Exhibit 10.7
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of December 7, 2005, by and among Epicus Communications Group,
Inc., a Florida corporation (the "Company"), and the investors signatory hereto
(each a "Investor" and collectively, the "Investors").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated as of
December 7, 2005, among the Company and the Investors (the "Purchase
Agreement").
The Company and the Investors hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein
that are defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such
terms in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms
shall have the respective meanings set forth in this Section 1:
"Effective Date" means the date that the Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2(a) is first declared effective by the Commission.
"Effectiveness Date" means (a) with respect to the Registration
Statement required to be filed under Section 2(a), the earlier of: (a)(i) the
60th day following the Closing Date, and (ii) the fifth Trading Day following
the date on which the Company is notified by the Commission that the First
Registration Statement will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further
review and comments and (b) with respect to any additional Registration
Statements that may be required pursuant to Section 2(b), the earlier of (i) the
60th day following (x) if such Registration Statement is required because the
Commission shall have notified the Company in writing that certain Registrable
Securities were not eligible for inclusion on a previously filed Registration
Statement, the date or time on which the Commission shall indicate as being the
first date or time that such Registrable Securities may then be included in a
Registration Statement, or (y) if such Registration Statement is required for a
reason other than as described in (x) above, the date on which the Company first
knows, or reasonably should have known, that such additional Registration
Statement(s) is required, and (ii) the fifth Trading Day following the date on
which the Company is notified by the Commission that such additional
Registration Statement will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further
review and comment.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(a).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Filing Date" means (a) with respect to the initial Registration
Statement required to be filed under Section 2(a), the 10th day following the
Closing Date and (b) with respect to any additional Registration Statements that
may be required pursuant to Section 2(b), the 20th day following (x) if such
Registration Statement is required because the Commission shall have notified
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the Company in writing that certain Registrable Securities were not eligible for
inclusion on a previously filed Registration Statement, the date or time on
which the Commission shall indicate as being the first date or time that such
Registrable Securities may then be included in a Registration Statement, or (y)
if such Registration Statement is required for a reason other than as described
in (x) above, the date on which the Company first knows, or reasonably should
have known, that such additional Registration Statement(s) is required.
"Holder" or "Holders" means the holder or holders, as the case may be,
from time to time of Registrable Securities.
"Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
"Indemnifying Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
"Losses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
"Notes" means, collectively, each of the promissory notes issued or
issuable under the Purchase Agreement.
"Proceeding" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding
(including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as
a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement
(including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any information
previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration
statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as
amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms
of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a
Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the
Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated
by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
"Registrable Securities" means the (a) Underlying Shares issuable upon
conversion of the Notes (assuming such Notes are held until the maturity date
thereof and all interest is accreted to principal thereunder together with any
securities issued or issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other
distribution, recapitalization or similar event, or any conversion price
adjustment with respect thereto) and (b) Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise
of the Warrants.
"Registration Statement" means the initial registration statement
required to be filed in accordance with Section 2(a) and any additional
registration statement, if any, contemplated by Section 2(b), and including, in
each case, the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to each such registration
statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all
exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
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"Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Rule 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Rule 424" means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Registration.
(a) On or prior to each Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and
file with the Commission a Registration Statement covering the resale of all
Registrable Securities not already covered by an existing and effective
Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant
to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on Form SB-2 (except if the
Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities
on Form SB-2, in which case such registration shall be on another appropriate
form for such purpose) and shall contain (except if otherwise required pursuant
to written comments received from the Commission upon a review of such
Registration Statement) the "Plan of Distribution" attached hereto as Annex A.
The Company shall cause each Registration Statement to be declared effective
under the Securities Act as soon as possible but, in any event, no later than
its Effectiveness Date, and shall use its best efforts to keep each Registration
Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the second year
after the date that the Registration Statement is declared effective by the
Commission or such earlier date when all Registrable Securities covered by the
Registration Statement have been sold or may be sold without volume restrictions
pursuant to Rule 144(k) as determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to
a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to the
Company's transfer agent and the affected Holders (the "Effectiveness Period").
The initial Registration Statement shall include a number of Registrable
Securities equal to the sum of (a) the number of Underlying Shares issuable upon
an assumed conversion in full of the Notes (assuming for such purpose that the
Notes are held until their respective scheduled Maturity Dates and all interest
accretes to principal for the life thereof) and (b) the number of shares
issuable upon exercise in full of the Warrants.
(b) If for any reason the Commission does not permit all of the
Registrable Securities to be included in the Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2(a) or for any other reason all Registrable Securities then
outstanding are not then included in an effective Registration Statement, then
the Company shall prepare and file as soon as possible after the date on which
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the Commission shall indicate as being the first date or time that such filing
may be made, but in any event by the Filing Date therefore, an additional
Registration Statement covering the resale of all Registrable Securities not
already covered by an existing and effective Registration Statement for an
offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415, on Form SB-2
(except if the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the
Registrable Securities on Form SB-2, in which case such registration shall be on
another appropriate form for such purpose). Each such Registration Statement
shall contain (except if otherwise required pursuant to written comments
received from the Commission upon a review of such Registration Statement) the
"Plan of Distribution" attached hereto as Annex A. The Company shall cause each
such Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as
soon as possible but, in any event, no later than its Effective Date, and shall
use its best efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective
under the Securities Act during the entire Effectiveness Period.
(c) If: (i) a Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to its
Filing Date (if the Company files a Registration Statement without affording the
Holders the opportunity to review and comment on the same as required by Section
3(a) hereof, the Company shall not be deemed to have satisfied this clause (i)),
or (ii) a Registration Statement is not declared effective by the Commission on
or prior to its required Effectiveness Date, or (iii) after its Effective Date,
without regard for the reason thereunder or efforts therefore, such Registration
Statement ceases for any reason to be effective and available to the Holders as
to all Registrable Securities to which it is required to cover at any time prior
to the expiration of its Effectiveness Period for more than an aggregate of 20
Trading Days (which need not be consecutive) (any such failure or breach being
referred to as an "Event," and for purposes of clauses (i) or (ii) the date on
which such Event occurs, or for purposes of clause (iii) the date which such 20
Trading Day period is exceeded, being referred to as "Event Date"), then in
addition to any other rights the Holders may have under the Transaction
Documents or under applicable law or at equity: (x) on each such Event Date the
Company shall pay to each Holder an amount in cash, as partial liquidated
damages and not as a penalty, equal to 2.0% of the aggregate amount of Notes
purchased by such Investor at the Closing; and (y) on each monthly anniversary
of each such Event Date (if the applicable Event shall not have been cured by
such date) until the applicable Event is cured, the Company shall pay to each
Holder an amount in cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty,
equal to 2.0% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes purchased by such
Investor at the Closing. If the Holder elects to receive such liquidated damages
in shares of Common Stock, then the number of shares issuable to such Holder
shall be determined based upon a price which is equal to the average of the
three lowest inter-day trading prices (as reported by Bloomberg Information
Services) during the ten Trading Days immediately preceding the Event Date or
the monthly anniversary thereof. If the Company fails to pay any partial
liquidated damages pursuant to this Section in full within seven days after the
date payable, the Company will pay interest thereon at a rate of 18% per annum
(or such lesser maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable law)
to the Holder, accruing daily from the date such partial liquidated damages are
due until such amounts, plus all such interest thereon, are paid in full. The
partial liquidated damages pursuant to the terms hereof shall apply on a daily
pro-rata basis for any portion of a month prior to the cure of an Event, except
in the case of the first Event Date.
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(d) Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Company a completed
Questionnaire in the form attached to this Agreement as Annex B (a "Selling
Holder Questionnaire"). The Company shall not be required to include the
Registrable Securities of a Holder in a Registration Statement and shall not be
required to pay any liquidated or other damages under Section 2(c) to any Holder
who fails to furnish to the Company a fully completed Selling Holder
Questionnaire at least two Trading Days prior to the Filing Date (subject to the
requirements set forth in Section 3(a)).
2. Registration Procedures.
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In connection with the Company's registration obligations hereunder,
the Company shall:
(a) Not less than four Trading Days prior to the filing of a
Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto, the Company shall furnish to each Holder copies of the "Selling
Stockholders" section of such document, the "Plan of Distribution" and any risk
factor contained in such document that addresses specifically this transaction
or the Selling Stockholders, as proposed to be filed which documents will be
subject to the review of such Holder. The Company shall not file a Registration
Statement, any Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto in which the
"Selling Stockholder" section thereof differs from the disclosure received from
a Holder in its Selling Holder Questionnaire (as amended or supplemented).
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to each Registration Statement and the
Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such
Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable
Securities for its Effectiveness Period and prepare and file with the Commission
such additional Registration Statements in order to register for resale under
the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities; (ii) cause the related
Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement,
and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; (iii)
respond as promptly as reasonably possible to any comments received from the
Commission with respect to each Registration Statement or any amendment thereto
and, as promptly as reasonably possible provide the Holders true and complete
copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to such
Registration Statement that would not result in the disclosure to the Holders of
material and non-public information concerning the Company; and (iv) comply in
all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act with respect to the Registration Statements and the disposition of all
Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement.
(c) Notify the Holders as promptly as reasonably possible (and, in
the case of (i)(A) below, not less than three Trading Days prior to such filing)
and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later
than one Trading Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement is
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proposed to be filed; (B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there
will be a "review" of such Registration Statement and whenever the Commission
comments in writing on such Registration Statement (the Company shall provide
true and complete copies of any such comments and all written responses thereto
to each Holder that pertains to such Holder as a Selling Shareholder or to the
Plan of Distribution, but not information which the Company believes would
constitute material and non-public information); and (C) with respect to each
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become
effective; (ii) of any request by the Commission or any other Federal or state
governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement
or Prospectus or for additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration
Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of
any Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption
from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such
purpose; and (v) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes
the financial statements included in a Registration Statement ineligible for
inclusion therein or any statement made in such Registration Statement or
Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by
reference untrue in any material respect or that requires any revisions to such
Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of
such Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(d) Use its reasonable best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if
issued, obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or
exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in
any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.
(e) Furnish to each Holder, without charge, at least one conformed
copy of each Registration Statement and each amendment thereto and all exhibits
to the extent requested by such Person (excluding those previously furnished or
incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such documents with the
Commission.
(f) Upon notification by the Commission that a Registration Statement
will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further review and comments, the
Company shall request acceleration of such Registration Statement such that it
becomes effective at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on such Effective Date.
(g) Deliver to each Holder, by 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the
day following the Effective Date, without charge, as many copies of each
Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each
amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request. The
Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or
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supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders in connection with the
offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and
any amendment or supplement thereto.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its
reasonable best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling
Holders in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from
such registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for offer and
sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of all jurisdictions within the
United States, to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption
therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other
acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration
Statements; provided, that the Company shall not be required to qualify
generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified
or subject the Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is
not then so subject.
(i) Cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation
and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered
to a transferee pursuant to the Registration Statements, which certificates
shall be free, to the extent permitted by the Purchase Agreement, of all
restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such
denominations and registered in such names as any such Holders may request.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(c)(v),
as promptly as reasonably possible, prepare a supplement or amendment, including
a post-effective amendment, to the affected Registration Statements or a
supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so
that, as thereafter delivered, no Registration Statement nor any Prospectus will
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
3. Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the
performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne
by the Company whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to a
Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing
sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees
(including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings
required to be made with any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then
listed for trading, and (B) in compliance with applicable state securities or
Blue Sky laws), (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses
of printing certificates for Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses
if the printing of prospectuses is reasonably requested by the holders of a
majority of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement),
(iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company, (v) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company
so desires such insurance, and (vi) fees and expenses of all other Persons
retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions
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contemplated by this Agreement. In addition, the Company shall be responsible
for all of its internal expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation,
all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or
accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit and the fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any
securities exchange as required hereunder.
4. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless
each Holder, the officers, directors, agents, investment advisors, partners,
members, shareholders and employees of each of them, each Person who controls
any such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, agents and
employees of each such controlling Person, to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, reasonable costs of
preparation and reasonable attorneys' fees) and expenses (collectively,
"Losses"), as incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any
Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission
or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form
of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made) not misleading, except to the extent, but only to the extent,
that (1) such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information
regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder
expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such information relates to
such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of distribution of Registrable
Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder
expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of
Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (it being understood that
the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose) or (2) in the case of
an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(c)(ii)-(v), the use
by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has
notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and
prior to the receipt by such Holder of an Advice or an amended or supplemented
Prospectus, but only if and to the extent that following the receipt of the
Advice or the amended or supplemented Prospectus the misstatement or omission
giving rise to such Loss would have been corrected. The Company shall notify the
Holders promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding of
which the Company is aware in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
(b) Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall, severally and not
jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers,
agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the
directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the
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fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as
incurred, arising solely out of or based solely upon: (x) such Holder's failure
to comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act or (y)
any untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement,
any Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement
thereto, or arising solely out of or based solely upon any omission of a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading to the extent, but only to the extent that, (1) such
untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding such
Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use
therein, or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such
Holder's proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was
reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in
the Registration Statement (it being understood that the Holder has approved
Annex A hereto for this purpose), such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or
in any amendment or supplement thereto or (2) in the case of an occurrence of an
event of the type specified in Section 3(c)(ii)-(v), the use by such Holder of
an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder
in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt
by such Holder of an Advice or an amended or supplemented Prospectus, but only
if and to the extent that following the receipt of the Advice or the amended or
supplemented Prospectus the misstatement or omission giving rise to such Loss
would have been corrected. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder
hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds
received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise
to such indemnification obligation.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall
be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an
"Indemnified Party"), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person
from whom indemnity is sought (the "Indemnifying Party") in writing, and the
Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all
fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof; provided, that
the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the
Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement,
except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally determined by a court
of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or
further review) that such failure shall have proximately and materially
adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.
An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel
in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party
or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such
fees and expenses; (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to
assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named
parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both
such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party
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shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to
exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the
Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the
Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the
expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the
right to assume the defense thereof and such counsel shall be at the expense of
the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any
settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. No Indemnifying Party shall, without
the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any
pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless
such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from
all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.
All reasonable fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including
reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with
investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not
inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as
incurred, within ten Trading Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying
Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified
Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder; provided, that the
Indemnifying Party may require such Indemnified Party to undertake to reimburse
all such fees and expenses to the extent it is finally judicially determined
that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder).
(d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under Section 5(a)
or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party (by reason of public policy or
otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such
Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and
Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that
resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question,
including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission
or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to
information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or
payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject
to the limitations set forth in Section 5(c), any reasonable attorneys' or other
reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any
Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or
expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section was available to
such party in accordance with its terms.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account
the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
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Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), no Holder shall be required
to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the
proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable
Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that such
Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section
are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the
Indemnified Parties.
5. Miscellaneous.
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a Holder,
of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the Company, as
the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by
law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to
specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company and each
Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for
any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this
Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for
specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that
a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Piggyback on Registrations. Neither the Company nor any of its
security holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto) may
include securities of the Company in a Registration Statement other than the
Registrable Securities, and the Company shall not during the Registration Period
enter into any agreement providing any such right to any of its security
holders.
(c) Compliance. Each Holder covenants and agrees that it will comply
with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to
it in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Registration Statement.
(d) Discontinued Disposition. Each Holder agrees by its acquisition
of such Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company
of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section 3(c), such
Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities
under the Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of
the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement or until it is
advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the applicable
Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any
additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement. The
Company may provide appropriate stop orders to enforce the provisions of this
paragraph.
(e) Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time during the Effectiveness
Period there is not an effective Registration Statement covering all of the
Registrable Securities and the Company shall determine to prepare and file with
the Commission a registration statement relating to an offering for its own
11
account or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity
securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the
Securities Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to be
issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or
equity securities issuable in connection with stock option or other employee
benefit plans, then the Company shall send to each Holder written notice of such
determination and, if within fifteen days after receipt of such notice, any such
Holder shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such
registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such
holder requests to be registered, subject to customary underwriter cutbacks
applicable to all holders of registration rights.
(f) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company
and the Holders of all of the then outstanding Registrable Securities.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions
hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of
certain Holders and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of
other Holders may be given by Holders of at least 66 ?% of the Registrable
Securities to which such waiver or consent relates, provided, that the
provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except
in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence.
(g) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or
deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified in this Section prior to 6:30 p.m. (New
York City time) on a Trading Day, (ii) the Trading Day after the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified in this Agreement later than 6:30 p.m. (New
York City time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on
such date, (iii) the Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by
nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual receipt by
the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such
notices and communications shall be as follows:
If to the Company: Epicus Communications Group, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: 000-000-0000
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
With a copy to: Xxxx & Xxxxx, P.A.
One Boca Place
Suite 337W
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
12
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx.
If to a Investor: To the address set forth under such
Investor's name on the signature pages
hereto.
If to any other Person who is then the registered Holder:
To the address of such Holder as it appears
in the stock transfer books of the Company
or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same
manner, by such Person.
(h) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the
parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company may not
assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of
each Holder. Each Holder may assign its respective rights hereunder in the
manner and to the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement so long as
such assignment complies with the Purchaser Agreement.
(i) Execution and Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an
original and, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
Agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile
transmission, such signature shall create a valid binding obligation of the
party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with
the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature were the original
thereof.
(j) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction,
validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by
and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of
New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each
party agrees that all Proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement
and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (whether brought
against a party hereto or its respective Affiliates, employees or agents) shall
be commenced exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in the City of
New York, Borough of Manhattan (the "New York Courts"). Each party hereto hereby
irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the New York Courts for the
adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any
transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably
waives, and agrees not to assert in any Proceeding, any claim that it is not
personally subject to the jurisdiction of any New York Court, or that such
Proceeding has been commenced in an improper or inconvenient forum. Each party
hereto hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to
process being served in any such Proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via
registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery)
13
to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement
and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of
process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in
any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Each party
hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable
law, any and all right to trial by jury in any Proceeding arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. If either
party shall commence a Proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Agreement,
then the prevailing party in such Proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other
party for its attorney's fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the
investigation, preparation and prosecution of such Proceeding.
(k) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative
and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(l) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative
means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated
by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and
declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the
remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of
such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(m) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(n) Independent Nature of Investors' Obligations and Rights. The
obligations of each Investor under any Transaction Document are several and not
joint with the obligations of any other Investor, and no Investor shall be
responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other
Investor under any Transaction Document. The decision of each Investor to
purchase Securities pursuant to the Transaction Documents has been made by such
Investor independently of any other Investor. Nothing contained herein or in any
Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Investor pursuant thereto,
shall be deemed to constitute the Investors as a partnership, an association, a
joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the
Investors are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such
obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Each
Investor acknowledges that no other Investor has acted as agent for such
Investor in connection with making its investment hereunder and that no Investor
will be acting as agent of such Investor in connection with monitoring its
investment in the Securities or enforcing its rights under the Transaction
Documents. Each Investor shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce
its rights, including without limitation the rights arising out of this
Agreement or out of the other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be
necessary for any other Investor to be joined as an additional party in any
proceeding for such purpose. The Company acknowledges that each of the Investors
14
has been provided with the same Transaction Documents for the purpose of closing
a transaction with multiple Investors and not because it was required or
requested to do so by any Investor.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW]
15
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement as of the date first written above.
EPICUS COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC.
By:
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE PAGES OF INVESTORS TO FOLLOW]
16
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement as of the date first written above.
AJW PARTNERS, LLC
By: SMS Group, LLC
------------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Manager
RESIDENCE: Delaware
ADDRESS: 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
17
AJW OFFSHORE, LTD.
By: First Street Manager II, LLC
--------------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Manager
RESIDENCE: Cayman Islands
ADDRESS: AJW Offshore, Ltd.
X.X. Xxx 00000 XXX
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
B.W.I.
18
AJW QUALIFIED PARTNERS, LLC
By: AJW Manager, LLC
------------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Manager
RESIDENCE: New York
ADDRESS: 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
19
NEW MILLENNIUM CAPITAL PARTNERS II, LLC
By: First Street Manager II, LLP
------------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Manager
RESIDENCE: New York
ADDRESS: 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
20
Annex A
Plan of Distribution
The Selling Stockholders and any of their pledgees, donees, transferees,
assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of
their shares of Common Stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility
on which the shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at
fixed or negotiated prices. The Selling Stockholders may use any one or more of
the following methods when selling shares:
o ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer
solicits Investors;
o block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as
agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to
facilitate the transaction;
o purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer
for its account;
o an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
exchange;
o privately negotiated transactions;
o to cover short sales made after the date that this Registration Statement
is declared effective by the Commission;
o broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a specified
number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
o a combination of any such methods of sale; and
o any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
The Selling Stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the
Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.
Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other
brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions
or discounts from the Selling Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as
agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be
negotiated. The Selling Stockholders do not expect these commissions and
discounts to exceed what is customary in the types of transactions involved.
The Selling Stockholders may from time to time pledge or grant a security
interest in some or all of the Shares owned by them and, if they default in the
performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may
offer and sell shares of Common Stock from time to time under this prospectus,
or under an amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other
21
applicable provision of the Securities Act of 1933 amending the list of selling
stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest
as selling stockholders under this prospectus.
Upon the Company being notified in writing by a Selling Stockholder that
any material arrangement has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale
of Common Stock through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution
or secondary distribution or a purchase by a broker or dealer, a supplement to
this prospectus will be filed, if required, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
Securities Act, disclosing (i) the name of each such Selling Stockholder and of
the participating broker-dealer(s), (ii) the number of shares involved, (iii)
the price at which such the shares of Common Stock were sold, (iv)the
commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to such broker-dealer(s),
where applicable, (v) that such broker-dealer(s) did not conduct any
investigation to verify the information set out or incorporated by reference in
this prospectus, and (vi) other facts material to the transaction. In addition,
upon the Company being notified in writing by a Selling Stockholder that a donee
or pledge intends to sell more than 500 shares of Common Stock, a supplement to
this prospectus will be filed if then required in accordance with applicable
securities law.
The Selling Stockholders also may transfer the shares of Common Stock in
other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors
in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this
prospectus.
The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved
in selling the shares may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of
the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions
received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the
shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or
discounts under the Securities Act. Discounts, concessions, commissions and
similar selling expenses, if any, that can be attributed to the sale of
Securities will be paid by the Selling Stockholder and/or the purchasers. Each
Selling Stockholder has represented and warranted to the Company that it
acquired the securities subject to this registration statement in the ordinary
course of such Selling Stockholder's business and, at the time of its purchase
of such securities such Selling Stockholder had no agreements or understandings,
directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute any such securities.
The Company has advised each Selling Stockholder that it may not use shares
registered on this Registration Statement to cover short sales of Common Stock
made prior to the date on which this Registration Statement shall have been
declared effective by the Commission. If a Selling Stockholder uses this
prospectus for any sale of the Common Stock, it will be subject to the
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. The Selling Stockholders
will be responsible to comply with the applicable provisions of the Securities
Act and Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder promulgated,
including, without limitation, Regulation M, as applicable to such Selling
Stockholders in connection with resales of their respective shares under this
Registration Statement.
22
The Company is required to pay all fees and expenses incident to the
registration of the shares, but the Company will not receive any proceeds from
the sale of the Common Stock. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling
Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act.
23
Annex B
EPICUS COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC.
Selling Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire
The undersigned beneficial owner of common stock (the "Common Stock"), of Epicus
Communications Group, Inc. (the "Company") understands that the Company has
filed or intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a Registration Statement for the registration and resale of the
Registrable Securities, in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights
Agreement, dated as of December 7, 2005 (the "Registration Rights Agreement"),
among the Company and the Investors named therein. A copy of the Registration
Rights Agreement is available from the Company upon request at the address set
forth below. All capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall
have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement.
The undersigned hereby provides the following information to the Company and
represents and warrants that such information is accurate:
QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Name.
(a) Full Legal Name of Selling Securityholder
--------------------------------------------------------------
(b) Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as (a)
above) through which Registrable Securities Listed in Item 3
below are held:
--------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Full Legal Name of Natural Control Person (which means a
natural person who directly or indirectly alone or with others
has power to vote or dispose of the securities covered by the
questionnaire):
--------------------------------------------------------------
2. Address for Notices to Selling Securityholder:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24
Telephone:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fax:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact Person:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
3. Beneficial Ownership of Registrable Securities:
Type and Principal Amount of Registrable Securities beneficially
owned:
--------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
4. Broker-Dealer Status:
(a) Are you a broker-dealer?
Yes |_| No |_|
Note: If yes, the Commission's staff has indicated that you should
be identified as an underwriter in the Registration
Statement.
(b) Are you an affiliate of a broker-dealer?
Yes |_| No |_|
(c) If you are an affiliate of a broker-dealer, do you certify that
you bought the Registrable Securities in the ordinary course of
business, and at the time of the purchase of the Registrable
Securities to be resold, you had no agreements or understandings,
directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the
Registrable Securities?
Yes |_| No |_|
Note: If no, the Commission's staff has indicated that you should
be identified as an underwriter in the Registration
Statement.
5. Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company Owned by the
Selling Securityholder.
Except as set forth below in this Item 5, the undersigned is not the
beneficial or registered owner of any securities of the Company other
than the Registrable Securities listed above in Item 3.
Type and Amount of Other Securities beneficially owned by the
Selling Securityholder:
25
--------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
6. Relationships with the Company:
Except as set forth below, neither the undersigned nor any of its
affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (owners of
5% of more of the equity securities of the undersigned) has held any
position or office or has had any other material relationship with the
Company (or its predecessors or affiliates) during the past three
years.
State any exceptions here:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The undersigned agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies or
changes in the information provided herein that may occur subsequent to the date
hereof and prior to the Effective Date for the Registration Statement.
By signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the information
contained herein in its answers to Items 1 through 6 and the inclusion of such
information in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus. The
undersigned understands that such information will be relied upon by the Company
in connection with the preparation or amendment of the Registration Statement
and the related prospectus.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this
Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its
duly authorized agent.
Dated: Beneficial Owner:
-------------------- --------------------------
By:
----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
PLEASE FAX A COPY OF THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE, AND
RETURN THE ORIGINAL BY OVERNIGHT MAIL, TO:
[ ]
26
