REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of
February 9, 1999, is entered into by and among Visual Data Corporation, a
Florida corporation, with headquarters located at 0000 X.X. 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000 (the "Company"), and the undersigned buyers (each, a
"Buyer" and collectively, the "Buyers").
WHEREAS:
A. In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement by and among
the parties dated as of February __, 1999 (the "Securities Purchase Agreement"),
the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the
Securities Purchase Agreement, to issue and sell to the Buyers 111,112 shares of
the Company's Common Stock, par value $.0001 per share (the "Common Shares");
and
B. To induce the Buyers to execute and deliver the Securities Purchase
Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the "1933 Act"), and
applicable state securities laws.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the
Buyers hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
a. "Investor" means a Buyer, any transferee or assignee
thereof to whom a Buyer assigns its rights under this Agreement and who agrees
to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with Section 9
and any transferee or assignee thereof to whom a transferee or assignee assigns
its rights under this Agreement and who agrees to become bound by the provisions
of this Agreement in accordance with Section 9.
b. "Person" means a corporation, a limited liability company,
an association, a partnership, an organization, a business, an individual, a
governmental or political subdivision thereof or a governmental agency.
c. "Register," "registered," and "registration" refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing one or more Registration
Statements (as defined below) in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to
Rule 415 under the 1933 Act or any successor rule providing for offering
securities on a continuous basis ("Rule 415"), and the declaration or ordering
of effectiveness of such Registration Statement(s) by the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
d. "Registrable Securities" means the Common Shares purchased
pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement and any shares of capital stock
issued or issuable with respect to the Common Shares as a result of any stock
split, stock dividend, recapitalization, exchange, anti-dilution rights or
similar event or otherwise.
e. "Registration Statement" means a registration statement of
the Company filed under the 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule 415.
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, as
soon as practicable but in no event later than thirty (30) days after the date
of issuance of the relevant Common Shares, file with the SEC a Registration
Statement or Registration Statements (as is necessary) on Form S-3 covering the
resale of all of the Registrable Securities. In the event that Form S-3 is
unavailable for such a registration, the Company shall use such other form as is
available for such a registration, subject to the provisions of Section 2(e).
The initial Registration Statement prepared pursuant hereto shall register for
resale that number of Company common stock shares equal to the number of
Registrable Securities as of the date immediately preceding the date the
Registration Statement is initially filed with the SEC, subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 3(b). The Company shall use its best efforts to have the
Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable, but
in no event later than ninety (90) days after the issuance of the relevant
Common Shares.
b. [Reserved.]
c. Allocation of Registrable Securities. The initial number of
Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement and each increase
in the number of Registrable Securities included therein shall be allocated pro
rata among the Investors based on the number of Registrable Securities held by
each Investor at the time the Registration Statement covering such initial
number of Registrable Securities or increase thereof is declared effective by
the SEC. In the event that an Investor sells or otherwise transfers any of such
Person's Registrable Securities, each transferee shall be allocated a pro rata
portion of the then remaining number of Registrable Securities included in such
Registration Statement for such transferor. Any Common Shares included in a
Registration Statement and which remain allocated to any Person which ceases to
hold any Registrable Securities shall be allocated to the remaining Investors,
pro rata based on the number of Registrable Securities then held by such
Investors.
d. Legal Counsel. Subject to Section 5 hereof, the Buyers
shall have the right to select one legal counsel to review and oversee any
offering pursuant to this Section 2 ("Legal Counsel"), which shall be Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx & Xxxxx or such other counsel as thereafter designated by the holders of
a majority of Registrable Securities. The Company shall reasonably cooperate
with Legal Counsel in performing the Company's obligations under this Agreement.
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e. Ineligibility for Form S-3. In the event that Form S-3 is
not available for any registration of Registrable Securities hereunder, the
Company shall (i) register the sale of the Registrable Securities on another
appropriate form and (ii) undertake to register the Registrable Securities on
Form S-3 as soon as such form is available, provided that the Company shall
maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement then in effect until
such time as a Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the Registrable
Securities has been declared effective by the SEC.
f. Rule 416. The Company and the Investors each acknowledge
that each Registration Statement prepared in accordance hereunder shall include
an indeterminate number of Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 416 under the
1933 Act so as to cover any and all Registrable Securities which may become
issuable (i) to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or
similar transactions and (ii) if permitted by law, by reason of the
anti-dilution provisions contained in Section 9 of the Securities Purchase
Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof (collectively, the "Rule 416
Securities"). In this regard, the Company agrees to use all reasonable efforts
to ensure that the maximum number of Registrable Securities which may be
registered pursuant to Rule 416 under the 1933 Act are covered by each
Registration Statement and, absent guidance from the SEC or other definitive
authority to the contrary, the Company shall use all reasonable efforts to
affirmatively support and to not take any position adverse to the position that
each Registration Statement filed hereunder covers all of the Rule 416
Securities. If the Company determines that the Registration Statement filed
hereunder does not cover all of the Rule 416 Securities, the Company shall
immediately (i) provide to each Investor written evidence setting forth the
basis for the Company's position and the authority therefor and (ii) prepare and
file an amendment to such Registration Statement or a new Registration Statement
in accordance with Section 2(g).
g. Sufficient Number of Shares Registered. In the event the
number of shares available under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to
Section 2(a) is insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities or an
Investor's allocated portion of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section
2(c), the Company shall amend the Registration Statement, or file a new
Registration Statement (on the short form available therefor, if applicable), or
both, so as to cover at least one hundred percent (100%) of such Registrable
Securities in each case, as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than
fifteen (15) days after the necessity therefor arises. The Company shall use it
best efforts to cause such amendment and/or new Registration Statement to become
effective as soon as practicable following the filing thereof. For purposes of
the foregoing provision, the number of shares available under a Registration
Statement shall be deemed "insufficient to cover all of the Registrable
Securities" if at any time the number of Registrable Securities is greater than
the number of shares of Company common stock available for resale under such
Registration Statement.
3. RELATED OBLIGATIONS.
Whenever the Company is obligated to file a Registration Statement with
the SEC pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(g), the Company will use its best efforts
to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the
intended method of disposition thereof and, pursuant thereto, the Company shall
have the following obligations:
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a. The Company shall promptly prepare and file with the SEC a
Registration Statement with respect to the Registrable Securities (on or prior
to the thirtieth (30th) day after the date of issuance of any Common Shares for
the registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a)) and use its
best efforts to cause such Registration Statement relating to the Registrable
Securities to become effective as soon as possible after such filing (but in no
event later than ninety (90) days after the issuance of any Common Shares for
the registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a)), and keep
such Registration Statement effective pursuant to Rule 415 at all times until
the earlier of (i) the date as of which the Investors may sell all of the
Registrable Securities without restriction pursuant to Rule 144(k) promulgated
under the 1933 Act (or successor thereto) or (ii) the date on which the
Investors shall have sold all the Registrable Securities (the "Registration
Period"), which Registration Statement (including any amendments or supplements
thereto and prospectuses contained therein) shall not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
b. 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 such
Registration Statement, which prospectus is to be filed pursuant to Rule 424
promulgated under the 1933 Act, as may be necessary to keep such Registration
Statement effective at all times during the Registration Period, and, during
such period, comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act with respect to the
disposition of all Registrable Securities of the Company covered by such
Registration Statement until such time as all of such Registrable Securities
shall have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of
disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth in such Registration
Statement.
c. The Company shall permit Legal Counsel to review and
comment upon a Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto
at least three (3) days prior to their filing with the SEC, and not file any
document in a form to which Legal Counsel reasonably objects. The Company shall
not submit a request for acceleration of the effectiveness of a Registration
Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto without the prior approval of
Legal Counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company
shall furnish to Legal Counsel, without charge, (i) any correspondence from the
SEC or the staff of the SEC to the Company or its representatives relating to
any Registration Statement, (ii) promptly after the same is prepared and filed
with the SEC, one copy of any Registration Statement and any amendment(s)
thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents
incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits and (iii) upon the
effectiveness of any Registration Statement, one copy of the prospectus included
in such Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto.
d. The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose
Registrable Securities are included in any Registration Statement, without
charge, (i) promptly after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC, at least
one copy of such Registration Statement and any amendment(s) thereto, including
financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by
reference and all exhibits, (ii) upon the effectiveness of any Registration
Statement, ten (10) copies of the prospectus included in such Registration
Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto (or such other number of
copies as such Investor may reasonably request)
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and (iii) such other documents, including copies of any preliminary or final
prospectus, as such Investor may reasonably request from time to time in order
to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such
Investor.
e. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to (i) register
and qualify the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement under
such other securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions in the United
States as Legal Counsel or any Investor reasonably requests, (ii) prepare and
file in those jurisdictions, such amendments (including post-effective
amendments) and supplements to such registrations and qualifications as may be
necessary to maintain the effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period,
(iii) take such other actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations
and qualifications in effect at all times during the Registration Period, and
(iv) take all other actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the
Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that
the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition
thereto to (x) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not
otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(e), (y) subject itself
to general taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (z) file a general consent to
service of process in any such jurisdiction. The Company shall promptly notify
Legal Counsel and each Investor who holds Registrable Securities of the receipt
by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
registration or qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale
under the securities or "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction in the United States
or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threatening of any
proceeding for such purpose.
f. In the event Investors who hold a majority of the
Registrable Securities being offered in the offering select underwriters for the
offering, the Company shall enter into and perform its obligations under an
underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, including, without
limitation, customary indemnification and contribution obligations, with the
underwriters of such offering.
g. As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such
event, the Company shall notify Legal Counsel and each Investor in writing of
the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in a
Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a
material fact or omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, and promptly prepare a supplement or
amendment to such Registration Statement to correct such untrue statement or
omission, and deliver ten (10) copies of such supplement or amendment to Legal
Counsel and each Investor (or such other number of copies as Legal Counsel or
such Investor may reasonably request). The Company shall also promptly notify
Legal Counsel and each Investor in writing (i) when a prospectus or any
prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and when a
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment has become effective
(notification of such effectiveness shall be delivered to Legal Counsel and each
Investor by facsimile on the same day of such effectiveness and by overnight
mail), (ii) of any request by the SEC for amendments or supplements to a
Registration Statement or related prospectus or related information, and (iii)
of the Company's reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to a
Registration Statement would be appropriate.
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h. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the
issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of a
Registration Statement, or the suspension of the qualification of any of the
Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction and, if such an order or
suspension is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such order or suspension at
the earliest possible moment and to notify Legal Counsel and each Investor who
holds Registrable Securities being sold (and, in the event of an underwritten
offering, the managing underwriters) of the issuance of such order and the
resolution thereof or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat
of any proceeding for such purpose.
i. At the request of any Investor, the Company shall furnish
to such Investor, on the date of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
(i) if required by an underwriter, a letter, dated such date, from the Company's
independent certified public accountants in form and substance as is customarily
given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an
underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters, and (ii) an
opinion, dated as of such date, of counsel representing the Company for purposes
of such Registration Statement, in form, scope and substance as is customarily
given in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters and the
Investors.
j. The Company shall make available for inspection by (i) any
Investor, (ii) Legal Counsel, (iii) any underwriter participating in any
disposition pursuant to a Registration Statement, (iv) one firm of accountants
or other agents retained by the Investors, and (v) one firm of attorneys
retained by such underwriters (collectively, the "Inspectors") all pertinent
financial and other records, and pertinent corporate documents and properties of
the Company (collectively, the "Records"), as shall be reasonably deemed
necessary by each Inspector, and cause the Company's officers, directors and
employees to supply all information which any Inspector may reasonably request;
provided, however, that each Inspector shall hold in strict confidence and shall
not make any disclosure (except to an Investor) or use of any Record or other
information which the Company determines in good faith to be confidential, and
of which determination the Inspectors are so notified, unless (a) the disclosure
of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in
any Registration Statement or is otherwise required under the 1933 Act, (b) the
release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a final, non-appealable subpoena
or order from a court or government body of competent jurisdiction, or (c) the
information in such Records has been made generally available to the public
other than by disclosure in violation of this or any other agreement of which
the Inspector has knowledge. 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.
k. The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any
disclosure of information concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless
(i) disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state
securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid
or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii) the
release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other final,
non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of competent
jurisdiction, or (iv) such information has been made generally available to the
public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement or any other
agreement. The Company agrees that it shall, upon learning that
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disclosure of such information concerning an Investor is sought in or by a court
or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give
prompt written notice to such Investor and allow such Investor, at the
Investor's expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or
to obtain a protective order for, such information.
l. The Company shall use its best efforts either to (i) cause
all the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be listed
on each securities exchange on which securities of the same class or series
issued by the Company are then listed, if any, if the listing of such
Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange, or
(ii) secure designation and quotation of all the Registrable Securities covered
by the Registration Statement on the Nasdaq Small-Cap Market System. The Company
shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligation
under this Section 3(l).
m. [Reserved]
n. The Company shall provide a transfer agent and registrar of
all such Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of such
Registration Statement.
o. If requested by the managing underwriters or an Investor,
the Company shall (i) immediately incorporate in a prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment such information as the managing underwriters and the
Investors agree should be included therein relating to the sale and distribution
of Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, information with
respect to the number of Registrable Securities being sold to such underwriters,
the purchase price being paid therefor by such underwriters and any other terms
of the underwritten (or best efforts underwritten) offering of the Registrable
Securities to be sold in such offering; (ii) make all required filings of such
prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as notified of the
matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment; and (iii) supplement or make amendments to any Registration Statement
if requested by a shareholder or any underwriter of such Registrable Securities.
p. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the
Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement to be
registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities
as may be necessary to consummate the disposition of such Registrable
Securities.
q. [Reserved.]
r. The Company shall otherwise use its best efforts to comply
with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC in connection with any
registration hereunder and the Company shall use its best efforts to file with
the SEC in a timely manner all reports and documents required of the Company
under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act (as defined in Section 6(a)).
s. Within three (3) business days after the Registration
Statement which includes the Registrable Securities is ordered effective by the
SEC, the Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal counsel for the Company to
deliver, to the transfer agent for such Registrable Securities (with copies to
the Investors whose Registrable Securities are included in
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such Registration Statement) confirmation that the Registration Statement has
been declared effective by the SEC in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
t. [Reserved.]
u. The Company shall take all other reasonable actions
necessary to expedite and facilitate disposition by the Investors of Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.
v. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Agreement, the Registration Statement shall register only the Registrable
Securities.
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTORS.
a. At least seven (7) days prior to the anticipated filing
date of the Registration Statement under Sections 2(a) and 2(g), the Company
shall notify each Investor in writing of the information the Company requires
from each such Investor if such Investor elects to have any of such Investor's
Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement. It shall be a
condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to complete the
registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Registrable
Securities of a particular Investor that such Investor shall furnish to the
Company such information regarding itself and the Registrable Securities held by
it as shall be reasonably required to effect the registration of such
Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection with such
registration as the Company may reasonably request.
b. Each Investor by such Investor's acceptance of the
Registrable Securities agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably
requested by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of any
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 such Registration Statement.
c. In the event any Investor elects to participate in an
underwritten public offering pursuant to Section 2, each such Investor agrees to
enter into and perform such Investor's obligations under an underwriting
agreement, in usual and customary form, including, without limitation, customary
indemnification and contribution obligations, with the managing underwriter of
such offering and take such other actions as are reasonably required in order to
expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities.
5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.
All reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and
commissions, incurred in connection with registrations, filings or
qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, including, without limitation, all
registration, listing and qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, and
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and fees and disbursements of
Legal Counsel, shall be paid by the Company.
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6. INDEMNIFICATION.
In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a
Registration Statement under this Agreement:
a. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will,
and hereby does, indemnify, hold harmless and defend each Investor who holds
such Registrable Securities, the directors, officers, partners, employees,
agents, representatives of, and each Person, if any, who controls any Investor
within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "1934 Act"), and any underwriter (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) for
the Investors, and the directors and officers of, and each Person, if any, who
controls, any such underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934
Act (each, an "Indemnified Person"), against any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, costs, attorneys' fees,
amounts paid in settlement or expenses, joint or several, (collectively,
"Claims") incurred in investigating, preparing or defending any action, claim,
suit, inquiry, proceeding, investigation or appeal taken from the foregoing by
or before any court or governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency,
body or the SEC, whether pending or threatened, whether or not an indemnified
party is or may be a party thereto ("Indemnified Damages"), to which any of them
may become subject insofar as such Claims (or actions or proceedings, whether
commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i)
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in a
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or in any filing
made in connection with the qualification of the offering under the securities
or other "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction in which Registrable Securities are
offered ("Blue Sky Filing"), or the omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus if used prior to the
effective date of such Registration Statement, or contained in the final
prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the Company files any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or the omission or alleged omission
to state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements made
therein, in light of the circumstances under which the statements therein were
made, not misleading, (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of
the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law, including, without limitation, any
state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder relating to the offer
or sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement or
(iv) any material violation of this Agreement (the matters in the foregoing
clauses (i) through (iv) being, collectively, "Violations"). The Company shall
reimburse the Investors and each such underwriter or controlling person,
promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any legal
fees or other reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with
investigating or defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this
Section 6(a): (i) shall not apply to a Claim by an Indemnified Person 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
or underwriter for such Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with
the preparation of the Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof or
supplement thereto, if such prospectus was timely made available by the Company
pursuant to Section 3(d); (ii) with respect to any preliminary prospectus, shall
not inure to the benefit of any such person from whom the person asserting any
such Claim purchased the Registrable Securities that are the subject thereof
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(or to the benefit of any person controlling such person) if the untrue
statement or omission of material fact contained in the preliminary prospectus
was timely corrected in the prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, and if
such prospectus was timely made available by the Company to the Indemnified
Person pursuant to Section 3(d); (iii) shall not be available to the extent such
Claim is based on a failure of the Investor to deliver or to cause to be
delivered the then current prospectus made available by the Company; and (iv)
shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is
effected without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and
effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified
Person and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the
Investors pursuant to Section 9.
b. In connection with any Registration Statement in which an
Investor is participating, each such Investor agrees to severally and not
jointly indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same
manner as is set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each
of its officers who signs the Registration Statement, each Person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act
(collectively and together with an Indemnified Person, an "Indemnified Party"),
against any Claim or Indemnified Damages to which any Indemnified Party may
become subject, under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such
Claim or Indemnified Damages arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in
each case to the extent, and only to the extent, that such Violation occurs in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by such Investor expressly for use in connection with such Registration
Statement; and, subject to Section 6(d), such Investor will reimburse any legal
or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating
or defending any such Claim; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement
contained in this Section 6(b) and the agreement with respect to contribution
contained in Section 7 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any
Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of such
Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, further,
however, that the Investor shall be liable under this Section 6(b) for only that
amount of a Claim or Indemnified Damages as does not exceed the net proceeds to
such Investor as a result of the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party
and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Investors
pursuant to Section 9. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(b) with
respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any
Indemnified Party if the untrue statement or omission of material fact contained
in the preliminary prospectus was corrected on a timely basis in the prospectus,
as then amended or supplemented.
c. The Company shall be entitled to receive indemnities from
underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers and similar securities industry
professionals participating in any distribution, to the same extent as provided
above, with respect to information such persons so furnished in writing
expressly for inclusion in the Registration Statement.
d. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any
action or proceeding (including any governmental action or proceeding) involving
a Claim, such Indemnified Person or Indemnified
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Party shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against any
indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party a
written notice of the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall
have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so
desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume
control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the
indemnifying party and the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party, as the
case may be; provided, however, that an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the fees and expenses to be
paid by the indemnifying party, if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel
retained by the indemnifying party, the representation by such counsel of the
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and the indemnifying party would be
inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such
counsel in such proceeding. The Company shall pay reasonable fees for only one
separate legal counsel for the Investors, and such legal counsel shall be
selected by the Investors holding a majority in interest of the Registrable
Securities included in the Registration Statement to which the Claim relates.
The Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person shall cooperate fully with the
indemnifying party in connection with any negotiation or defense of any such
action or claim by the indemnifying party and shall furnish to the indemnifying
party all information reasonably available to the Indemnified Party or
Indemnified Person which relates to such action or claim. The indemnifying party
shall keep the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person fully apprised at all
times as to the status of the defense or any settlement negotiations with
respect thereto. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any
action, claim or proceeding effected without its written consent, provided,
however, that the indemnifying party shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or
condition its consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person, consent to entry of any judgment or
enter into any settlement or other compromise which does not include as an
unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person of a release from all liability in
respect to such claim or litigation. Following indemnification as provided for
hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be subrogated to all rights of the
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person with respect to all third parties, firms
or corporations relating to the matter for which indemnification has been made.
The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a
reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not relieve such
indemnifying party of any liability to the Indemnified Person or Indemnified
Party under this Section 6, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is
prejudiced in its ability to defend such action.
e. The indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be
made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the
investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or Indemnified Damages
are incurred.
f. The indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in
addition to (i) any cause of action or similar right of the Indemnified Party or
Indemnified Person against the indemnifying party or others, and (ii) any
liabilities the indemnifying party may be subject to pursuant to the law.
-11-
7. CONTRIBUTION.
To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is
prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum
contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable
under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that:
(i) no seller of Registrable Securities guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 0000 Xxx) shall be entitled to
contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation; and (ii) contribution by any seller of Registrable
Securities shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds received by
such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities.
8. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES.
The company agrees that the Buyers will suffer damages if the
Company fails to fulfill its obligations pursuant to Sections 2(a) (other than
the Company's obligations to prepare, and as soon as practicable, but in no
event later than thirty (30) days after the date of issuance of the relevant
Common Shares, file with the SEC a Registration Statement(s) on Form S-3
covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities), 3(b), 3(e) and 3(h)
of this Agreement (a "Registration Default") and that it would not be possible
to ascertain the extent of such damages. Accordingly, in the event of such
failure by the Company to fulfill such obligations, the Company hereby agrees to
pay liquidated damages ("Liquidated Damages") to each Buyer (x) during the first
30-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration Default
in an amount determined by multiplying (i) $.09 per Common Share not covered by
an effective registration statement by (ii) the percentage derived by dividing
(A) the actual number of days elapsed from the day the Registration Default
occurred to the day such Registration Default has been completely cured by (B)
30 and (y) for every 30-day period thereafter in an amount determined by
multiplying (i) $.18 per Common Share not covered by an effective registration
statement by (ii) the percentage derived by dividing (A) the actual number of
days elapsed from the last day of the prior 30-day period to the day such
Registration Default has been completely cured by (B) 30, in cash, or at the
Buyer's option, in the number of shares of Company common stock, if such
issuance will not violate the rules of the Nasdaq Small-Cap Market, equal to the
quotient of (v) the dollar amount of the Liquidated Damages on the Payment Date
(as defined below) by (w) the closing bid price of the Company's common stock as
of the date of the Registration Default (as quoted in the Principal Market (as
defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) or the market or exchange where
the Company's common stock is then traded); provided, however, that a
Registration Default under Sections 3(b), 3(e) and 3(h) shall not be deemed to
occur unless (i) the effective registration statement(s) covering the resale of
the Registrable Securities is not available for use by the Investors for ten
(10) consecutive trading days or (ii) the effective registration statement(s)
covering the resale of the Registrable Securities is not available for use by
the Investors for thirty (30) or more trading days in such calendar year. The
Liquidated Damages payable pursuant hereto shall be payable within five (5)
business days from the end of the calendar month commencing on the first
calendar month in which the Registration Default occurs (each, a "Payment
Date"). In the event the Buyer elects to receive the Liquidated Damages amount
in shares of Company common stock, such shares shall also be considered Common
Shares and shall have the registration rights set forth in the Registration
Rights Agreement.
-12-
9. ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
The rights under this Agreement shall be automatically
assignable by the Investors to any transferee of all or any portion of
Registrable Securities if: (i) the Investor agrees in writing with the
transferee or assignee to assign such rights, and a copy of such agreement is
furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such assignment; (ii)
the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment,
furnished with written notice of (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) immediately following such transfer or
assignment the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or
assignee is restricted under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws;
provided, however, that the transferee or assignee may subsequently transfer or
assign all or any portion of the Registrable Securities if an exemption from
registration under the 1933 Act is applicable to such transfer or assignment;
(iv) at or before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated
by clause (ii) of this sentence the transferee or assignee agrees in writing
with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein; and (v)
such transfer shall have been made in accordance with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Purchase Agreement.
10. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance
thereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either
retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company
and Investors party to this Agreement who then hold a majority of the
Registrable Securities. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this
Section 10 shall be binding upon each Investor and the Company. No such
amendment shall be effective to the extent that it applies to less than all of
the holders of the Registrable Securities. No consideration shall be offered or
paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any
provision of any of this Agreement unless the same consideration also is offered
to all of the parties to this Agreement.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
a. A Person is deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities
whenever such Person owns or is deemed to own of record such Registrable
Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or
elections from two or more Persons 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.
-13-
b. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications
required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in
writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when
delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided
confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and
kept on file by the sending party); or (iii) one business day after deposit with
a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, in each case properly
addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers
for such communications shall be:
If to the Company:
Visual Data Corporation
0000 X.X. 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telephone: 954/000-0000
Facsimile: 954/917-6660
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
With a copy to:
Atlas, Xxxxxxxx, Trop & Borkson
200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Ste. 1900
Ft. Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
If to Legal Counsel:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx & Zavis
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Cherry & Xxxxx
30 North LaSalle, Ste. 2300
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Telephone: 312/000-0000
Facsimile: 312/853-0279
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxx, Esq.
-14-
If to a Buyer, to it at the address and facsimile number set forth on the
Schedule of Buyers attached hereto, with copies to such Buyer's representatives
as set forth on the Schedule of Buyers, or at such other address and/or
facsimile number and/or to the attention of such other person as the recipient
party has specified by written notice given to each other party five days prior
to the effectiveness of such change.
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. The corporate laws of the State of Florida shall govern all
issues concerning the relative rights of the Company and its stockholders. All
other questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and
interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the
State of Illinois, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law
provision or rule (whether of the State of Illinois or any other jurisdictions)
that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the
State of Illinois.
e. This Agreement and the Securities Purchase Agreement
constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the
subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no restrictions, promises,
warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein and
therein. This Agreement and the Securities Purchase Agreement supersede all
prior agreements and understandings among the parties hereto with respect to the
subject matter hereof and thereof.
f. Subject to the requirements of Section 9, this Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the permitted successors and
assigns of each of the parties hereto.
g. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
h. This Agreement may be executed in identical counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one
and the same agreement. This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be
delivered to the other party hereto by facsimile transmission of a copy of this
Agreement bearing the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.
i. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and
performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all
such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other
party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the
purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
j. All consents and other determinations to be made by the
Investors pursuant to this Agreement shall be made, unless otherwise specified
in this Agreement, by Investors holding a majority of the Registrable
Securities.
-15-
k. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be
the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent and no rules
of strict construction will be applied against any party.
l. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the
benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.
[Intentionally Left Blank]
-16-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration Rights
Agreement to be duly executed as of day and year first above written.
COMPANY: BUYERS:
VISUAL DATA CORPORATION CRANSHIRE CAPITAL, L.P.
By:-------------------------- By: Downsview Capital, Incorporated,
the General Partner
Name:------------------------
Title:----------------------- By: /s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: President
GILFORD PARTNERS, L.P.
By:
-------------------------------
the General Partner
By: /s/ H. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
---------------------------
Name: H. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title:
-17-
SCHEDULE OF BUYERS
Investor's Address
Investor Name and Facsimile Number
Cranshire Capital, L.P. 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxx. 000
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
(p) 847/784-1544
(f) 847/784-1546
Gilford Partners, L.P. 0000 X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
(p) 312/786-2071
(f) 312/664-3581
-18-
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS
OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Interwest Transfer Company, Inc.
0000 X. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxx 00000
[TRANSFER AGENT]
Attn: Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Re: VISUAL DATA CORPORATION
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are counsel to Visual Data Corporation, a Florida corporation
(the "Company"), and have represented the Company in connection with that
certain Securities Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") entered into by
and among the Company and the buyers named therein (collectively, the "Holders")
pursuant to which the Company issued to the Holders shares of its Common Stock,
par value $.0001 per share, (the "Common Shares"). Pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement, the Company also has entered into a Registration Rights Agreement
with the Holders (the "Registration Rights Agreement") pursuant to which the
Company agreed, among other things, to register the Registrable Securities (as
defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), including the Common Shares,
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"). In connection
with the Company's obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, on
____________ ___, 199_, the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3
(File No. 333-_____________) (the "Registration Statement") with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") relating to the Registrable Securities which
names each of the Holders as a selling stockholder thereunder.
In connection with the foregoing, we advise you that a member of the
SEC's staff has advised us by telephone that the SEC has entered an order
declaring the Registration Statement effective under the 1933 Act at [ENTER TIME
OF EFFECTIVENESS] on [ENTER DATE OF EFFECTIVENESS] and we have no knowledge,
after telephonic inquiry of a member of the SEC's staff, that any stop order
suspending its effectiveness has been issued or that any proceedings for that
purpose are pending before, or threatened by, the SEC and the Registrable
Securities are available for resale under the 1933 Act pursuant to the
Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
[ISSUER'S COUNSEL]
By:-----------------------
-----------------------------------
cc: [LIST NAMES OF HOLDERS]
-19-
