Exhibit 10(i)
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of
January 6, 2000 by and among Capita Research Group, Inc., a Nevada corporation,
with headquarters located at 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000 (the "Company"), and the undersigned buyers (each, a "Buyer"
and collectively, the "Buyers").
WHEREAS:
A. In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement by and
among the Company and the Buyers and dated of even date herewith (the
"Securities Purchase Agreement"), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and
subject to the conditions of the Securities Purchase Agreement, to issue and
sell to the Buyers 1,000,000 of the Company's units (the "Units"), each unit
consisting of (i) one share of the Company's common stock, $.001 par value per
share (the "Common Stock"), (ii) one of the Company's A Common Stock Purchase
Warrants to purchase one share of the Company's Common Stock exercisable at a
purchase price of $.50 per share of Common Stock (the "A Warrants") and (iii)
one of the Company's B Common Stock Purchase Warrants to purchase one share of
the Company's Common Stock exercisable at a purchase price of $1.00 per share of
Common Stock (the "B Warrants", and together with the A Warrants, the
"Warrants") (such shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of the Warrants
are hereinafter referred to as the "Warrant Shares", and together with the
Units, Common Stock and the Warrants, the "Securities"); and
B. To induce the Buyers to execute and deliver the Securities
Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration
rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the
"1933 Act"), and applicable state securities laws;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the
mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the
Buyers hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
-----------
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
a. "Investor" means a Buyer and any transferee or assignee
thereof to whom a Buyer assigns its rights under this Agreement and who agrees
to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with Section
9.
b. "Person" means a corporation, a limited liability company,
an association, a partnership, an organization, a business, an individual, an
entity, a governmental or political subdivision thereof or a governmental
agency.
1
c. "register," "registered," and "registration" refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing one or more Registration
Statements in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule 415 under the
1933 Act or any successor rule providing for offering securities on a continuous
basis ("Rule 415"), and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such
Registration Statement(s) by the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC").
d. "Registrable Securities" means (i) the Common Stock issued
and sold pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, (ii) the Warrant Shares
issued or issuable upon exercise of the Warrants and (iii) any shares of capital
stock issued or issuable with respect to the Common Stock, Warrant Shares or the
Warrants as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization,
exchange or similar event.
e. "Registration Statement" means a registration statement of
the Company filed under the 1933 Act.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall
have the respective meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement.
2. REGISTRATION.
------------
a. Mandatory Registration. The Company shall prepare, and, on
or prior to thirty (30) calendar days after the date of the initial issuance of
the Units, file with the SEC a Registration Statement or Registration Statements
(as is necessary), covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities,
which Registration Statement(s) shall state that, in accordance with Rule 416
promulgated under the 1933 Act, such Registration Statement(s) also covers such
indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock as may become issuable
in connection with the Common Stock or upon exercise of the Warrants to prevent
dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
Such Registration Statement shall initially register for resale 3,000,000 shares
of Common Stock equal to the number of Registrable Securities as of the date
immediately preceding the date the Registration Statement is initially filed
with the SEC subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3(b). Such registered
shares of Common Stock shall be allocated among the Investors pro rata based on
the total number of Registrable Securities issued or issuable as of each date
that a Registration Statement, as amended, relating to the resale of the
Registrable Securities is declared effective by the SEC. The Company shall use
its reasonable best efforts to have the Registration Statement declared
effective by the SEC within ninety (90) days after the date of the initial
issuance of the Units.
b. Counsel and Investment Bankers. Subject to Section 5
hereof, in connection with any offering pursuant to Section 2, the Buyers shall
have the right to select legal counsel and an investment banker or bankers and
manager or managers to administer their interest in the offering, which
investment banker or bankers or manager or managers shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Company. The Company shall reasonably cooperate with any
such counsel, investment bankers and managers.
2
c. Form S-3. The Company shall register the Registrable
Securities on Form S-3 as soon as such form is available, provided that the
Company shall maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement then in
effect until such time as a Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the
Registrable Securities has been declared effective by the SEC. The Company shall
file all reports required to be filed by the Company with the SEC in a timely
manner so as to maintain such eligibility for the use of Form S-3.
3. RELATED OBLIGATIONS.
-------------------
At such time as the Company is obligated to file a
Registration Statement with the SEC pursuant to Section 2(a), the Company will
use its best efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in
accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof and, pursuant
thereto, the Company shall have the following obligations:
a. The Company shall promptly prepare and file with the SEC a
Registration Statement with respect to the Registrable Securities (on or prior
to the thirtieth (30th) calendar day after the date of the initial issuance of
the Units) and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration
Statement(s) relating to Registrable Securities to become effective as soon as
possible after such filing (but no later than ninety (90) days after the initial
issuance of the Units for the registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to
Section 2(a)), and keep the Registration Statement(s) effective pursuant to Rule
415 at all times until the earlier of (i) the date as of which the Investors may
sell all of the Registrable Securities without restriction pursuant to Rule
144(k) promulgated under the 1933 Act (or successor thereto) and (ii) the date
on which the Investors shall have sold all the Registrable Securities (the
"Registration Period"), which Registration Statement(s) (including any
amendments or supplements thereto and prospectuses contained therein) shall not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading. In the event
that such Registration Statement is not filed with the SEC within 30 days after
the initial issuance of the Units, the Company will pay the Investors a
nonrefundable penalty payment of Common Stock in the amount of 100,000 shares of
Common Stock for each 30 day period thereafter (prorated for any partial period
thereof) until the Registration Statement is filed.
b. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such
amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to the
Registration Statement(s) and the prospectus(es) used in connection with the
Registration Statement(s), which prospectus(es) are to be filed pursuant to Rule
424 promulgated under the 1933 Act, as may be necessary to keep the Registration
Statement(s) effective at all times during the Registration Period, and, during
such period, comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act with respect to the
disposition of all Registrable Securities of the Company covered by the
Registration Statement(s) until such time as all of such Registrable Securities
shall have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of
disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth in the Registration
Statement(s). In the event the number of shares available under a Registration
Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement is insufficient to cover all of the
Registrable Securities, the Company shall amend the Registration Statement, or
file a new Registration Statement (on the short form available therefor, if
applicable), or both, so as to cover all of the Registrable Securities, in each
case, as soon as practicable, but in any event within fifteen (15) days after
the necessity therefor arises (based on the market price of the Common Stock and
other relevant factors on which the Company reasonably elects to rely). The
Company shall use it best efforts to cause any such necessary amendment and/or
new Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable following
the filing thereof. In addition any such amendment or new Registration Statement
shall for purposes of Section 3(a) above be deemed to be a "Registration
Statement".
3
c. The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose
Registrable Securities are included in the Registration Statement(s) and its
legal counsel without charge (i) promptly after the same is prepared and filed
with the SEC at least one copy of the Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents
incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits, the prospectus(es) included
in such Registration Statement(s) (including each preliminary prospectus) and,
with regards to the Registration Statement, any correspondence by or on behalf
of the Company to the SEC or the staff of the SEC and any correspondence from
the SEC or the staff of the SEC to the Company or its representatives, (ii) upon
the effectiveness of any Registration Statement, ten (10) copies of the
prospectus included in such Registration Statement and all amendments and
supplements thereto (or such other number of copies as such Investor may
reasonably request) and (iii) such other documents, including any preliminary
prospectus, as such Investor may reasonably request in order to facilitate the
disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor. The Company
will promptly respond to any and all comments received from the SEC, with a view
towards causing any Registration Statement or any amendment thereto to be
declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable and shall, subject to
Section 3(h), promptly file an acceleration request as soon as practicable
following the resolution or clearance of all SEC comments or, if applicable,
following notification by the SEC that the Registration Statement or any
amendment thereto will not be subject to review.
d. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to (i) register
and qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement(s)
under such other securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions in the
United States as any Investor reasonably requests, (ii) prepare and file in
those jurisdictions, such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and
supplements to such registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to
maintain the effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii) take
such other actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and
qualifications in effect at all times during the Registration Period, and (iv)
take all other actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the
Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that
the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition
thereto to (x) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not
otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (y) subject itself
to general taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (z) file a general consent to
service of process in any such jurisdiction. The Company shall promptly notify
each Investor who holds Registrable Securities of the receipt by the Company of
any notification with respect to the suspension of the registration or
qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale under the securities
or "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction in the United States or its receipt of
actual notice of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such
purpose.
e. In the event Investors who hold a majority of the
Registrable Securities being offered in the offering select underwriters for the
offering, the Company shall, subject to Section 2(b) hereof, enter into and
perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary
form, including, without limitation, customary indemnification and contribution
obligations, with the underwriters of such offering.
4
f. As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such
event, the Company shall notify each Investor in writing of the happening of any
event as a result of which the prospectus included in a Registration Statement,
as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omission
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading, and promptly prepare a supplement or amendment to the
Registration Statement to correct such untrue statement or omission, and deliver
ten (10) copies of such supplement or amendment to each Investor (or such other
number of copies as such Investor may reasonably request). The Company may
postpone such filing for a reasonable period of time, not to exceed 60 days
during any twelve-month period, if the Company has been advised by legal counsel
that such filing would require the disclosure of a material impending
transaction or other material, non-public matter and the Company determined
reasonably and in good faith that such disclosure would have a material adverse
effect on the Company. The Company shall also promptly notify each Investor in
writing (i) when a prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment has been filed, and when a Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment has become effective (notification of such
effectiveness shall be delivered to each Investor by facsimile on the same day
of such effectiveness and by overnight mail), (ii) of any request by the SEC for
amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related prospectus or
related information, and (iii) of the Company's reasonable determination that a
post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate.
g. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the
issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of a
Registration Statement, or the suspension of the qualification of any of the
Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction and, if such an order or
suspension is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such order or suspension at
the earliest possible moment and to notify each Investor who holds Registrable
Securities being sold (and, in the event of an underwritten offering, the
managing underwriters) of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof
or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding
for such purpose.
h. The Company shall permit each Investor and a single firm of
counsel, initially Xxxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxx LLP or such other counsel as thereafter
designated as selling stockholders' counsel by the Investors who hold a majority
of the Registrable Securities being sold, to review and comment upon the
Registration Statement(s) and all amendments and supplements thereto at least
(i) ten (10) days prior to its filing with the SEC in the case of the initial
registration statement pursuant to Section 3(a) and (ii) in all other cases
seven (7) days prior to their filing with the SEC, and not file any document in
a form to which such counsel reasonably objects, provided, however, that the
application of the penalty provisions set forth in Section 3(a) hereof shall be
extended for the number of days that such counsel does not timely comment
thereon (it being understood and agreed that, (i) in the case of the initial
registration statement pursuant to Section 3(a), comments shall be deemed not
timely to the extent given more than five (5) days after submission to such
counsel and (ii) in all other cases comments shall be deemed not timely to the
extent given more than four (4) days after submission to such counsel. The
Company shall not submit a request for acceleration of the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement(s) or any amendment or supplement thereto without the
prior approval of such counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.
5
i. At the request of the Investors who hold a majority of the
Registrable Securities being sold, the Company shall furnish, on the date that
Registrable Securities are delivered to an underwriter, if any, for sale in
connection with the Registration Statement (i) if required by an underwriter, a
letter, dated such date, from the Company's independent certified public
accountants in form and substance as is customarily given by independent
certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering,
addressed to the underwriters, and (ii) if required by an underwriter, an
opinion, dated as of such date, of counsel representing the Company for purposes
of such Registration Statement, in form, scope and substance as is customarily
given in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters.
j. The Company shall make available for inspection by (i) any
Investor, (ii) any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to a
Registration Statement, (iii) one firm of attorneys and one firm of accountants
or other agents retained by the Investors, and (iv) one firm of attorneys
retained by all such underwriters (collectively, the "Inspectors") all pertinent
financial and other records, and pertinent corporate documents and properties of
the Company (collectively, the "Records"), as shall be reasonably deemed
necessary by each Inspector to enable each Inspector to exercise its due
diligence responsibility, and cause the Company's officers, directors and
employees to supply all information which any Inspector may reasonably request
for purposes of such due diligence; provided, however, that each Inspector shall
hold in strict confidence and shall not make any disclosure (except to an
Investor) or use of any Record or other information which the Company determines
in good faith to be confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors are
so notified, unless (a) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or
correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement or is otherwise
required under the 1933 Act, (b) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant
to a final, non-appealable subpoena or order from a court or government body of
competent jurisdiction, or (c) the information in such Records has been made
generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this
Agreement. Each Investor agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of
such Records is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent
jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to the Company and allow
the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent
disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, the Records deemed
confidential. Nothing herein (or in any other confidentiality agreement between
the Company and any Investor) shall be deemed to limit the Investors' ability to
sell Registrable Securities in a manner which is otherwise consistent with
applicable laws and regulations.
k. The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any
disclosure of information concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless
(i) disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state
securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid
or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii) the
release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other final,
non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of competent
jurisdiction, or (iv) such information has been made generally available to the
public other than by disclosure by the Company in violation of this or any other
agreement. The Company agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of
such information concerning an Investor is sought in or by a court or
governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt
written notice to such Investor and allow such Investor, at the Investor's
expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain
a protective order for, such information.
6
l. The Company shall use its best efforts either to (i) cause
all the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be listed
on each securities exchange on which securities of the same class or series
issued by the Company are then listed, if any, if the listing of such
Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange, or
(ii) if securities of the same class or series issued by the Company are then
designated or quoted on the Nasdaq National Market System or Nasdaq SmallCap
Market, secure designation and quotation of all the Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement on the Nasdaq National Market System or
the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, as applicable, and, without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, to arrange for at least two market makers to register with the
New York Stock Exchange or, if applicable, the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. as such with respect to such Registrable Securities.
The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its
obligation under this Section 3(l).
m. The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold
Registrable Securities being offered and, to the extent applicable, any managing
underwriter or underwriters, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery
of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legend) representing the
Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to a Registration Statement and
enable such certificates to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may
be, as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or, if there is no
managing underwriter or underwriters, the Investors may reasonably request and
registered in such names as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or
the Investors may request. Not later than the date on which any Registration
Statement registering the resale of Registrable Securities is declared
effective, the Company shall deliver to its transfer agent instructions,
accompanied by any reasonably required opinion of counsel, that permit sales of
unlegended securities in a timely fashion that complies with then mandated
securities settlement procedures for regular way market transactions.
n. The Company shall take all other reasonable actions
necessary to expedite and facilitate disposition by the Investors of Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.
o. The Company shall provide a CUSIP number and a transfer
agent of all such Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of
such Registration Statement.
p. If requested by the managing underwriters or an Investor,
the Company shall immediately incorporate in a prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment such information as the managing underwriters and the
Investors agree should be included therein relating to the sale and distribution
of Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, information with
respect to the number of Registrable Securities being sold to such underwriters,
the purchase price being paid therefor by such underwriters and with respect to
any other terms of the underwritten (or best efforts underwritten) offering of
the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; make all required
filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as
notified of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment; and supplement or make amendments to any Registration
Statement if requested by a shareholder or any underwriter of such Registrable
Securities.
7
q. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the
Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement to be
registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities
as may be necessary to consummate the disposition of such Registrable
Securities.
r. The Company shall otherwise use its best efforts to comply
with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC in connection with any
registration hereunder.
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTORS.
----------------------------
a. At least seven (7) days prior to the first anticipated
filing date of the Registration Statement, the Company shall notify each
Investor or its counsel in writing of the information the Company requires from
each such Investor if such Investor elects to have any of such Investor's
Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement. It shall be a
condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to complete the
registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Registrable
Securities of a particular Investor that such Investor shall furnish to the
Company such information as may be requested in writing by the Company regarding
itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of
disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it as shall be reasonably
required to effect the registration of such Registrable Securities and shall
execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may
reasonably request.
b. Each Investor by such Investor's acceptance of the
Registrable Securities agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably
requested by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of the
Registration Statement(s) hereunder unless such Investor has notified the
Company in writing of such Investor's election to exclude all of such Investor's
Registrable Securities from the Registration Statement.
c. Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from
the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(g)
or the first sentence of 3(f), such Investor will immediately discontinue
disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement(s)
covering such Registrable Securities until such Investor's receipt of the copies
of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(g) or the
first sentence of 3(f) and, if so directed by the Company, such Investor shall
deliver to the Company (at the expense of the Company) or destroy all copies in
such Investor's possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable
Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.
d. No Investor may participate in any underwritten
registration hereunder unless such Investor (i) agrees to sell such Investor's
Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the Investors entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements, (ii)
completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms
of such underwriting arrangements, and (iii) agrees to pay its pro rata share of
all underwriting discounts and commissions.
8
5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.
------------------------
All reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and
commissions, incurred in connection with registrations, filings or
qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, including, without limitation, all
registration, listing and qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, and
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and fees and disbursements of
one counsel for the Investors (up to a maximum of $5,000 per registration) shall
be paid by the Company. In addition, the Company shall pay all of the Investors'
reasonable costs (including legal fees) incurred in connection with the
successful enforcement of the Investors' rights hereunder.
6. INDEMNIFICATION.
---------------
In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a
Registration Statement under this Agreement:
a. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will,
and hereby does, indemnify, hold harmless and defend each Investor who holds
such Registrable Securities, the directors, officers, partners, employees,
agents and each Person, if any, who controls any Investor within the meaning of
the 1933 Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934
Act"), and any underwriter (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) for the Investors, and
the directors and officers of, and each Person, if any, who controls any such
underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (each, an
"Indemnified Person"), against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities,
judgments, fines, penalties, charges, costs, attorneys' fees, amounts paid in
settlement or expenses, joint or several (collectively, "Claims"), incurred in
investigating, preparing or defending any action, claim, suit, inquiry,
proceeding, investigation or appeal taken from the foregoing by or before any
court or governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency, body or the
SEC, whether pending or threatened, whether or not an indemnified party is or
may be a party thereto ("Indemnified Damages"), to which any of them may become
subject insofar as such Claims (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or
threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in a Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or in any filing made in
connection with the qualification of the offering under the securities or other
"blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction in which Registrable Securities are offered,
or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which the statements therein were made, not misleading, (ii)
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
any preliminary prospectus if used prior to the effective date of such
Registration Statement, or contained in the final prospectus (as amended or
supplemented, if the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto
with the SEC) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material
fact necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the
circumstances under which the statements therein were made, not misleading, or
(iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the 1933 Act, the
1934 Act, any other law, including, without limitation, any state securities
law, or any rule or regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the
Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement (the matters in the
foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) being, collectively, "Violations"). Subject
to the restrictions set forth in Section 6(d) with respect to the number of
legal counsel, the Company shall reimburse the Investors and each such
underwriter or controlling person, promptly as such expenses are incurred and
are due and payable, for any legal fees or other reasonable expenses incurred by
them in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim.
9
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification
agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (i) shall not apply to a Claim arising
out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished in writing to the Company by any Indemnified Person
or underwriter for such Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with
the preparation of the Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof or
supplement thereto; (ii) with respect to any preliminary prospectus, shall not
inure to the benefit of any such person from whom the person asserting any such
Claim purchased the Registrable Securities that are the subject thereof (or to
the benefit of any person controlling such person) if the untrue statement or
omission of material fact contained in the preliminary prospectus was corrected
in the prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, if such prospectus was
timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(c), and the
Indemnified Person was promptly advised in writing not to use the incorrect
prospectus prior to the use giving rise to a Violation and such Indemnified
Person, notwithstanding such advice, used it; and (iii) shall not apply to
amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without
the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person
and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Investors
pursuant to Section 9.
b. In connection with any Registration Statement in which an
Investor is participating, each such Investor agrees to severally and not
jointly indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same
manner as is set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each
of its officers who signs the Registration Statement, each Person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act
(collectively and together with an Indemnified Person, an "Indemnified Party"),
against any Claim or Indemnified Damages to which any of them may become
subject, under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim or
Indemnified Damages arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case
to the extent, and only to the extent, that such Violation occurs in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such
Investor expressly for use in connection with such Registration Statement; and,
subject to Section 6(d), such Investor will reimburse any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such Claim; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement
contained in this Section 6(b) and the agreement with respect to contribution
contained in Section 7 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any
Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of such
Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, further,
however, that the Investor shall be liable under this Section 6(b) for only that
amount of a Claim or Indemnified Damages as does not exceed the net proceeds to
such Investor as a result of the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party
and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Investors
pursuant to Section 9. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(b) with
respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any
Indemnified Party if the untrue statement or omission of material fact contained
in the preliminary prospectus was corrected on a timely basis in the prospectus,
as then amended or supplemented.
10
c. The Company shall be entitled to receive indemnities from
underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers and similar securities industry
professionals participating in any distribution, to the same extent as provided
above, with respect to information such persons so furnished in writing
expressly for inclusion in the Registration Statement.
d. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any
action or proceeding (including any governmental action or proceeding) involving
a Claim, such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall, if a Claim in
respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section
6, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement
thereof, and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and,
to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other
indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume control of the defense thereof
with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person or the
Indemnified Party, as the case may be; provided, however, that an Indemnified
Person or Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel with
the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if, in the
reasonable opinion of counsel retained by the Indemnified Person or Indemnified
Party, as the case may be, the representation by such counsel of the Indemnified
Person or Indemnified Party and the indemnifying party would be inappropriate
due to actual or potential differing interests between such Indemnified Person
or Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such counsel in such
proceeding. The Company shall pay reasonable fees for only one separate legal
counsel for the Investors, and such legal counsel shall be selected by the
Investors holding a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities included
in the Registration Statement to which the Claim relates. The Indemnified Party
or Indemnified Person shall cooperate fully with the indemnifying party in
connection with any negotiation or defense of any such action or claim by the
indemnifying party and shall furnish to the indemnifying party all information
reasonably available to the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person which
relates to such action or claim. The indemnifying party shall keep the
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person fully apprised at all times as to the
status of the defense or any settlement negotiations with respect thereto. No
indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any action, claim or
proceeding effected without its written consent, provided, however, that the
indemnifying party shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition its
consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the Indemnified
Party or Indemnified Person, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld,
delayed or conditioned, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any
settlement or other compromise which does not include as an unconditional term
thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party or
Indemnified Person of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or
litigation. Following indemnification as provided for hereunder, the
indemnifying party shall be subrogated to all rights of the Indemnified Party or
Indemnified Person with respect to all third parties, firms or corporations
relating to the matter for which indemnification has been made. The failure to
deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the
commencement of any such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any
liability to the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6,
except to the extent that the indemnifying party is prejudiced in its ability to
defend such action.
11
e. The indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be
made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the
investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or Indemnified Damages
are incurred.
f. The indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in
addition to (i) any cause of action or similar right of the Indemnified Party or
Indemnified Person against the indemnifying party or others, and (ii) any
liabilities the indemnifying party may be subject to pursuant to the law.
7. CONTRIBUTION.
-------------
To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is
prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum
contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable
under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that:
(i) no contribution shall be made under circumstances where the maker would not
have been liable for indemnification under the fault standards set forth in
Section 6; (ii) no seller of Registrable Securities guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 0000 Xxx) shall be
entitled to contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation; and (iii) contribution (together with
any indemnification or other obligations under this Agreement) by any seller of
Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds
received by such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities.
8. REPORTS UNDER THE 1934 ACT.
--------------------------
With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits
of Rule 144 promulgated under the 1933 Act or any other similar rule or
regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Investors to sell
securities of the Company to the public without registration ("Rule 144"), the
Company agrees to:
a. make and keep public information available, as those terms
are understood and defined in Rule 144;
b. file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other
documents required of the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so long as
the Company remains subject to such requirements (it being understood that
nothing herein shall limit the Company's obligations under Section 4(c) of the
Securities Purchase Agreement) and the filing of such reports and other
documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
c. furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns
Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the
Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the
1933 Act and the 1934 Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly
report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the
Company, and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested to
permit the Investors to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without
registration.
12
9. ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
---------------------------------
The rights to have the Company register Registrable Securities
pursuant to this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by the Investors to
any transferee or assignee (a "Transferee") of all or any portion of Registrable
Securities representing the equivalent of at least 175,000 shares of Common
Stock (as appropriately adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends and reverse
stock splits) if: (i) the Investor agrees in writing with the Transferee to
assign such rights, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company
within a reasonable time after such assignment; (ii) the Company is, within a
reasonable time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with written notice
of (a) the name and address of such Transferee, and (b) the securities with
respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned;
(iii) immediately following such transfer or assignment the further disposition
of such securities by the Transferee is restricted under the 1933 Act and
applicable state securities laws; (iv) at or before the time the Company
receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this sentence the
Transferee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the
provisions contained herein; (v) such transfer shall have been made in
accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Purchase
Agreement; (vi) such Transferee shall be an "accredited investor" as that term
is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the 1933 Act; and (vii)
in the event the assignment occurs subsequent to the date of effectiveness of
the Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a), the
Transferee agrees to pay all reasonable expenses of amending or supplementing
such Registration Statement to reflect such assignment.
10. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
--------------------------------
Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance
thereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either
retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company
and Investors who hold two-thirds (2/3) of the Registrable Securities. Any
amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 10 shall be binding
upon each Investor and the Company.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
-------------
a. A person or entity is deemed to be a holder of Registrable
Securities whenever such person or entity owns of record such Registrable
Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or
elections from two or more persons or entities with respect to the same
Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions,
notices or elections received from the registered owner of such Registrable
Securities.
b. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications
required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in
writing and will be deemed to have been delivered (i) upon receipt, when
delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile, provided a copy
is mailed by U.S. certified mail, return receipt requested; (iii) three (3) days
after being sent by U.S. certified mail, return receipt requested; or (iv) one
(1) day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight delivery service,
in each case properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses
and facsimile numbers for such communications shall be:
13
if to the Company:
Capita Research Group, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
With a copy to:
Torys
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile: 212-682-0200
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx, Esq.
if to a Buyer, to its address and facsimile number on the
Schedule of Buyers attached hereto, with copies to such
Buyer's counsel as set forth on the Schedule of Buyers.
Each party shall provide five (5) days prior notice to the other party
of any change in address, phone number or facsimile number.
c. Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under
this Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or
remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof.
d. This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to the
principles of conflict of laws. If any provision of this Agreement shall be
invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or
unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the
remainder of this Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or
enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction.
e. This Agreement, the Warrants and the Securities Purchase
Agreement (including all schedules and exhibits thereto) constitute the entire
agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and
thereof. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other
than those set forth or referred to herein and therein. The aforementioned
documents supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
f. Subject to the requirements of Section 9, this Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the permitted successors and
assigns of each of the parties hereto.
g. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
14
h. This Agreement may be executed in two or more identical
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall
constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement, once executed by a party,
may be delivered to the other party hereto by facsimile transmission of a copy
of this Agreement bearing the signature of the party so delivering this
Agreement.
i. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and
performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all
such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other
party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the
purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
15
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Buyers and the Company have caused
this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first
written above.
COMPANY:
--------
CAPITA RESEARCH GROUP, INC.
By:/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
----------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Its: President
16
BUYERS:
SOUNDSHORE HOLDINGS LTD.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Its: Director
SOUNDSHORE OPPORTUNITY HOLDING FUND LTD.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Its: Director
SOUNDSHORE STRATEGIC HOLDING FUND LTD.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Its: Director
SCHEDULE OF BUYERS
Investor Name, Address and Number of shares of Number of Investor's Advisor and
Facsimile Number Common Stock Warrants Legal Counsel Address
---------------- ------------ -------- ---------------------
SoundShore Holdings Ltd. (Bermuda) 666,750 666,750 (A Warrants) Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Esq.
Xxxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxx LLP
666,750 (B Warrants) Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
c/o AIG International Management Fax: (000) 000-0000
Company, Inc.
0000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
SoundShore Strategic 118,750 118,750 (A Warrants) Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Esq.
Holding Fund Ltd. (Bermuda) Xxxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxx LLP
118,750 (B Warrants) Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
c/o AIG International Management Fax: (000) 000-0000
Company, Inc.
0000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
17
