EXHIBIT 10.1
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT"), dated as of August
27, 1999 by and among E4L, INC., a corporation organized under the laws of the
State of Delaware , with headquarters located at 00000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, 0xx
Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000 (the "COMPANY"), and the undersigned
(together with affiliates, the "INITIAL INVESTORS").
WHEREAS:
1. In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement of even date
herewith by and between the Company and the Initial Investors (the "SECURITIES
PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions contained therein, to issue and sell to the Initial Investors Units
consisting of, among other things, (i) shares of its Series F Convertible
Preferred Stock (the "PREFERRED STOCK") that is convertible into shares of the
Company's common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "COMMON STOCK"), upon the
terms and subject to the limitations and conditions set forth in the Certificate
of Designations, Rights and Preferences with respect to such Preferred Stock
(the "CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION") and (ii) warrants (the "WARRANTS") to acquire
shares of Common Stock;
2. To induce the Initial Investors to execute and deliver the
Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain
registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the
"SECURITIES ACT"), and applicable state securities laws.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the
Initial Investors hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
a. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have
the following meanings:
(i) "INVESTORS" means the Initial Investors and any
transferees or assignees who agree to become bound by the provisions of this
Agreement in accordance with Section 10 hereof.
(ii) "REGISTER," "REGISTERED," and "REGISTRATION" refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or
Statements in compliance with the Securities Act and pursuant to Rule 415 under
the Securities 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 the Conversion Shares
issued or issuable with respect to the Preferred Stock and the Warrant Shares
issued or issuable with respect to the Warrants and any shares of capital stock
issued or issuable, from time to time (with any adjustments), as a distribution
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 Securities Act.
b. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined
herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase
Agreement.
2. REGISTRATION.
a. MANDATORY REGISTRATION. The Company shall prepare and file
with the SEC on or before the 21st day after the Closing Date (the "Filing
Date") a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or, if Form S-3 is not then
available, on such form of Registration Statement as is then available to effect
a registration of all of the Registrable Securities, subject to the consent of
the Initial Investors (as determined pursuant to Section 12(j) hereof)) covering
the resale of all of the Registrable Securities, which Registration Statement,
to the extent allowable under the Securities Act and the Rules 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 the Preferred Stock or exercise of the
Warrants to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or
similar transactions. The Registrable Securities initially set forth in the
Registration Statement shall be allocated to the Investors as set forth in
Section 12(k) hereof. The Registration Statement (and each amendment or
supplement thereto, and each request for acceleration of effectiveness thereof)
shall be provided to (and subject to the approval of) the Initial Investors and
their counsel, if any, prior to its filing or other submission. The Company
shall use its best efforts to obtain the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement within 60 days after the Closing Date. The Company agrees to request
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement within two (2) business days of
the Securities and Exchange Commission notifying the Company of its ability to
do so.
b. ELIGIBILITY FOR FORM S-3. The Company represents and
warrants that it meets the requirements for the use of Form S-3 for registration
of the sale by the Initial Investors and any other Investor of the Registrable
Securities and the Company shall file all reports required to be filed by the
Company with the SEC in a timely manner so as to maintain such eligibility for
the use of Form S-3.
c. RULE 416. The Company and the Investors each acknowledge
that an indeterminate number of Registrable Securities shall be registered
pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act so as to include in such
Registration Statement any and all Registrable Securities which may become
issuable to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or
similar transactions.
3. DELAY PERIODS; SUSPENSION OF SALES.
(i) If, at any time prior to the expiration of the
Registration Period (as defined below), in the good faith reasonable judgment of
the Company's Board of Directors, the disposition of Registrable Securities
would require the premature disclosure of material non-public information which
may reasonably be expected to have an adverse effect on the Company, then the
Company shall not be required to maintain the effectiveness of or amend or
supplement the Registration Statement for a period (a "DISCLOSURE DELAY PERIOD")
expiring upon the earlier to occur of (i) the date on which such material
information is disclosed to the public or ceases to be material or (ii) subject
to Section 3(b) hereof, up to thirty (30) calendar days after the date on which
the Company provides a notice to the Investors under Section 4(f) hereof stating
that the failure to disclose such non-public information causes the prospectus
included in the Registration Statement, as then in effect, to include an untrue
statement of a material fact or to omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. For
the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall a Disclosure Delay Period exceed
thirty (30) calendar days.
(ii) The Company will give prompt written notice, in the
manner prescribed by Section 12 hereof, to the Investors of each Disclosure
Delay Period. Advance notice of the Disclosure Delay Period shall be given to
the extent practicable. If practicable, such notice shall estimate the duration
of such Disclosure Delay Period. Each Investor, by accepting Registrable
Securities upon conversion of shares of Preferred Stock, agrees that, upon
receipt of such notice prior to Investor's disposition of all such Registrable
Securities, Investor will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable
Securities
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pursuant to the Registration Statement, and will not deliver any prospectus
forming a part thereof in connection with any sale of such Registrable
Securities until the expiration of such Disclosure Delay Period. In addition,
the provisions of Section 2(b) hereof shall not apply to the Disclosure Delay
Periods. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3 to the contrary, there shall
not be more than an aggregate of one hundred twenty (120) calendar days in any
twelve (12) month period during which the Company is in a Disclosure Delay
Period nor more than an aggregate of thirty (30) calendar days in any ninety
(90) calendar day period during which the Company is in a Disclosure Delay
Period.
4. 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
the Registration Statement required by Section 2(a), and cause such Registration
Statement relating to Registrable Securities to become effective as soon as
practicable after such filing, 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 all of the Registrable Securities (in the reasonable opinion of counsel
to the Company) may be immediately sold to the public without registration under
Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act (the "REGISTRATION PERIOD"), which
Registration Statement (including any amendments or supplements thereto and
prospectuses contained therein and all documents incorporated by reference
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 Statement and the prospectus used in connection with the
Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement
effective at all times during the Registration Period, and, during such period,
comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition
of all Registrable Securities of the Company covered by the Registration
Statement 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 Statement.
c. The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose
Registrable Securities are included in the Registration Statement (i) promptly
after the same is prepared and publicly distributed, filed with the SEC, or
received by the Company, one copy of the 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), (ii) as promptly as practicable after the date of
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, a notice
stating that the Registration Statement or amendment has been declared
effective, and (iii) 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.
d. The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) register and
qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under
such other securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions in the United
States as each Investor who holds Registrable Securities being offered
reasonably requests, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions such
amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such
registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the
effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii) take such other
actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and qualifications in
effect at all times during the Registration Period, and (iv) take all other
actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the Registrable Securities
for sale in such jurisdictions;
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PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not be required in connection
therewith or as a condition thereto to (a) qualify to do business in any
jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this
Section 4(d), (b) subject itself to general taxation in any such jurisdiction,
(c) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction, (d)
provide any undertakings that cause the Company undue expense or burden, or (e)
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 stockholders.
e. 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
the 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 the 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.
f. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the
issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of a
Registration Statement, and, if such an order is issued, to obtain the
withdrawal of such order at the earliest practicable moment (including in each
case by amending or supplementing such Registration Statement) 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 (and if such Registration Statement is
supplemented or amended, deliver such number of copies of such supplement or
amendment to each Investor as such Investor may reasonably request).
g. The Company shall permit a single firm of counsel
designated by a majority of the Initial Investors to review the Registration
Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto a reasonable period of time
prior to their filing with the SEC, and not file any document in a form to which
such counsel reasonably objects.
h. The Company shall make generally available to its security
holders as soon as practical, 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 Securities Act) 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.
i. The Company shall make available for inspection by (i) any
Investor participating in any disposition pursuant to the Registration
Statement, and (ii) one firm of attorneys retained by the Investors, all
pertinent financial and other records, and pertinent corporate documents and
properties of the Company (collectively, the "RECORDS"), as shall be reasonably
deemed necessary by each Inspector to enable each Inspector to exercise its due
diligence responsibility, and cause the Company's officers, directors and
employees to supply all information which any Inspector may reasonably request
for purposes of such due diligence; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that each Inspector shall
hold in 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
(a) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a
misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (b) the release of such
Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court or
government body of competent jurisdiction, or (c) the information in such
Records has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure
in violation of this 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
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Section 4(i). 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 shall be deemed to limit the Investors' ability to
sell Registrable Securities in a manner which is otherwise consistent with
applicable laws and regulations.
j. The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any
disclosure of information concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless
(i) disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state
securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid
or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii) the
release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order
from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, (iv) such
information has been made generally available to the public other than by
disclosure in violation of this or any other agreement, or (v) such Investor
consents to the form and content of any such disclosure. 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.
k. The Company shall use its best efforts to promptly either
(i) cause all the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement
to be listed on the NYSE or the AMEX or another national securities exchange and
on each additional 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 (ii) secure the designation and quotation of all the Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement on the Nasdaq and, without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, to arrange for or maintain at least two market
makers to register with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
("NASD") as such with respect to such Registrable Securities.
l. 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.
m. The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold
Registrable Securities being offered to facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing
Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to the Registration Statement and
enable such certificates to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may
be, or the Investors may reasonably request and registered in such names as or
the Investors may request after a Registration Statement which includes
Registrable Securities is ordered effective by the SEC, that the Company
deliver, and upon such request, the Company shall cause its legal counsel to
deliver to the transfer agent for the Registrable Securities (with copies to the
Investors whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration
Statement) an opinion of such counsel in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT 1.
n. At the request of any Investor, the Company shall prepare
and file with the SEC such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and
supplements to a Registration Statement and the 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.
o. The Company shall comply with all applicable laws related
to a Registration Statement and offering and sale of securities and all
applicable rules and regulations of governmental authorities in connection
therewith (including without limitation the Securities Act and the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by
the SEC.)
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5. 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 five (5)
days prior to the first anticipated filing date of the Registration Statement,
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 the
Registration Statement hereunder, unless such Investor has notified the Company
in writing of such Investor's election to exclude all of such Investor's
Registrable Securities from the Registration Statement.
c. Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from
the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 4(e)
or 4(f), 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 4(e) or 4(f) 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.
6. 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 4, including, without limitation, all
registration, listing and qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, and
the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company shall be borne by the
Company.
7. 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 (i) each Investor who holds such Registrable
Securities, and (ii) the directors, officers, partners, members, employees,
agents and each person who controls any Investor within the meaning of Section
15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "EXCHANGE 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
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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 Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any other
applicable securities 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 7(c) with respect to the number of legal counsel, the Company shall
reimburse the Investors and each other 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 7(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 such Indemnified Person expressly for use in the Registration
Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto, (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,
if such corrected prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant
to Section 4(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
10.
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 7(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of
its officers who signs the Registration Statement, its employees, agents and
each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15
of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and any other
stockholder selling securities pursuant to the Registration Statement or any of
its directors or officers or any person who controls such stockholder or
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act
(collectively and together with an Indemnified Person, an "INDEMNIFIED PARTY"),
against any Claim to which any of them may become subject, under the Securities
Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim arises out of or is
based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent (and only to the extent)
that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such Investor expressly for use in
connection with such Registration Statement; and subject to Section 7(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 7(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 7(b) and Section 8) for only that amount
as does not exceed the net proceeds actually received by 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 10. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
indemnification agreement contained in this Section 7(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
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contained in the preliminary prospectus was corrected on a timely basis in the
prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, and the Indemnified Party failed to
utilize such corrected prospectus.
c. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party under this Section 7 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 made against any
indemnifying party under this Section 7, 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 such indemnifying party shall not be
entitled to assume such defense and 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 conflicts of interest between such
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such
counsel in such proceeding or the actual or potential defendants in, or targets
of, any such action include both the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party
and the indemnifying party and any such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
reasonably determines that there may be legal defenses available to such
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party which are different from or in addition
to those available to such indemnifying party. 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 (with the approval of
the Initial Investors if they hold Registrable Securities included in such
Registration Statement), if the Investors are entitled to indemnification
hereunder, or by 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 7, except to the
extent that the indemnifying party is actually prejudiced in its ability to
defend such action. The indemnification required by this Section 7 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.
8. 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 7 to the fullest extent permitted by law; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
(i) no contribution shall be made under circumstances where the maker would not
have been liable for indemnification under the fault standards set forth in
Section 7, (ii) no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of
such fraudulent misrepresentation, and (iii) contribution (together with any
indemnification or other obligations under this Agreement) by any seller of
Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds
received by such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities.
9. REPORTS UNDER THE EXCHANGE ACT.
With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule
144 promulgated under the Securities Act or any other similar rule or regulation
of the SEC that may at any time permit the Investors to sell securities of the
Company to the public without registration ("RULE 144"), the Company agrees to:
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a. file with the SEC in a timely manner and make and keep
available all reports and other documents required of the Company under the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act so long as the Company remains subject to
such requirements (it being understood that nothing herein shall limit the
Company's obligations under Section 4(c) of the Securities Purchase Agreement)
and the filing and availability of such reports and other documents is required
for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
b. furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns
shares of Preferred Stock, Warrants or Registrable Securities, promptly upon
request, (i) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the
reporting requirements of Rule 144, the Securities Act and the Exchange Act,
(ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and
such other reports and documents so filed by the Company, and (iii) such other
information as may be reasonably requested to permit the Investors to sell such
securities under Rule 144 without registration.
10. ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
The rights of the Investors hereunder, including the right to have the
Company register Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement, shall be
automatically assignable by each Investor to any transferee of all or any
portion of the shares of Preferred Stock or the 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 after such
assignment, (ii) the Company is furnished with written notice of (a) the name
and address of such transferee or assignee, and (b) 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 Securities Act
and applicable state securities laws, (iv) the transferee or assignee agrees in
writing for the benefit of the Company to be bound by all of the provisions
contained herein, and (v) such transfer shall have been made in accordance with
the applicable requirements of the Securities Purchase Agreement.
11. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof
may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either
retroactively or prospectively), only with written consent of the Company and
Investors who hold a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities;
provided, further, however, that no consideration shall be paid to an Investor
by the Company in connection with an amendment hereto unless each Investor
similarly affected by such amendment receives a pro-rata amount of consideration
from the Company. Unless an Investor otherwise agrees, each amendment hereto
must similarly affect each Investor. Any amendment or waiver effected in
accordance with this Section 11 shall be binding upon each Investor and the
Company.
12. 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 of this Agreement shall be sent by certified or registered mail (return
receipt requested) or delivered personally or by courier or by confirmed
telecopy, and shall be effective five (5) days after being placed in the mail,
if mailed, or upon receipt or refusal of receipt, if delivered personally or by
courier or confirmed telecopy, in each case addressed to a party. The addresses
for such communications shall be:
-9-
If to the Company:
e4L, Inc.
00000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
with a copy to:
Klehr, Harrison, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP
000 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, III, Esquire
and if to any Investor, at such address as such Investor shall have provided in
writing to the Company, or at such other address as each such party furnishes by
notice given in accordance with this Section 12(b).
c. Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under
this Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or
remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof.
d. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made
and to be performed in the State of Delaware. The Company irrevocably consents
to the jurisdiction of the United States federal courts and the state courts
located in the State of Delaware in any suit or proceeding based on or arising
under this Agreement and irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of such
suit or proceeding may be determined in such courts. The Company irrevocably
waives the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such suit or
proceeding. The Company further agrees that service of process upon the Company,
mailed by first class mail shall be deemed in every respect effective service of
process upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding. Nothing herein shall
affect the Investors' right to serve process in any other manner permitted by
law. The Company agrees 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.
e. This Agreement, the Securities Purchase Agreement and the
Warrants (including all schedules and exhibits thereto) constitute the entire
agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and
thereof. This Agreement, the Securities Purchase Agreement and the Warrants
supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the parties hereto with
respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
f. Subject to the requirements of Section 10 hereof, this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and
assigns of each of the parties hereto.
g. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
h. 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. 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.
-10-
i. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and
performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all
such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other
party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the
purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
j. All consents and other determinations to be made by the
Investors or the Initial Investors pursuant to this Agreement shall be made by
the Investors or the Initial Investors holding a majority of the Registrable
Securities (determined as if all shares of Preferred Stock then outstanding had
been converted into or exercised for Registrable Securities) held by all
Investors or Initial Investors, as the case may be.
k. The initial number of Registrable Securities included on
any Registration Statement and each increase (if any) to the number of
Registrable Securities included thereon shall be allocated pro rata among the
Investors based on the number of Registrable Securities held by each Investor at
the time of such establishment or increase, as the case may be. In the event an
Investor shall sell or otherwise transfer any of such holder's Registrable
Securities, each transferee shall be allocated a pro rata portion of the number
of Registrable Securities included on a Registration Statement for such
transferor. Any shares of Common Stock included on a Registration Statement and
which remain allocated to any person or entity which does not hold any
Registrable Securities shall be allocated to the remaining Investors, pro rata
based on the number of shares of Registrable Securities then held by such
Investors. For the avoidance of doubt, the number of Registrable Securities held
by any Investor shall be determined as if all shares of Preferred Stock and
Warrants then outstanding were converted into or exercised for Registrable
Securities.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
-11-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed as of the date first above written.
E4L, INC.
By: /s/
---------------------------------------
Name:
-------------------------------------
Title:
------------------------------------
INITIAL INVESTORS:
RS PACIFIC PARTNERS
By: /s/
---------------------------------------
By:
---------------------------------------
Name:
-------------------------------------
Title:
------------------------------------
RS EMERGING GROWTH PARTNERS LP
By: /s/
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By:
---------------------------------------
Name:
-------------------------------------
Title:
------------------------------------
RS PREMIUM PARTNERS LP
By /s/
---------------------------------------
By:
---------------------------------------
Name:
-------------------------------------
Title:
------------------------------------
EXHIBIT 1
TO
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS
AGREEMENT
[Date]
[Name and address
of transfer agent]
RE: E4L, INC.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are counsel to e4L, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Delaware (the "COMPANY"), and we understand that [Name of Investor]
(the "HOLDER") has purchased from the Company shares of the Company's Series F
Convertible Preferred Stock (the "PREFERRED STOCK") that are convertible into
shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "COMMON
STOCK") and (ii) warrants (the "WARRANTS") to acquire shares of Common Stock.
Pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August __, 1999, by and
among the Company and the signatories thereto (the "REGISTRATION RIGHTS
AGREEMENT"), the Company agreed with the Holder, among other things, to register
the Registrable Securities (as that term is defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"),
upon the terms provided in the Registration Rights Agreement. In connection with
the Company's obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, on _____ __,
1999, the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form S-___ (File No. 333-
_____________) (the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT") with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") relating to the Registrable Securities, which names the
Holder as a selling stockholder thereunder.
[Other customary introductory and scope of examination language to be
inserted]
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Registrable
Securities have been registered under the Securities Act.
[Other customary language to be included.]
Very truly yours,
cc: [Name of Investor]
