EXHIBIT 4.2
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of August 8, 2006, among Able Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and the several purchasers signatory hereto (each such purchaser is
a "Purchaser" and collectively, the "Purchasers").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement,
dated as of the date hereof between the Company and each Purchaser (the
"Purchase Agreement").
The Company and each Purchaser hereby agrees 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 following meanings:
"Advice" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d).
"Effectiveness Date" means, with respect to the initial Registration
Statement required to be filed hereunder, October 15, 2006 and, with
respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be required
pursuant to Section 3(c), the 60th calendar day following the date on
which the Company first knows, or reasonably should have known, that such
additional Registration Statement is required hereunder; provided,
however, in the event the Company is notified by the Commission that one
of the above Registration Statements will not be reviewed or is no longer
subject to further review and comments, the Effectiveness Date as to such
Registration Statement shall be the fifth Trading Day following the date
on which the Company is so notified if such date precedes the dates
required above.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(a).
"Event" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
"Event Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
"Filing Date" means, with respect to the initial Registration
Statement required hereunder, the 45th calendar day following the date
hereof and, with respect to any additional Registration Statements which
may be required pursuant to Section 3(c), the 15th day following the date
on which the Company first knows, or reasonably should have known that
such additional Registration Statement is required hereunder.
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"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).
"Plan of Distribution" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(a).
"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 (i) all of the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion in full of the Debentures, (ii) all shares
issuable as interest or principal on the Debentures assuming all
permissible interest and principal payments are made in shares of Common
Stock and the Debentures are held until maturity, (iii) all Warrant
Shares, (iv) any additional shares issuable in connection with any
anti-dilution provisions in the Debentures or the Warrants (in each case,
without giving effect to any limitations on conversion set forth in the
Debenture or limitations on exercise set forth in the Warrant) and (v) any
securities issued or issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other
distribution, recapitalization or similar event with respect to the
foregoing.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statements required
to be filed hereunder and any additional registration statements
contemplated by Section 3(c), including (in each case) the Prospectus,
amendments and supplements to such registration statement or Prospectus,
including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and
all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by
reference in such registration statement.
"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 purpose and 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 purpose and effect as such Rule.
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"Selling Shareholder Questionnaire" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 3(a).
2. Shelf Registration
(a) On or prior to each Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and
file with the Commission a "Shelf" Registration Statement covering the
resale of 130% of the Registrable Securities on such Filing Date for an
offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. The
Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 (except if the Company is not
then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form
S-3, in which case such registration shall be on another appropriate form
in accordance herewith) and shall contain (unless otherwise directed by at
least an 85% majority in interest of the Holders) substantially the "Plan
of Distribution" attached hereto as Annex A. Subject to the terms of this
Agreement, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause a Registration
Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as
possible after the filing thereof, but in any event prior to the
applicable Effectiveness Date, and shall use its best efforts to keep such
Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act
until all Registrable Securities covered by such 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 Company shall telephonically request effectiveness of a
Registration Statement as of 5:00 pm Eastern Time on a Trading Day. The
Company shall immediately notify the Holders via facsimile of the
effectiveness of a Registration Statement on the same Trading Day that the
Company telephonically confirms effectiveness with the Commission, which
shall be the date requested for effectiveness of a Registration Statement.
The Company shall, by 9:30 am Eastern Time on the Trading Day after the
Effective Date (as defined in the Purchase Agreement), file a final
Prospectus with the Commission as required by Rule 424. Failure to so
notify the Holder within 1 Trading Day of such notification of
effectiveness or failure to file a final Prospectus as a foresaid shall be
deemed an Event under Section 2(b).
(b) 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), the Company shall not be deemed to have
satisfied this clause (i)), or (ii) the Company fails to file with the
Commission a request for acceleration in accordance with Rule 461
promulgated under the Securities Act, within five Trading Days of the date
that the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier)
by the Commission that a Registration Statement will not be "reviewed," or
not subject to further review, or (iii) prior to its Effectiveness Date,
the Company fails to file a pre-effective amendment and otherwise respond
in writing to comments made by the Commission in respect of such
Registration Statement within 10 calendar days after the receipt of
comments by or notice from the Commission that such amendment is required
in order for a Registration Statement to be
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declared effective, or (iv) a Registration Statement filed or required to
be filed hereunder is not declared effective by the Commission by its
Effectiveness Date, or (v) after the Effectiveness Date, a Registration
Statement ceases for any reason to remain continuously effective as to all
Registrable Securities for which it is required to be effective, or the
Holders are otherwise not permitted to utilize the Prospectus therein to
resell such Registrable Securities for more than 20 consecutive calendar
days or more than an aggregate of 30 calendar days during any 12-month
period (which need not be consecutive calendar Trading Days and provided
that, if such suspension of the use of the Prospectus is in connection
with the acquisition of All American Plazas, Inc., such period shall be 60
consecutive days) (any such failure or breach being referred to as an
"Event", and for purposes of clause (i) or (iv) the date on which such
Event occurs, or for purposes of clause (ii) the date on which such five
Trading Day period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause (iii) the date
which such 10 calendar day period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause
(v) the date on which such 20 or 30 calendar day period (or 60 if in
connection with the acquisition of All American Plazas, Inc.), as
applicable, is exceeded being referred to as "Event Date"), then in
addition to any other rights the Holders may have hereunder or under
applicable law, on each such Event Date and 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% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such Holder
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for any Registrable Securities then
held by such Holder (except that, if the Event is caused solely as a
result of the acquisition of All American Plazas, Inc., the rate shall be
1% for the first two months such Event has occurred and 2% thereafter).
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the parties agree that
(1) the Company will not be liable for partial liquidated damages under
this Agreement with respect to any Warrants or Warrant Shares and (2) the
maximum aggregate partial liquidated damages payable to a Holder under
this Agreement shall be 24% of the aggregate Subscription Amount paid by
such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. 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.
3. Registration Procedures.
In connection with the Company's registration obligations hereunder, the
Company shall:
(a) Not less than three Trading Days prior to the filing of each
Registration Statement and not less than one Trading Day prior to the
filing of any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto
(including any document that would be incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall, (i)
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furnish to each Holder copies of all such documents proposed to be filed,
which documents (other than those incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference) will be subject to the review of such Holders,
and (ii) cause its officers and directors, counsel and independent
certified public accountants to respond to such inquiries as shall be
necessary, in the reasonable opinion of respective counsel to each Holder
to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities
Act. The Company shall not file a Registration Statement or any such
Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto to which the Holders
of a majority of the Registrable Securities shall reasonably object in
good faith, provided that, the Company is notified of such objection in
writing no later than 3 Trading Days after the Holders have been so
furnished copies of a Registration Statement or 1 Trading Day after the
Holders have been so furnished copies of any related Prospectus or
amendments or supplements thereto. Each Holder agrees to furnish to the
Company a completed Questionnaire in the form attached to this Agreement
as Annex B (a "Selling Shareholder Questionnaire") not less than two
Trading Days prior to the Filing Date or by the end of the fourth Trading
Day following the date on which such Holder receives draft materials in
accordance with this Section.
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to a Registration Statement and the
Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep a
Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable
Registrable Securities for the 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 (subject to the terms
of this Agreement), 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 a 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 a Registration Statement (provided that
the Company may excise any information contained therein which would
constitute material non-public information as to any Holder which has not
executed a confidentiality agreement with the Company); and (iv) comply in
all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities
covered by a Registration Statement during the applicable period in
accordance (subject to the terms of this Agreement) with the intended
methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in such
Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so
supplemented.
(c) If during the Effectiveness Period, the number of Registrable
Securities at any time exceeds 90% of the number of shares of Common Stock
then registered in a Registration Statement, then the Company shall file
as soon as reasonably practicable but in any case prior to the applicable
Filing Date, an additional Registration Statement covering the resale by
the Holders of not less than 130% of the number of such Registrable
Securities.
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(d) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold (which
notice shall, pursuant to clauses (iii) through (vi) hereof, be
accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until
the requisite changes have been made) as promptly as reasonably possible
(and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than one Trading Day 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 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; and (C) with respect to a 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 or any other federal or state governmental
authority 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; (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 a 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 a Registration
Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of a
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; and (vi) the occurrence or existence of any pending
corporate development with respect to the Company that the Company
believes may be material and that, in the determination of the Company,
makes it not in the best interest of the Company to allow continued
availability of a Registration Statement or Prospectus; provided that any
and all of such information shall remain confidential to each Holder until
such information otherwise becomes public, unless disclosure by a Holder
is required by law; provided, further, notwithstanding each Holder's
agreement to keep such information confidential, the Holders make no
acknowledgement that any such information is material, non-public
information.
(e) Use its 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.
(f) Furnish to each Holder, without charge, at least one conformed
copy of each such Registration Statement and each amendment thereto,
including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference to the extent requested
by such Person, and all exhibits to the extent
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requested by such Person (including those previously furnished or
incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such documents
with the Commission.
(g) Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company hereby
consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or 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, except after the giving of any notice
pursuant to Section 3(d).
(h) If NASDR Rule 2710 requires any broker-dealer to make a filing
prior to executing a sale by a Holder, the Company shall (i) make an
Issuer Filing with the NASDR, Inc. Corporate Financing Department pursuant
to proposed NASDR Rule 2710(b)(10)(A)(i), (ii) respond within five Trading
Days to any comments received from NASDR in connection therewith, (iii)
and pay the filing fee required in connection therewith.
(i) Prior to any resale of Registrable Securities by a Holder, use
its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate
with the selling Holders in connection with the registration or
qualification (or exemption from the Registration or qualification) of
such Registrable Securities for the resale by the Holder under the
securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States
as any Holder reasonably requests in writing, to keep each registration or
qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness
Period and to do any and all other acts or things reasonably necessary to
enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities
covered by each Registration Statement; provided, that the Company shall
not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction
where it is not then so qualified, subject the Company to any material tax
in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or file a general
consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction.
(j) If requested by the Holders, cooperate with the Holders to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates
representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee
pursuant to a Registration Statement, 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.
(k) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by this Section 3,
as promptly as reasonably possible under the circumstances taking into
account the Company's good faith assessment of any adverse consequences to
the Company and its stockholders of the premature disclosure of such
event, prepare a supplement or amendment, including a post-effective
amendment, to a Registration Statement 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, neither a Registration Statement nor such Prospectus
will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated
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therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Company
notifies the Holders in accordance with clauses (iii) through (vi) of
Section 3(d) above to suspend the use of any Prospectus until the
requisite changes to such Prospectus have been made, then the Holders
shall suspend use of such Prospectus. The Company will use its best
efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as
promptly as is practicable. The Company shall be entitled to exercise its
right under this Section 3(k) to suspend the availability of a
Registration Statement and Prospectus, subject to the payment of partial
liquidated damages pursuant to Section 2(b), for a period not to exceed 90
calendar days (which need not be consecutive days) in any 12 month period.
(l) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission.
(m) The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the
Company a certified statement as to the number of shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned by such Holder and, if required by the Commission, the
natural persons thereof that have voting and dispositive control over the
Shares. During any periods that the Company is unable to meet its
obligations hereunder with respect to the registration of the Registrable
Securities solely because any Holder fails to furnish such information
within three Trading Days of the Company's request, any liquidated damages
that are accruing at such time as to such Holder only shall be tolled and
any Event that may otherwise occur solely because of such delay shall be
suspended as to such Holder only, until such information is delivered to
the Company.
4. 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, (B) in compliance with applicable state securities or Blue
Sky laws reasonably agreed to by the Company in writing (including, without
limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company in connection with
Blue Sky qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities and
determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Securities for investment
under the laws of such jurisdictions as requested by the Holders) and (C) if not
previously paid by the Company in connection with an Issuer Filing, with respect
to any filing that may be required to be made by any broker through which a
Holder intends to make sales of Registrable Securities with NASD Regulation,
Inc. pursuant to the NASD Rule 2710, so long as the broker is receiving no more
than a customary brokerage commission in connection with such sale, (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 a 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
contemplated by this Agreement. In addition, the Company shall be responsible
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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. In no event shall the Company be
responsible for any broker or similar commissions of any Holder or, except to
the extent provided for in the Transaction Documents, any legal fees or other
costs of the Holders.
5. Indemnification
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold
harmless each Holder, the officers, directors, members, partners, agents,
brokers (including brokers who offer and sell Registrable Securities as
principal as a result of a pledge or any failure to perform under a margin
call of Common Stock), investment advisors and employees (and any other
Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such
titles, notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) 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, members, shareholders, partners, agents and
employees (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a
Person holding such titles, notwithstanding a lack of such title or any
other title) 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
attorneys' fees) and expenses (collectively, "Losses"), as incurred,
arising out of or relating to (1) any untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in a 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 or (2) any violation or alleged
violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any
state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder, in connection
with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, except to
the extent, but only to the extent, that (i) 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 a 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 (ii) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in
Section 3(d)(iii)-(vi), 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 the Advice contemplated in Section 6(d). The Company shall
notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat
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or assertion of any Proceeding arising from or in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement of which the Company is aware.
(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 fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and
against all Losses, as incurred, to the extent arising 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 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
not misleading (i) to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement or omission is contained in any information so furnished in
writing by such Holder to the Company specifically for inclusion in such
Registration Statement or such Prospectus or (ii) to the extent that such
information relates to 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 a 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 (ii) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the
type specified in Section 3(d)(iii)-(vi), 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 the Advice contemplated in Section 6(d).
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 have the right to 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
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
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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 counsel to the
Indemnified Party shall reasonably believe that a material 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 the reasonable fees and expenses of no more than one
separate 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 or delayed. 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.
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, 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; provided, that
the Indemnified Party shall promptly reimburse the Indemnifying Party for
that portion of such fees and expenses applicable to such actions for
which such Indemnified Party is judicially determined to be not entitled
to indemnification hereunder.
(d) Contribution. If the indemnification under Section 5(a) or 5(b)
is unavailable to an Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold an
Indemnified Party harmless for any Losses, then each Indemnifying Party
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party,
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 this Agreement,
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.
11
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. 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 net 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.
6. Miscellaneous
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a Holder, of
any of their respective 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 not assert
or shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Piggyback on Registrations. Except as set forth on Schedule 6(b)
attached hereto, 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 the initial Registration Statement other than the Registrable
Securities. The Company shall not file any other registration statements until
the initial Registration Statement required hereunder is declared effective by
the Commission, provided that this Section 6(b) shall not prohibit the Company
from filing amendments to registration statements already filed.
(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 a Registration
Statement.
(d) Discontinued Disposition. Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of
Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the
occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section 3(d)(iii) through (vi),
such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable
Securities under a Registration Statement until it is advised in writing (the
"Advice") by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus (as it may
have been supplemented or amended) may be resumed. The Company will use its best
efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as
it practicable. The Company agrees and acknowledges that any periods during
which the Holder is required to
12
discontinue the disposition of the Registrable Securities hereunder shall be
subject to the provisions of Section 2(b).
(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
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 the stock option or other employee
benefit plans, then the Company shall send to each Holder a written notice of
such determination and, if within fifteen days after the date 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; provided, however, that, the Company shall not
be required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 6(e)
that are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144(k) promulgated under the
Securities Act or that are the subject of a then effective Registration
Statement; provided, further, that the Company shall not be required to include
such Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering solely of Company
securities if the managing underwriter(s) advises the Company that inclusion of
such Registrable Securities would adversely affect such offering.
(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 66% or more 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
Holders and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other
Holders may be given by Holders of all of the Registrable Securities to which
such waiver or consent relates; provided, however, 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 delivered as set forth
in the Purchase Agreement.
(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
(except by merger) its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written
consent of all of the Holders of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities.
Each Holder may assign their respective rights hereunder in the manner and to
the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
(i) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has entered, as of the date hereof, nor shall the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any
agreement with respect to its securities, that would have
13
the effect of impairing the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. Except as set forth on Schedule
6(i), neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has previously entered
into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to any of its
securities to any Person that have not been satisfied in full.
(j) Execution and Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or
more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and
the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed
by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both
parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is
delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a ".pdf" format
data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the
party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same
force and effect as if such facsimile or ".pdf" signature page were an original
thereof.
(k) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity,
enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be determined in
accordance with the provisions of the Purchase Agreement.
(l) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and
not exclusive of any other remedies provided by law.
(m) 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 commercially 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.
(n) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only, do
not constitute a part of the Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or
affect any of the provisions hereof.
(o) Independent Nature of Holders' Obligations and Rights. The obligations
of each Holder hereunder are several and not joint with the obligations of any
other Holder hereunder, and no Holder shall be responsible in any way for the
performance of the obligations of any other Holder hereunder. Nothing contained
herein or in any other agreement or document delivered at any closing, and no
action taken by any Holder pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to
constitute the Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any
other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Holders are in any way
acting in concert with respect to such obligations or the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. Each Holder shall be entitled to protect and
enforce its rights, including without limitation the rights arising out of this
Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Holder to be joined as an
additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.
********************
14
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement as of the date first written above.
ABLE ENERGY, INC.
By:__________________________________________
Name:
Title:
[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS FOLLOWS]
15
[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS TO ABLE RRA]
Name of Holder: __________________________
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Holder: __________________________
Name of Authorized Signatory: _________________________
Title of Authorized Signatory: __________________________
[SIGNATURE PAGES CONTINUE]
16
Plan of Distribution
Each Selling Stockholder (the "Selling Stockholders") of the common stock
and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time
to time, sell any or all of their shares of common stock on the Nasdaq Capital
Market or any other 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. A Selling Stockholder 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 purchasers;
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 settlement of short sales entered into after the effective
date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is
a part;
o broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell
a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per
share;
o through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging
transactions, whether through an options exchange or
otherwise;
o a combination of any such methods of sale; or
o any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
The Selling Stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (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, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this Prospectus, in the
case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission
in compliance with NASDR Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a
markup or markdown in compliance with NASDR IM-2440.
17
In connection with the sale of the common stock or interests therein, the
Selling Stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or
other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the
common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The Selling
Stockholders may also sell shares of the common stock short and deliver these
securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the common
stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The Selling
Stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with
broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more
derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other
financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such
broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this
prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).
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. Each Selling Stockholder has
informed the Company that it does not have any written or oral agreement or
understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Common
Stock. In no event shall any broker-dealer receive fees, commissions and markups
which, in the aggregate, would exceed eight percent (8%).
The Company is required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the
Company incident to the registration of the shares. The Company has agreed to
indemnify the Selling Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
Because Selling Stockholders may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the
meaning of the Securities Act, they will be subject to the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act including Rule 172 thereunder. In addition,
any securities covered by this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to
Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than under
this prospectus. There is no underwriter or coordinating broker acting in
connection with the proposed sale of the resale shares by the Selling
Stockholders.
We agreed to keep this prospectus effective until the earlier of (i) the
date on which the shares may be resold by the Selling Stockholders without
registration and without regard to any volume limitations by reason of Rule
144(k) under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect or (ii) all
of the shares have been sold pursuant to this prospectus or Rule 144 under the
Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect. The resale shares will be
sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under
applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the resale
shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in
the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification
requirement is available and is complied with.
Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person
engaged in the distribution of the resale shares may not simultaneously engage
in market making activities with respect to the common stock for the applicable
restricted period, as defined in Regulation
18
M, prior to the commencement of the distribution. In addition, the Selling
Stockholders will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and
the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit
the timing of purchases and sales of shares of the common stock by the Selling
Stockholders or any other person. We will make copies of this prospectus
available to the Selling Stockholders and have informed them of the need to
deliver a copy of this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of
the sale (including by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).
19
ABLE ENERGY, INC.
Selling Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire
The undersigned beneficial owner of common stock, par value $0.001 per
share (the "Common Stock"), of Able Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), (the "Registrable Securities") understands that the Company has
filed or intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration
Statement") for the registration and resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), of the Registrable Securities, in
accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of
August ____, 2006 (the "Registration Rights Agreement"), among the Company and
the Purchasers 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 not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed
thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement.
Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling
securityholder in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus.
Accordingly, holders and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised
to consult their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being
named or not being named as a selling securityholder in the Registration
Statement and the related prospectus.
NOTICE
The undersigned beneficial owner (the "Selling Securityholder") of
Registrable Securities hereby elects to include the Registrable Securities owned
by it and listed below in Item 3 (unless otherwise specified under such Item 3)
in the Registration Statement.
20
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:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fax:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact Person:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
3. Beneficial Ownership of Registrable Securities:
(a) Type and Principal Amount of Registrable Securities beneficially
owned (not including the Registrable Securities that are issuable
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement):
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
21
4. Broker-Dealer Status:
(a) Are you a broker-dealer?
Yes |_| No |_|
(b) If "yes" to Section 4(a), did you receive your Registrable
Securities as compensation for investment banking services to the
Company.
Yes |_| No |_|
Note: If no, the Commission's staff has indicated that you should be
identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.
(c) Are you an affiliate of a broker-dealer?
Yes |_| No |_|
(d) 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.
(a) Type and Amount of Other Securities beneficially owned by the
Selling Securityholder:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
22
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 at any time while the Registration Statement remains effective.
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 and any amendments or supplements thereto. 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:
23
