
declared effective by, the Commission under the Securities Act.
“Other
Stockholders”
means
persons other than Holders who, by virtue of agreements with the Company, are
entitled to include their securities in certain registrations hereunder.
“Person”
shall
be construed broadly and shall include, without limitation, an individual,
a
partnership, an investment fund, a limited liability company, a corporation,
an
association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated
organization and a governmental entity or any department, agency or political
subdivision thereof.
“Preferred
Shares”
means
the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock.
The
terms
“register”,
“registered”
and
“registration”
refer
to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement
in
compliance with the Securities Act, and the declaration or ordering of the
effectiveness of such registration statement.
“Registration
Expenses”
shall
mean all expenses incurred by the Company in complying with Sections 1.3, 1.4,
and 1.5 hereof, including, without limitation, all registration, qualification,
listing and filing fees, printing expenses, escrow fees, fees and disbursements
of counsel for the Company, fees and disbursements of one counsel for all of
the
Holders registering securities not to exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000)
in any given registration, blue sky fees and expenses, and the expense of any
special audits incident to or required by any such registration (but excluding
the compensation of regular employees of the Company which shall be paid in
any
event by the Company), but shall not include Selling Expenses.
“Registrable
Securities”
shall
mean (i) shares of Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to the conversion
of
the Preferred Shares, (ii) all shares of Common Stock owned by Telecom as of
the
date hereof, (iii) all shares of Common Stock owned by CDN as of the date
hereof, (iv) all shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to Investor pursuant
to the Purchase Agreement, and (v) any Common Stock of the Company issued as
a
dividend or other distribution with respect to or in exchange for or in
replacement of the shares referenced in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)
above
provided,
however,
that
shares of Common Stock or other securities shall only be treated as Registrable
Securities if and so long as they have not been (A) sold to or through a broker
or dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or a public securities
transaction, (B) sold in a transaction exempt from the registration and
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act under Section 4 (1)
thereof so that all transfer restrictions and restrictive legends with respect
thereto are removed upon the consummation of such sale, or (C) transferred
in a
transaction pursuant to which the registration rights are not also assigned
in
accordance with Section 1.10 hereof; and provided,
further,
however,
that
with respect to each Holder, shares of Common Stock or other securities held
by
such Holder shall no longer be treated as Registrable Securities at such time
following the IPO as (1) the Holder, together with such Holder’s Affiliates,
holds less than 1% of the Company’s then outstanding capital stock and all such
shares held by such Holder may be sold under Rule 144 of the Securities Act
(or
any similar or successor rule) during any ninety (90) day period or (2) the
Holder may sell all such shares held by such Holder under Rule 144(k) of the
Securities Act (or any similar or successor rule).
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“Rule
144”
means
Rule 144 as promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act, as such
Rule
may be amended from time to time, or any similar successor rule that may be
promulgated by the Commission.
“Rule
144(k)”
means
Rule 144(k) as promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act, as such
Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar successor rule that may
be
promulgated by the Commission.
“Rule
145”
means
Rule 145 as promulgated by the Commission under the Securities Act, as such
Rule
may be amended from time to time, or any similar successor rule that may be
promulgated by the Commission.
“Securities
Act”
shall
mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder or any similar federal statute and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect
at
the time.
“Selling
Expenses”
shall
mean all underwriting discounts, selling commissions and stock transfer taxes
applicable to the securities registered by the Holders and all fees and
disbursements of counsel for any Holder, other than the fees and disbursements
of one counsel for all of the Holders registering securities in any given
registration as provided in the definition of “Registration Expenses” above.
“Telecom”
means
Telecom Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
1.2 Requested
Registration.
(a) Request
for Registration.
If the
Company shall receive from Initiating Holders a written request that the Company
effect any registration, qualification, or compliance, the Company will:
(i) promptly
deliver written notice of the proposed registration, qualification, or
compliance to all other Holders; and
(ii)
as soon
as practicable, use commercially reasonable efforts to effect such registration,
qualification, or compliance (including, without limitation, the execution
of an
undertaking to file post-effective amendments, appropriate qualification under
applicable blue sky or other state securities laws, and appropriate compliance
with applicable regulations issued under the Securities Act and any other
governmental requirements or regulations) as may be so requested and as would
permit or facilitate the sale and distribution of all or such portion of such
Registrable Securities as are specified in such request (including, if
applicable, a distribution of such Registrable Securities by way of dividend),
together with all or such portion of the Registrable Securities of any Holder
or
Holders joining in such request as are specified in a written request delivered
to the Company within twenty (20) days after delivery of such written notice
from the Company;
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provided,
however,
that
the Company shall not be obligated to take any action to effect any such
registration, qualification, or compliance pursuant to this Section 1.2:
(A) Prior
to
one hundred eighty (180) days following the effective date of the IPO;
(B) After
the
Company has effected two (2) such registrations pursuant to this Section 1.2,
such registrations have been declared or ordered effective, and the securities
offered pursuant to such registrations have been sold;
(C) During
the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Company’s
estimated date of filing of, and ending on a date one hundred and eighty (180)
days after the effective date of, a registration initiated by the Company;
provided
that the
Company is actively employing in good faith its commercially reasonable efforts
to cause such registration statement to become effective and that the Company’s
estimate of the date of filing such registration statement is made in good
faith; provided,
further,
that
the Company provides written notice to the Initiating Holders within thirty
(30)
days of any request for registration by the Initiating Holders of the Company’s
intent to file a registration statement for a public offering within ninety
(90)
days after the date of such request and provided further,
that
such offering is an offering subject to Section 1.4 below;
(D) In
any
particular jurisdiction in which the Company would be required to execute a
general consent to service of process in effecting such registration,
qualification or compliance unless the Company is already subject to service
in
such jurisdiction and except as may be required by the Securities Act; or
5
(E) If
in the
good faith judgment of the Board, such registration would be seriously
detrimental to the Company and the Board concludes, as a result, that it is
essential to defer the filing of such registration statement at such time,
and
the Company thereafter delivers to the Initiating Holders a certificate, signed
by the President or Chief Executive Officer of the Company, stating that in
the
good faith judgment of the Board it would be detrimental to the Company or
its
stockholders for a registration statement to be filed in the near future, then
the Company’s obligation to use its commercially reasonable efforts to register,
qualify, or comply under this Section 1.2 shall be deferred for a period not
to
exceed ninety (90) days from the delivery of the written request from the
Initiating Holders; provided,
however,
that
the Company may not utilize this right more than once in any twelve (12) month
period.
(F) Subject
to the foregoing clauses (A) through (E), the Company shall file a registration
statement covering the Registrable Securities so requested to be registered
as
soon as practicable after receipt of the request or requests of the Initiating
Holders. The registration statement filed pursuant to the request of the
Initiating Holders may, subject to the provisions of Sections 1.2(c) and Section
1.12 hereof, include other securities of the Company with respect to which
registration rights have been granted, and may include securities being sold
for
the account of the Company.
(b) Underwriting.
The
right of any Holder to registration pursuant to this Section 1.2 shall be
conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the
inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the
extent provided herein. A Holder may elect to include in such underwriting
all
or a part of the Registrable Securities held by such Holder.
(c) Procedures.
If the
Company shall request inclusion in any registration pursuant to this Section
1.2
of securities being sold for its own account, or if other persons shall request
inclusion in any registration pursuant to this Section 1.2, the Initiating
Holders shall, on behalf of all Holders, offer to include such securities in
the
underwriting and may condition such offer on their acceptance of the applicable
provisions of this Section 1 (including without limitation Section 1.12). The
Company shall (together with all Holders or other persons proposing to
distribute their securities through such underwriting) enter into and perform
its obligations under an underwriting agreement in customary form with the
managing underwriter selected for such underwriting by a majority in interest
of
the Initiating Holders (which managing underwriter shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Company). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section
1.2, if the managing underwriter advises the Initiating Holders in writing
that
marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be
underwritten, the number of shares to be included in the underwriting or
registration shall be allocated as set forth in Section 1.12. If any person
who
has requested inclusion in such registration as provided above disapproves
of
the terms of the underwriting, such person shall be excluded therefrom by
written notice delivered by the Company or the managing underwriter. Any
Registrable Securities and/or other securities so excluded or withdrawn shall
also be withdrawn from registration.
6
1.3 Registration
on Form S-3.
(a) Qualification
on Form S-3.
After
the IPO, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to qualify
(and continue to be qualified) for registration on Form S-3 or any comparable
or
successor form. To that end, the Company shall register (whether or not required
by law to do so) its Common Stock under the Exchange Act in accordance with
the
provisions of the Exchange Act following the effective date of the first
registration of any securities of the Company on Form S-1 or any comparable
or
successor form or forms.
(b) Request
for Registration on Form S-3.
After
the Company has qualified for the use of Form S-3, if the Company shall receive
from Form S-3 Initiating Holders a written request that the Company effect
a
registration on Form S-3 the Company will:
(i) promptly
deliver written notice of the proposed registration to all other Holders; and
(ii) as
soon
as practicable, use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such
registration, qualification, or compliance (including, without limitation,
the
execution of an undertaking to file post-effective amendments, appropriate
qualification under applicable blue sky or other state securities laws, and
appropriate compliance with applicable regulations issued under the Securities
Act and any other governmental requirements or regulations) as may be so
requested and as would permit or facilitate the sale and distribution of all
or
such portion of such Registrable Securities as are specified in such request
(including, if applicable, a distribution of such Registrable Securities by
way
of dividend), together with all or such portion of the Registrable Securities
of
any Holder or Holders joining in such request as are specified in a written
request delivered to the Company within twenty (20) days after delivery of
such
written notice from the Company; provided,
however,
that
the Company shall not be obligated to take any action to effect any such
registration, qualification, or compliance pursuant to this Section 1.3:
7
(A) If
the
Company has effected any such registration pursuant to this Section 1.3 during
the preceding twelve-month period in which such Form
S-3
Initiating Holders or their Affiliates participated (irrespective of whether
such registration was requested by such Form S-3 Initiating Holders);
(B) During
the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Company’s
estimated date of filing of, and ending on a date one hundred and eighty (180)
days after the effective date of, a registration initiated by the Company;
provided that
the
Company is actively employing in good faith its commercially reasonable efforts
to cause such registration statement to become effective and that the Company’s
estimate of the date of filing such registration statement is made in good
faith; provided,
further,
that
the
Company provides written notice to the Initiating Holders within thirty (30)
days of any request for registration on Form S-3 by the Initiating Holders
of the Company’s intent to file a registration statement for a public offering
within ninety (90) days after the date of such request and provided further
that
such registration is subject to Section 1.4 hereto;
(C) In
any
particular jurisdiction in which the Company would be required to execute a
general consent to service of process in effecting such registration,
qualification, or compliance unless the Company is already subject to service
in
such jurisdiction and except as may be required by the Securities Act;
(D) If
in the
good faith judgment of the Board, such registration would be seriously
detrimental to the Company and the Board concludes, as a result, that it is
essential to defer the filing of such registration statement at such time,
and
the Company thereafter delivers to the Initiating Holders a certificate, signed
by the President or Chief Executive Officer of the Company, stating that in
the
good faith judgment of the Board it would be detrimental to the Company or
its
stockholders for a registration statement to be filed in the near future, then
the Company’s obligation to use its commercially reasonable efforts to register,
qualify, or comply under this Section 1.3 shall be deferred for a period not
to
exceed ninety (90) days from the date of delivery of the written request from
the Initiating Holders; provided,
however,
that
the Company may not utilize this right more than once in any twelve (12) month
period.
8
(c) Underwriting;
Procedure.
If a
registration requested under this Section 1.3 is for an underwritten offering,
the provisions of Sections 1.2(b) and 1.2(c) shall apply to such registration.
1.4 Company
Registration.
(a) Notice
of Registration.
If the
Company shall determine to register any of its securities, either for its own
account or the account of a security holder or holders invoking demand
registration rights other than (A) a registration pursuant to Sections 1.2
or
1.3 hereof, (B) a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans, (C)
a
registration relating solely to a Rule 145 transaction, or (D) a registration
on
any registration form that does not permit secondary sales, the Company will:
(i) promptly
deliver to each Holder written notice thereof; and
(ii) use
its
commercially reasonable efforts to include in such registration (and any related
qualification under blue sky laws or other compliance), except as set forth
in
Section 1.4(b) below, and in any underwriting involved therein, all the
Registrable Securities specified in a written request or requests made by any
Holder and delivered to the Company within ten (10) days after the written
notice is delivered by the Company. Such written request may include all or
a
portion of a Holder’s Registrable Securities.
(b) Underwriting;
Procedures.
If the
registration of which the Company gives notice is for a registered public
offering involving an underwriting, the Company shall so advise the Holders
as a
part of the written notice given pursuant to Section 1.4(a)(i). In such event,
the right of any Holder to registration pursuant to this Section 1.4 shall
be
conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the
inclusion of Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided
herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their securities through such
underwriting shall (together with the Company and the other holders distributing
their securities through such underwriting) enter into and perform their
obligations under an underwriting agreement in customary form with the managing
underwriter selected for such underwriting by the Company. Notwithstanding
any
other provision of this Section 1.4, if the managing underwriter determines
that
marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be
underwritten, the managing underwriter may exclude all Registrable Securities
from, or limit the number of Registrable Securities to be included in, the
registration and underwriting. The Company shall so advise all holders of
securities requesting registration, and the number of shares of securities
that
are entitled to be included in the registration and underwriting shall be
allocated as set forth in Section 1.12 (it being understood that the securities
to be registered pursuant to Section 1.4(a) for the Company’s account or for the
account of such other security holders invoking registration rights (such
securities, the “Priority
Shares”)
shall
not be reduced with respect to such registration). If any person who has
requested inclusion in such registration as provided above disapproves of the
terms of the underwriting, such person shall be excluded therefrom by written
notice delivered by the Company or the managing underwriter. Any Registrable
Securities and/or other securities so excluded or withdrawn shall also be
withdrawn from registration.
9
(c) Right
to Terminate Registration.
The
Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated
by it under this Section 1.4 prior to the effectiveness of such registration,
whether or not any Holder has elected to include securities in such
registration.
1.5 Registration
Procedures.
In the
case of each registration, qualification, or compliance effected by the Company
pursuant to this Section 1, the Company will keep each Holder advised in writing
as to the initiation of each registration, qualification, and compliance and
as
to the completion thereof and, at its expense, the Company will use its
commercially reasonable efforts to:
(a) Prepare
and file with the Commission a registration statement with respect to such
securities and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such
registration statement to become and remain effective for at least ninety (90)
days or until the distribution described in the registration statement has
been
completed, whichever occurs first; provided,
however,
that
(i) such 90-day period shall be extended for a period of time equal to the
period the Holder refrains from selling any securities included in such
registration at the request of an underwriter of common stock or other
securities of the Company, and (ii) in the case of any registration of
Registrable Securities on Form S-3 which are intended to be offered on a
continuous or delayed basis, such 90-day period shall be extended, if necessary,
up to one hundred eighty (180) days to keep the registration statement effective
until all such Registrable Securities are sold, however in no event longer
than
one year from the effective date of the registration statement and provided
that
if Rule 415, or any successor rule under the Securities Act, permits an offering
on a continuous or delayed basis, and provided further that if applicable rules
under the Securities Act governing the obligation to file a post-effective
amendment permit, in lieu of filing a post-effective amendment which (A)
includes any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act
or
(B) reflects facts or events representing a material or fundamental change
in
the information set forth in the registration statement, the incorporation
by
reference of information required to be included in (A) and (B) above shall
be
contained in periodic reports filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act in the registration statement;
10
(b) Furnish
to the Holders participating in such registration and to the underwriters of
the
securities being registered such reasonable number of copies of the registration
statement, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, and such other documents
as
such underwriters may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public
offering of such securities;
(c) Prepare
and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such
registration statement and the prospectus used in connection with such
registration statements as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of
the
Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by
such
registration statement;
(d) Notify
each seller of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement
at
any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under
the Securities Act of the happening of any event as a result of which the
prospectus included in such registration statement, as then in effect, includes
an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading or incomplete in the light of the circumstances then existing, and
prepare a supplement to or an amendment of such prospectus as may be necessary
so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchaser of such shares, such
prospectus shall not include 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 not misleading or incomplete in the light of the
circumstances then existing and, at the request of any such seller, furnish
to
such seller a reasonable number of copies of such supplement to or amendment
of
such prospectus;
(e) Use
its
commercially reasonable efforts to register and qualify the securities covered
by such registration statement under such other securities or blue sky laws
of
such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders, 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 states or jurisdictions;
(f) Cause
all
such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange on which
similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;
11
(g) Provide
a
transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities and a CUSIP number
for all such Registrable Securities, in each case not later than the effective
date of such registration; and
(h) Use
its
commercially reasonable efforts to furnish, at the request of any Holder
requesting registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section
1, on
the date that such Registrable Securities are delivered to the underwriters
for
sale in connection with a registration pursuant to this Section 1, if such
securities are being sold through underwriters, or, if such securities are
not
being sold through underwriters, on the date that the registration statement
with respect to such securities becomes effective, (i) an opinion, dated such
date, of the counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such
registration, in form and substance as is customarily given to underwriters
in
an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters, if any, and
to
the Holders requesting registration of Registrable Securities and (ii) a letter,
dated such date, from the independent certified public accountants of the
Company, in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified
public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed
to the underwriters, if any, and to the Holders requesting registration of
Registrable Securities (to the extent the then-applicable standards of
professional conduct permit said letter to be addressed to the Holders).
1.6 Information
by Holder.
The
Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities included in any registration shall
furnish to the Company such information regarding such Holder or Holders, the
Registrable Securities held by them, and the distribution proposed by such
Holder or Holders as the Company may request in writing and as shall be required
in connection with any registration, qualification, or compliance referred
to in
this Section 1, and the refusal to furnish such information by any Holder or
Holder shall relieve the Company of its obligations in this Section 1 with
respect to such Holder or Holders. Furthermore, the Company shall have no
obligation with respect to any registration requested pursuant to Section 1.2
or
Section 1.3 of this Agreement if, as a result of the application of the
preceding sentence, the number of shares or the anticipated aggregate offering
price of the Registrable Securities to be included in the registration does
not
equal or exceed the number of shares or the anticipated aggregate offering
price
required to originally trigger the Company’s obligation to initiate such
registration as specified in the definition of “Initiating Holders” or “Form S-3
Initiating Holders,” whichever is applicable.
1.7 Indemnification.
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(a) To
the
extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify each Holder, each of its
officers, directors, partners, legal counsel, and accountants, and each person
controlling such Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities
Act,
with respect to which registration, qualification, or compliance has been
effected pursuant to this Section 1, and each underwriter, if any, and each
person who controls any underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act, against all expenses, claims, losses, damages, or liabilities
(or actions, proceedings, or settlements in respect thereof) arising out of
or
based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact
contained in any registration statement, prospectus, offering circular, or
other
document (including any related registration statement, notification, or the
like), or any amendment or supplement thereto, incident to any such
registration, qualification, or compliance, or based on any 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 in
which
they were made, not misleading, or any violation by the Company of the
Securities Act or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act
applicable to the Company in connection with any such registration,
qualification, or compliance, and the Company will reimburse each such Holder,
each of its officers, directors, partners, legal counsel, and accountants,
and
each person controlling such Holder, each such underwriter and each person
who
controls any such underwriter, for any legal and any other expenses reasonably
incurred in connection with investigating, preparing, defending, or settling
any
such claim, loss, damage, liability, or action, as such expenses are incurred,
provided that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent
that
any such claim, loss, damage, liability, or expense arises out of or is based
on
any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission, made
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by such Holder, controlling person, or underwriter and stated to be
specifically for use therein. It is agreed that the indemnity agreement
contained in this Section 1.7 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement
of
any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action if such settlement is
effected without the consent of the Company (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld).
(b) To
the
extent permitted by law, each Holder will, if Registrable Securities held by
such Holder are included in the securities as to which such registration,
qualification, or compliance is being effected, severally and not jointly
indemnify the Company, each of its directors, officers, partners, legal counsel,
and accountants, and each underwriter, if any, of the Company’s securities
covered by such a registration statement, each person who controls the Company
or such underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act,
and
each other such Holder and Other Stockholder, each of their officers, directors,
and partners, and each person controlling such Holder or Other Stockholder
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, against all claims,
losses, damages, and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arising out
of
or based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material
fact contained in any such registration statement, prospectus, offering
circular, or other document, or any omission (or alleged omission) to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the
statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse the Company and such
Holders, Other Stockholders, directors, officers, partners, legal counsel,
and
accountants, persons, underwriters, or control persons for any legal or any
other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending
any such claim, loss, damage, liability, or action, as such expenses are
incurred, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or alleged omission) is
made in such registration statement, prospectus, offering circular, or other
document in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished
to the Company by such Holder and stated to be specifically for use therein,
provided, however, that the obligations of such Holder hereunder shall not
apply
to amounts paid in settlement of any such claims, losses, damages, or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) if such settlement is effected
without the consent of such Holder (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld); and provided
that
that in no event shall any indemnity under this Section 1.7 exceed the net
proceeds received by such Holder in such offering.
13
(c) Each
party entitled to indemnification under this Section 1.7 (the “Indemnified
Party”)
shall
give notice to the party required to provide indemnification (the “Indemnifying
Party”)
promptly after such Indemnified Party has actual knowledge of any claim as
to
which indemnity may be sought, and shall permit the Indemnifying Party to assume
the defense of any such claim or any litigation resulting therefrom, provided
that counsel for the Indemnifying Party, who shall conduct the defense of such
claim or litigation, shall be approved by the Indemnified Party (whose approval
shall not unreasonably be withheld), and the Indemnified Party may participate
in such defense at such party’s expense, and provided further that the failure
of any Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve
the
Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Section 1 unless the failure
to
give such notice is materially prejudicial to an Indemnifying Party’s ability to
defend such action. No Indemnifying Party, in the defense of any such claim
or
litigation, shall, except with the consent of each Indemnified Party, consent
to
entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as
an
unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such
Indemnified Party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim
or
litigation. Each Indemnified Party shall furnish such information regarding
itself or the claim in question as an Indemnifying Party may reasonably request
in writing and as shall be reasonably required in connection with the defense
of
such claim and litigation resulting therefrom.
14
(d) If
the
indemnification provided for in this Section 1.7 is held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be unavailable to an Indemnified Party with respect to any
claim, loss, damage, liability, or expense referred to therein, then the
Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party hereunder,
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as
a
result of such claim, loss, damage, liability, or expense in such proportion
as
is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party on the
one hand and the Indemnified party on the other in connection with the
statements or omissions that resulted in such claim, loss, damage, liability,
or
expense, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
fault of the Indemnifying Party and of the Indemnified Party shall be determined
by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact related
to
information supplied by the Indemnifying Party or by the Indemnified Party
and
the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information, and opportunity
to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Holders
agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this
Section 1.7 were based solely upon the number of entities from whom contribution
was requested or by any other method of allocation which does not take account
of the equitable considerations referred to above. In no event shall any
contribution by a Holder under this Section 1.7 exceed the net proceeds received
by such Holder in such offering.
(e) The
amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages, and liabilities referred to above in this Section 1.7 shall
be
deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action
or claim, subject to the provisions of Section 1.7(c). No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of the Securities Act) shall
be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.
(f) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, to the extent that the provisions on indemnification and
contribution contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection
with the underwritten public offering are in conflict with the foregoing
provisions, the provisions in the underwriting agreement shall control
provided,
however,
that if
the underwriting agreement fails to address a matter addressed by the provisions
of the Agreement, the failure of the underwriting agreement to address such
matter shall not be deemed to be a conflict with the provisions of this
Agreement.
15
(g) The
obligations of the Company and Holders under this Section 1.7 shall survive
the
completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in a registration
statement.
1.8 Expenses
of Registration.
All
Registration Expenses shall be borne by the Company; provided,
however
,
that if
the Holders bear the Registration Expenses for any registration proceeding
begun
pursuant to Section 1.2 that is subsequently withdrawn by the Holders
registering shares therein, such registration proceeding shall not be counted
as
a requested registration pursuant to Section 1.2. Furthermore, in the event
that
a withdrawal by the Holders is based upon material adverse information relating
to the Company that is different from the information known or available (upon
request from the Company or otherwise) to the Holders requesting registration
at
the time of their request for registration under Section 1.2, such registration
proceeding shall not be counted as a requested registration pursuant to Section
1.2, even though the Holders do not bear the Registration Expenses for such
registration. All Selling Expenses relating to securities registered on behalf
of the Holders shall be borne by the holders of the registered securities
included in such registration pro rata on the basis of the number of shares
so
registered.
1.9 Rule
144 Reporting.
With a
view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the
Commission which may at any time permit the sale of the Restricted Securities
to
the public without registration after such time as a public market exists for
the Common Stock of the Company, the Company agrees to use its commercially
reasonable efforts to:
(a) Make
and
keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined
in
Rule 144, at all times after the effective date that the Company becomes
subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange
Act;
(b) File
with
the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required
of
the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after
it
has become subject to such reporting requirements); and
(c) So
long
as a Holder owns any Restricted Securities, to furnish to the Holder forthwith
upon request a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the
reporting requirements of Rule 144 and of any other reporting requirements
of
the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject
to such reporting requirements), a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly
report of the Company, and such other reports and documents of the Company
and
other information in the possession of or reasonably obtainable by the Company
as a Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of
any
rule or regulation of the Commission allowing a Holder to sell any such
securities without registration.
16
1.10 Transfer
of Registration Rights.
The
rights to cause the Company to register securities granted to any party hereto
under Section 1 may be assigned by a Holder only to a transferee or assignee
of
not less than fifty thousand (50,000) shares of Registrable Securities (as
appropriately adjusted for stock splits and the like), provided that the Company
is given written notice at the time of or within a reasonable time after said
assignment, stating the name and address of the transferee or assignee and
identifying the securities with respect to which such registration rights are
being assigned, and, provided further, that the assignee of such rights assumes
in writing the obligations of such Holder under this Section 1. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, no such minimum share assignment requirement shall be necessary
for an assignment by a Holder which is (A) a partnership to its partners or
retired partners, (B) a limited liability company to its members or former
members, or (C) to the Holder’s family member or trust for the benefit of an
individual Holder.
1.11 Limitations
on Subsequent Registration Rights.
From
and after the date hereof, the Company shall not, without the prior written
consent of Holders who in the aggregate hold more than 50% of the then
outstanding Registrable Securities, enter into any agreement granting any holder
or prospective holder of any securities of the Company registration rights
the
terms of which are more favorable than the registration rights granted to
Holders hereunder.
1.12 Procedure
for Underwriter Cutbacks.
In any
circumstance in which all of the Registrable Securities and other shares of
Common Stock of the Company with registration rights (such other shares, the
“Other
Shares”)
requested to be included in a registration on behalf of Holders or Other
Stockholders cannot be so included as a result of limitations of the aggregate
number of shares of Registrable Securities and Other Shares that may be so
included, no Other Shares (other than Priority Shares being registered pursuant
to Section 1.4) may be included unless all Registrable Securities requested
to
be included in such registration statement are so included and, if all such
Registrable Securities cannot be included, then the shares of Registrable
Securities to be included shall be allocated among the Holders requesting
inclusion of shares pro rata based upon the total number of Registrable
Securities held by such Holders; provided,
however,
that
such allocation shall not operate to reduce the aggregate number of Registrable
Securities to be included in such registration if any Holder does not request
inclusion of the maximum number of shares of Registrable Securities allocated
to
such Holder pursuant to the above-described procedure, in which case the
remaining portion of his allocation shall be reallocated among those requesting
Holders whose allocations did not satisfy their requests pro rata on the basis
of total number of shares of Registrable Securities held by such Holders, and
this procedure shall be repeated until all shares of Registrable Securities
which may be included in the registration on behalf of the Holders have been
so
allocated. The Company shall not limit the number of shares of Registrable
Securities to be included in a registration pursuant to this Agreement in order
to include Other Shares (other than Priority Shares) or shares of stock issued
to founders of the Company or to employees, officers, directors, or consultants
pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans, or in the case of
registrations under Sections 1.2 or 1.3 hereof, in order to include in such
registration securities registered for the Company’s own account.
17
1.13 Termination
of Rights.
The
rights of any particular Holder to cause the Company to register securities
under Sections 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 shall terminate with respect to such Holder
on
the fifth year anniversary of the effective date of the Company’s IPO.
2. |
Miscellaneous.
|
2.1 Governing
Law.
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of
New
York without giving effect to the choice of law provisions thereof.
2.2 Successors
and Assigns.
Except
as otherwise provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit
of, and be binding upon, the successors, assigns, heirs, executors, and
administrators of the parties hereto. Nothing in this Agreement, express or
implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto
or
their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations,
or
liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided
by this Agreement.
2.3 Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement and the other documents delivered pursuant hereto constitute the
full
and entire understanding and agreement among the parties with regard to the
subjects hereof and thereof. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.10 below,
neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended, waived, discharged
or
terminated other than by a written instrument signed by the party against whom
enforcement of any such amendment, waiver, discharge or termination is sought,
unless otherwise provided.
2.4 Notices,
Etc.All
notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed
effectively delivered upon personal delivery to the party to be notified, or
upon the passage of five (5) calendar days after deposit in the United States
mail, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or the passage of two
(2) days if sent by the next day delivery service of a nationally-recognized
reputable courier, each properly addressed to the party to be notified, as
set
forth on the Exhibit
A
hereto
or at such other address as such party or any subsequent Investor may designate
by ten (10) calendar days’ advance written notice to the other parties hereto,
or, if sent by facsimile, upon completion of such facsimile transmission, as
conclusively evidenced by the transmission receipt thereof.
18
2.5 Delays
or Omissions.
No
delay or omission to exercise any right, power, or remedy accruing to any
Investor upon any breach or default of the Company under this Agreement shall
impair any such right, power, or remedy of such party, nor shall it be construed
to be a waiver of any such breach or default, or an acquiescence therein, or
of
or in any similar breach or default thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver
of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or
default theretofore or thereafter occurring. Any waiver, permit, consent, or
approval of any kind or character on the part of any party of any breach or
default under this Agreement, or any waiver on the part of any party of any
provisions or conditions of this Agreement, must be in writing and shall be
effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing or as
provided in this Agreement. All remedies, either under this Agreement or by
law
or otherwise afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.
2.6 Attorney
Fees.
In the
event that any dispute among the parties to this Agreement should result in
litigation, the prevailing party in such dispute shall be entitled to recover
from the losing party all fees, costs, and expenses of enforcing any right
of
such prevailing party under or with respect to this Agreement, including without
limitation, such reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys and accountants,
which shall include, without limitation, all fees, costs, and expenses of
appeals.
2.7 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts and signature pages may
be
delivered by facsimile, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all
of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
2.8 Severability.
In the
event one or more of the provisions of this Agreement should, for any reason,
be
held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity,
illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this
Agreement, and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal,
or
unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
2.9 Titles
and Subtitles.
The
titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and
are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
2.10 Amendment
and Waiver.
Any
provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived (either generally or in
a
particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) with the written
consent of the Company and an Investor or Investors holding, in the aggregate,
more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding shares of the Registrable
Securities including (a) the written consent of Telecom so long as Telecom
and
its Affiliates own at least 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company
(on
an as converted to Common Stock basis and as adjusted for any stock splits,
consolidations and the like), (b) the written consent of Investor so long as
Investor and its Affiliates own at least 1,000,000 shares of common stock of
the
Company (on an as converted to Common Stock basis and as adjusted for any stock
splits, consolidations and the like) and (c) the written consent of CDN so
long
as CDN and its Affiliates own at least 1,000,000 shares of common stock of
the
Company (on an as converted to Common Stock basis and as adjusted for any stock
splits, consolidations and the like). In addition, the Company may waive
performance of any obligation owing to it, as to some or all of the Investors,
or agree to accept alternatives to such performance, without obtaining the
consent of any Investor.
19
2.11 Rights
of Investors.
Each
party to this Agreement shall have the absolute right to exercise or refrain
from exercising any right or rights that such party may have by reason of this
Agreement, including, without limitation, the right to consent to the waiver
or
modification of any obligation under this Agreement, and such party shall not
incur any liability to any other party or other holder of any securities of
the
Company as a result of exercising or refraining from exercising any such right
or rights.
2.12 Aggregation
of Stock.
All
shares of Preferred Stock and Common Stock of the Company held or acquired
by
affiliated entities or persons shall be aggregated for the purpose of
determining the availability of any rights under this Agreement.
2.13 Specific
Performance.
Without
limiting the rights of each party hereto to pursue all other legal and equitable
rights available to such party for any other party’s failure to perform its
obligations under this Agreement, each such party acknowledges and agrees that
the remedy at law for any failure to perform obligations hereunder would be
inadequate and all such parties shall be entitled to specific performance,
injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies in the event of any such failure.
The availability of these remedies shall not prohibit the parties from pursuing
any other remedies for such breach, including the recovery of monetary damages.
[THIS
SPACE LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY]
20
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the
parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
HRDQ GROUP, INC. | |||
By: |
/s/ Xxxxx
Xxxx
|
||
Name:
|
Xxxxx
Xxxx
|
||
Title: |
President
|
TELECOM COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | |||
By: |
/s/ Xxx
Xxxx
|
||
Name:
|
Xxx
Xxxx
|
||
Title: |
Chief
Executive Officer
|
CHINA
DONGGUAN NETWORKS, INC.
|
|||
By: |
/s/ Xxxxx
Xxxx
|
||
Name:
|
Xxxxx
Xxxx
|
||
Title: |
President
|
TOP
RIDER GROUP LIMITED
|
|||
By: |
/s/ Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
|
||
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, Manager
|
||
|
21