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EXHIBIT 10.8
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of June 3,
1998, by and among CityView Energy Corporation Limited, a corporation duly
organized and existing under the laws of Australia, with headquarters at 00
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx XX 0000 (the "COMPANY"), and the
undersigned buyer (the "BUYER" ).
WHEREAS:
A. In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement by and among
the parties of even date herewith (the "SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), the
Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the
Securities Purchase Agreement, (i) to issue and sell to the Buyer"s shares of
the Company's 6% Convertible Debenture (the "DEBENTURES"), the principal and
interest of which will be convertible into shares of the Company's ordinary
shares (the "COMMON STOCK") (as converted, the "CONVERSION SHARES") in
accordance with the terms of the Debentures; and
B. To induce the Buyers to execute and deliver the Securities Purchase
Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the "1933 ACT"), and
applicable state securities laws:
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the
Buyers hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
a. "INVESTOR" means the Buyer and any transferee or assignee
thereof to whom the Buyer assigns its rights under this Agreement and
who agrees to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in
accordance with Section 9.
b. "PERSON" means a corporation, a limited liability company,
an association, a partnership, an organization, a business, an
individual, a governmental or political subdivision thereof or a
governmental agency.
c. "REGISTER," "REGISTERED," and "REGISTRATION" refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing one or more Registration
Statements in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule 415
under the 1933 Act or any successor rule providing for offering
securities on a continuous basis ("RULE 415"), and the declaration or
ordering of effectiveness of
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such Registration Statement(s) by the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
d. REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means the Conversion Shares issued
or issuable upon conversion of the Debentures and any shares of capital
stock issued or issuable with respect to the Conversion Shares or the
Debentures as a result of any stock split, stock dividend,
recapitalization, exchange, or similar event.
e."REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means a registration statement of
the Company filed under the 1933 Act.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein
shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase
Agreement.
2. REGISTRATION.
a. Mandatory Registration. The Company shall prepare, and, on
or prior to thirty (30) days after the date of issuance of any
Debentures, file with the SEC a Registration Statement or Registration
Statements (as is necessary) on Form F-3 (or, if such form is
unavailable for such a registration, on such other form as is available
for such a registration, subject to the consent of each Buyer and the
provisions of Section 2(e), which consent will not be unreasonably
withheld), covering exclusively the resale of all of the Registrable
Securities, which Registration Statement(s) shall state that, in
accordance with Rule 416 promulgated under the 1933 Act, such
Registration Statement(s) also covers such indeterminate number of
additional shares of Common Stock as may become issuable upon
conversion of the Debentures (i) to prevent dilution resulting from
stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions and (ii) by
reason of changes in the Conversion Price or Conversion Rate of the
Debentures in accordance with the terms thereof Such Registration
Statement shall initially register for resale at least 1,100,000 shares
of Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3(b), and
such registered shares of Common Stock shall be allocated among the
Investors pro rata based on the total number of Registrable Securities
issued or issuable as of each date that a Registration Statement, as
amended, relating to the resale of the Registrable Securities is
declared effective by the SEC. The Company shall use its best
reasonable efforts to have the Registration Statement declared
effective by the SEC within ninety (90) days after the issuance of the
Debentures (the "Registration Deadline"). The Company shall permit the
registration statement to become effective within five (5) business
days after receipt of a "no review" notice from the SEC. In the event
that the Registration Statement is not declared effective by the SEC by
the Registration Deadline then the Applicable Discount to be used in
determining the Conversion Price (as defined in the Debenture) shall be
increased by (i) an additional 3% if the Registration
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Statement is not declared effective by the SEC within thirty (30) days
following the Registration Deadline (to 72%), or (ii) an additional 6%
if the Registration Statement is not declared effective by the SEC
within ninety (90) days of the Registration Deadline (to 69%).
b. Underwritten Offering. If any offering pursuant to a
Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) involves an
underwritten offering, the Buyers shall have the right to select one
legal counsel and an investment banker or bankers and manager or
managers to administer their interest in the offering, which investment
banker or bankers or manager or managers shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Company.
c. Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time prior to the
expiration of the Registration Period (as hereinafter defined) the
Company proposes to file with the SEC a Registration Statement relating
to an offering for its own account or the account of others under the
1933 Act of any of its securities, the Company shall promptly send to
each Investor who is entitled to registration rights under this Section
2(c) written notice of the Company's intention to file a Registration
Statement and of such Investor's rights under this Section 2(c) and, if
within twenty (20) days after receipt of such notice, such Investor
shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such
Registration Statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities
such Investor requests to be registered, subject to the priorities set
forth in Section 2(d) below. No right to registration of Registrable
Securities under this Section 2(c) shall be construed to limit any
registration required under Section 2(a). The obligations of the
Company under this Section 2(c) may be waived by Investors holding a
majority of the Registrable Securities. If an offering in connection
with which an Investor is entitled to registration under this Section
2(c) is an underwritten offering, then each Investor whose Registrable
Securities are included in such Registration Statement shall, unless
otherwise agreed by the Company, offer and sell such Registrable
Securities in an underwritten offering using the same underwriter or
underwriters and, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, on the
same terms and conditions as other shares of Common Stock included in
such underwritten offering.
d. Priority in Piggy-Back Registration Rights in connection
with Registrations or Company Account. If the registration referred to
in Section 2(c) is to be an underwritten public offering for the
account of the Company and the managing underwriter(s) advise the
Company in writing, that in their reasonable good faith opinion,
marketing or other factors dictate that a limitation on the number of
shares of Common Stock which may be included in the Registration
Statement is necessary to facilitate and not adversely affect the
proposed offering, then the Company shall
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include in such registration: (1) first, all securities the Company
proposes to sell for its own account, (2) second, up to the full number
of securities proposed to be registered for the account of the holders
of securities entitled to inclusion of their securities in the
Registration Statement by reason of demand registration rights, and (3)
third, the securities requested to be registered by the Investors and
other holders of securities entitled to participate in the
registration, drawn from them pro rata based on the number each has
requested to be included in such registration.
e. Eligibility for Form F-3. The Company represents, warrants,
and covenants that it has filed and shall file all reports required to
be filed by the Company with the SEC in a timely manner so as to obtain
and maintain potential eligibility for the use of Form F-3. In the
event that Form F-3 is not available for sale by the Investors of the
Registrable Securities, then (i) the Company, with the consent of each
Investor pursuant to Section 2(a), shall register the sale of the
Registrable Securities on another appropriate form and (ii) the Company
shall undertake to register the Registrable Securities on Form F-3 as
soon as such form is available.
f. In the event that following the Registration Deadline, the
Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the SEC, the
Investor shall have the right to require the Company to immediately
register the Registrable Securities for quotation with the Australian
Stock Exchange to the extent that such registration is required in
order to sell such shares on the Australian Stock Exchange without
restriction. The costs of such registration shall be borne by the
Company.
3. RELATED OBLIGATIONS.
Whenever an Investor has requested that any Registrable Securities be
registered pursuant to Section 2(c) or at such time as the Company is obligated
to file a Registration Statement with the SEC pursuant to Section 2(a), the
Company will use its best reasonable efforts to effect the registration of the
Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition
thereof and, pursuant thereto, the Company shall have the following obligations:
a. The Company shall promptly prepare and file with the SEC a
Registration Statement with respect to the Registrable Securities (on
or prior to thirtieth (30th) day following the date of issuance of any
Debentures, for the registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to
Section 2(a)) and use its best reasonable efforts to cause such
Registration Statement(s) relating to Registrable Securities to become
effective as soon as possible after such filing (by the
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ninetieth (90th) day following the issuance of the relevant Debentures
for the registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section
2(a), and keep the Registration Statement(s) effective pursuant to Rule
415 at all times until the earlier of (i) the date as of which the
Investors may sell all of the Registrable Securities without
restriction pursuant to Rule 144(k) promulgated under the 1933 Act (or
successor thereto) or (ii) the date on which (A) the Investors shall
have sold all the Registrable Securities and (B) none of the Debentures
is outstanding (the "REGISTRATION PERIOD"), which Registration
Statement(s) (including any amendments or supplements thereto and
prospectuses contained therein) shall not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein, in light
of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
b. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such
amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to the
Registration Statement(s) and the prospectus(es) used in connection
with the Registration Statement(s), which prospectus(es) are to be
filed pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated under the 1933 Act, as may be
necessary to keep the Registration Statement(s) effective at all times
during the Registration Period, and, during such period, comply with
the provisions of the 1933 Act with respect to the disposition of all
Registrable Securities of the Company covered by the Registration
Statement(s) until such time as all of such Registrable Securities
shall have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of
disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth in the
Registration Statement(s). In the event the number of shares available
under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement is
insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities, the Company
shall amend the Registration Statement, or file a new Registration
Statement (on the short form available therefor, if applicable), or
both, so as to cover all of the Registrable Securities, in each case,
as soon as practicable, but in any event within fifteen (15) days after
the necessity therefor arises (based on the market price of the Common
Stock and other relevant factors on which the Company reasonably elects
to rely). The Company shall use its best reasonable efforts to cause
such amendment and/or new Registration Statement to become effective as
soon as practicable following the filing thereof. For purposes of the
foregoing provision, the number of shares available under a
Registration Statement shall be deemed "insufficient to cover all of
the Registrable Securities" if at any time the number of Registrable
Securities issued or issuable upon conversion of the Debentures is
greater than the quotient determined by dividing (i) the number of
shares of Common Stock available for resale under such Registration
Statement by (ii) 1.5;
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provided that in the case of the initial registration of the
Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a), the Company shall be
required to register at least 1,100,000 shares of Common Stock for
resale. For purposes of the calculation set forth in the foregoing
sentence, any restrictions on the convertibility of the Debentures
shall be disregarded and such calculation shall assume that the
Debentures are then convertible into shares of Common Stock at the then
prevailing Conversion Rate (as defined in the Debentures).
c. The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose
Registrable Securities are included in the Registration Statement(s)
and its legal counsel without charge (i) promptly after the same is
prepared and filed with the SEC at least one copy of the Registration
Statement and any amendment thereto, including financial statements and
schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference and all
exhibits, the prospectus(es) included in such Registration Statement(s)
(including each preliminary prospectus ) and, with regards to the
Registration Statement, any correspondence by or on behalf of the
Company to the SEC or the staff of the SEC and any correspondence from
the SEC or the staff of the SEC to the Company or its representatives,
(ii) upon the effectiveness of any Registration Statement, ten (10)
copies of the prospectus included in such Registration Statement and
all amendments and supplements thereto (or such other number of copies
as such Investor may reasonably request) and (iii) such other
documents, including any preliminary prospectus, as such Investor may
reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the
Registrable Securities owned by such Investor.
d. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to (i) register
and qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration
Statement(s) under such other securities or "blue sky" laws of such
jurisdictions in the United States as any Investor reasonably requests,
(ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions, such amendments
(including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such
registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the
effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii) take such
other actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and
qualifications in effect at all times during the Registration Period,
and (iv) take all other actions reasonably necessary or advisable to
quality the Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection
therewith or as a condition thereto to (a) qualify to do business in
any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify
but for this Section 3(d), (b) subject itself to general taxation in
any such jurisdiction, or (c) file a general consent to service of
process in any such
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jurisdiction. The Company shall promptly notify each Investor who holds
Registrable Securities of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the registration or
qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale under the
securities or "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction in the United States
or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threatening of any
proceeding for such purpose.
e. In the event Investors who hold a majority of the
Registrable Securities being offered in the offering select
underwriters for the offering, the Company shall enter into and perform
its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary
form, including, without limitation, customary indemnification and
contribution obligations, with the underwriters of such offering.
f. As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such
event, the Company shall notify each Investor in writing of the
happening of any event, of which the Company has knowledge, as a result
of which the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as then
in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omission
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading, and promptly prepare a supplement or
amendment to the Registration Statement to correct such untrue
statement or omission, and deliver ten (10) copies of such supplement
or amendment to each Investor (or such other number of copies as such
Investor may reasonably request). The Company shall also promptly
notify each Investor in writing (i) when a prospectus or any prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and when a
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment has become
effective (notification of such effectiveness shall be delivered to
each Investor by facsimile on the same day of such effectiveness and by
overnight mail) (ii) of any request by the SEC for amendments or
supplements to a Registration Statement or related prospectus or
related information, (iii) of the Company's reasonable determination
that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be
appropriate.
g. The Company shall use its best reasonable efforts to
prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of
effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or the suspension of the
qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction and, if such an order or suspension is issued, to obtain
the withdrawal of such order or suspension at the earliest possible
moment and to notify each Investor who holds Registrable Securities
being sold (and, in the event of an underwritten offering, the managing
underwriters) of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof
or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat of any
proceeding for such purpose.
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h. The Company shall permit each Investor a single firm of
counsel or such other counsel as thereafter designated as selling
stockholders' counsel by the Investors who hold a majority of the
Registrable Securities being sold, to review and comment upon the
Registration Statement(s) and all amendments and supplements thereto at
least seven (7) days prior to their filing with the SEC, and not file
any document in a form to which such counsel reasonably objects. The
Company shall not submit a request for acceleration of the
effectiveness of a Registration Statement(s) or any amendment or
supplement thereto without the prior approval of such counsel, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
i. At the request of the Investors who hold a majority of the
Registrable Securities being sold, the Company shall use their best
reasonable efforts to furnish, on the date that Registrable Securities
are delivered to an underwriter, if any, for sale in connection with
the Registration Statement if required by (i) an underwriter, a letter,
dated such date, from the Company's independent certified public
accountants in form and substance as is customarily given by
independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an
underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters, and (ii)
an opinion, dated as of such date, of counsel representing the Company
for purposes of such Registration Statement, in form, scope and
substance as is customarily given in an underwritten public offering,
addressed to the underwriters and the Investors.
j. The Company shall make available for inspection by (i) any
Investor, (ii) any underwriter participating in any disposition
pursuant to a Registration Statement, (iii) one firm of attorneys and
one firm of accountants or other agents retained by the Investors, and
(iv) one firm of attorneys retained by all such underwriters
(collectively, the "INSPECTORS") all pertinent financial and other
records, and pertinent corporate documents and properties of the
Company (collectively, the "RECORDS"), as shall be reasonably deemed
necessary by each Inspector to enable each Inspector to exercise its
due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company's officers,
directors and employees to supply all information which any Inspector
may reasonably request for purposes of such due diligence provided,
however, that each Inspector shall hold in strict confidence and shall
not make any disclosure (except to an Investor) or use of any Record or
other information which the Company determines in good faith to be
confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors are so
notified, unless (a) the disclosure of such Records is mutually
determined to be necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or
omission in any Registration Statement or is otherwise required under
the 1933 Act, (b) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a
final, non-appealable subpoena or order from a court or government body
of competent jurisdiction, or (c) the information in such Records has
been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in
violation of this or any other agreement. Each Investor agrees that it
shall, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in or by
a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other
means, give prompt notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its
expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or
to obtain a protective order for, the Records deemed confidential.
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k. The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any
disclosure of information concerning an Investor provided to the
Company unless (i) disclosure of such information is necessary to
comply with federal or state securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of
such information is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or
omission in any Registration Statement, (iii) the release of such
information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other final,
non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of competent
jurisdiction, or (iv) such information has been made generally
available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this
or any other agreement. The Company agrees that it shall, upon learning
that disclosure of such information concerning an Investor is sought in
or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through
other means, give prompt written notice to such Investor and allow such
Investor, at the Investor's expense, to undertake appropriate action to
prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, such
information.
l. The Company shall use its best reasonable efforts either to
(i) cause all the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration
Statement to be listed on each national securities exchange on which
securities of the same class or series issued by the Company are then
listed, if any, if the listing of such Registrable Securities is then
permitted under the rules of such exchange, (ii) if at any time during
the Registration Period the Company is able to satisfy the relevant
listing criteria, secure designation and quotation of all the
Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement on the
Nasdaq National Market System, (iii) if, despite the Company's best
reasonable efforts to satisfy the preceding clause (i) or (ii), the
Company is unsuccessful in satisfying the preceding clause (i) or (ii),
if at any time during the Registration Period the Company is able to
satisfy the relevant listing criteria, to secure the inclusion for
quotation on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market for such Registrable Securities
or, (iv) if, despite the Company's best reasonable efforts to satisfy
the preceding clause (iii), the Company is unsuccessful in satisfying
the preceding clause (iii), to secure the inclusion for quotation on
the over-the-counter market for such Registrable Securities, and,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the case of clause
(iii) or (iv), to arrange for at least two market makers to register
with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") as
such with respect to such Registrable Securities. The Company shall pay
all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligation
under this Section 3(l).
m. The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold
Registrable Securities being offered and, to the extent applicable, any
managing underwriter or underwriters, to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive
legend) representing the Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant
to a Registration Statement and enable such certificates to be in such
denominations or amounts, as the case may be, as the managing
underwriter or underwriters, if any, or, if there is no managing
underwriter or underwriters, the Investors may reasonably request and
registered in such names as the managing underwriter or underwriters,
if any, or the Investors may request. Not later than the date on which
any Registration Statement registering the resale of Registrable
Securities is declared effective, the Company shall deliver to its
transfer agent instructions, accompanied by any reasonably required
opinion of counsel, that permit sales of unlegended securities in
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a timely fashion that complies with then mandated securities settlement
procedures for regular way market transactions.
n. The Company shall take all other reasonable actions
necessary to expedite and facilitate disposition by the Investors of
Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.
o. The Company shall provide a transfer agent and registrar to
administer in such capacity all such Registrable Securities not later
than the effective date of such Registration Statement.
p. If requested by the managing underwriters or an Investor,
the Company shall immediately incorporate in a prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment such information as the managing underwriters
and the Investors agree should be included therein relating to the sale
and distribution of Registrable Securities, including, without
limitation, information with respect to the number of Registrable
Securities being sold to such underwriters, the purchase price being
paid therefor by such underwriters and with respect to any other terms
of the underwritten (or best reasonable efforts underwritten) offering
of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; make all
required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment as soon as notified of the matters to be incorporated in such
prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; and supplement or
make amendments to any Registration Statement if requested by a
shareholder or any underwriter of such Registrable Securities.
q. The Company shall use its best reasonable efforts to cause
the Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration
Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental
agencies or authorities as may be necessary to consummate the
disposition of such Registrable Securities.
r. The Company shall otherwise use its best reasonable efforts
to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC in
connection with any registration hereunder.
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTORS.
a. At least fourteen (14) days prior to the first anticipated
filing date of the Registration Statement, the Company shall notify
each Investor in writing of the information the Company requires from
each such Investor if such Investor elects to have any or all of such
Investor's Registrable Securities included in the Registration
Statement. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the
Company to complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with
respect to the Registrable Securities of a particular Investor that
such Investor shall furnish to the Company such information regarding
itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method
of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it as shall be
reasonably required to effect the registration of such Registrable
Securities
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and shall execute such documents in connection with such registration
as the Company may reasonably request.
b. Each Investor by such Investor's acceptance of the
Registrable Securities agrees to cooperate with the Company as
reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the preparation
and filing of the Registration Statement(s) hereunder, unless such
Investor has notified the Company in writing of such Investor's
election to exclude all of such Investor's Registrable Securities from
the Registration Statement.
c. In the event Investors holding a majority of the
Registrable Securities being registered determine to engage the
services of an underwriter, each Investor agrees to enter into and
perform such Investor's obligations under an underwriting agreement, in
usual and customary form, including, without limitation, customary
indemnification and contribution obligations, with the managing
underwriter of such offering and take such other actions as are
reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition
of the Registrable Securities, unless such Investor notifies the
Company in writing of such Investor's election to exclude all of such
Investor's Registrable Securities from the Registration Statement(s).
d. Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from
the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in
Section 3(g) or the first sentence of 3(f), such Investor will
immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant
to the Registration Statement(s) covering such Registrable Securities
until such Investor's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or
amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(g) or the first sentence
of 3(f) and, if so directed by the Company, such Investor shall deliver
to the Company (at the expense of the Company) or destroy all copies in
such Investor's possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable
Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.
e. No Investor may participate in any underwritten
registration hereunder unless such Investor (i) agrees to sell such
Investor's Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any
underwriting arrangements approved by the Investors entitled hereunder
to approve such arrangements, (ii) completes and executes all
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting
agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of
such underwriting arrangements, and (iii) agrees to pay its pro rata
share of all underwriting discounts and commissions.
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5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.
All reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and
commissions, incurred in connection with registrations, filings or
qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, including, without limitation, all
registration, listing and qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, and
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and fees and disbursements of
one counsel for the Investors, shall be borne by the Company.
6. INDEMNIFICATION
In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a Registration
Statement under this Agreement:
a. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will,
and hereby does, indemnify, hold harmless and defend each Investor who
holds such Registrable Securities, the directors, officers, partners,
employees, agents and each Person, if any, who controls any Investor
within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "1934 ACT"), and any underwriter (as defined in
the 0000 Xxx) for the Investors, and the directors and officers of, and
each Person, if any, who controls, any such underwriter within the
meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (each, an "INDEMNIFIED
PERSON"), against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments,
fines, penalties, charges, costs, attorneys' fees, amounts paid in
settlement or expenses, joint or several, (collectively, "CLAIMS")
incurred in investigating, preparing or defending any action, claim,
suit, inquiry, proceeding, investigation or appeal taken from the
foregoing by or before any court or governmental, administrative or
other regulatory agency, body or the SEC, whether pending or
threatened, whether or not an indemnified party is or may be a party
thereto ("INDEMNIFIED DAMAGES"), to which any of them may become
subject insofar as such Claims (or actions or proceedings, whether
commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact in a Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment thereto or in any filing made in connection with the
qualification of the offering under the securities or other "blue sky"
laws of any jurisdiction in which Registrable Securities are offered
("BLUE SKY FILING"), or the omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which the
statements therein were made, not misleading, (ii) any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
preliminary prospectus if used prior to the effective date of such
Registration Statement, or contained in the final prospectus (as
amended or supplemented, if the Company files any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto with the SEC) or the omission or alleged omission to
state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements made
therein, in light of the circumstances under which the statements
therein were made, not misleading, or (iii) any violation or alleged
violation by the Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law,
including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or
regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable
Securities
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pursuant to a Registration Statement (the matters in the foregoing
clauses (i) through (iii) being, collectively, "VIOLATIONS"). Subject
to the restrictions set forth in Section 6(d) with respect to the
number of legal counsel, the Company shall reimburse the Investors and
each such underwriter or controlling person, promptly as such expenses
are incurred and are due and payable, for any legal fees or other
reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with investigating
or defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this
Section 6(a): (i) shall not apply to a Claim arising out of or based
upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished in writing to the Company by any Indemnified
Person or underwriter for such Indemnified Person expressly for use in
connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement or any
such amendment thereof or supplement thereto, if such prospectus was
timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(c); (ii)
with respect to any preliminary prospectus, shall not inure to the
benefit of any such person from whom the person asserting any such
Claim purchased the Registrable Securities that are the subject thereof
(or to the benefit of any person controlling such person) if the untrue
statement or omission of material fact contained in the preliminary
prospectus was corrected in the prospectus, as then amended or
supplemented, if such prospectus was timely made available by the
Company pursuant to Section 3(c), and the Indemnified Person was
promptly advised in writing not to use the incorrect prospectus prior
to the use giving rise to a violation and such Indemnified Person,
notwithstanding such advice, used it; (iii) shall not be available to
the extent such Claim is based on a failure of the Investor to deliver
or to cause to be delivered the prospectus made available by the
Company (i) and (iv) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of
any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written
consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified
Person and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by
the Investors pursuant to Section 9.
b. In connection with any Registration Statement in which an
Investor is participating, each such Investor agrees to severally and
not jointly indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and
in the same manner as is set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each
of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration
Statement, each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the
meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (collectively and together with
an Indemnified Person, an "INDEMNIFIED PARTY"), against any Claim or
Indemnified Damages to which any of them may become subject, under the
1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim or
Indemnified Damages 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 to the Company by such Investor expressly for use in
connection with such Registration Statement; and, subject to Section
6(d), such Investor will reimburse any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such Claim; provided, however, that the indemnity
agreement contained in this Section 6(b) and Section 7 shall not apply
to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is
effected without the prior written consent of such Investor, which
consent shall not be unreasonably
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withheld; provided, further, however, that the Investor shall be liable
under this Section 6(b) for only that amount of a Claim or Indemnified
Damages as does not exceed the net proceeds to such Investor as a
result of the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and
effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such
Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable
Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 9. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification
agreement contained in this Section 6(b) with respect to any
preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any
Indemnified Party if the untrue statement or omission of material fact
contained in the preliminary prospectus was corrected on a timely basis
in the prospectus, as then amended or supplemented.
c. The Company shall be entitled to receive indemnities from
underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers and similar securities
industry professionals participating in any distribution, to the same
extent as provided above, with respect to information such persons so
furnished in writing expressly for inclusion in the Registration
Statement.
d. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of
any action or proceeding (including any governmental action or
proceeding) involving a Claim such Indemnified Person or Indemnified
Party shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against any
indemnifying party under this Section 6, 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 control of the defense
thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party
and the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party, as the case may
be; provided, however, that an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the fees and
expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if, in the reasonable
opinion of counsel retained by the indemnifying party, the
representation by such counsel of the Indemnified Person or Indemnified
Party and the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual
or potential differing interests between such Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such counsel in
such proceeding. The Company shall pay reasonable fees for only one
separate legal counsel for the Investors, and such legal counsel shall
be selected by the Investors holding a majority in interest of the
Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement to which
the Claim relates. The Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person shall
cooperate fully with the indemnifying party in connection with any
negotiation or defense of any such action or claim by the indemnifying
party and shall furnish to the indemnifying party all information
reasonably available to the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person
which relates to such action or claim. The indemnifying party shall
keep the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person fully apprised at all
times as to the status of the defense or any settlement negotiations
with respect thereto. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any
settlement of any action, claim or proceeding effected without its
written consent, provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall
not unreasonably withhold,
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delay or condition its consent. No indemnifying party shall, without
the consent of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person, consent to
entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement or other compromise
which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by
the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party or Indemnified
Person of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or
litigation. Following indemnification as provided for hereunder, the
indemnifying party shall be subrogated to all rights of the Indemnified
Party or Indemnified Person with respect to all third parties, firms or
corporations relating to the matter for which indemnification has been
made. 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
Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6, except to the extent
that the indemnifying party is prejudiced in its ability to defend such
action.
e. The indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be
made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of
the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or
Indemnified Damages are incurred.
f. The indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in
addition to (i) any cause of action or similar right of the Indemnified
Party or Indemnified Person against the indemnifying party or others,
and (ii) any liabilities the indemnifying party may be subject to
pursuant to the law.
7. CONTRIBUTION.
To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is
prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum
contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable
under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that:
(i) no contribution shall be made under circumstances where the maker would not
have been liable for indemnification under the fault standards set forth in
Section 6; (ii) no seller of Registrable Securities guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 0000 Xxx) shall be
entitled to contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation; and (iii) contribution by any seller of
Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds
received by such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities.
8. REPORTS UNDER THE 1934 ACT.
With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule
144 promulgated under the 1933 Act or any other similar rule or regulation of
the SEC that may at any time permit the investors to sell securities of the
Company to the public without registration ("RULE 144"), the Company agrees to:
a. make and keep public information available, as those terms
are understood and defined in Rule 144;
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b. file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other
documents required of the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act
so long as the Company remains subject to such requirements (it being
understood that nothing herein shall limit the Company's obligations
under Section 4(c) of the Securities Purchase Agreement) and the filing
of such reports and other documents is required for the applicable
provisions of Rule 144; and
c. furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns
Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement
by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of
Rule 144, the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act, (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 to permit the investors to sell such
securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.
9. ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
The rights to have the Company register Registrable Securities pursuant
to this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by the Investors to any
transferee of all or any portion of Registrable Securities if: (i) the Investor
agrees in writing with the transferee or assignee to assign such rights, and a
copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company within a reasonable time
after such assignment; (ii) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such
transfer or assignment, furnished with written notice of (a) the name and
address of such transferee or assignee, and (b) the securities with respect to
which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned; (iii)
immediately following such transfer or assignment the further disposition of
such securities by the transferee or assignee is restricted under the 1933 Act
and applicable state securities laws; (iv) at or before the time the Company
receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this sentence the
transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of
the provisions contained herein; (v) such transfer shall have been made in
accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Purchase
Agreement; (vi) such transferee shall be an "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" as that term
is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the 1933 Act; and (vii)
in the event the assignment occurs subsequent to the date of effectiveness of
the Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a), the
transferee agrees to pay all reasonable expenses of amending or supplementing
such Registration Statement to reflect such assignment.
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10. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof
may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either
retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company
and Investors who hold two-thirds of the Registrable Securities. Any amendment
or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 10 shall be binding upon each
Investor and the Company.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
a. A person or entity is deemed to be a holder of Registrable
Securities whenever such person or entity owns of record such
Registrable Securities. If the Company receives conflicting
instructions, notices or elections from two or more persons or entities
with respect to the same Registrable Securities, the Company shall act
upon the basis of instructions, notice or election received from the
registered owner of such Registrable Securities.
b. Any notices consents, waivers or other communications
required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement
must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered (i) upon
receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by
facsimile, provided a copy is mailed by U.S. certified mail, return
receipt requested; (iii) three (3) days after being sent by U.S.
certified mail, return receipt requested, or (d) one (1) day after
deposit with a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, in
each case properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The
addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications shall be:
If to the Company: CityView Energy Corporation Limited
00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx 0000
Facsimile: (011) (00-0) 0000-0000
With a copy to: Xxxxx Xxxxxx LL.B
00 Xxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, 0000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Facsimile: (011) (00-0) 00000000
If to a Buyer, to its address and facsimile number on the Schedule of
Buyers, with copies to such Buyer's counsel as set forth on the Schedule of
Buyers. Each party shall provide five (5) days' prior written notice to the
other party of any change in address or facsimile number.
c. Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under
this Agreement or otherwise, delay by a party in exercising such right
or remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof.
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d. This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to the
principles of conflict of laws. If any provision of this Agreement
shall be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity
or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
the remainder of this Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or
enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other
jurisdiction.
e. This Agreement and the Securities Purchase Agreement
constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect
to the subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no restrictions,
promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or
referred to herein and therein. This Agreement and the Securities
Purchase Agreement supersede all prior agreements and understandings
among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and
thereof.
f. Subject to the requirements of Section 9, this Agreement
shall inure to the benefit and of and be binding upon the permitted
successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto.
g. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning
hereof.
h. This Agreement may be executed in two or more identical
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of
which shall constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement, once
executed by a party, may be delivered to the other party hereto by
facsimile transmission of a copy of this Agreement bearing the
signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.
i. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and
performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and
deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and
documents, as the other party may reasonably request in order to carry
out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration Rights
Agreement to be duly executed as of day and year first above written.
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COMPANY: BUYERS:
CITYVIEW ENERGY HRH PRINCESS MONIRAH BINT SULTAN BIN
CORPORATION LIMITED ABDULAZIZ AL SAUD
By: _____________________________ By: _______________________________
Name: Xxxx Xxxxx Name: _____________________________
Its: Chief Executive Officer Its:
HRH XXXXXX XXXXXX BIN FAISAL BIN FAHAD BIN
ABDULAZIZ
By: _______________________________
Name: _____________________________
20
SCHEDULE OF BUYERS
--------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
BUYER"S NAME ADDRESS AND FACSIMILE NUMBER OF BUYER FACE AMOUNT OF DEBENTURES
--------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
HRH Princess Monirah Bint Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud c/o Xx. Xxxxx Abu Nayyan $500,000
P. O. Xxx 00000
Xxxxxx 00000
Xxxxxxx xx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Facsimile: 01196612130861
--------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
HRH Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Bin Faisal Bin Fahad Bin Abdulaziz c/o Xx. Xxxxx Abu Nayyan $500,000
P. O. Xxx 00000
Xxxxxx 00000
Xxxxxxx xx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Facsimile: 01196612130861
--------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
