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EXHIBIT 10.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of January 30, 2001, among Verso Technologies, Inc., a Minnesota
corporation (the "Company"), and the investors signatory hereto (each such
investor is a "Purchaser" and all such investors are, collectively, the
"Purchasers").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated as of
January 18, 2001, as amended on January 23, 2001 and as further amended on
January, 25, 2001 among the Company and the Purchasers (the "Purchase
Agreement").
The Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that
are defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms
in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other
Person that directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or under common
control with such Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control," when
used with respect to any Person, means the possession, direct or indirect, of
the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of
such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise; and the terms of "affiliated," "controlling" and "controlled" have
meanings correlative to the foregoing.
"Business Day" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any
day which shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the
State of New York generally are authorized or required by law or other
government actions to close.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Common Stock" means the Company's common stock, $.01 par
value per share, or such securities that such stock shall hereafter be
reclassified into.
"Effective Date" means October 30, 2001.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2(a).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Filing Date" means July 30, 2001.
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"Holder" or "Holders" means the holder or holders, as the case
may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.
"Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5(c).
"Indemnifying Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5(c).
"Losses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
"Person" means an individual or a corporation, partnership,
trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited
liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or political
subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.
"Proceeding" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or
proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial
proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in the Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the
Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with
respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable
Securities covered by the Registration Statement, and all other amendments and
supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all
material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in
such Prospectus.
"Registrable Securities" means the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise in full of the Repurchase Date Warrants.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statements and
any additional registration statements contemplated by Section 2(a), including
(in each case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration
statements or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all
exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such registration statements.
"Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time,
or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Rule 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time,
or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
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"Rule 424" means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time,
or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Special Counsel" means one special counsel to the Holders,
for which the Holders will be reimbursed by the Company pursuant to Section 4.
"Transaction Documents" shall have the meaning set forth in
the Purchase Agreement.
2. Shelf Registration
(a) On or prior to the Filing Date, the Company shall
prepare and file with the Commission a "Shelf" Registration Statement covering
the resale of all Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a
continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on
Form S-3 (except if the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the
Registrable Securities on Form S-3, in which case such registration shall be on
another appropriate form in accordance herewith as the Holders may consent) and
shall contain (except if otherwise directed by the Holders) the "Plan of
Distribution" attached hereto as Annex A, and cause the Registration Statement
to become effective and remain effective as provided herein. The Company shall
use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared
effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing
thereof, but in any event prior to the Effective Date, and shall use its best
efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective under the
Securities Act until the earlier of the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date
therefor and such time as all Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement have been sold or may be sold without volume restrictions
pursuant to Rule 144(k) as determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to
a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to the
Company's transfer agent and the affected Holders (the "Effectiveness Period"),
provided, that the Company shall not be deemed to have used its best efforts to
keep the Registration Statement effective during the Effectiveness Period if it
voluntarily takes any action that would result in the Holders not being able to
sell the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement during
the Effectiveness Period, unless such action is required under applicable law or
the Company has filed a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement
and the Commission has not declared it effective.
(b) The Registration Statement shall include a number of
shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Common Stock issuable
upon exercise in full of the Repurchase Date Warrants.
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(c) If (a) the Registration Statement is not filed on or
prior to the Filing Date (if the Company files such Registration Statement
without affording the Holder the opportunity to review and comment on the same
as required by Section 3(a) hereof, the Company shall not be deemed to have
satisfied this clause (a)), or (b) the Company fails to file with the Commission
a request for acceleration in accordance with Rule 461 promulgated under the
Securities Act within five days of the date that the Company is notified (orally
or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that the Registration
Statement will not be "reviewed," or not subject to further review, or (c) the
Registration Statement filed hereunder is not declared effective by the
Commission on or prior to the Effective Date, or (d) after the Registration
Statement is filed with and declared effective by the Commission, such
Registration Statement ceases to be effective as to all Registrable Securities
to be covered thereby at any time prior to the expiration of the Effectiveness
Period without being succeeded within ten days by an amendment to such
Registration Statement or by a subsequent Registration Statement filed with and
declared effective by the Commission, or (e) the Common Stock shall be delisted
or suspended from trading on The Nasdaq National Market ("NASDAQ") or on The New
York Stock Exchange, or Nasdaq Smallcap Market (each, a "Subsequent Market") for
more than five Trading Days (which need not be consecutive days) in any
twelve-month period, or (f) the conversion rights of the Holders pursuant to the
Debentures are suspended for any reason, or (g) an amendment to a Registration
Statement is not filed by the Company with the Commission within ten days of the
Commission's notifying the Company that such amendment is required in order for
such Registration Statement to be declared effective (any such failure or breach
being referred to as an "Event," and for purposes of clauses (a), (c), (f) the
date on which such Event occurs, or for purposes of clause (b) the date on which
such five day period is exceeded, or for purposes of clauses (d) and (g) the
date which such ten day-period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause (e) the
date on which such three day-period is exceeded, being referred to as "Event
Date"), then, on the Event Date and each monthly anniversary thereof until the
applicable Event is cured, the Company shall pay to each Holder $10,000 in cash,
as liquidated damages and not as a penalty. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a)
in the event the Company has and continues to use its best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement to be declared effective, no liquidated damages shall be
due for periods prior to the 110th day following the Filing Date and (b) the
liquidated damages for the first monthly period after the Effective Date, or any
portion thereof, shall be at the rate of $5,000. If the Company fails to pay any
liquidated damages pursuant to this Section in full within five days after the
date payable, the Company will pay interest thereon at a rate of 18% per annum
(or such lesser maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable law)
to the Holder, accruing daily from the date such liquidated damages are due
until such amounts, plus all such interest thereon, are paid in full. The
liquidated damages pursuant to the terms hereof shall apply on a pro-rata basis
for any portion of a month prior to the cure of an Event.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may
suspend offers and sales or delay the effectiveness of any Registration
Statement, an aggregate of up to sixty Trading Days in any 12-month period, if
the Company's Board of Directors determines, in good faith, that such delay
would be necessary to avoid premature disclosure of any material acquisition,
disposition, business combination, or other material transaction, and such delay
or
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suspension will not result in an Event hereunder (however, no such delay will
provide the basis for avoidance of an Event of Default under Section 3(a)(viii)
of the Debentures).
3. Registration Procedures
In connection with the Company's registration obligations
hereunder, the Company shall:
(a) Not less than five Business Days prior to the filing
of the Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto, the Company shall, (i) furnish to the Holders and their
Special Counsel copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which
documents (other than those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference) will be subject to the review of such Holders and their Special
Counsel, and (ii) cause its officers and directors, counsel and independent
certified public accountants to respond to such inquiries as shall be necessary,
in the reasonable opinion of Special Counsel to conduct a reasonable
investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Company shall not
file a Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any amendments or
supplements thereto to which the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities to be covered thereby and their Special Counsel shall reasonably
object.
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such
amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such
Registration Statement continuously effective for the Effectiveness Period; (ii)
cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required
Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to
Rule 424; (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably possible, and in any event
within ten days, to any comments received from the Commission with respect to
the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and as promptly as
reasonably possible provide the Holders true and complete copies of all
correspondence from and to the Commission relating to the Registration
Statement; and (iv) comply in all material respects with the provisions of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the disposition of all
Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement during the
Effectiveness Period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by
the Holders thereof set forth in the Registration Statement as so amended or in
such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) File additional Registration Statements if the number
of Registrable Securities to be covered by a Registration Statement at any time
exceeds 85% of the number of shares of Common Stock then registered in such
Registration Statement. The Company shall have twenty days to file such
additional Registration Statements after such requirement notice is received by
the Company (which shall be the Filing Date for such additional Registration
Statements) and the Effectiveness Date for each such additional Registration
Statement shall be the 90th day following the date of such notice.
(d) Notify the Holders Special Counsel as promptly as
reasonably possible (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than five
Business Days prior to such filing) and (if
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requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than one
Business Day following the day (i)(A) when the Commission notifies the Company
whether there will be a "review" of such Registration Statement and whenever the
Commission comments in writing on such Registration Statement (the Company shall
provide true and complete copies thereof and all written responses thereto to
Special Counsel); and (B) with respect to the Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any
request by the Commission or any other Federal or state governmental authority
for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for
additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement covering any or
all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that
purpose; (iv) if at any time any of the representations and warranties of the
Company contained in the Transaction Documents ceases to be true and correct in
all material respects; (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification
with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from
qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction,
or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such purpose; and (vi) of
the occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes the financial
statements included in the Registration Statement ineligible for inclusion
therein or any statement made in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any
document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue
in any material respect or that requires any revisions to the Registration
Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(e) Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if
issued, obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of
each Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or
exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in
any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.
(f) Furnish to each Holder and their Special Counsel,
without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and
each amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all
documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and
all exhibits to the extent requested by such Person (including those previously
furnished or incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such
documents with the Commission.
(g) Promptly deliver to each Holder and their Special
Counsel, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses
(including each form of prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto as
such Persons may reasonably request. The Company hereby consents to the use of
such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities
covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.
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(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable
Securities, use its best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the
selling Holders and their Special Counsel in connection with the registration or
qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such
Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws
of such jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder requests in
writing, to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption
therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other
acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement;
provided that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do
business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or subject the
Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so
subject.
(i) Cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to
be delivered to a transferee pursuant to a Registration Statement, which
certificates shall be free, to the extent permitted by the Purchase Agreement,
of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in
such denominations and registered in such names as any such Holders may request.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by
Section 3(d)(vi), as promptly as reasonably possible, prepare a supplement or
amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to a Registration Statement or
a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so
that, as thereafter delivered, neither such Registration Statement nor such
Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
(k) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of
the Commission in connection with its obligations hereunder.
(l) The Company may require each selling Holder to
complete a selling shareholder questionnaire in reasonable and customary form
furnishing to the Company a certified statement as to the number of shares of
Common Stock beneficially owned by such Holder and such other information
reasonably necessary for the preparation of the Registration Statement and, if
requested by the Commission, the controlling person of such Holder.
4. Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses (other than
commissions or underwriter fees incurred by the Holder to sell its Registrable
Securities) incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement by
the Company shall be borne by the Company whether or not any Registrable
Securities are sold pursuant to the Registration Statement. The fees and
expenses referred to in the foregoing sentence shall include, without
limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation,
fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings required to be made with the
NASDAQ and any Subsequent Market on which the Common Stock is then listed for
trading, and (B) in compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws, (ii)
printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of
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printing certificates for Registrable Securities), (iii) reasonable messenger,
telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company and Special Counsel for the Holders, (v) Securities Act
liability insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance, and (vi) fees and
expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In addition,
the Company shall be responsible for all of its internal expenses incurred in
connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its
officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of
any annual audit and the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the
listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange as required
hereunder.
5. Indemnification
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless
each Holder, the officers, directors, agents, brokers (including brokers who
offer and sell Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or
any failure to perform under a margin call of Common Stock), investment advisors
and employees of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act) and the officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling
Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any
and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without
limitation, costs of preparation and attorneys' fees) and expenses
(collectively, "Losses"), as incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration
Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or
relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any
Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except to the extent,
but only to the extent, that (1) such untrue statements or omissions are based
solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the
Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such
information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of
distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved
in writing by such Holder expressly for use in such Registration Statement, such
Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or (2) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section
3(d)(ii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus
after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is
outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice
contemplated in Section 6(e). The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of
the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding of which the Company is
aware in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall,
severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its
directors, officers, agents and
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employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section
15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors,
officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses (as determined by a
court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment not subject to appeal or
review) arising solely out of or based solely upon any untrue statement of a
material fact contained in such Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or any
form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or arising solely
out of or based solely upon any omission of a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading to the
extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is
contained in any information so furnished in writing by such Holder to the
Company specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement or such
Prospectus or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such
Holder's proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was
reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in
such Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus, or in
any amendment or supplement thereto. In no event shall the liability of any
selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net
proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities
giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any
Proceeding shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity
hereunder (an "Indemnified Party"), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify
the Person from whom indemnity is sought (the "Indemnifying Party") in writing,
and the Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including the
employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the
payment of all fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof;
provided that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not
relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to
this Agreement, except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not
subject to appeal or further review) that such failure shall have proximately
and materially adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.
(d) Separate Counsel. An Indemnified Party shall have the
right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in
the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the
expense of such Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party
has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying
Party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to
employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such
Proceeding; or (3) the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any
impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying
Party, and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by written opinion of
counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were
to represent such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case,
if such Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing that it
elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the
Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and
such counsel, who shall represent all other Indemnified Parties who are
similarly situated and who can be represented
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without conflict by such counsel, shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying
Party). The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any
such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written
consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending
Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such
settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all
liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.
(e) Fees and Expenses of Indemnified Party. All fees and
expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to the
extent incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such
Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the
Indemnified Party, as incurred, within ten Business Days of written notice
thereof to the Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately
determined that an Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification
hereunder; provided that the Indemnifying Party may require such Indemnified
Party to undertake to reimburse all such fees and expenses to the extent it is
finally judicially determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to
indemnification hereunder).
(f) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under
Section 5(a) or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party (by reason of public
policy or otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such
Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and
Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that
resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question,
including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission
or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to
information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or
payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject
to the limitations set forth in Section 5(c), any reasonable attorneys' or other
reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any
Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or
expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section was available to
such party in accordance with its terms. The parties hereto agree that it would
not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5(f) were
determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does
not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the
immediately preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section
5(f), no Holder shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in
excess of the amount by which the proceeds actually received by such Holder from
the sale of the Registrable Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the
amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by
reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
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(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.
(g) Non-Exclusive Remedy. The indemnity and contribution
agreements contained in this Section are in addition to any liability that the
Indemnifying Parties may have to the Indemnified Parties.
6. Miscellaneous
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or
by a Holder, of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or
the Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all
rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages,
will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The
Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate
compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the
provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any
action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the
defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor
any of its subsidiaries has entered, as of the date hereof, nor shall the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, on or after the date of this Agreement,
enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent
with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts
with the provisions hereof. Except as and to the extent specified in Schedule
6(b) hereto, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has previously
entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to any
of its securities to any Person.
(c) No Piggyback on Registrations. Except as and to the
extent specified in Schedule 6(b) hereto, neither the Company nor any of its
security holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto) may
include securities of the Company in the Registration Statement other than the
Registrable Securities, and the Company shall not after the date hereof enter
into any agreement providing any such right to any of its security holders.
(d) Compliance. Each Holder covenants and agrees that it
will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as
applicable to it in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to
the Registration Statement.
(e) Discontinued Disposition. Each Holder agrees by its
acquisition of such Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from
the Company of suspension under Section 2(d) or of the occurrence of any event
of the kind described in Sections 3(d)(ii), 3(d)(iii), 3(d)(iv), 3(d)(v) or
3(d)(vi), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable
Securities under the Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the
copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement
contemplated by Section 3(j), or until it is advised in writing (the "Advice")
by the Company that the use of the
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applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case, has received copies
of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement. The
Company may provide appropriate stop orders to enforce the provisions of this
paragraph.
(f) Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time during the
Effectiveness Period there is not an effective Registration Statement covering
all of the Registrable Securities and the Company shall determine to prepare and
file with the Commission a registration statement relating to an offering for
its own account or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its
equity securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under
the Securities Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to
be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or
equity securities issuable in connection with stock option or other employee
benefit plans, then the Company shall send to each Holder written notice of such
determination and, if within fifteen days after receipt of such notice, any such
Holder shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such
registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such
holder requests to be registered, subject to customary underwriter cutbacks
applicable to all holders of registration rights.
(g) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this
Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended,
modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the
provisions hereof may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and
signed by the Company and the Holders of at least two-thirds of the then
outstanding Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or
consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that
relates exclusively to the rights of Holders and that does not directly or
indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of at
least a majority of the Registrable Securities to which such waiver or consent
relates; provided, however, that the provisions of this sentence may not be
amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of
the immediately preceding sentence.
(h) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications
or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified in this Section prior to 6:30 p.m. (New
York City time) on a Business Day, (ii) the Business Day after the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified in the Purchase Agreement later than 6:30
p.m. (New York City time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m. (New York City
time) on such date, (iii) the Business Day following the date of mailing, if
sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual
receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address
for such notices and communications shall be as follows:
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If to the Company: Verso Technologies, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
With copies to: Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP
2700 International Tower
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxx, Esq.
If to a Purchaser: To the address set forth under such
Purchaser's name on the signature pages hereto.
If to any other Person who is then the registered Holder:
To the address of such Holder as it appears in the stock
transfer books of the Company or such other address as may be designated in
writing hereafter, in the same manner, by such Person.
(i) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to
the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each
of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company may
not assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent
of each Holder. Each Holder may assign their respective rights hereunder in the
manner and to the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
(j) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an
original and, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
Agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile
transmission, such signature shall create a valid binding obligation of the
party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with
the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature were the original
thereof.
(k) Governing Law. All questions concerning the
construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall
be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws
of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law
thereof. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of
the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, borough of
Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection
herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and
hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or
proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of
any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each
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party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to
process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy
thereof to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this
Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient
service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed
to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law.
(l) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are
cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(m) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative
means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated
by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and
declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the
remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of
such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(n) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning hereof.
(o) Shares Held by the Company and its Affiliates.
Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of
Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the
Company or its Affiliates (other than any Holder or transferees or successors or
assigns thereof if such Holder is deemed to be an Affiliate solely by reason of
its holdings of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in determining
whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required
percentage.
(p) Independent Nature of Purchasers' Obligations and
Rights. The obligations of each Purchaser hereunder are several and not joint
with the obligations of any other Purchaser hereunder, and neither Purchaser
shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any
other Purchaser hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or
document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant
hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a
partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or
create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert with
respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Each Purchaser shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights, including
without limitation the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be
necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any
proceeding for such purpose.
[SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement as of the date first written above.
VERSO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
-------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
Title: Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE PAGES OF PURCHASER FOLLOW]
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STRONG RIVER INVESTMENTS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Attorney-in fact
Address for Notice: x/x Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx-Xxxx & Xxxxxx (BVI) Ltd.
Xxxxxxxxxx Plaza, 2nd Floor
Wickhams Cay I, Road Town
Tortola, British Virgin Islands
With copies to: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Esq.
BAY HARBOR INVESTMENTS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Attorney-in fact
Address for Notice: x/x Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx-Xxxx & Xxxxxx (BVI) Ltd.
Xxxxxxxxxx Plaza, 2nd Floor
Wickhams Cay I, Road Town
Tortola, British Virgin Islands
With copies to: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Esq.
17
Annex A
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Selling Stockholders and any of their pledgees, assignees and
successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their shares
of Common Stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the
shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or
negotiated prices. The Selling Stockholders may use any one or more of the
following methods when selling shares:
- ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the
broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
- block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell
the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of
the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;
- purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the
broker-dealer for its account;
- an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the
applicable exchange;
- privately negotiated transactions;
- short sales;
- broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell
a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per
share;
- a combination of any such methods of sale; and
- any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
The Selling Stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the
Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.
The Selling Stockholders may also engage in short sales against the
box, puts and calls and other transactions in securities of the Company or
derivatives of Company securities and may sell or deliver shares in connection
with these trades. The Selling Stockholders may pledge their shares to their
brokers under the margin provisions of customer agreements. If a Selling
Stockholder defaults on a margin loan, the broker may, from time to time, offer
and sell the pledged shares.
Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for
other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive
commissions or discounts from the Selling Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer
acts as agent for the purchaser of
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shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated. The Selling
Stockholders do not expect these commissions and discounts to exceed what is
customary in the types of transactions involved.
The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are
involved in selling the shares may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the
meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any
commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the
resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting
commissions or discounts under the Securities Act.
The Company is required to pay all fees and expenses incident to the
registration of the shares, including fees and disbursements of counsel to the
Selling Stockholders. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling
Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act.
