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EXHIBIT 4.5
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of March 1, 1999,
between the investors signatory hereto (each a "Holder"), and TeleServices
International Group Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State
of Florida (the "Company").
WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of
this Agreement, each Holder is purchasing from the Company, pursuant to a
Debenture Purchase Agreement dated the date hereof (the "Purchase Agreement"),
Convertible Debentures (terms not defined herein shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in the Purchase Agreement); and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to grant to the Holders the
registration rights set forth herein with respect to the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Debentures (hereinafter referred to
as the "Stock" or "Securities" of the Company).
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto mutually agree as follows:
Section 1. Registrable Securities. As used herein the term
"Registrable Security" means the Securities until (i) the Registration Statement
has been declared effective by the Commission, and all Securities have been
disposed of pursuant to the Registration Statement, (ii) all Securities and
Additional Securities have been sold under circumstances under which all of the
applicable conditions of Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force) under
the Securities Act ("Rule 144") are met, (iii) all Securities have been
otherwise transferred to holders who may trade such Securities without
restriction under the Securities Act, and the Company has delivered a new
certificate or other evidence of ownership for such Securities not bearing a
restrictive legend or (iv) such time as, in the opinion of counsel to the
Company, all Securities may be sold without any time, volume or manner
limitations pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar provision then in effect)
under the Securities Act. The term "Registrable Securities" means any and/or all
of the securities falling within the foregoing definition of a "Registrable
Security." In the event of any merger, reorganization, consolidation,
recapitalization or other change in corporate structure affecting the Common
Stock, such adjustment shall be deemed to be made in the definition of
"Registrable Security" as is appropriate in order to prevent any dilution or
enlargement of the rights granted pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 2. Restrictions on Transfer. The Holder acknowledges
and understands that prior to the registration of the Securities as provided
herein, the Securities are "restricted securities" as defined in Rule 144
promulgated under the Act. The Holder understands that no disposition or
transfer of the Securities may be made by Holder in the absence of (i) an
opinion of counsel to the Holder that such transfer may be made without
registration under the Securities Act or (ii) such registration.
With a view to making available to the Holder the
benefits of Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other similar rule or
regulation of the Commission that may at any time permit the Holder to sell
securities of the Company to the public without registration ("Rule 144"), the
Company agrees to:
(a) comply with the provisions of paragraph (c)(1) of
Rule 144; and
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(b) file with the Commission in a timely manner all
reports and other documents required to be filed by the Company pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) under the Exchange Act; and, if at any time it is not
required to file such reports but in the past had been required to or did file
such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder, make available other
information as required by, and so long as necessary to permit sales of, its
Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144.
Section 3. Registration Rights With Respect to the Securities.
(a) The Company agrees that it will prepare and file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission"), no later than April
15, 1999, a registration statement under the Securities Act (the "Registration
Statement"), at the sole expense of the Company (except as provided in Section
3(c) hereof), in respect of all holders of Registrable Securities, so as to
permit a public offering and resale of the Registrable Securities under the Act.
The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement to become effective within ninety (90) days from such
filing date, or, if earlier, within five (5) days of SEC clearance to request
acceleration of effectiveness. The number of shares designated in the
Registration Statement to be registered shall include the number of shares of
Common Stock which would be issued upon conversion of the Convertible Debentures
assuming a Market Price of $0.10 per share of Common Stock, and shall include
appropriate language regarding reliance upon Rule 416 to the extent permitted by
the Commission. The Company will notify Holder of the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement within one Business Day of such event.
(b) The Company will maintain the Registration
Statement or post-effective amendment filed under this Section 3 hereof
effective under the Securities Act until the earlier of (i) the date that none
of the Convertible Debentures or the Registrable Securities are or may become
issued and outstanding, (ii) the date that all of the Registrable Securities
have been sold pursuant to the Registration Statement, (iii) the date the
holders thereof receive an opinion of counsel to the Company, which counsel
shall be reasonably acceptable to the Holder, that the Registrable Securities
may be sold under the provisions of Rule 144 without limitation as to volume,
(iv) all Registrable Securities have been otherwise transferred to Holders who
may trade such shares without restriction under the Securities Act, and the
Company has delivered a new certificate or other evidence of ownership for such
securities not bearing a restrictive legend, or (v) all Registrable Securities
may be sold without any time, volume or manner limitations pursuant to Rule
144(k) or any similar provision then in effect under the Securities Act in the
opinion of counsel to the Company, which counsel shall be reasonably acceptable
to the Holder (the "Effectiveness Period").
(c) All fees, disbursements and out-of-pocket
expenses and costs incurred by the Company in connection with the preparation
and filing of the Registration Statement under subparagraph 3(a) and in
complying with applicable securities and Blue Sky laws (including, without
limitation, all attorneys' fees of the Company) shall be borne by the Company.
The Holder shall bear the cost of underwriting and/or brokerage discounts, fees
and commissions, if any, applicable to the Registrable Securities being
registered and the fees and expenses of its counsel. The Holder and its counsel,
if any, shall have a reasonable period, not to exceed three (3) Business Days,
to review the proposed Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, prior to
filing with the Commission, and the Company shall provide each Holder with
copies of any comment letters received from the Commission with respect thereto
within two (2) Business Days of receipt thereof. The Company shall make
reasonably available for inspection by Holder, any underwriter participating in
any disposition pursuant to the Registration Statement, and any attorney,
accountant or other agent retained by such Holder or any such underwriter all
relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and
properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, and cause the Company's
officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested
by such
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Holder or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with
the Registration Statement, in each case, as is customary for similar due
diligence examinations; provided, however, that all records, information and
documents that are designated in writing by the Company, in good faith, as
confidential, proprietary or containing any material non-public information
shall be kept confidential by such Holder and any such underwriter, attorney,
accountant or agent (pursuant to an appropriate confidentiality agreement in the
case of any such Holder or agent), unless such disclosure is made pursuant to
judicial process in a court proceeding (after first giving the Company an
opportunity promptly to seek a protective order or otherwise limit the scope of
the information sought to be disclosed) or is required by law, or such records,
information or documents become available to the public generally or through a
third party not in violation of an accompanying obligation of confidentiality;
and provided further that, if the foregoing inspection and information gathering
would otherwise disrupt the Company's conduct of its business, such inspection
and information gathering shall, to the maximum extent possible, be coordinated
on behalf of the Holder and the other parties entitled thereto by one firm of
counsel designed by and on behalf of the majority in interest of Holder and
other parties. The Company shall qualify any of the securities for sale in such
states as such Holder reasonably designates and shall furnish indemnification in
the manner provided in Section 6 hereof. However, the Company shall not be
required to qualify in any state which will require an escrow or other
restriction relating to the Company and/or the sellers, or which will require
the Company to qualify to do business in such state or require the Company to
file therein any general consent to service of process. The Company at its
expense will supply the Holder with copies of the Registration Statement and the
prospectus included therein and other related documents in such quantities as
may be reasonably requested by the Holder.
(d) The Company shall not be required by this Section
3 to include a Holder's Securities in any Registration Statement which is to be
filed if, in the opinion of counsel for both the Holder and the Company (or,
should they not agree, in the opinion of another counsel experienced in
securities law matters acceptable to counsel for the Holder and the Company) the
proposed offering or other transfer as to which such registration is requested
is exempt from applicable federal and state securities laws and would result in
all purchasers or transferees obtaining securities which are not "restricted
securities", as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
(e) In the event that (i) the Registration Statement
to be filed by the Company pursuant to Section 3(a) above is not filed with the
Commission on or before April 15, 1999, (ii) the Registration Statement is not
declared effective by the Commission within ninety (90) days from the filing
date, or (iii) the Registration Statement is not maintained as effective by the
Company for the period set forth in Section 3(b) above (each a "Registration
Default") then the Company will provide Holder (pro rated on a daily basis), as
liquidated damages for such failure and not as a penalty, at the election of the
Company either (A) two and one-half percent (2.5%) of the remaining principal
balance of any Convertible Debenture plus the aggregate market value of shares
of Common Stock issued upon conversion of any Convertible Debenture and still
held by the Investor, for every month or portion thereof thereafter until the
Registration Statement has been filed, or declared effective in the event of
late effectiveness (in case of clause (ii) above) or in the case of lapsed
effectiveness (in the case of clause (iii) above) (regardless of whether one or
more such Registration Defaults are then in existence) until the Registration
Statement has been declared effective; or (B) an adjustment to the Conversion
Price of all unconverted Convertible Debentures by decreasing the percentage of
the Market Price by two and one-half percent (2.5%) for each month or portion
thereof thereafter until such Registration Default is cured. Such payment of the
liquidated damages shall be made to the Holder in cash (if the cash option is
elected by the Company), within five (5) calendar days of demand, provided,
however, that the payment of such liquidated damages shall not relieve the
Company from its obligations to register the Registrable Securities pursuant to
this Section. The market value of the Common Stock for this purpose shall be the
closing price (or last trade, if so reported) on the Principal Market for each
day during such Registration Default.
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If the Company does not remit the damages to the
Holder as set forth above, the Company will pay the Holder reasonable costs of
collection, including attorneys fees, in addition to the liquidated damages. The
registration of the Registrable Securities pursuant to this provision shall not
affect or limit Holder's other rights or remedies as set forth in this
Agreement.
(f) No provision contained herein shall preclude the
Company from selling securities pursuant to any Registration Statement in which
it is required to include Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 3.
(g) If at any time or from time to time after the
effective date of the Registration Statement, the Company notifies the Holder in
writing of the existence of a Potential Material Event (as defined in Section
3(h) below), the Holder shall not offer or sell any Registrable Securities or
engage in any other transaction involving or relating to Registrable Securities,
from the time of the giving of notice with respect to a Potential Material Event
until such Holder receives written notice from the Company that such Potential
Material Event either has been disclosed to the public or no longer constitutes
a Potential Material Event; provided, however, that the Company may not so
suspend the right to such holders of Registrable Securities for more than twenty
(20) days in the aggregate during any twelve month period, during the periods
the Registration Statement is required to be in effect. If a Potential Material
Event shall occur prior to the date the Registration Statement is filed, then
the Company's obligation to file the Registration Statement shall be delayed
without penalty for not more than twenty (20) days. The Company must give Holder
notice in writing at least two (2) business days prior to the first day of the
blackout period.
(h) "Potential Material Event" means any of the
following: (a) the possession by the Company of material information not ripe
for disclosure in a registration statement, as determined in good faith by the
Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of the Company that disclosure
of such information in the Registration Statement would be detrimental to the
business and affairs of the Company; or (b) any material engagement or activity
by the Company which would, in the good faith determination of the Chief
Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of the Company, be adversely
affected by disclosure in a registration statement at such time, which
determination shall be accompanied by a good faith determination by the Chief
Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of the Company that the Registration
Statement would be materially misleading absent the inclusion of such
information.
Section 4. Cooperation with Company. Holder will cooperate
with the Company in all respects in connection with this Agreement, including
timely supplying all information reasonably requested by the Company (which
shall include all information regarding the Holder and proposed manner of sale
of the Registrable Securities required to be disclosed in the Registration
Statement) and executing and returning all documents reasonably requested in
connection with the registration and sale of the Registrable Securities and
entering into and performing its obligations under any underwriting agreement,
if the offering is an underwritten offering, in usual and customary form, with
the managing underwriter or underwriters of such underwritten offering. Nothing
in this Agreement shall obligate the Holder to consent to be named as an
underwriter in the Registration Statement. The obligation of the Company to
register the Registrable Securities shall be absolute and unconditional as to
those Registrable Securities which the Commission will permit to be registered
without naming the Holder as an underwriter.
Section 5. Registration Procedures. If and whenever the
Company is required by any of the provisions of this Agreement to effect the
registration of any of the Registrable Securities under the Act, the Company
shall (except as otherwise provided in this Agreement), as expeditiously as
possible, subject to the Holder's assistance and cooperation as reasonably
required:
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(a) (i) prepare and file with the Commission such
amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement and the prospectus used
in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement
effective and to comply with the provisions of the Act with respect to the sale
or other disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement
whenever the Holder of such Registrable Securities shall desire to sell or
otherwise dispose of the same (including prospectus supplements with respect to
the sales of securities from time to time in connection with a registration
statement pursuant to Rule 415 promulgated under the Act) and (ii) take all
lawful action such that each of (A) the Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, not misleading and (B) the Prospectus
forming part of the Registration Statement, and any amendment or supplement
thereto, does not at any time during the Registration Period include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(b) (i) prior to the filing with the Commission of
any Registration Statement (including any amendments thereto) and the
distribution or delivery of any prospectus (including any supplements thereto),
provide draft copies thereof to the Holders and reflect in such documents all
such comments as the Holders (and their counsel) reasonably may propose
respecting the Selling Shareholders and Plan of Distribution sections (or
equivalents) and (ii) furnish to each Holder such numbers of copies of a
prospectus including a preliminary prospectus or any amendment or supplement to
any prospectus, as applicable, in conformity with the requirements of the Act,
and such other documents, as such Holder may reasonably request in order to
facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the securities owned by such
Holder;
(c) register and qualify the Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement under such other securities or blue sky
laws of such jurisdictions as the Holder shall reasonably request (subject to
the limitations set forth in Section 3(d) above), and do any and all other acts
and things which may be necessary or advisable to enable each Holder to
consummate the public sale or other disposition in such jurisdiction of the
securities owned by such Holder, except that the Company shall not for any such
purpose be required to qualify to do business as a foreign corporation in any
jurisdiction wherein it is not so qualified or to file therein any general
consent to service of process;
(d) list such Registrable Securities on a national
securities exchange, the NASDAQ National Market or the NASDAQ Small-Cap Market,
if the Common Stock of the Company is then so listed, if the listing of such
Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange or
Nasdaq;
(e) notify each Holder of Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement, at any time when a prospectus relating
thereto covered by the Registration Statement is required to be delivered under
the Act, of the happening of any event of which it has knowledge as a result of
which the prospectus included in the Registration Statement, as then in effect,
includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing, and the Company
shall prepare and file a curative amendment under Section 5(a) as quickly as
commercially possible;
(f) as promptly as practicable after becoming aware
of such event, notify each Holder who holds Registrable Securities being sold
(or, in the event of an underwritten offering, the managing underwriters) of the
issuance by the Commission of any stop order or other suspension of the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement at the earliest possible time and
take all lawful action to effect the withdrawal, recession or removal of such
stop order or other suspension;
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(g) cooperate with the Holders who hold Registrable
Securities being offered to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates for the Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to the
Registration Statement and enable such certificates for the Registrable
Securities to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may be, as the
Holders reasonably may request and registered in such names as the Holder may
request; and, within three business days after a Registration Statement which
includes Registrable Securities is declared effective by the Commission, deliver
and cause legal counsel selected by the Company to deliver to the transfer agent
for the Registrable Securities (with copies to the Holders whose Registrable
Securities are included in such Registration Statement) an appropriate
instruction and, to the extent necessary, an opinion of such counsel;
(h) take all such other lawful actions reasonably
necessary to expedite and facilitate the disposition by the Holders of their
Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended methods therefor provided
in the prospectus which are customary for issuers to perform under the
circumstances;
(i) in the event of an underwritten offering,
promptly include or incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement such information as the underwriting
managers reasonably agree should be included therein and to which the Company
does not reasonably object and make all required filings of such Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after it is
notified of the matters to be included or incorporated in such Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment; and
(j) maintain a transfer agent and registrar for its
Common Stock.
Section 6. Indemnification.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
the Holder and each person, if any, who controls the Holder within the meaning
of the Securities Act ("Distributing Holder") against any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, joint or several (which shall, for all purposes of this
Agreement, include, but not be limited to, all reasonable costs of defense and
investigation and all reasonable attorneys' fees), to which the Distributing
Holder may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or any related
preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, or
arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that the Company will not
be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or
liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement,
preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto in
reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the
Company by the Distributing Holder, specifically for use in the preparation
thereof. This Section 6(a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Distributing
Holder with respect to any person asserting such loss, claim, damage or
liability who purchased the Registrable Securities which are the subject thereof
if the Distributing Holder failed to send or give (in violation of the
Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) a copy of
the prospectus contained in such Registration Statement to such person at or
prior to the written confirmation to such person of the sale of such Registrable
Securities, where the Distributing Holder was obligated to do so under the
Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may
otherwise have.
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(b) Each Distributing Holder agrees that it will
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and each officer, director of the
Company or person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the
Securities Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (which shall,
for all purposes of this Agreement, include, but not be limited to, all
reasonable costs of defense and investigation and all reasonable attorneys'
fees) to which the Company or any such officer, director or controlling person
may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any
material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or any related
preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, or
arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that such
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was
made in the Registration Statement, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or
amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon, and in conformity with,
written information furnished to the Company by such Distributing Holder,
specifically for use in the preparation thereof. This indemnity agreement will
be in addition to any liability which the Distributing Holder may otherwise
have.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party
under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action, such
indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
indemnifying party under this Section 6, notify the indemnifying party of the
commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will
not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may have to any
indemnified party except to the extent of actual prejudice demonstrated by the
indemnifying party. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified
party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the
indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that
it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified,
assume the defense thereof, subject to the provisions herein stated and after
notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so
to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such
indemnified party under this Section 6 for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation, unless the indemnifying
party shall not pursue the action to its final conclusion. The indemnified party
shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and to
participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall not be at the expense of the indemnifying party if the indemnifying party
has assumed the defense of the action with counsel reasonably satisfactory to
the indemnified party; provided that if the indemnified party is the
Distributing Holder, the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the
expense of the indemnifying party if (i) the employment of such counsel has been
specifically authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, or (ii) the named
parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both the
Distributing Holder and the indemnifying party and the Distributing Holder shall
have been advised by such counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses
available to the indemnifying party different from or in conflict with any legal
defenses which may be available to the Distributing Holder (in which case the
indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action
on behalf of the Distributing Holder, it being understood, however, that the
indemnifying party shall, in connection with any one such action or separate but
substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of
the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable only for the reasonable
fees and expenses of one separate firm of attorneys for the Distributing Holder,
which firm shall be designated in writing by the Distributing Holder). No
settlement of any action against an indemnified party shall be made without the
prior written consent of the indemnified party, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld.
Section 7. Contribution. In order to provide for just and
equitable contribution under the Securities Act in any case in which (i) the
indemnified party makes a claim for indemnification pursuant to
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Section 6 hereof but is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment
or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to
appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may
not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that the express
provisions of Section 6 hereof provide for indemnification in such case, or (ii)
contribution under the Securities Act may be required on the part of any
indemnified party, then the Company and the applicable Distributing Holder shall
contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which they
may be subject (which shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, include, but
not be limited to, all reasonable costs of defense and investigation and all
reasonable attorneys' fees), in either such case (after contribution from
others) on the basis of relative fault as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the applicable
Distributing Holder on the other hand, and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission. The Company and the Distributing Holder agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were
determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which
does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this
Section 7. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred
to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim. No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 7, in no event shall any (i)
Holder be required to undertake liability to any person under this Section 7 for
any amounts in excess of the dollar amount of the proceeds to be received by
such Holder from the sale of such Holder's Registrable Securities (after
deducting any fees, discounts and commissions applicable thereto) pursuant to
any Registration Statement under which such Registrable Securities are to be
registered under the Securities Act and (ii) underwriter be required to
undertake liability to any person hereunder for any amounts in excess of the
aggregate discount, commission or other compensation payable to such underwriter
with respect to the Registrable Securities underwritten by it and distributed
pursuant to the Registration Statement.
Section 8. Notices. All notices, demands, requests, consents,
approvals, and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in
writing and, unless otherwise specified herein, shall be (i) personally served,
(ii) deposited in the mail, registered or certified, return receipt requested,
postage prepaid, (iii) delivered by reputable air courier service with charges
prepaid, or (iv) transmitted by hand delivery, telegram, or facsimile, addressed
as set forth below or to such other address as such party shall have specified
most recently by written notice. Any notice or other communication required or
permitted to be given hereunder shall be deemed effective (a) upon hand delivery
or delivery by facsimile, with accurate confirmation generated by the
transmitting facsimile machine, at the address or number designated below (if
delivered on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is to
be received), or the first business day following such delivery (if delivered
other than on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is
to be received) or (b) on the second business day following the date of mailing
by reputable courier service, fully prepaid, addressed to such address, or upon
actual receipt of such mailing, whichever shall first occur. The addresses for
such communications shall be:
If to the Company: TeleServices International Group Inc.
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xx. Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Chairman
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
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with a copy to: Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
(shall not constitute notice) Futro & Xxxxxxxxxxx LLC
0000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
If to the Holder: As set forth in the
Purchase Agreement
Either party hereto may from time to time change its address or facsimile number
for notices under this Section 8 by giving at least ten (10) days' prior written
notice of such changed address or facsimile number to the other party hereto.
Section 9. Assignment. This Agreement is binding upon and
inures to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs,
successors and permitted assigns. The rights granted the Holder under this
Agreement may be assigned to any purchaser of substantially all of the
Registrable Securities (or the rights thereto) from Holder, as otherwise
permitted by the Purchase Agreement. In the event of a transfer of the rights
granted under this Agreement, the Holder agrees that the Company may require
that the transferee comply with reasonable conditions as determined in the
discretion of the Company.
Section 10. Additional Covenants of the Company. The Company
agrees that at such time as it meets all the requirements for the use of
Securities Act Registration Statement on Form S-3 it shall file all reports and
information required to be filed by it with the Commission in a timely manner
and take all such other action so as to maintain such eligibility for the use of
such form.
Section 11. Counterparts/Facsimile. This Agreement may be
executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an
original, but all of which, when together shall constitute but one and the same
instrument, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been
signed by each party hereto and delivered to the other party. In lieu of the
original, a facsimile transmission or copy of the original shall be as effective
and enforceable as the original.
Section 12. Remedies. The remedies provided in this Agreement
are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law. If any term,
provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the
remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein
shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their best efforts to find and
employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result
as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. 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.
Section 13. Conflicting Agreements. The Company shall not
enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent
with the rights granted to the holders of Registrable Securities in this
Agreement or otherwise prevents the Company from complying with all of its
obligations hereunder.
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Section 14. Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 15. Governing Law, Arbitration. This Agreement shall
be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New
York applicable to contracts made in New York by persons domiciled in New York
City and without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws. Any dispute
under this Agreement shall be submitted to arbitration under the American
Arbitration Association (the "AAA") in New York City, New York, and shall be
finally and conclusively determined by the decision of a board of arbitration
consisting of three (3) members (hereinafter referred to as the "Board of
Arbitration") selected as according to the rules governing the AAA. The Board of
Arbitration shall meet on consecutive business days in New York City, New York,
and shall reach and render a decision in writing (concurred in by a majority of
the members of the Board of Arbitration) with respect to the amount, if any,
which the losing party is required to pay to the other party in respect of a
claim filed. In connection with rendering its decisions, the Board of
Arbitration shall adopt and follow the laws of the State of New York. To the
extent practical, decisions of the Board of Arbitration shall be rendered no
more than thirty (30) calendar days following commencement of proceedings with
respect thereto. The Board of Arbitration shall cause its written decision to be
delivered to all parties involved in the dispute. Any decision made by the Board
of Arbitration (either prior to or after the expiration of such thirty (30)
calendar day period) shall be final, binding and conclusive on the parties to
the dispute, and entitled to be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law
and entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. The non-prevailing party to
any arbitration (as determined by the Board of Arbitration) shall pay the
expenses of the prevailing party, including reasonable attorneys' fees, in
connection with such arbitration.
Section 16. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement
shall for any reason be held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or
unenforceablity shall not affect any other provision hereof and this Agreement
shall be construed as if such invalid or unenforceable provision had never been
contained herein.
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Section 17. Capitalized Terms. All capitalized terms not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Purchase
Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed, on the day and year first above written.
TELESERVICES INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC.
By:
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Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Chairman
HOLDER:
By:
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