Exhibit 10.11
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of May 4,
2005, by and among XXXXXX PETROLEUM, INC., a Tennessee corporation, with its
headquarters located at 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000 (the
"Company"), and the parties listed on Exhibit A and their respective
affiliates and any assignee or transferee of all of their respective rights
hereunder (the "Investors").
WHEREAS:
A. Pursuant to that certain Credit Agreement by and among the Company
and the Investors, dated as of the date hereof (the "Credit Agreement"), the
Company has issued and sold to the Investors senior secured convertible
promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of $4,150,000 (the "Notes")
and warrants (the "Warrants") to acquire an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of
the Company's common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the "Common Stock")
upon the terms and conditions and subject to the adjustments, limitations and
conditions set forth in the Warrants; and
B. To induce the Investors to execute and deliver the Credit
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 each
of the Investors hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
a. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have
the following meanings:
(i) "Investors" has the meaning set forth in the first
paragraph of this Agreement and also includes any transferee or assignee who
agrees to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with
Section 9 hereof.
(ii) "register," "registered," and "registration" refer to
a registration effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or
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 by the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
(iii) "Registrable Securities" means (i) the shares of
Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion or otherwise pursuant to the
Notes, (ii) the Warrant Shares (as that term is defined in the Warrants)
issuable, upon exercise or otherwise pursuant to the Warrants, and (iii) any
shares of capital stock issued or issuable as a dividend on or in exchange for
or otherwise with respect to any of the foregoing.
(iv) "Registration Statement" means a registration
statement of the Company under the 0000 Xxx.
b. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined
herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Credit
Agreement, the Notes, or the Warrants.
2. REGISTRATION.
a. Mandatory Registration. The Company shall prepare, and, on
or prior to July 31, 2005 (the "Filing Date"), file a Registration Statement
that shall cover the resale of all of the Registrable Securities, which
Registration Statement, to the extent allowable under the 1933 Act and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including Rule 416), shall state
that such Registration Statement also covers such indeterminate number of
additional shares of Common Stock as may become issuable upon conversion of or
otherwise pursuant to the Notes and Warrants to prevent dilution resulting
from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions. The Company
acknowledges that the number of shares to be included in the Registration
Statement represents a good faith estimate of the maximum number of shares
issuable upon conversion of the Notes and upon exercise of the Warrants.
b. Underwritten Offering. If any offering pursuant to a
Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof involves an
underwritten offering, the Investors who hold a majority in interest of the
Registrable Securities subject to such underwritten offering shall have the
right to select one legal counsel and an investment banker or bankers and
manager or managers to administer the offering, which investment banker or
bankers or manager or managers shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Company.
c. Payments by the Company. The Company shall use its best
efforts to obtain effectiveness of the Registration Statement as soon as
practicable. If the Registration Statement covering the Registrable
Securities required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof
is not filed by the Filing Date or the Registration Statement is not declared
effective by the SEC on or prior to one hundred eighty (180) days from the
date of this Agreement, or after the Registration Statement has been declared
effective by the SEC, sales of all of the Registrable Securities cannot be
made pursuant to the Registration Statement, or the Common Stock is not
listed or included for quotation on the Nasdaq National Market ("Nasdaq"), the
Nasdaq SmallCap Market ("Nasdaq SmallCap"), the New York Stock Exchange (the
"NYSE"), the American Stock Exchange (the "AMEX") or the Over-the-Counter
Bulletin Board (the "OTCBB") after being so listed or included for quotation,
or the Common Stock ceases to be traded on the OTCBB or any equivalent
replacement exchange, then, in addition to any rights that an Investor may
have as a holder of a Warrant, the Company will make payments to the Investors
in such amounts and at such times as shall be determined pursuant to this
Section 2(c) as partial relief for the damages to the Investors by reason of
any such delay in or reduction of their ability to sell the Registrable
Securities (which remedy shall not be exclusive of any other remedies
available at law or in equity). The Company shall pay to each holder of the
Notes or Registrable Securities issuable upon the conversion of the Notes, an
amount equal to the original principal amount of Notes originally purchased by
such holder of Notes or Registrable Securities issuable upon the conversion of
the Notes ("Original Principal Amount"), multiplied by the Applicable
Percentage (as defined below) times the sum of: (i) the number of months
(prorated for partial months) after the Filing Date or the end of the
aforementioned one hundred eighty (180) day period and prior to the date the
Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, provided, however,
that there shall be excluded from such period any delays which are solely
attributable to changes required by the Investors in the Registration
Statement with respect to information relating to the Investors, including,
without limitation, changes to the plan of distribution, or to the failure of
the Investors to conduct their review of the Registration Statement pursuant
to Section 3(h) below in a reasonably prompt manner; (ii) the number of months
(prorated for partial months) that sales of all of the Registrable Securities
cannot be made pursuant to the Registration Statement after the Registration
Statement has been declared effective (including, without limitation, when
sales cannot be made by reason of the Company's failure to supplement or amend
the prospectus included therein in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, but excluding any days during an Allowed Delay (as defined in
Section 3(f)); and (iii) the number of months (prorated for partial months)
that the Common Stock is not listed or included for quotation on the OTCBB,
Nasdaq, Nasdaq SmallCap, NYSE or AMEX or that trading thereon is halted after
the Registration Statement has been declared effective. The term "Applicable
Percentage" means one percent (1%).
d. Piggy-Back Registrations. Subject to the last sentence of
this Section 2(d), if at any time prior to the expiration of the Registration
Period (as hereinafter defined) the Company shall determine to file with the
SEC a Registration Statement relating to an offering for its own account or
the account of others under the 1933 Act of any of its equity securities
(other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or their then equivalents relating to
equity securities to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of
any entity or business or equity securities issuable in connection with stock
option or other bona fide, employee benefit plans), the Company shall send to
each Investor who is entitled to registration rights under this Agreement
written notice of such determination and, if within fifteen (15) days after
the effective date of such notice, such Investor shall so request in writing,
the Company shall include in such Registration Statement all or any part of
the Registrable Securities such Investor requests to be registered, except
that if, in connection with any underwritten public offering for the account
of the Company the managing underwriter(s) thereof shall impose a limitation
on the number of shares of Common Stock which may be included in the
Registration Statement because, in such underwriter(s)' judgment, marketing or
other factors dictate such limitation is necessary to facilitate public
distribution, then the Company shall be obligated to include in such
Registration Statement only such limited portion of the Registrable Securities
with respect to which such Investor has requested inclusion hereunder as the
underwriter shall permit. Any exclusion of Registrable Securities shall be
made pro rata among the Investors seeking to include Registrable Securities in
proportion to the number of Registrable Securities sought to be included by
such Investors; provided, however, that the Company shall not exclude any
Registrable Securities unless the Company has first excluded all outstanding
securities, the holders of which are not entitled to inclusion of such
securities in such Registration Statement or are not entitled to pro rata
inclusion with the Registrable Securities; and provided, further, however,
that, after giving effect to the immediately preceding proviso, any exclusion
of Registrable Securities shall be made pro rata with holders of other
securities having the right to include such securities in the Registration
Statement other than holders of securities entitled to inclusion of their
securities in such Registration Statement by reason of demand registration
rights. No right to registration of Registrable Securities under this Section
2(d) shall be construed to limit any registration required under Section 2(a)
hereof. If an offering in connection with which an Investor is entitled to
registration under this Section 2(d) is an underwritten offering, then each
Investor whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration
Statement shall, unless otherwise agreed by the Company, offer and sell such
Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering using the same underwriter
or underwriters and, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, on the same
terms and conditions as other shares of Common Stock included in such
underwritten offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth
herein, the registration rights of the Investors pursuant to this Section 2(d)
shall only be available in the event the Company fails to timely file, obtain
effectiveness or maintain effectiveness of any Registration Statement to be
filed pursuant to Section 2(a) in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
e. Eligibility for Form X-0, XX-0 or S-1; Conversion to Form S-3.
The Company represents and warrants that it currently meets the requirements
for the use of Form SB-2 or S-1 for registration of the sale by the Investors
of the Registrable Securities. The Company agrees to file all reports
required to be filed by the Company with the SEC in a timely manner so as to
remain eligible or become eligible, as the case may be, and thereafter to
maintain eligibility, for the use of Form S-3, to the extent applicable. If
the Company is not currently eligible to use Form S-3, not later than five (5)
business days after the Company first meets the registration eligibility and
transaction requirements for the use of Form S-3 (or any successor form) for
registration of the offer and sale by the Investors of Registrable Securities,
the Company shall file a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or such successor
form) with respect to the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration
Statement on Form SB-2 or Form S-1, whichever is applicable, filed pursuant to
Section 2(a) (and include in such Registration Statement on Form S-3 the
information required by Rule 429 under the 0000 Xxx) or convert the
Registration Statement on Form SB-2 or Form S-1, whichever is applicable,
filed pursuant to Section 2(a) to a Form S-3 pursuant to Rule 429 under the
1933 Act and cause such Registration Statement (or such amendment) to be
declared effective no later than ninety (90) days after filing. In the event
of a breach by the Company of the provisions of this Section 2(e), the Company
will be required to make payments pursuant to Section 2(c) hereof.
3. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY.
In connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities, the Company
shall have the following obligations:
a. The Company shall prepare promptly, and file with the SEC
not later than the Filing Date, a Registration Statement that covers all of
the Registrable Securities, as provided in Section 2(a), and thereafter use
its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement relating to Registrable
Securities to become effective as soon as possible after such filing but in no
event later than one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of this
Agreement, and keep the Registration Statement effective pursuant to Rule 415
at all times until such date as is the earlier of (i) the date on which all of
the Registrable Securities have been sold and (ii) the date on which the
Registrable Securities (in the opinion of counsel to the Investors) may be
immediately sold to the public without registration or restriction (including,
without limitation, as to volume by each holder thereof) under the 1933 Act
(the "Registration Period"), which Registration Statement (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 not misleading.
b. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such
amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to the
Registration Statements and the prospectus used in connection with the
Registration Statements as may be necessary to keep the Registration
Statements 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 Statements until such time as all of such Registrable Securities
have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition
by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth in the Registration Statements.
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. The Company shall use its best efforts
to cause such amendment and/or new Registration Statement to become effective
as soon as practicable following the filing thereof, but in any event within
thirty (30) days after the date on which the Company reasonably first
determines (or reasonably should have determined) the need therefor.
c. The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose
Registrable Securities are included in a Registration Statement and its legal
counsel promptly (but in no event more than two (2) business days) after the
same is prepared and publicly distributed, filed with the SEC, or received by
the Company, one copy of each Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto, each preliminary prospectus and prospectus and each amendment or
supplement thereto, and, in the case of the Registration Statement referred to
in Section 2(a), each letter written by or on behalf of the Company to the SEC
or the staff of the SEC, and each item of correspondence from the SEC or the
staff of the SEC, in each case relating to such Registration Statement (other
than any portion of any thereof which contains information for which the
Company has sought confidential treatment), and promptly (but in no event
more than two (2) business days) after the Registration Statement is declared
effective by the SEC, such number of copies of a prospectus, including a
preliminary prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto and such
other documents as such Investor may reasonably request in order to facilitate
the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor. The
Company will immediately notify each Investor by facsimile of the
effectiveness of each Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment.
The Company will promptly (but in no event more than ten (10) business days)
respond to any and all comments received from the SEC (which comments shall
promptly be made available to the Investors upon request), with a view towards
causing each Registration Statement or any amendment thereto to be declared
effective by the SEC as soon as practicable, shall promptly file an
acceleration request as soon as practicable (but in no event more than two (2)
business days) following the resolution or clearance of all SEC comments or,
if applicable, following notification by the SEC that any such Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto will not be subject to review and shall
promptly file with the SEC a final prospectus as soon as practicable (but in
no event more than two (2) business days) following receipt by the Company
from the SEC of an order declaring the Registration Statement effective. In
the event of a breach by the Company of the provisions of this Section 3(c),
the Company will be required to make payments pursuant to Section 2(c) hereof.
d. The Company shall use its best efforts to register and
qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statements
under such other securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions in the
United States as the Investors who hold a majority-in-interest of the
Registrable Securities being offered reasonably request, 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, take such
other actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and
qualifications in effect at all times during the Registration Period, and
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 qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not
otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), subject itself to
general taxation in any such jurisdiction, file a general consent to service
of process in any such jurisdiction, provide any undertakings that cause the
Company undue expense or burden, or make any change in its charter or bylaws,
which in each case the Board of Directors of the Company determines to be
contrary to the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
e. In the event Investors who hold a majority-in-interest of
the Registrable Securities being offered in the offering select underwriters
for the offering, the Company shall 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.
f. As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such
event, the Company shall notify each Investor of the happening of any event,
of which the Company has knowledge, as a result of which the prospectus
included in any 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 not misleading,
and use its best efforts promptly to prepare a supplement or amendment to any
Registration Statement to correct such untrue statement or omission, and
deliver such number of copies of such supplement or amendment to each Investor
as such Investor may reasonably request; provided that, for not more than ten
(10) consecutive trading days (or a total of not more than twenty (20) trading
days in any twelve (12) month period), the Company may delay the disclosure of
material non-public information concerning the Company (as well as prospectus
or Registration Statement updating) the disclosure of which at the time is
not, in the good faith opinion of the Company, in the best interests of the
Company (an "Allowed Delay"); provided, further, that the Company shall
promptly notify the Investors in writing of the existence of (but in no
event, without the prior written consent of an Investor, shall the Company
disclose to such investor any of the facts or circumstances regarding)
material non-public information giving rise to an Allowed Delay and advise
the Investors in writing to cease all sales under such Registration Statement
until the end of the Allowed Delay. Upon expiration of the Allowed Delay, the
Company shall again be bound by the first sentence of this Section 3(f) with
respect to the information giving rise thereto.
g. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the
issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of any
Registration Statement, and, if such an order is issued, to obtain the
withdrawal of such order at the earliest possible moment and to notify each
Investor who holds Registrable Securities being sold (or, in the event of an
underwritten offering, the managing underwriters) of the issuance of such
order and the resolution thereof.
h. The Company shall permit a single firm of counsel
designated by the Investors (the "Investor Counsel") to review such
Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto (as well as
all requests for acceleration or effectiveness thereof) a reasonable period of
time prior to their filing with the SEC, and not file any document in a form
to which Investor Counsel reasonably objects and will not request acceleration
of such Registration Statement without prior notice to Investor Counsel. The
sections of such Registration Statement covering information with respect to
the Investors, the Investor's beneficial ownership of securities of the
Company or the Investors intended method of disposition of Registrable
Securities shall conform to the information provided to the Company by each of
the Investors.
i. The Company shall make generally available to its security
holders as soon as practicable, but not later than ninety (90) days after the
close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying
with the provisions of Rule 158 under the 0000 Xxx) covering a twelve-month
period beginning not later than the first day of the Company's fiscal quarter
next following the effective date of the Registration Statement.
j. At the request of any Investor, the Company shall furnish,
on the date that Registrable Securities are delivered to an underwriter, if
any, for sale in connection with any Registration Statement or, if such
securities are not being sold by an underwriter, on the date of effectiveness
thereof an opinion, dated as of such date, from 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, if any, and the Investors and 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, if any, and the Investors.
k. The Company shall make available for inspection by any
Investor, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to a
Registration Statement, one firm of attorneys and one firm of accountants or
other agents retained by the Investors, and 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, including without limitation, records of conversions by other holders
of convertible securities issued by the Company and the issuance of stock to
such holders pursuant to the conversions (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 confidence and shall not
make any disclosure (except to an Investor) 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 the disclosure of such
Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any
Registration Statement, the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a
subpoena or other order from a court or government body of competent
jurisdiction, or the information in such Records has been made generally
available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this or any
other agreement. The Company shall not be required to disclose any
confidential information in such Records to any Inspector until and unless
such Inspector shall have entered into confidentiality agreements (in form and
substance satisfactory to the Company) with the Company with respect thereto,
substantially in the form of this Section 3(k). 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 Investor's ability to sell Registrable Securities
in a manner which is otherwise consistent with applicable laws and
regulations.
l. The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any
disclosure of information concerning an Investor provided to the Company
unless disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or
state securities laws, the disclosure of such information is necessary to
avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement,
the release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other
order from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, or such
information has been made generally available to the public other than by
disclosure 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 notice to such Investor prior
to making such disclosure, and allow the Investor, at its expense, to
undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a
protective order for, such information.
m. The Company shall cause all the Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement to be listed on each national 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 to the extent the securities
of the same class or series are not then listed on a national securities
exchange, secure the designation and quotation, of all the Registrable
Securities covered by the Registration Statement on Nasdaq or, if not eligible
for Nasdaq, on Nasdaq SmallCap or, if not eligible for Nasdaq or Nasdaq
SmallCap, on the OTCBB and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
to arrange for at least two market makers to register with the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") as such with respect to such
Registrable Securities.
n. The Company shall provide a transfer agent and registrar,
which may be a single entity, for the Registrable Securities not later than
the effective date of the Registration Statement.
o. The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold
Registrable Securities being offered and the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing 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 the Investors may
reasonably request and registered in such names as the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, or the Investors may request.
p. At the request of the holders of a majority-in-interest of
the Registrable Securities, the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC
such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to a
Registration Statement and any prospectus used in connection with the
Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to change the plan of
distribution set forth in such Registration Statement.
q. Other than those security holders to be included as selling
security holders in the Registration Statement pursuant to registration rights
disclosed in the Company's Disclosure Schedule, if any, from and after the
date of this Agreement, the Company shall not, and shall not agree to, allow
the holders of any securities of the Company to include any of their
securities in any Registration Statement under Section 2(a) hereof or any
amendment or supplement thereto under Section 3(b) hereof without the consent
of the holders of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities;
provided, however, that such consent shall automatically be deemed to be
granted by a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities at any time
following the repayment in full of all outstanding obligations of the Company
under the Notes.
r. 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.
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTORS.
In connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities, the
Investors shall have the following obligations:
a. 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 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. At least three (3) business days prior to the first anticipated
Filing Date of the Registration Statement (and any other amendments), the
Company shall notify each Investor of the information the Company requires
from each such Investor.
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 any
Registration Statements 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 such Registration Statements.
c. In the event Investors holding a majority-in-interest of
the Registrable Securities being registered determine to engage the services
of an underwriter, each Investor agrees to enter into and perform such
Investor's obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary
form, including, without limitation, customary indemnification and
contribution obligations, with the managing underwriter of such offering and
take such other actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or
facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities, unless such Investor
has notified the Company in writing of such Investor's election to exclude all
of such Investor's Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement.
d. 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(f) or 3(g), such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such
Registrable Securities until such Investor's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(f) or 3(g) and,
if so directed by the Company, such Investor shall deliver to the Company (at
the expense of the Company) or destroy (and deliver to the Company a
certificate of destruction) all copies in such Investor's possession, of the
prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt
of such notice.
e. No Investor may participate in any underwritten registration
hereunder unless such Investor agrees to sell such Investor's Registrable
Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements in usual and
customary form entered into by the Company, completes and executes all
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and
other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting
arrangements, and agrees to pay its pro rata share of all underwriting
discounts and commissions and any expenses in excess of those payable by the
Company pursuant to Section 5 below.
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 qualification fees, printers and accounting fees, the fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company, and the reasonable fees and
disbursements of one counsel selected by the Investors pursuant to Sections
2(b) and 3(h) hereof shall be borne by the Company.
6. INDEMNIFICATION.
In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a Registration
Statement under this Agreement:
a. To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify,
hold harmless and defend each Investor who holds such Registrable Securities,
the directors, officers, partners, employees, agents and each person who
controls any Investor within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), if any, any underwriter
(as defined in the 0000 Xxx) for the Investors, and the directors, officers,
partners, employees and each person who controls any such underwriter within
the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, if any (each, an "Indemnified
Person"), against any joint or several losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses (collectively, together with actions, proceedings or inquiries by any
regulatory or self-regulatory organization, whether commenced or threatened,
in respect thereof, "Claims") to which any of them may become subject insofar
as such Claims arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact in a Registration Statement or the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated or necessary to make the statements therein 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 (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii)
being, collectively, "Violations"). Subject to the restrictions set forth in
Section 6(c) with respect to legal counsel, the Company shall reimburse the
Indemnified Person, promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and
payable, for any reasonable legal fees or other reasonable expenses incurred
by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim.
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 such Registration Statement or any
such amendment thereof or supplement thereto, if such prospectus was timely
made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(c) hereof; (ii) 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; and (iii) with respect to any preliminary
prospectus, shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Person 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, such corrected prospectus was timely made available by the
Company pursuant to Section 3(c) hereof, 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. 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 severally and not jointly
to indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same
manner 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, any
underwriter and any other shareholder selling securities pursuant to the
Registration Statement or any of its directors or officers or any person who
controls such shareholder or underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act or
the 1934 Act (collectively and together with an Indemnified Person, an
"Indemnified Party"), against any Claim to which any of them may become
subject, under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim
arises out of or is based upon any Violation by such Investor, 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(c) such Investor will reimburse any legal
or other expenses (promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and
payable) 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) 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 Agreement
(including this Section 6(b) and Section 7) for only that amount 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.
c. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any
action (including any governmental action), 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 mutually satisfactory to
the indemnifying party and 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 indemnifying party, 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 indemnifying party shall
pay for only one separate legal counsel for the Indemnified Persons or the
Indemnified Parties, as applicable, and such legal counsel shall be selected
by Investors holding a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities
included in the Registration Statement to which the Claim relates, if the
Investors are entitled to indemnification hereunder, or the Company, if the
Company is entitled to indemnification hereunder, as applicable. 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 actually
prejudiced in its ability to defend such action. 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 such expense, loss,
damage or liability is incurred and is due and payable.
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 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, 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
such fraudulent misrepresentation, and 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.
Whether, 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") or otherwise, 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 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, a written statement by the
Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the
1933 Act and the 1934 Act, 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 such other information as may be reasonably requested to permit
the Investors to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without
registration.
9. ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
The rights under this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by the
Investors to any transferee of all or any portion of Registrable Securities
if: (i) the Investor agrees in writing with the transferee or assignee 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 the name and address of such transferee or assignee, and the
securities with respect to which such registration rights are being
transferred or assigned, (iii) following such transfer or assignment, the
further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee 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 or assignee 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 Credit Agreement, and (vi) such transferee shall be an "accredited
investor" as that term defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under
the 1933 Act.
10. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
Any term of this Agreement may be terminated or amended and the observance of
any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular
instance and either retroactively or prospectively) only with the written
consent of the Company and the holders of a majority-in-interest of the
Registrable Securities. Any termination, amendment or waiver effected in
accordance with this paragraph shall be binding upon each holder of the
Registrable Securities, each future holder of the Registrable Securities,
their successors and assigns, 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,
notice or election received from the registered owner of such Registrable
Securities.
b. Any notices required or permitted to be given under the
terms hereof shall be sent by certified or registered mail (return receipt
requested) or delivered personally or by courier (including a recognized
overnight delivery service) or by facsimile and shall be effective five days
after being placed in the mail, if mailed by regular United States mail, or
upon receipt, if delivered personally or by courier (including a recognized
overnight delivery service) or by facsimile, in each case addressed to a
party. The addresses for such communications shall be:
If to the Company:
Xxxxxx Petroleum, Inc.
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
With a copy to:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx, Esq.
Suite 205, 455 East 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxx 00000
If to an Investor: to the address set forth immediately below such Investor's
name on the signature pages to the Credit Agreement.
With a copy to:
Xxxxxx and Xxxxx, LLP
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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 enforced, governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas applicable to agreements
made and to be performed entirely within such state, without regard to the
principles of conflict of laws. The parties hereto hereby submit to the
exclusive jurisdiction of the United States Federal Courts located Dallas,
Texas with respect to any dispute arising under this Agreement, the agreements
entered into in connection herewith or the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby. All parties irrevocably waive the defense of an inconvenient forum
to the maintenance of such suit or proceeding. The parties further agree that
service of process upon a party mailed by first class mail shall be deemed in
every respect effective service of process upon the party in any such suit or
proceeding. Nothing herein shall affect any party's right to serve process in
any other manner permitted by law. The parties agree that a final
non-appealable judgment in any such suit or proceeding shall be conclusive and
may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on such judgment or in any
other lawful manner. The party which does not prevail in any dispute arising
under this Agreement shall be responsible for all fees and expenses, including
attorneys' fees, incurred by the prevailing party in connection with such
dispute.
e. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is
invalid or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then
such provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that it may conflict
therewith and shall be deemed modified to conform to such statute or rule of
law. Any provision hereof which may prove invalid or unenforceable under any
law shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision
hereof.
f. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. There are no
restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth
or referred to herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof.
g. Subject to the requirements of Section 9 hereof, this
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and
their successors and assigns.
h. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of,
this Agreement.
i. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute
one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have
been signed by each party and delivered to the other party. 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.
j. 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.
k. Except as otherwise provided herein, all consents and other
determinations to be made by the Investors pursuant to this Agreement shall be
made by Investors holding a majority-in-interest of the Registrable
Securities, determined as if all of the Notes and Warrants outstanding have
been converted into or exercised for Registrable Securities.
l. The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its
obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to each Investor by
vitiating the intent and purpose of the transactions contemplated hereby.
Accordingly, the Company acknowledges that the remedy at law for breach of its
obligations under this Agreement will be inadequate and agrees, in the event
of a breach or threatened breach by the Company of any of the provisions under
this Agreement, that each Investor shall be entitled, in addition to all other
available remedies in law or in equity, and in addition to the penalties
assessable herein, to an injunction or injunctions restraining, preventing or
curing any breach of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and
provisions hereof, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without
any bond or other security being required.
m. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be
the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no
rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.
[remainder of page intentionally left blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the undersigned Investors have caused
this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
XXXXXX PETROLEUM, INC.
By: ______________________________________
Xxxxx Xxxxxx,
President and CEO
INVESTORS:
PROSPECT ENERGY CORPORATION
By: __________________________
Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Chief Executive Officer
PETRO CAPITAL III, L.P.
By: Petro/Xxxxxx Management, LLC, its general partner
By:______________________
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Managing Member
PETRO CAPITAL ADVISORS, LLC
By: ________________________
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Managing Member
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]
EXHIBIT A
Prospect Energy Corporation
Petro Capital III, X.X.
Xxxxx Capital Advisors, LLC
