EXHIBIT 10.51
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of March 31, 2000 between
the investor or investors signatory hereto (each a "Lender" and together the
"Lenders"), and Aquis Communications Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company").
WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the Lender is lending the Company, pursuant to a Loan Agreement dated
the date hereof (the "Loan Agreement"), $2,000,000 principal amount of 11%
Convertible Debentures and Warrants to purchase shares of the Company's Common
Stock (terms not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the
Loan Agreement); and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to grant to the Lenders the registration
rights set forth herein with respect to the Conversion Shares of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Debentures purchased pursuant to the
Loan Agreement and shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants
(hereinafter referred to as the "Stock" or "Securities" of the Company).
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto mutually agree as follows:
Section 1. Registrable Securities. As used herein the term "Registrable
Security" means the Securities until (i) the Registration Statement has been
declared effective by the Commission, and all Securities have been disposed of
pursuant to the Registration Statement, (ii) all Securities have been sold under
circumstances under which all of the applicable conditions of Rule 144 (or any
similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act ("Rule 144") are met,
(iii) all Securities have been otherwise transferred to holders who may trade
such Securities without restriction under the Securities Act, and the Company
has delivered a new certificate or other evidence of ownership for such
Securities not bearing a restrictive legend or (iv) such tune as, in the opinion
of counsel to the Company, all Securities may be sold without any time, volume
or manner limitations pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar provision then in
effect) under the Securities Act. The term "Registrable Securities" means any
and/or all of the securities falling within the foregoing definition of a
"Registrable Security." In the event of any merger, reorganization,
consolidation, recapitalization or other change in corporate structure affecting
the Common Stock, such adjustment shall be deemed to be made in the definition
of "Registrable Security" as is appropriate in order to prevent any dilution or
enlargement of the rights granted pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 2. Restrictions on Transfer. Each Lender acknowledges and
understands that prior to the registration of the Securities as provided herein,
the Securities are "restricted securities" as defined in Rule 144 promulgated
under the Act. Each Lender understands that no disposition or transfer of the
Securities may be made by Lender in the absence of (i) an opinion of counsel to
the Lender, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that
such transfer may be made without registration under the Securities Act or (ii)
such registration.
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With a view to making available to the Lenders the benefits of Rule 144
under the Securities Act or any other similar rule or regulation of the
Commission that may at any time permit the Lenders to sell securities of the
Company to the public without registration ("Rule 144"), the Company agrees to:
(a) comply with the provisions of paragraph (c)(1) of Rule 144; and
(b) file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other
documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or
15(d) under the Exchange Act by companies subject to either of such sections,
irrespective of whether the Company is then subject to such reporting
requirements.
Section 3. Demand Registration Rights With Respect to the Securities.
(a) The Company agrees that if it has not redeemed all of the
Convertible Debentures in full in accordance with their terms no later than one
hundred (100) days after the Closing Date, then, upon the written request of any
Lender, it will prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
("Commission"), within fifteen (15) days after the date of such request (the
"Required Filing Date"), a registration statement (on Form X-0, X-0 or SB-2 or
other appropriate registration statement form) under the Securities Act (the
"Registration Statement"), at the sole expense of the Company (except as
provided in Section 3(c) hereof), in respect of the Lenders, so as to permit a
public offering and resale of the Securities under the Act by the Lenders as
selling stockholders and not as underwriters.
The Company shall use its best efforts to cause such Registration
Statement to become effective within sixty (60) days from the Required Filing
Date, or, if earlier, within five (5) days of SEC clearance to request
acceleration of effectiveness. The number of shares designated in the
Registration Statement to be registered shall include all the Warrant Shares and
at least 200% of the number of shares issuable upon conversion of the
Convertible Debentures on the Required Filing Date, and such number of shares of
Common Stock as would be issuable as interest on the Convertible Debentures over
a twenty-four (24) month period based on the Conversion Price on the Required
Filing Date, and shall include appropriate language regarding reliance upon Rule
416 to the extent permitted by the Commission. The Company will notify the
Lenders of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement within one Trading
Day of such event. In the event that the number of shares so registered shall
prove to be insufficient to register the resale of all of the Securities, then
the Company shall be obligated to file, within thirty (30) days of notice from
any Lender, a further Registration Statement registering such remaining shares
and shall use diligent best efforts to prosecute such additional Registration
Statement to effectiveness within sixty (60) days of the date of such notice.
(b) The Company will maintain the Registration Statement or
post-effective amendment filed under this Section 3 effective under the
Securities Act until the earlier of (i) the date that none of the Securities
covered by such Registration Statement are or may become issued and outstanding,
(ii) the date that all of the Securities have been sold pursuant to such
Registration Statement, (iii) the date the Lenders receive an opinion of counsel
to the Company, which counsel shall be reasonably acceptable to the Lenders,
that the Securities may
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be sold under the provisions of Rule 144 without limitation as to volume, (iv)
all Securities have been otherwise transferred to persons who may trade such
shares without restriction under the Securities Act, and the Company has
delivered a new certificate or other evidence of ownership for such securities
not bearing a restrictive legend, or (v) all Securities may be sold without any
time, volume or manner limitations pursuant to Rule 144(k) or any similar
provision then in effect under the Securities Act in the opinion of counsel to
the Company, which counsel shall be reasonably acceptable to the Lender (the
"Effectiveness Period").
(c) All fees, disbursements and out-of-pocket expenses and costs
incurred by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of the
Registration Statement under subparagraph 3(a) and in complying with applicable
securities and Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation, all attorneys' fees
of the Company) shall be borne by the Company. The Lenders shall bear the cost
of underwriting and/or brokerage discounts, fees and commissions, if any,
applicable to the Securities being registered and the fees and expenses of their
counsel. The Lenders and their counsel shall have a reasonable period, not to
exceed five (5) Trading Days, to review the proposed Registration Statement or
any amendment thereto, prior to filing with the Commission, and the Company
shall provide each Lender with copies of any comment letters received from the
Commission with respect thereto within two (2) Trading Days of receipt thereof.
The Company shall qualify any of the securities for sale in such states as any
Lender reasonably designates and shall furnish indemnification in the manner
provided in Section 6 hereof. However, the Company shall not be required to
qualify in any state which will require an escrow or other restriction relating
to the Company and/or the sellers, or which will require the Company to qualify
to do business in such state or require the Company to file therein any general
consent to service of process. The Company at its expense will supply the
Lenders with copies of the applicable Registration Statement and the prospectus
included therein and other related documents in such quantities as may be
reasonably requested by the Lenders.
(d) The Company shall not be required by this Section 3 to include any
Lender's Securities in any Registration Statement which is to be filed if, in
the opinion of counsel for both the Lender and the Company (or, should they not
agree, in the opinion of another counsel experienced in securities law matters
acceptable to counsel for the Lender and the Company) the proposed offering or
other transfer as to which such registration is requested is exempt from
applicable federal and state securities laws and would result in all purchasers
or transferees obtaining securities which are not "restricted securities", as
defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
(e) In the event that (i) the Registration Statement to be filed by the
Company pursuant to Section 3(a) above is not filed with the Commission by the
Required Filing Date, (ii) such Registration Statement is not declared effective
by the Commission within the earlier of sixty (60) days from the Required Filing
Date or five (5) days of clearance by the Commission to request effectiveness,
(iii) such Registration Statement is not maintained as effective by the Company
for the period set forth in Section 3(b) above or (iv) the additional
Registration Statement referred to in Section 3(a) is not filed within thirty
(30) days or declared effective within sixty (60) days as set forth therein
(each a "Registration Default") then the Company will pay Lender (pro rated on a
daily basis), as liquidated damages for such failure and not as a penalty two
percent (2%) of the aggregate principal amount of the Convertible
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Debentures purchased from the Company (including any portion of the Convertible
Debentures that were converted into Common Stock before any date of
determination and are still held by the Lender) and held by the Lender for every
month until such Registration Statement has been filed, and in the event of late
effectiveness (in case of clause (ii) above) or lapsed effectiveness (in the
case of clause (iii) above), two percent (2%) of the aggregate principal amount
of the Convertible Debentures purchased from the Company (including any portion
of the Convertible Debentures that were converted into Common Stock before any
date of determination and are still held by the Lender) for every month
(regardless of whether one or more such Registration Defaults are then in
existence, but without duplication of liquidated damages) until such
Registration Statement has been declared effective. Such payment of the
liquidated damages shall be made to the Lenders in cash, within five (5)
calendar days of demand, provided, however, that the payment of such liquidated
damages shall not relieve the Company from its obligations to register the
Securities pursuant to this Section. The market value of the Common Stock for
this purpose shall be the closing price (or last trade, if so reported) on the
Principal Market for each day during such Registration Default. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, a failure to maintain the
effectiveness of any filed Registration Statement or the ability of any Lender
to use an otherwise effective Registration Statement to effect resales of
Securities during the period after 45 days and within 90 days from the end of
the Company's fiscal year resulting solely from the need to update the Company's
financial statements contained or incorporated by reference in such Registration
Statement shall not constitute a Registration Default and shall not trigger the
accrual of liquidated damages hereunder.
If the Company does not remit the payment to the Lenders as set forth
above, the Company will pay the Lenders reasonable costs of collection,
including attorneys' fees, in addition to the liquidated damages. The
registration of the Securities pursuant to this provision shall not affect or
limit the Lenders' other rights or remedies as set forth in this Agreement.
(f) No provision contained herein shall preclude the Company from
selling securities pursuant to any Registration Statement in which it is
required to include securities pursuant to this Section 3.
(g) If at any time or from time to time after the effective date of any
Registration Statement, the Company notifies the Lenders in writing of the
existence of a Potential Material Event (as defined in Section 3(h) below), the
Lenders shall not offer or sell any Securities or engage in any other
transaction involving or relating to Securities, from the time of the giving of
notice with respect to a Potential Material Event until the Lenders receive
written notice from the Company that such Potential Material Event either has
been disclosed to the public or no longer constitutes a Potential Material
Event; provided, however, that the Company may not so suspend the right to such
holders of Securities for more than twenty (20) days in the aggregate during any
twelve month period, during the period the Registration Statement is required to
be in effect, and if such period is exceeded, such event shall be a Registration
Default. If a Potential Material Event shall occur prior to the date a
Registration Statement is required to be filed, then the Company's obligation to
file such Registration Statement shall be delayed without penalty for not more
than twenty (20) days, and such delay or
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delays shall not constitute a Registration Default. The Company must, if lawful,
give the Lenders notice in writing at least two (2) Trading Days prior to the
first day of the blackout period.
(h) "Potential Material Event" means any of the following: (a) the
possession by the Company of material information not ripe for disclosure in a
registration statement, as determined in good faith by the Chief Executive
Officer or the Board of Directors of the Company that disclosure of such
information in a Registration Statement would be detrimental to the business and
affairs of the Company; or (b) any material engagement or activity by the
Company which would, in the good faith determination of the Chief Executive
Officer or the Board of Directors of the Company, be adversely affected by
disclosure in a registration statement at such time, which determination shall
be accompanied by a good faith determination by the Chief Executive Officer or
the Board of Directors of the Company that the applicable Registration Statement
would be materially misleading absent the inclusion of such information.
Section 4. Cooperation with Company. The Lenders will cooperate with
the Company in all respects in connection with this Agreement, including timely
supplying all information reasonably requested by the Company (which shall
include all information regarding the Lenders and proposed manner of sale of the
Registrable Securities required to be disclosed in any Registration Statement)
and executing and returning all documents reasonably requested in connection
with the registration and sale of the Registrable Securities and entering into
and performing their obligations under any underwriting agreement, if the
offering is an underwritten offering, in usual and customary form, with the
managing underwriter or underwriters of such underwritten offering. Nothing in
this Agreement shall obligate any Lender to consent to be named as an
underwriter in any Registration Statement. The obligation of the Company to
register the Registrable Securities shall be absolute and unconditional as to
those Securities which the Commission will permit to be registered without
naming the Lenders as underwriters. Any delay or delays caused by the Lenders by
failure to cooperate as required hereunder shall not constitute a Registration
Default.
Section 5. Registration Procedures. If and whenever the Company is
required by any of the provisions of this Agreement to effect the registration
of any of the Registrable Securities under the Act, the Company shall (except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement), as expeditiously as possible, subject to
the Lenders' assistance and cooperation as reasonably required with respect to
each Registration Statement:
(a) (i) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
supplements to the Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection
therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective and
to comply with the provisions of the Act with respect to the sale or other
disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement whenever
the Lenders shall desire to sell or otherwise dispose of the same (including
prospectus supplements with respect to the sales of securities from time to time
in connection with a registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 promulgated
under the Act) and (ii) take all lawful action such that each of (A) the
Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes
effective, 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
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therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading and (B) the prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement,
and any amendment or supplement thereto, does not at any time during the
Registration Period include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading;
(b) (i) prior to the filing with the Commission of any Registration
Statement (including any amendments thereto) and the distribution or delivery of
any prospectus (including any supplements thereto), provide draft copies thereof
to the Lenders as required by Section 3(c) and reflect in such documents all
such comments as the Lenders (and their counsel) reasonably may propose
respecting the Selling Shareholders and Plan of Distribution sections (or
equivalents) and (ii) furnish to each Lender such numbers of copies of a
prospectus including a preliminary prospectus or any amendment or supplement to
any prospectus, as applicable, in conformity with the requirements of the Act,
and such other documents, as such Lender may reasonably request in order to
facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the securities owned by such
Lender;
(c) register and qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the
Registration Statement under such other securities or blue sky laws of such
jurisdictions as the Lenders shall reasonably request (subject to the
limitations set forth in Section 3(c) above), and do any and all other acts and
things which may be necessary or advisable to enable each Lender to consummate
the public sale or other disposition in such jurisdiction of the securities
owned by such Lender;
(d) list such Registrable Securities on the Principal Market, if the
listing of such Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules of such
Principal Market;
(e) notify each Lender at any time when a prospectus relating thereto
covered by the Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Act,
of the happening of any event of which it 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 omits to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing, and the Company
shall prepare and file a curative amendment under Section 5(a) as quickly as
commercially possible;
(f) as promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event,
notify each Lender who holds Registrable Securities being sold (or, in the event
of an underwritten offering, the managing underwriters) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order or other suspension of the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement at the earliest possible time and take all lawful action
to effect the withdrawal, recession or removal of such stop order or other
suspension;
(g) cooperate with the Lenders to facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates for the Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant
to the Registration Statement and enable such certificates for the Registrable
Securities to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may be, as the
Lenders reasonably may request and registered in such
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names as the Lenders may request; and, within three (3) Trading Days after a
Registration Statement which includes Registrable Securities is declared
effective by the Commission, deliver and cause legal counsel selected by the
Company to deliver to the transfer agent for the Registrable Securities (with
copies to the Lenders) an appropriate instruction and, to the extent necessary,
an opinion of such counsel;
(h) take all such other lawful actions reasonably necessary to expedite
and facilitate the disposition by the Lenders of their Registrable Securities in
accordance with the intended methods therefor provided in the prospectus which
are customary for issuers to perform under the circumstances;
(i) in the event of an underwritten offering, promptly include or
incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement such information as the managers reasonably agree should
be included therein and to which the Company does not reasonably object and make
all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment
as soon as practicable after it is notified of the matters to be included or
incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; and
(j) maintain a transfer agent and registrar for its Common Stock.
Section 6. Indemnification.
(a) To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Lenders and each person, if any, who controls an
Lender within the meaning of the Securities Act (each a "Distributing Lender")
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several (which
shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, include, but not be limited to, all
reasonable costs of defense and investigation and all reasonable attorneys' fees
and expenses), to which the Distributing Lender may become subject, under the
Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in
any Registration Statement, or any related final prospectus or amendment or
supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that
the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent, and only to the
extent, that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based
upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission made in such Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus, final
prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by the
Distributing Lender, its counsel, affiliates or any underwriter, specifically
for use in the preparation thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition
to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.
(b) To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Distributing Lender
agrees that it will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and each officer
and director of the Company or person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (which shall, for all purposes of
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this Agreement, include, but not be limited to, all reasonable costs of defense
and investigation and all reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) to which the
Company or any such officer, director or controlling person may become subject
under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained
in any Registration Statement, or any related final prospectus or amendment or
supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case
only to the extent that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission was made in such Registration Statement, final
prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon, and in
conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by such
Distributing Lender, its counsel, affiliates or any underwriter, specifically
for use in the preparation thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition
to any liability which the Distributing Lender may otherwise have.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Distributing Lender shall
be liable under this Section 6(b) for only that amount as does not exceed the
net proceeds to such Distributing Lender as a result of the sale of Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.
(e) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 6
of notice of the commencement of any action against such indemnified party, such
indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
indemnifying party under this Section 6, notify the indemnifying party in
writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the
indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability
which it may have to any indemnified party except to the extent the failure of
the indemnified party to provide such written notification actually prejudices
the ability of the indemnifying party to defend such action. In case any such
action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the
indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be
entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with
any other indemnifying party similarly notified, assume the defense thereof,
subject to the provisions herein stated and after notice from the indemnifying
party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense
thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party
under this Section 6 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by
such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than
reasonable costs of investigation, unless the indemnifying party shall not
pursue the action to its final conclusion. The indemnified parties as a group
shall have the right to employ one separate counsel in any such action and to
participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall not be at the expense of the indemnifying party if the indemnifying party
has assumed the defense of the action with counsel reasonably satisfactory to
the indemnified party unless (i) the employment of such counsel has been
specifically authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, or (ii) the named
parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both the
indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall
have been advised by its counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses
available to the indemnifying party different from or in conflict with any legal
defenses which may be available to the indemnified party or any other
indemnified party (in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the right
to assume the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party, it
being
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understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall, in connection with any
one such action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the
same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances,
be liable only for the reasonable fees and expenses of one separate firm of
attorneys for the indemnified party, which firm shall be designated in writing
by the indemnified party). No settlement of any action against an indemnified
party shall be made without the prior written consent of the indemnified party,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld so long as such settlement
includes a full release of claims against the indemnified party.
All fees and expenses of the indemnified party (including
reasonable costs of defense and investigation in a manner not inconsistent with
this Section and all reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) shall be paid to
the indemnified party, as incurred, within ten (10) 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),
Section 7. Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable
contribution under the Securities Act in any case in which (i) the indemnified
party makes a claim for indemnification pursuant to Section 6 hereof but is
judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of
competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial
of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in
such case notwithstanding the fact that the express provisions of Section 6
hereof provide for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the
Securities Act may be required on the part of any indemnified party, then the
Company and the applicable Distributing Lender shall contribute to the aggregate
losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which they may be subject (which
shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, include, but not be limited to, all
reasonable costs of defense and investigation and all reasonable attorneys' fees
and expenses), in either such case (after contribution from others) on the basis
of relative fault as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether
the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
Company on the one hand or the applicable Distributing Lender on the other hand,
and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and
the Distributing Lender agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation
or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to in this Section 7. The amount paid or
payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this Section 7
shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such
action or claim. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.
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Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 7, in no event shall any (i)
Lender be required to undertake liability to any person under this Section 7 for
any amounts in excess of the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such
Lender from the sale of such Lender's Registrable Securities (after deducting
any fees, discounts and commissions applicable thereto) pursuant to any
Registration Statement under which such Registrable Securities are registered
under the Securities Act and (ii) underwriter be required to undertake liability
to any person hereunder for any amounts in excess of the aggregate discount,
commission or other compensation payable to such underwriter with respect to the
Registrable Securities underwritten by it and distributed pursuant to such
Registration Statement.
Section 8. Notices. All notices, demands, requests, consents,
approvals, and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be delivered as set forth in the Loan Agreement.
Section 9. Assignment. This Agreement is binding upon and inures to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, successors and
permitted assigns. The rights granted the Lenders under this Agreement may be
assigned to any purchaser of substantially all of the Registrable Securities (or
the rights thereto) from any Lender, as otherwise permitted by the Loan
Agreement.
Section 10. Additional Covenants of the Company. The Company agrees
that at such time as it otherwise meets the requirements for the use of
Securities Act Registration Statement on Form S-3 for the purpose of registering
the Registrable Securities, it shall file all reports and information required
to be filed by it with the Commission in a timely manner and take all such other
action so as to maintain such eligibility for the use of such form.
Section 11. Counterparts/Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in
two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of
which, when together shall constitute but one and the same instrument, and shall
become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each party
hereto and delivered to the other parties. In lieu of the original, a facsimile
transmission or copy of the original shall be as effective and enforceable as
the original.
Section 12. Remedies. The remedies provided in this Agreement are
cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law. 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 best 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.
Section 13. Conflicting Agreements. The Company shall not enter into
any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the
rights granted to the holders
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of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise prevents the Company
from complying with all of its obligations hereunder.
Section 14. Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for reference
purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement.
Section 15. Governing Law, Arbitration. This Agreement shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York
applicable to contracts made in New York by persons domiciled in New York City
and without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws. Any dispute under
this Agreement shall be submitted to arbitration under the American Arbitration
Association (the "AAA") in New York City, New York, and shall be finally and
conclusively determined by the decision of a board of arbitration consisting of
three (3) members (hereinafter referred to as the "Board of Arbitration")
selected as according to the rules governing the AAA. The Board of Arbitration
shall meet on consecutive business days in New York City, New York, and shall
reach and render a decision in writing (concurred in by a majority of the
members of the Board of Arbitration) with respect to the amount, if any, which
the losing party is required to pay to the other party in respect of a claim
filed. In connection with rendering its decisions, the Board of Arbitration
shall adopt and follow the laws of the State of New York. To the extent
practical, decisions of the Board of Arbitration shall be rendered no more than
thirty (30) calendar days following commencement of proceedings with respect
thereto. The Board of Arbitration shall cause its written decision to be
delivered to all parties involved in the dispute. Any decision made by the Board
of Arbitration (either prior to or after the expiration of such thirty (30)
calendar day period) shall be final, binding and conclusive on the parties to
the dispute, and entitled to be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law
and entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. The Board of Arbitration
shall be authorized and is hereby directed to enter a default judgment against
any party failing to participate in any proceeding hereunder within the tine
periods set forth in the AAA rules. The non-prevailing party to any arbitration
(as determined by the Board of Arbitration) shall pay the expenses of the
prevailing party, including reasonable attorneys' fees, in connection with such
arbitration. Any party shall be entitled to obtain injunctive relief from a
court in any case where such relief is available, and the non-prevailing party
in any such injunctive proceeding shall pay the expenses of the prevailing
party, including reasonable attorneys' fees, in connection with such injunctive
proceeding.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed, on the day and year first above written.
AQUIS COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC
By: /s/ D. Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
-------------------------------------------
D. Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Chief Financial Officer
LENDERS:
AMRO International, S.A.
By: /s/ X.X. Xxxxxxxx
-------------------------------------------
X.X. Xxxxxxxx, Director
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