REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit 4.4
Execution Copy
This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of the 24th day of October
2006, by and among Black Nickel Acquisition Corp. I, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the
security holders set forth in Schedule I attached hereto (collectively, the “Investors” and
each individually, an “Investor”), each of the Company’s founding stockholders set forth in
Schedule II attached hereto (collectively, the “Founders”) and each of the shareholders set
forth in Schedule III annexed hereto (the “Buyer Shareholders”), who acquired shares of
Common Stock (defined hereafter) of the Company pursuant to the Merger (defined hereafter).
WHEREAS, in a private placement offering by the Company (the “Offering”), the Investors are
purchasing a minimum of 500,000 units and up to a maximum of 2,000,000 units of the Company’s
securities at a per unit price of $0.50, each unit consisting of (i) one share of common stock, par
value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), (ii) one Class A warrant to purchase one share of
Common Stock at an initial exercise price of $0.50 per share (a “Class A Warrant”) and (iii) one
Class B warrant to purchase one share of Common Stock at an initial exercise price of $0.62 per
share (a “Class B Warrant”), pursuant to a Private Placement Memorandum dated October 9, 2006 (the
“PPM”) and a Subscription Agreement in connection therewith (each a “Subscription Agreement” and
collectively the “Subscription Agreements”); and
WHEREAS, to induce the Investors to purchase units in the Offering, the Company has agreed to
register their Registrable Securities (defined below) for resale in Registration Statement(s)
(defined hereafter) filed pursuant to the Securities Act (defined hereafter); and
WHEREAS, the Company has also agreed to register for resale in such Registration Statement(s)
an aggregate of 250,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Bridge Shares”) owned by the stockholders set
forth in Schedule IV attached hereto (the “Bridge Shareholders”); and
WHEREAS, to induce the Founders to agree to the Merger, the Company has agreed to register for
resale in such Registration Statements an aggregate of 1,200,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Shell
Shares”) held by the Founders immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger; and
WHEREAS, the Company has also agreed to register for resale in such Registration Statements an
aggregate of 350,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Buyer Shares”) issuable to the Buyer Shareholders
in connection with the Merger;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the parties agree as follows:
1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
“Class A Warrant Shares” means the shares of Common Stock underlying the Class A Warrants.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“First Registration Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) hereafter.
“Holder” means any Person owning, or having the right to acquire pursuant to a written
agreement to which the Company is a party, Registrable Securities, or any assignee thereof in
accordance with Section 10.
“Merger” means the mergers contemplated by (i) the Agreement of Merger and Plan of
Reorganization by and among the Company, InferX Acquisition Sub, Inc., a newly formed wholly-owned
Virginia subsidiary of the Company (“Acquisition Sub”) and InferX Corporation, a Virginia
corporation (“InferX Virginia”), pursuant to which Acquisition Sub is being merged with and into
InferX Virginia, InferX Virginia will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and (ii) the
Merger Agreement between the Company and InferX Virginia, pursuant to which InferX Virginia will be
merged with and into the Company in a short form merger, and the Company will change its name to
“InferX Corporation.”
“Person” means any individual, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture,
corporation, association, trust or any other entity or organization.
“PPM Common Stock” means the shares of Common Stock issued and sold to the Investors pursuant
to the Subscription Agreements and the PPM.
“Register,” “registered,” and “registration” refer to a registration effected by preparing and
filing a Registration Statement or similar document in compliance with the Securities Act, and the
declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement or document.
“Registrable Securities” means (a) Shares of PPM Common Stock, (b) any Common Stock issuable
or issued upon conversion of the Class A Warrants or Class B Warrants; (c) the Bridge Shares; (d)
the Shell Shares; (e) the Buyer Shares; and (f) any Common Stock issued as (or issuable upon the
conversion or exercise of any warrant, right or other security which is issued as) a dividend or
other distribution with respect to, or in exchange for or in replacement of, or upon conversion of,
any of the securities described in clauses (a) through (f) immediately preceding; provided,
however, that Registrable Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when the holder
thereof can sell all of the Registrable Securities without limitation in any three (3) month period
under Rule 144 or its successor under the Securities Act or when any Registrable Securities are
sold by a Person (i) in a transaction in which such Person’s rights under this Agreement are not
assigned pursuant to Section 10 below or (ii) to the public pursuant to a registration statement or
Rule 144 or its successor under the Securities Act.
The number of shares of “Registrable Securities then outstanding” and held by a particular
Person or Persons shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding and held by such
Person or Persons, plus the number of shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to such Person
which are defined hereunder to be Registrable Securities.
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“Registration Statement” means any registration statement to be filed under the Securities
Act, which covers the sale of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement, including the prospectus included therein, all 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.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Second Registration Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) hereafter.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Violation” means any of the following statements, omissions or violations: (a) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement
under this Agreement, including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or
any amendments or supplements thereto or any documents filed under state securities or “blue sky”
laws in connection therewith, (b) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (c)
any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any
state securities law or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act or any state securities law in connection with the offering covered by a registration
statement.
2. Mandatory and Demand Registration.
(a) First Registration Statement. The Company shall use its best efforts to file a
Registration Statement with respect to the following Registrable Securities within 45 days after
the closing of the Merger, and to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective by the
SEC no more than 120 days (or 150 days, in the SEC elects to review such registration statement),
after the closing of the Merger (the “First Registration Statement”):
(i) the PPM Common Stock;
(ii) the Bridge Shares;
(iii) 750,000 of the Shell Shares, allocated pro rata among the holders
thereof;
(iv) the Buyer Shares, allocated as indicated in Schedule III; and
(v) such number of the Class A Warrant Shares that when aggregated with all of the shares set
forth in paragraphs (i) through (iv) immediately preceding would equal 49.0% of the total number of
shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the date that the First Registration Statement is
filed (exclusive of any shares of Common Stock underlying the Class A Warrants, the Class B
Warrants or any other warrants, options or convertible securities that have not yet been exercised
or converted).
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(b) Second Registration Statement. Within thirty (30) days after the effectiveness of
the First Registration Statement, either (i) Holders, in the aggregate, of greater than 50% of the
Registrable Securities not included in the First Registration Statement or (ii) any of the Holders
of the Shell Shares may give to the Company a written request (a “Demand”) for the registration of
their Registrable Securities that were not included in the First Registration Statement. All other
Holders of Registrable Securities shall be given prompt written notice of such Demand and be given
the opportunity to include their Registrable Securities, along with those persons making the
demand, in a second Registration Statement (the “Second Registration Statement”). The Company
shall use its best efforts to file the Second Registration Statement with respect to such
Registrable Securities no fewer than 30 days and no more than 45 days following such written
Demand, and to cause such Second Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC no more
than 120 days (or 150 days, in the SEC elects to review such Registration Statement), following
such written Demand The Second Registration Statement shall include for registration all remaining
Registrable Securities of the Holders who participate in such Demand, including the registration of
additional shares of Common Stock that may be issued to such Holders in the future as a result of
the payment of dividends or other distributions in Common Stock, with respect to their Registrable
Securities or any adjustments made in the number of shares of Common Stock issuable to such Holders
with respect to their Registrable Securities.
(c) Penalty. If the Company fails to file either the First Registration Statement or
the Second Registration Statement within the time within the time specified in subparagraph (a) or
(b), as the case may be, or if either the First Registration Statement or the Second Registration
Statement is not declared effective by the SEC within the time specified in subparagraph (a) or
(b), as the case may be, then Investors will be entitled to receive the following as a penalty.
(i) Investors other than the Founders will be entitled to receive an additional number of
shares of Common Stock equal to one percent of their respective portion of the Registrable
Securities covered by such Registration Statement for each month, or portion thereof, that (i) the
date of filing is delayed beyond the applicable time at which such Registration Statement is
required to be filed and/or (ii) the effectiveness is delayed beyond the applicable time at which
such Registration Statement is required to be declared effective. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
no Holder whose Registrable Securities are included for registration shall be entitled to receive,
with respect to each of the First Registration Statement and the Second Registration Statement,
additional shares of Common Stock equal to more than a maximum of ten percent of the total number
of Registrable Securities being registered on such Holder’s behalf. The Investors will be entitled
to no penalty if the delay in filing or effectiveness, as the case may be, is attributable to any
action or inaction of the Investors.
(ii) The Founders will be entitled to receive:
(A) An additional number of shares of Common Stock equal to one percent of
their respective portion of the Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement for each month, or portion thereof, up to a maximum
of 12 months, that (i) the date of filing is delayed beyond the applicable
time at which such Registration Statement is required to be filed and/or
(ii) the effectiveness is delayed beyond the applicable time at which such
Registration Statement is required to be declared effective;
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(B) An additional number of shares of Common Stock equal to one-and-one-half
percent of their respective portion of the Registrable Securities covered by
such Registration Statement for each month, or portion thereof, beyond 12
months, up to a maximum of 12 additional months, that (i) the date of filing
is delayed beyond the applicable time at which such Registration Statement
is required to be filed and/or (ii) the effectiveness is delayed beyond the
applicable time at which such Registration Statement is required to be
declared effective; and
(C) An aggregate of $250,000 allocated pro rata among the Founders, if the
Company fails to register all of the Founders’ Registrable Securities for
resale under one or more registration statements within three years after
the earliest date any Registration Statement was late in being filed or
declared effective under subparagraph (a) or (b), as the case may be.
Additionally, in the event that (i) the Company fails to register all of the Founders’
Registrable Securities for resale under one or more registration statements within three years
after the earliest date any Registration Statement was late in being filed or declared effective
under subparagraph (a) or (b), as the case may be, (ii) the Founders are issued any additional
shares, pursuant to the penalty provisions of this section, (iii) such penalty shares are not
eligible for resale pursuant to Regulation 144 promulgated under the Securities Act and (iv) such
penalty shares have not all been registered for resale by the Company under a registration
statement within three years after the earliest date any Registration Statement was late in being
filed or declared effective under subparagraph (a) or (b), as the case may be, then the Founders
shall have the right, upon ten days’ prior written notice to the Company, to require the Company to
redeem any number of such penalty shares that have not been registered from each requesting Founder
at a purchase price of $1.158 per share. The Company shall pay for such shares within ten days
after receiving each written request pursuant to this Section 2 from a Founder.
Such additional shares of Common Stock or cash shall be issuable or, as the case may be,
payable upon the earlier of (i) the accumulation of the maximum penalty under the applicable
paragraph above and (ii) the effectiveness of such Registration Statement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Company shall not be required to issue additional
shares to the Founders, pursuant to this penalty provision, in an aggregate amount of more than 36%
of the number of Registrable Securities included for resale by the Founders in the First
Registration Statement and the Second Registration Statement and (ii) a Founder will be entitled to
no penalty if the delay in filing or effectiveness, as the case may be, is attributable to any
action or inaction of such Founder.
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3. Piggyback Registration.
(a) If (but without any obligation to do so) the Company proposes to register (including for
this purpose a registration effected by the Company for stockholders other than the Holders of
Registrable Securities) any public offering of its stock or other securities solely for cash under
the Securities Act (other than (i) a registration on Form S-8 (or similar or successor form)
relating solely to the sale of securities to participants in a Company stock plan or to other
compensatory arrangements to the extent includable on Form S-8 (or similar or successor form), or
(ii) a registration on Form S-4 (or similar or successor form)), the Company shall notify each
Holder in writing no later than the 30th day prior to filing a registration statement covering such
offering. Upon the written notice of each Holder received by the Company no later than the 20th
day following the Company’s notice in accordance with the preceding sentence, the Company shall use
its best efforts to cause to be registered under the Securities Act all of the Registrable
Securities that each such Holder has requested to be registered. The Company shall have no
obligation under this Section 3 to make any offering of its securities, or to complete an offering
of its securities that it proposes to make.
(b) If the Company intends to distribute the stock or other securities referenced in Section
3(a) by means of an underwriting with an underwriter selected in the Company’s sole discretion, it
shall so advise the Holders as a part of the written notice referred to in Section 3(a). In such
event, the right of any Holder to include such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such registration
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. All
Holders proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting shall (together with the
Company as provided in Section 4(f)) enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with
the underwriter or underwriters so selected for such underwriting.
(c) If any registration undertaken pursuant to this Section 3 is an underwritten primary
registration on behalf of the Company, and the managing underwriters advise the Company that
marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be underwritten, then the Company
shall include in such registration: (i) first, the securities the Company proposes to sell; and
(ii) second, the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration, pro rata
among the Holders of such Registrable Securities on the basis of the number of Registrable
Securities owned by each such Holder.
(d) If, at any time after giving notice of its intention to register any of its securities as
set forth in Section 3(a) and before the effective date of the Registration Statement filed in
connection with such registration, the Company shall determine, for any reason, not to register
such securities, the Company may, in its sole discretion, give written notice of such determination
to each Holder that requested to have its Registrable Securities included in such registration and
thereupon shall be relieved of its obligation pursuant to this Section 3 to register any
Registrable Securities in connection with such registration.
4. Obligations of the Company. Whenever required under this Agreement to file a
Registration Statement with respect to any Registrable Securities, the Company shall, as
expeditiously as reasonably possible:
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(a) Prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement with respect to such Registrable
Securities and, with respect to the First Registration Statement and the Second Registration
Statement use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective, within the
applicable time periods described in Section 2 hereof, and keep the First Registration Statement
and the Second Registration Statement effective until the later of (i) nine months from the date
that such Registration Statement is declared effective and (ii) the date that the Holders of the
Shell Shares have sold all of their Registrable Securities included in each such Registration
Statement (but in any event for at least any period required under the Securities Act);
provided that before filing such Registration Statement or any amendments thereto,
the Company will furnish to the Holders copies of all such documents proposed to be filed.
(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such Registration
Statement and the prospectus used in connection with such Registration Statement as may be
necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of
all securities covered by such Registration Statement.
(c) Furnish to the Holders such number of copies of such Registration Statement and of each
amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits), such number of copies of
the prospectus contained in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary prospectus and
any summary prospectus) and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 under the Securities Act, in
conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as Holders may
reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of Registrable Securities owned by them.
(d) Use its reasonable best efforts to register and qualify the securities covered by such
Registration Statement under such other securities or “blue sky” laws of such states or
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 (i) to qualify to do business in any
state or jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for the requirements
of this clause (d), or (ii) to file a general consent to service of process in any such state or
jurisdiction.
(e) Use its reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or
authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the Company’s business or operations to enable the
seller or sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities.
(f) In the event of any underwritten public offering, enter into and perform its obligations
under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing underwriter of such
offering.
(g) Notify each Holder 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 in
the light of the circumstances then existing.
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(h) Notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, and
confirm such advice in writing: (i) when the Registration Statement has become effective; (ii) when
any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective; and (iii) of any
request by the SEC for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or prospectus or
for additional information.
(i) Notify each Holder of Registrable Securities if at any time the SEC should institute or
threaten to institute any proceedings for the purpose of issuing, or should issue, a stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement. Upon the occurrence of any of the
events mentioned in the preceding sentence, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to
prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain the withdrawal thereof as soon as possible. The
Company will advise each Holder of Registrable Securities promptly of any order or communication of
any public board or body addressed to the Company suspending or threatening to suspend the
qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction. In such event, each such
selling Holder shall immediately discontinue any sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement until such selling Holder has received copies of an amended or supplemented
prospectus or until such selling Holder is advised in writing by the Company that the then current
prospectus may be used and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are
incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in such prospectus.
(j) Furnish, at the request of any Holder requesting registration of Registrable Securities
pursuant to this Agreement, (i) on the date that such Registrable Securities are delivered to the
underwriters for sale in connection with a registration pursuant to this Agreement, 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, 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) on the date that an underwritten Registration Statement with
respect to such securities becomes effective, a “comfort” 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, and, if such securities are being sold through underwriters, a
reaffirmation of such letter on the date that such Registrable Securities are delivered to the
underwriters for sale.
(k) As soon as practicable after the effective date of the Registration Statement, and in any
event within sixteen (16) months thereafter, have “made generally available to its security
holders” (within the meaning of Rule 158 under the Securities Act) an earning statement (which need
not be audited) covering a period of at least twelve (12) months beginning after the effective date
of the Registration Statement and otherwise complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.
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(l) Otherwise cooperate with the underwriter or underwriters, the SEC and other regulatory
agencies and take all actions and execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered all
documents necessary to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities hereunder in
accordance with the terms hereof.
5. Furnish Information. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the
Company to take any action pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities of
any selling Holder, that such Holder shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself
or the Registrable Securities held by it, and the intended method of disposition of such
Registrable Securities as shall be required to effect the registration of such Holder’s Registrable
Securities. If any registration statement or comparable statement under the Securities Act refers
to a Holder or any of its affiliates, by name or otherwise, as the holder of any securities of the
Company then, unless counsel to the Company advises the Company that the Securities Act requires
that such reference be included in any such statement, each such Holder shall have the right to
require the deletion of such reference to itself and its affiliates.
6. Expenses of Registration.
(a) All expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions relating to Registrable
Securities, incurred in connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to this
Agreement, including, without limitation, all registration, filing and qualification fees,
printers’ and accounting fees, and fees and disbursements of counsel for the selling Holders shall
be borne by the Company.
(b) With respect to the First Registration Statement and the Second Registration Statement,
the Company shall also pay the reasonable legal fees and expenses of one legal counsel to represent
all of the Holders of Registrable Securities in connection with such Registration Statement.
7. Indemnification. In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a
Registration Statement under this Agreement:
(a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, their respective heirs, personal
representatives and assigns, each of such Holder’s partners, stockholders, officers, directors,
employees and affiliates, any underwriter (as defined in the Securities Act) for such Holder and
each Person, if any, who controls such Holder or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (joint or several) to
which they may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state
law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise
out of or are based upon a Violation (provided, however, that the Company will not
be required to indemnify any of the foregoing Persons on account of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities arising from a Violation if and to the extent that such Violation was made in a
preliminary prospectus and was corrected in a subsequent prospectus that was delivered to the
Person making the claim with respect to which indemnification is sought hereunder, and such
subsequent prospectus was made available by the Company to permit delivery of such prospectus in a
timely manner, and such subsequent prospectus was so delivered to such Person); and the Company
will pay to each such indemnified party, as incurred, any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such
loss, claim, damage, liability, or action; provided, however, that the
indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7(a) 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), nor shall the Company be
liable in any such case to a particular indemnified party for any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action to the extent that it arises out of or is based upon a Violation which occurs
in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished expressly for use in
connection with such registration by or on behalf of such indemnified party.
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(b) Each selling Holder will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors,
each of its executive officers, and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the
meaning of the Securities Act, any underwriter, any other Holder selling securities in such
Registration Statement and any controlling Person of any such underwriter or other Holder, against
any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (joint or several) to which any of the foregoing Persons
may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state law,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereto) arise out of
or are based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent (and only to the extent) that such
Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by or on
behalf of such Holder expressly for use in connection with such registration; and each such Holder
will pay, as incurred, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any Person intended to be
indemnified pursuant to this Section 7(b), in connection with investigating or defending any such
loss, claim, damage, liability, or action; provided, however, that the indemnity
agreement contained in this Section 7(b) 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
Holder, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; and provided further,
that, in no event shall the liability of any Holder under this Section 7(b) exceed the net
proceeds from the offering received by such Holder.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the
commencement of any action (including any governmental action), such indemnified party will, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 7, deliver
to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof and the indemnifying party
shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires,
jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume the defense thereof with
counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties; provided, however, that an
indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, with the fees and expenses to be
paid by the indemnifying party, if representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained
by the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests
between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding.
The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the
commencement of any such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the
indemnified party under this Section 7 except if, and only to the extent that, the indemnifying
party is actually prejudiced thereby; and such failure to deliver written notice to the
indemnifying party will not relieve it of any liability that it may have to any indemnified party
otherwise than under this Section 7. 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.
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(d) The obligations of the Company and Holders under this Section 7 shall survive the
completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in a registration statement under this
Agreement, and otherwise.
(e) Any indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in addition to any other rights to
indemnification or contribution which any indemnified party may have pursuant to law or contract
and shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made or
omitted by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(f) If for any reason the foregoing indemnity is unavailable, then the indemnifying party
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative benefits received by the indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on
the other (taking into consideration, among other things, the fact that the provision of the
registration rights and indemnification hereunder is a material inducement to the Investors to
purchase Registrable Securities and the Founders to enter into the Merger) or (ii) if the
allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law or provides a lesser sum
to the indemnified party than the amount hereinafter calculated, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party on the one
hand and the indemnified party on the other (taking into consideration, among other things, the
fact that the provision of the registration rights and indemnification hereunder is a material
inducement to the Investors to purchase Registrable Securities and the Founders to enter into the
Merger) but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party as well as
any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault shall be determined by reference
to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by or on
behalf of the indemnifying party or the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or
omission. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 7, (A) no Holder shall be
required, pursuant to this Section 7, to contribute any amount in excess of the net proceeds
received by such indemnifying party from the sale of Common Stock in the offering to which the
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of the indemnified party relate, (B) no Person
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who is not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation, and (C) no Person shall be liable for contribution with respect to any action,
suit or claim settled without its prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.
8. Reports Under the Exchange Act. With a view to making available to the Holders the
benefits of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may
at any time permit a Holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration or
pursuant to a registration on Form S-3, the Company agrees to:
(a) make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in
Rule 144 under the Securities Act, at all times after date hereof;
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(b) take such action as is necessary to enable the Holders to utilize Form S-3 for the sale of
their Registrable Securities;
(c) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the
Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act;
(d) during any period in which the Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act, make available information required to be provided by Rule 144A(d)(4), upon request;
(e) upon the request of any Investor and the certification of such Investor that it qualifies
under Rule 144(k) of the Securities Act, remove all restrictive legends from such Investor’s
securities, insofar as such restrictions relate to the transfer of such securities under the
Securities Act; and
(f) furnish to any Holder, so long as the Holder owns any Registrable Securities, forthwith
upon request (i) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting
requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and the Securities Act and Exchange Act or that
it qualifies as a registrant whose securities may be resold pursuant to Form S-3 (at any time it so
qualifies), (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other
reports and documents so filed by the Company, and (iii) such other information as may be
reasonably requested in availing any Holder of any rule or regulation of the SEC which permits the
selling of any such securities without registration or pursuant to such form.
9. Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights to cause the Company to register
Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement may be assigned (but only with all related
obligations) by a Holder to any: (i) subsidiary, affiliate, parent, partner, limited partner,
retired partner or stockholder of such Holder; (ii) immediate family member (spouse or child) of,
or trust for the benefit of, such Holder (if such Holder is a natural person) or such Holder’s
immediate family member; or (iii) Person who, after such assignment or transfer, holds at least
1,000 Registrable Securities (as adjusted for any stock dividends, combinations, splits,
recapitalizations and the like occurring with respect to the Common Stock following the date of
this Agreement); provided, however, that it shall be a condition to the effectiveness of such
assignment that: (x) the Company is, within three (3) business days after such transfer, furnished
with written notice of the name and address of such transferee or assignee and the Registrable
Securities with respect to which such registration rights are being assigned; and (y) such
transferee or assignee agrees in writing (a copy of which writing is provided to the Company at the
time of transfer) to be bound by and subject to all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
10. “Market Stand-Off” Agreement. Each Holder agrees that, if requested by an
underwriter in connection with an underwritten public offering of the Company’s Common Stock,
during the period of (i) up to 180 days following the effective date of the initial registration
statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act in connection with an underwritten initial
public offering, and (ii) up to 90 days following the date of the subsequent registration statement
of the Company filed under the Securities Act in connection with an underwritten public offering,
it shall not, to the extent requested by the Company and such underwriter, sell or otherwise
transfer or dispose of (other than to donees or partners who agree
to be similarly bound) any Common Stock or any securities of the Company convertible into
Common Stock held by it, except Common Stock included in such registration; provided,
however, that the foregoing agreement shall be conditioned upon the Insiders (as defined
below) entering into substantially similar agreements. In addition, for a period of up to 180 days
following the consummation of an initial public offering and for such reasonable amount of time
prior to such consummation as the underwriters may request (collectively, the “Lock-up Period”),
the Company shall require that during the Lock-Up Period its directors, officers and beneficial
owners of one percent (1%) or more of the Company’s securities (collectively, the “Insiders”) do
not, sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of (other than to donees or partners who agree to be
similarly bound) any Common Stock or any securities of the Company convertible into Common Stock
held by it, except Common Stock included in such registration, without the express written consent
of the underwriters.
12
11. Amendment; Waiver. Except as otherwise provided herein, neither this Agreement
nor any provision hereof may be amended, modified, changed, discharged or terminated except (a) by
an instrument in writing signed by the party against whom the enforcement of any modification,
change, discharge or termination is sought or (b) by the agreement of (i) the Company and (ii) the
holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding and held by the Holders of
Registrable Securities; provided, however, that any right specifically granted to the Holders of
the Shell Shares shall require the consent of all Holder of the Shell Shares. The observance of
any provision of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and
either retroactively or prospectively) only with the written consent of the party to be charged,
provided that the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding and held by
the Investors may act on behalf of all Investors and the Holders of all of the Shell Shares may act
on behalf of the Founders. Any amendment, modification, change, discharge, termination or waiver
effected in accordance with this Section 11 shall be binding upon each Holder of Registrable
Securities at the time outstanding, each future Holder and the Company.
12. Changes in Registrable Securities. If, and as often as, there are any changes in
the Registrable Securities by way of stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification,
or through merger, consolidation, reorganization or recapitalization, or by any other means,
appropriate adjustment shall be made in the provisions of this Agreement, as may be required, so
that the rights and privileges granted hereby shall continue with respect to the Registrable
Securities as so changed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will
require any successor by merger or consolidation to assume and agree to the terms of this
Agreement, as a condition to any such merger or consolidation.
13. Legends and Opinions. The Company shall not require an opinion of counsel for the
Holders before authorizing the transfer of shares of Registrable Securities or the removal of
securities legends for the certificates representing such Registrable Securities for (a)
partnership distributions of any Holder that do not require registration based upon existing SEC
interpretations, and (b) transfers to Affiliates that do not require registration based upon
existing SEC interpretations.
14. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all previous agreements. In the event of
any conflict between this Agreement and any other agreement or instrument with respect to the
subject matter hereof, the provisions of this Agreement shall control.
13
15. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of
the State of Delaware as such laws are applied to agreements between Delaware residents entered
into and to be performed entirely within the State of Delaware , whether or not all parties hereto
are residents of Delaware.
16. Successors and Assigns. The provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and
be binding upon, the successors, permitted assigns, heirs, executors and administrators of the
parties hereto.
17. Notices. All notices and other communications provided for herein shall be dated
and in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) on the date of delivery, if
delivered personally or by telecopier, receipt confirmed, (b) on the second following business day,
if delivered by a recognized overnight courier service, or (c) seven days after mailing, if sent by
registered or certified, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, in each case, to the party to
whom it is directed at the following address (or at such other address as any party hereto shall
hereafter specify by notice in writing to the other parties hereto):
(a) If to the Company, to it at the following address:
InferX Corporation
0000 Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
XxXxxx, XX 00000
ATTN: X.X. Xxxxx, President
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
0000 Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
XxXxxx, XX 00000
ATTN: X.X. Xxxxx, President
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Seyfarth Xxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxx., XX
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000
ATTN: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxx., XX
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000
ATTN: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
(b) If to the Investors, to them at the addresses set forth on the applicable schedule hereto.
18. Severability. Any invalidity, illegality or limitation on the enforceability of
this Agreement or any part thereof, by any party whether arising by reason of the law of the
respective party’s domicile or otherwise, shall in no way affect or impair the validity, legality
or enforceability of this Agreement with respect to other parties. If any provision of this
Agreement shall be judicially determined to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or
impaired thereby.
14
19. Titles and Subtitles. The titles of the Sections of this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement.
20. Delays or Omissions; Remedies Cumulative. It is agreed that no delay or omission
to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to the parties, upon any breach or default of the
Company under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power or remedy, nor shall it be
construed to be a waiver of any such breach or default, or any acquiescence therein, or of 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. It
is further agreed that any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character by a party
of any breach or default under this Agreement, or any waiver by a 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 writing and that all remedies, either under this Agreement, or by law or
otherwise afforded to a party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.
21. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each
of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.
22. Accession to Agreement. Any person or entity who becomes a party to the Purchase
Agreement as an Additional Investor of Additional Securities (as defined therein) shall become a
party to this Agreement by executing a counterpart signature page hereto, whereupon such person
shall become a party to this Agreement for all purposes hereunder as if such person had been an
original signatory.
23. Legal Fees. In the event that it becomes necessary for any of the Founders to
institute an action against the Company to cause the Company to register the Founders’ Registrable
Securities for resale, pursuant to any of the provisions of Section 2 hereof, or to enforce such
Founders’ rights under the penalty provisions of Section 2(c) hereof, the Company shall reimburse
such Founders for their expenses, in connection with any such action including, without limitation,
reasonable legal fees and expenses.
[Signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year
first above written.
BLACK NICKEL ACQUISITION CORP. I. | ||||||||
By: | ||||||||
Name: X.X. Xxxxx | ||||||||
Title: President and CEO | ||||||||
BUYER SHAREHOLDERS: | ||||||||
BRIDGE SHAREHOLDERS: | ||||||||
Because each Bridge Shareholder also is an Investor, all the Bridge Shareholders are deemed to have executed this Agreement by each having signed the Omnibus Signature Page to his/her/its Subscription Agreement. |
SHELL SHAREHOLDERS: | ||||||
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xx. | ||||||
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||||||
Xxxxxx Xxxx | ||||||
INVESTORS: | ||||||
All the Investors are deemed to have executed this Agreement by each having signed the Omnibus Signature Page to his/her/its Subscription Agreement. |