EXHIBIT C
to
Securities
Purchase
Agreement
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of May 30,
1997 by and among BASE TEN SYSTEMS, INC., a corporation organized under the laws
of the State of New Jersey, with headquarters located at Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx,
X.X. Xxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000 (the "Company"), and the undersigned
(the "Initial Investors").
WHEREAS:
A. In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement of even date
herewith by and between the Company and the Initial Investors (the "Securities
Purchase Agreement"), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions contained therein, to issue and sell to the Initial Investors units
("Units") consisting of (i) convertible debentures ("Debentures") in the
aggregate principal amount of Five Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars
($5,500,000) due May 30, 2000, which are convertible into shares (the
"Conversion Shares") of the Company's common stock, par value $1.00 per share
(the "Class A Common Stock"), and (ii) warrants (the "Warrants") to acquire an
aggregate of Ninety Nine Thousand (99,000) shares of Class A Common Stock (the
"Warrant Shares").
B. To induce the Initial Investors 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
"Securities 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
Initial Investors hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
a. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have
the following meanings:
(i) "Investors" means the Initial Investors and any
transferees or assignees who agree to become bound by the provisions of this
Agreement in accordance with Section 9 hereof.
(ii) "register," "registered," and "registration"
refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a Registration
Statement or Statements in compliance with the Securities Act and pursuant to
Rule 415 under the Securities Act or any successor rule providing for offering
securities on a continuous basis ("Rule 415"), and the declaration or ordering
of effectiveness of such Registration Statement by the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
(iii) "Registrable Securities" means the Conversion
Shares (including any Conversion Shares issuable with respect to Conversion
Default Payments under the Debentures or with respect to any prepayment of the
Debentures) issued or issuable with respect to the Debentures, the shares of
Common Stock issued or issuable in satisfaction of interest payments under the
Debentures and the Warrant Shares issued or issuable with respect to the
Warrants and any shares of capital stock issued or issuable, from time to time
(with any adjustments), on or in exchange for or otherwise with respect to any
of the foregoing.
(iv) "Registration Statement" means a registration
statement of the Company under the Securities Act.
b. 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 the date (the "Filing Date") which is ten (10) days after that
certain Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 333-21923) of the Company
is declared effective by the SEC, but not earlier than that date which is twenty
(20) days after the Closing Date (as defined in the Securities Purchase
Agreement) or later than that date which is forty-five (45) days after the
Closing Date, file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or, if
Form S-3 is not then available, on such form of Registration Statement as is
then available to effect a registration of all of the Registrable Securities),
covering the resale of at least 1,269,773 shares of Registrable Securities,
which Registration Statement, to the extent allowable under the Securities Act
and the Rules promulgated thereunder (including Rule 416), shall state that such
Registration Statement also covers such indeterminate number of additional
shares of Class A Common Stock as may become issuable upon conversion of the
Debentures and exercise of the Warrants (i) to prevent dilution resulting from
stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions or (ii) by reason of
changes in the Conversion Price of the Debentures or the Exercise Price of the
Warrants in accordance with the terms thereof. The Registrable Securities
included in the Registration Statement shall be allocated to the Investors as
set forth in Section 11(k) hereof. The Registration Statement (and each
amendment or supplement thereto, and each request for acceleration of
effectiveness thereof) shall be provided to (and subject to the reasonable
approval of) the Initial Investors and their counsel prior to its filing or
other submission.
b. Underwritten Offering. If any offering pursuant to a
Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof involves an underwritten
offering, the Investors who hold a majority in interest of the Registrable
Securities subject to such underwritten offering, with the consent of the
Initial Investors, shall have the right to select a total of one legal counsel
to represent the Investors and an investment banker or bankers and manager or
managers to administer the offering, which investment banker or bankers or
manager or managers shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company.
c. Payments by the Company. The Company shall cause the
registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable, but in no
event later than the one hundred and eightieth (180th) day after the Closing
Date (the "Registration Deadline"). If (i) the registration statement(s)
covering the Registrable Securities required to be filed by the Company pursuant
to Section 2(a) hereof is not declared effective by the SEC on or before the
Registration Deadline or if, after the registration statement has been declared
effective by the SEC, sales of all the Registrable Securities (including any
Registrable Securities required to be registered pursuant to Section 3(b)
hereof) cannot be made pursuant to the registration statement (by reason of a
stop order or the Company's failure to update the registration statement or any
other reason outside the control of the Investors) or (ii) the Class A Common
Stock is not listed or included for quotation on the Nasdaq National Market
("Nasdaq"), the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") or the American Stock
Exchange (the "AMEX") at any time after the Registration Deadline, then the
Company will make payments to the Investors in such amounts and at such times as
shall be determined pursuant to this Section 2(c) as partial relief for the
damages to the Investors by reason of any such delay in or reduction of their
ability to sell the Registrable Securities (which remedy shall not be exclusive
of any other remedies available at law or in equity). The Company shall pay to
each Investor an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the
Debentures held by such Investor (including, without limitation, Debentures that
have been converted into Conversion Shares then held by such Investor) (the
"Aggregate Principal Amount"), multiplied by one and one half percent (1.5%),
multiplied by the sum of (y) the number of months (prorated for partial months)
after the Registration Deadline and prior to the date the Registration Statement
filed pursuant to Section 2(a) is declared effective by the SEC and (z) the
number of months (prorated for partial months) that sales cannot be made
pursuant to the registration statement after the Registration Statement has been
declared effective or the Class A Common Stock is not listed or included for
quotation on Nasdaq, the NYSE or AMEX; provided, however, that there shall be
excluded from each such period any delays which are solely attributable to (A)
changes (other than corrections of Company mistakes with respect to information
previously provided by the Investors) required by the Investors in the
Registration Statement with respect to information relating to the Investors,
including, without limitation, changes to the plan of distribution or (B) a
change in the policies, procedures, interpretations, positions, practices or
rules of the SEC made public after May 30, 1997 and provided, further, such
period shall end on that date on which an Event of Default (as defined in the
Debentures) pursuant to Article VIII.A(iii) of the Debentures is declared. (For
example, if the Registration Statement is not effective by the Registration
Deadline, the Company would pay $15,000 per month for each $1,000,000 of
Aggregate Principal Amount until the date the Registration Statement becomes
effective. Such amounts shall be paid in cash or, at each Investor's option, may
be convertible into Class A Common Stock at the "Conversion Price" (as defined
in the Debentures). Any shares of Class A Common Stock issued upon conversion of
such amounts shall be Registrable Securities. If the Investor desires to convert
the amounts due hereunder into Registrable Securities, it shall so notify the
Company in writing within two (2) business days of the date on which such
amounts are first payable in cash and such amounts shall be so convertible
(pursuant to the mechanics set forth under Article IV of the Debentures),
beginning on the last day upon which the cash amount would otherwise be due in
accordance with the following sentence. Payments of cash pursuant hereto shall
be made within five (5) days after the end of each period that gives rise to
such obligation, provided that, if any such period extends for more than thirty
(30) days, interim payments shall be made for each such thirty (30) day period.
d. Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time prior to the
expiration of the Registration Period (as hereinafter defined) the Company shall
file with the SEC a Registration Statement relating to a firm commitment
underwritten offering for its own account or the account of others under the
Securities Act of any of its equity securities (other than on Form S-4 or Form
S-8 or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely
in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or equity
securities issuable in connection with stock option or other employee benefit
plans) the Company shall send to each Investor who is entitled to registration
rights under this Section 2(d) written notice of such determination and, if
within fifteen (15) days after the date 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, except that if, in connection with any underwritten public offering
for the account of the Company the managing underwriter(s) thereof shall impose
a limitation on the number of shares of Class A Common Stock which may be
included in the Registration Statement because, in such underwriter(s)'
judgment, marketing or other factors dictate such limitation is necessary to
facilitate public distribution, then the Company shall be obligated to include
in such Registration Statement only such limited portion of the Registrable
Securities with respect to which such Investor has requested inclusion hereunder
as the underwriter shall permit. Any exclusion of Registrable Securities shall
be made pro rata among the Investors seeking to include Registrable Securities,
in proportion to the number of Registrable Securities sought to be included by
such Investors; provided, however, that the Company shall not exclude any
Registrable Securities unless the Company has first excluded all outstanding
securities, the holders of which are not entitled to inclusion of such
securities in such Registration Statement or are not entitled to pro rata
inclusion with the Registrable Securities; and provided, further, however, that,
after giving effect to the immediately preceding proviso, any exclusion of
Registrable Securities shall be made pro rata with holders of other securities
having the right to include such securities in the Registration Statement other
than holders of securities entitled to inclusion of their securities in such
Registration Statement by reason of demand registration rights. No right to
registration of Registrable Securities under this Section 2(d) shall be
construed to limit any registration required under Section 2(a) hereof. If an
offering in connection with which an Investor is entitled to registration under
this Section 2(d) 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 Class A Common Stock included in such underwritten offering.
e. Eligibility for Form S-3. The Company represents and
warrants that it meets the requirements for the use of Form S-3 for registration
of the sale by the Initial Investors and any other Investor of the Registrable
Securities and the Company shall file all reports required to be filed by the
Company with the SEC in a timely manner so as to maintain such current
eligibility for the use of Form S-3.
3. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY.
In connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities, the
Company shall have the following obligations:
a. The Company shall prepare promptly and file with the SEC
the Registration Statement required by Section 2(a), and cause such Registration
Statement relating to Registrable Securities to become effective as soon as
practicable after such filing, but in no event later than the Registration
Deadline, and keep the Registration Statement effective pursuant to Rule 415 at
all times until such date as is the earlier of (i) the date on which all of the
Registrable Securities have been sold and (ii) the date on which all the
Registrable Securities (in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Initial
Investors) may be immediately sold to the public without registration (the
"Registration Period") or restriction, which Registration Statement (including
any amendments or supplements thereto and prospectuses contained therein and all
documents incorporated by reference 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 not misleading.
b. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such
amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to a
Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection with the
Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement
effective at all times during the Registration Period, and, during such period,
comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition
of all Registrable Securities of the Company covered by the Registration
Statement until such time as all of such Registrable Securities 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. In the event the
number of shares available under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this
Agreement is, for any three (3) consecutive trading days (the last of such three
(3) trading days being the "Registration Trigger Date"), insufficient to cover
one hundred thirty-five percent (135%) of the Registrable Securities issued or
issuable upon conversion of the Debentures and exercise of the Warrants held by
any Investor, 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 two hundred percent (200%) of the Registrable Securities
issued or issuable to such Investor, in each case, as soon as practicable, but
in any event within fifteen (15) days after the Registration Trigger Date (based
on the market price of the Class A Common Stock and other relevant factors on
which the Company reasonably elects to rely). The Company shall cause such
amendment and/or new Registration Statement to become effective as soon as
practicable following the filing thereof. In the event the Company fails to
obtain the effectiveness of any such Registration Statement within ninety (90)
days after a Registration Trigger Date, each Investor shall thereafter have the
option, exercisable in whole or in part at any time and from time to time by
delivery of a written notice to the Company (a "Redemption Notice"), to require
the Company to purchase for cash, a portion of the Investor's Debentures such
that the total number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable to such
Investor upon conversion of its Debentures and exercise of its Warrants does not
exceed 135% of the Registrable Securities issued or issuable upon conversion of
such Investor's Debentures and exercise of such Investor's Warrants. The
purchase price per Debenture shall be equal to the Default Amount (as defined in
Article VI.A of the Debentures) therefor. If the Company fails to purchase any
of such Debentures within five (5) business days after its receipt of a
Redemption Notice, then such Investor shall be entitled to the remedies provided
in Article VIII.C of the Debentures.
c. The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose
Registrable Securities are included in the Registration Statement and its legal
counsel (i) promptly after the same is prepared and publicly distributed, filed
with the SEC, or received by the Company, one copy of the Registration Statement
and any amendment thereto, each preliminary prospectus and prospectus and each
amendment or supplement thereto, and, in the case of the Registration Statement
referred to in Section 2(a), each letter written by or on behalf of the Company
to the SEC or the staff of the SEC, and each item of correspondence from the SEC
or the staff of the SEC, in each case relating to such Registration Statement
(other than any portion, if any, thereof which contains information for which
the Company has sought confidential treatment), and (ii) such number of copies
of a prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, and all amendments and
supplements thereto and such other documents 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
under such other securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions in the
United States as each Investor who holds Registrable Securities being offered
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 qualify 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, (c) file a general consent to service of process in any such
jurisdiction, (d) provide any undertakings that cause the Company undue expense
or burden, or (e) make any change in its charter or bylaws, which in each case
the Board of Directors of the Company determines to be contrary to the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders.
e. In the event the Investors who hold a majority in interest
of the Registrable Securities being offered in an 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 of the happening of any event, of
which the Company has knowledge, as a result of which the prospectus included in
the 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 not misleading, and use its best
efforts promptly to prepare a supplement or amendment to the Registration
Statement to correct such untrue statement or omission, and deliver such number
of copies of such supplement or amendment to each Investor as such Investor may
reasonably request.
g. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the
issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of a
Registration Statement, and, if such an order is issued, to obtain the
withdrawal of such order at the earliest practicable moment and to notify each
Investor who holds Registrable Securities being sold (or, in the event of an
underwritten offering, the managing underwriters) of the issuance of such order
and the resolution thereof.
h. The Company shall permit one legal counsel designated by
the Initial Investors to review the Registration Statement and all amendments
and supplements thereto a reasonable period of time prior to their filing with
the SEC, and not file any document in a form to which such counsel reasonably
objects.
i. The Company shall make generally available to its security
holders as soon as practical, but not later than ninety (90) days after the
close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying
with the provisions of Rule 158 under the Securities Act) covering a
twelve-month period beginning not later than the first day of the Company's
fiscal quarter next following the effective date of the Registration Statement.
j. At the request of any Investor, the Company shall furnish,
on the date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement (i) an opinion, dated
as of such date, from counsel representing the Company addressed to the
Investors and in form, scope and substances as is customarily given in an
underwritten public offering and (ii) in the case of an underwriting, 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, if any, and the Investors.
k. The Company shall make available for inspection by (i) any
Investor, (ii) any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to the
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 confidence and shall not make any disclosure (except to an Investor) 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 necessary to avoid or correct a
misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (b) the release of such
Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other 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. The Company shall not be required
to disclose any confidential information in such Records to any Inspector until
and unless such Inspector shall have entered into confidentiality agreements (in
form and substance satisfactory to the Company) with the Company with respect
thereto, substantially in the form of this Section 3(k). 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. Nothing herein shall be deemed to
limit the Investor's ability to sell Registrable Securities in a manner which is
otherwise consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
l. 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 order
from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, (iv) such
information has been made generally available to the public other than by
disclosure in violation of this or any other agreement, or (v) such Investor
consents to the form and content of any such disclosure. 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 notice to such Investor prior
to making such disclosure, and allow the Investor, at its expense, to undertake
appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order
for, such information.
m. The Company shall use its best efforts either to (i) cause
all the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be
listed on the NASDAQ National Market or the NYSE or the AMEX or another national
securities exchange and on each additional 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, or (ii) secure the designation and quotation, of all the
Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement on the Nasdaq and,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to arrange for or maintain at
least two market makers to register with the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") as such with respect to such Registrable Securities.
n. The Company shall provide a transfer agent and registrar,
which may be a single entity and may be the transfer agent or registrar for
securities of the Company, for the Registrable Securities not later than the
effective date of the Registration Statement.
o. The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold
Registrable Securities being offered and the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing Registrable
Securities to be offered pursuant to the 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 the Investors may reasonably
request and registered in such names as the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, or the Investors may request, and, within three (3)
business days after a Registration Statement which includes Registrable
Securities is ordered effective by the SEC, the Company shall cause legal
counsel selected by the Company to deliver to the transfer agent for the
Registrable Securities (with copies to the Investors whose Registrable
Securities are included in such Registration Statement) an opinion of such
counsel in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1.
p. At the reasonable request of any Investor, the Company
shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including post-effective
amendments) and supplements to a Registration Statement and the prospectus used
in connection with the Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to
change the plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement.
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTORS.
In connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities, the
Investors shall have the following obligations:
a. 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 and shall execute such documents in connection
with such registration as the Company may reasonably request. At least three (3)
business days prior to the first anticipated filing date of the Registration
Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor of the information the Company
requires from each such Investor.
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 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 in interest of
the Registrable Securities being offered 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 has notified the
Company in writing of such Investor's election to exclude all of such Investor's
Registrable Securities from the Registration Statement.
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(f)
or 3(g), such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable
Securities until such Investor's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or
amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(f) or 3(g) and, if so directed by
the Company, such Investor shall deliver to the Company (at the expense of the
Company) or destroy (and deliver to the Company a certificate of destruction)
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 in
usual and customary form entered into by the Company, (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 and any expenses in excess of those
payable by the Company pursuant to Section 5 below.
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, the
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, the fees and disbursements
contemplated by Section 3(j) hereof, and the reasonable fees and disbursements
of one legal counsel selected by the Investors pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof
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 extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify,
hold harmless and defend (i) each Investor who holds such Registrable
Securities, and (ii) the directors, officers, partners, members, employees,
agents and each person who control any Investor within the meaning of Section 15
of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"), if any, (each, an "Indemnified Person"), against
any joint or several losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses
(collectively, together with actions, proceedings or inquiries by any regulatory
or self-regulatory organization, whether commenced or threatened, in respect
thereof, "Claims") to which any of them may become subject insofar as such
Claims arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact in a Registration Statement or the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated or
necessary to make the statements therein 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 Securities Act, the Exchange 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 (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) being,
collectively, "Violations"). Subject to the restrictions set forth in Section
6(c) 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 reasonable 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 such Indemnified Person expressly for use in the Registration
Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto; (ii) 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; and (iii) with respect to any preliminary prospectus,
shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Person 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,
if such corrected prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant
to Section 3(c) hereof, 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.
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 severally and not jointly
to indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same
manner set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of
its officers who signs the Registration Statement, its employees, agents and
each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15
of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and any other
stockholder selling securities pursuant to the Registration Statement or any of
its directors or officers or any person who controls such stockholder or
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act
(collectively and together with an Indemnified Person, an "Indemnified Party"),
against any Claim to which any of them may become subject, under the Securities
Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim arises out of or is
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(c) such
Investor will reimburse any legal or other expenses (promptly as such expenses
are incurred and are due and payable) 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) 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
withheld; provided, further, however, that the Investor shall be liable under
this Agreement (including this Section 6(b) and Section 7) for only that amount
as does not exceed the net proceeds actually received by 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, and the Indemnified Party failed to utilize such
corrected prospectus.
c. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any
action (including any governmental action), such Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to 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 such indemnifying party shall not be
entitled to assume such defense and an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
shall have the right to retain its own counsel, which counsel shall be
reasonably acceptable to the indemnifying party, 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 conflicts of interest between such
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such
counsel in such proceeding or the actual or potential defendants in, or targets
of, any such action include both the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party
and the indemnifying party and any such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
reasonably determines that there may be legal defenses available to such
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party which are different from or in addition
to those available to such indemnifying party. The indemnifying party shall pay
for only one separate legal counsel for the Indemnified Persons or the
Indemnified Parties, as applicable, and such legal counsel shall be selected by
Investors holding a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities included
in the Registration Statement to which the Claim relates (with the approval of
the Initial Investors if it holds Registrable Securities included in such
Registration Statement), if the Investors are entitled to indemnification
hereunder, or by the Company, if the Company is entitled to indemnification
hereunder, as applicable. 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 actually prejudiced in its ability to
defend such action. 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 such expense, loss, damage or liability is incurred
and is due and payable.
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 person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of
such fraudulent misrepresentation, and (iii) contribution (together with any
indemnification or other obligations under this Agreement) 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 EXCHANGE ACT.
With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule
144 promulgated under the Securities 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. file with the SEC in a timely manner and make and keep
available all reports and other documents required of the Company under the
Securities Act and the Exchange 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 and availability of such reports and other documents is required
for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
b. furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns
Debentures, Warrants or Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a
written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting
requirements of Rule 144, the Securities Act and the Exchange 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 of the Investors hereunder, including the right to have the
Company register Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement, shall be
automatically assignable by each Investor to any transferee of all or any
portion of the Debentures, the Warrants or the 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) following such transfer or assignment, the further disposition of such
securities by the transferee or assignee is restricted under the Securities 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, and (v) such transfer shall have been made in
accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Purchase
Agreement.
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 written consent of the Company, the
Initial Investors (to the extent the Initial Investors still own Debentures,
Warrants or Registrable Securities) and Investors who hold a majority interest
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 required or permitted to be given under the
terms of this Agreement shall be sent by certified or registered mail (return
receipt requested) or delivered personally or by courier or by confirmed
telecopy, and shall be effective five days after being placed in the mail, if
mailed, or upon receipt or refusal of receipt, if delivered personally or by
courier or confirmed telecopy, in each case addressed to a party. The addresses
for such communications shall be:
If to the Company:
Base Ten Systems, Inc.
Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
X.X. Xxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
with a copy to:
Pitney, Xxxxxx, Xxxx & Xxxxx
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx
X.X. Xxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
If to an Investor, at such address as such Investor shall have
provided in writing to the Company or such other address as
such Investor furnishes by notice given in accordance with
this Section 11(b)
with a copy to:
Klehr, Harrison, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esquire
and if to any other Investor, at such address as such Investor shall have
provided in writing to the Company, or at such other address as each such party
furnishes by notice given in accordance with this Section 11(b).
c. Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under
this Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or
remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof.
d. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey applicable to contracts made
and to be performed in the State of New Jersey. The Company irrevocably consents
to the jurisdiction of the United States federal courts located in the State of
New Jersey in any suit or proceeding based on or arising under this Agreement
and irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of such suit or proceeding may
be determined in such courts. The Company irrevocably waives the defense of an
inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such suit or proceeding. The Company
further agrees that service of process upon the Company, mailed by first class
mail shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the
Company in any such suit or proceeding. Nothing herein shall affect the
Investors' right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. The
Company agrees that a final non-appealable judgment in any such suit or
proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by
suit on such judgment or in any other lawful manner.
e. This Agreement, the Securities Purchase Agreement, the
Debentures and the Warrants (including all schedules and exhibits thereto)
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, the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Debentures and
the Warrants supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the parties
hereto and thereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
f. Subject to the requirements of Section 9 hereof, this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the 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 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.
j. All consents, approvals and other determinations to be made
by the Investors or the Initial Investors pursuant to this Agreement shall be
made by the Investors or the Initial Investors holding a majority of the
Registrable Securities (determined as if all Debentures and Warrants then
outstanding had been converted into or exercised for Registrable Securities)
held by all Investors or Initial Investors, as the case may be.
k. The initial number of Registrable Securities included on
any Registration Statement and each increase to the number of Registrable
Securities included thereon shall be allocated pro rata among the Investors
based on the number of Registrable Securities held by each Investor at the time
of such establishment or increase, as the case may be. In the event an Investor
shall sell or otherwise transfer any of such holder's Registrable Securities,
each transferee shall be allocated a pro rata portion of the number of
Registrable Securities included on a Registration Statement for such transferor.
Any shares of Class A Common Stock included on a Registration Statement and
which remain allocated to any person or entity which does not hold any
Registrable Securities shall be allocated to the remaining Investors, pro rata
based on the number of shares of Registrable Securities then held by such
Investors.
l. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "business day"
means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banking
institutions in the State of New York or the State of New Jersey are authorized
or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed as of the date first above written.
BASE TEN SYSTEMS, INC.
By:----------------------------
Name:
Its:
Initial Investors:
By:----------------------------
Name:
Its:
By:----------------------------
Name:
Its:
By:----------------------------
Name:
Its:
Exhibit 1
to
Registration
Rights
Agreement
[Date]
[Name and address
of transfer agent]
RE: BASE TEN SYSTEMS, INC.
We are counsel to BASE TEN SYSTEMS, INC., a corporation organized under
the laws of the State of New Jersey (the "Company"), and we understand that
[Name of Investor] (the "Holder") has purchased from the Company units ("Units")
consisting of (i) convertible debentures due March 30, 2000 (the "Debentures")
which are convertible into shares (the "Conversion Shares") of the Company's
Class A common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Class A Common Stock"),
and (ii) warrants (the "Warrants") to acquire shares of Common Stock (the
"Warrant Shares"). The Units were purchased by the Holder pursuant to a
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 30, 1997, by and among the
Company and the signatories thereto (the "Agreement"). Pursuant to a
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 30, 1997, by and among the
Company and the signatories thereto (the "Registration Rights Agreement"), the
Company agreed with the Holder, among other things, to register the Registrable
Securities (as that term is defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), upon the terms
provided in the Registration Rights Agreement. In connection with the Company's
obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, on _____ __, 1997, the
Company filed a Registration Statement on Form S-___ (File No. 333-
_____________) (the "Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") relating to the Registrable Securities, which names the
Holder as a selling stockholder thereunder.
[Other introductory and scope of examination language to be inserted]
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Registrable
Securities have been registered under the Securities Act.
[Other appropriate language to be included.]
Very truly yours,
cc: [Name of Investor]
