REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of June 30, 1998, between I-Link Incorporated, a Florida
corporation (the "Company"), and JNC Opportunity Fund Ltd., a Cayman Islands
corporation (the "Purchaser ").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Convertible Preferred Stock
Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof between the Company and the
Purchaser (the "Purchase Agreement").
The Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are
defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in
the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
"Advice" shall have meaning set forth in Section 3(o).
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person
that directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or under common
control with such Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control,"
when used with respect to any Person, means the possession, direct or
indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities,
by contract or otherwise; and the terms of "affiliated," "controlling" and
"controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
"Business Day" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day
which shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the
state of New York generally are authorized or required by law or other
government actions to close.
"Closing Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Common Stock" means the Company's common stock, par value $.007
per share.
"Effectiveness Date" means the 90th day following the Closing Date.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(a).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Filing Date" means the 30th day following the Closing Date.
"Holder" or "Holders" means the holder or holders, as the case may
be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.
"Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5(c).
"Indemnifying Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5(c).
"Losses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
"Person" means an individual or a corporation, partnership, trust,
incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability
company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or political
subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.
"Preferred Stock" means the Company's shares of 5% Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock, $[ ] par value, to be issued to the Purchaser
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
"Proceeding" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or
proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial
proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in the Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an
effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under
the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement,
with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable
Securities covered by the Registration Statement, and all other amendments
and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and
all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by
reference in such Prospectus.
"Registrable Securities" means the shares of Common Stock issuable
(i) upon conversion in full of the Preferred Stock, (ii) as payment of
dividends in respect of the Preferred Stock, assuming all such dividends are
paid in shares of Common Stock and that the shares of Preferred Stock remain
outstanding for three years, and (iii) upon exercise of the Warrants;
provided, however that in order to account for the fact that the number of
shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the shares of Preferred
Stock (together with the payment of dividends thereon) is determined in part
upon the market price of the Common Stock prior to the time of conversion,
Registrable Securities contemplated by clauses (i) and (ii) above shall
include (but not be limited to) a number of shares of Common Stock equal to
no less than 200% of the number of shares of Common Stock into which the
shares of Preferred Stock (together with the payment of dividends thereon)
are convertible, assuming such conversion occurred on the Closing Date or the
Filing Date, whichever yields a lower Conversion Price (as defined in the
Purchase Agreement). The Company shall be required to file additional
Registration Statements to the extent the sum of (i) the number of the shares
of Common Stock into which the shares of Preferred Stock are convertible
(together with the payment of dividends thereon), and (ii) the number of
shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise in full of the Warrants,
exceeds the number of shares of Common Stock initially registered in
accordance with the immediately prior sentence. The Company shall have ten
(10) days to file such additional Registration Statements after notice of the
requirement thereof, which the Holders may give at such time when the number
of shares of Common Stock as are issuable upon conversion of shares of
Preferred Stock (together with the payment of dividends thereon) and upon
exercise of the Warrants, exceeds 85% of the number of shares of Common Stock
to be registered in a Registration Statement hereunder.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statement and any
additional registration statements contemplated by Section 2(a), including
(in each case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such
registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective
amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference
or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
"Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Rule 158" means Rule 158 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Rule 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Special Counsel" means one special counsel to the Holders, for
which the Holders will be reimbursed by the Company pursuant to Section 4.
"Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering" means a
registration in connection with which securities of the Company are sold to
an underwriter for reoffering to the public pursuant to an effective
registration statement.
"Warrants" means collectively (i) the common stock purchase warrant
issued to the Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, and (ii) the
common stock purchase warrants issued to Xxxxxxx Capital Partners, Ltd. and
Alpine Capital Partners, Inc. in connection with consulting services provided
to the Company.
2. Shelf Registration
(a) On or prior to the Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and
file with the Commission a "Shelf" Registration Statement covering all
Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a continuous basis
pursuant to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 (if
the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable
Securities on Form S-3 such registration shall be on another appropriate form
in accordance herewith). The Registration Statement shall state, to the
extent permitted by Rule 416 under the Securities Act, that it also covers
such indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock as may be required to
effect conversion of the shares of Preferred Stock (and payment of dividends
thereon) or exercise of the Warrants, in each case to prevent dilution
resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar events, or by reason
of changes in the Conversion Price in accordance with the terms of the
Certificate of Designation (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) or by
reason of changes in the Exercise Price (as defined in the Warrants) in
accordance with the terms of the Warrants. The Company shall use its best
efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective under
the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing thereof, but in
any event prior to the Effectiveness Date, and shall use its best efforts to
keep such Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities
Act until the date which is three years after the date that such Registration
Statement is declared effective by the Commission or such earlier date when
all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been
sold or may be sold without volume restrictions pursuant to Rule 144(k) as
determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter
to such effect, addressed and acceptable to the Company's transfer agent (the
"Effectiveness Period"), provided, however, that the Company shall not be
deemed to have used its best efforts to keep the Registration Statement
effective during the Effectiveness Period if it voluntarily takes any action
that would result in the Holders not being able to sell the Registrable
Securities covered by such Registration Statement during the Effectiveness
Period, unless such action is required under applicable law or the Company
has filed a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement and the
Commission has not declared it effective.
(b) If the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities so
elect, an offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration
Statement may be effected in the form of an Underwritten Offering. In such
event, and, if the managing underwriters advise the Company and such Holders
in writing that in their opinion the amount of Registrable Securities
proposed to be sold in such Underwritten Offering exceeds the amount of
Registrable Securities which can be sold in such Underwritten Offering, there
shall be included in such Underwritten Offering the amount of such
Registrable Securities which in the opinion of such managing underwriters can
be sold, and such amount shall be allocated pro rata among the Holders
proposing to sell Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering.
(c) If any of the Registrable Securities are to be sold in an
Underwritten Offering, the investment banker in interest that will administer
the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities included in such offering upon consultation with the Company. No
Holder may participate in any Underwritten Offering hereunder unless such
Holder (i) agrees to sell its Registrable Securities on the basis provided in
any underwriting agreements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to
approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and
other documents required under the terms of such arrangements.
3. Registration Procedures
In connection with the Company's registration obligations
hereunder, the Company shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the Commission on or prior to the Filing
Date, a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or if the Company is not then
eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-3 such
registration shall be on another appropriate form in accordance herewith, or,
in connection with an Underwritten Offering hereunder, such other form agreed
to by the Company and by the Holders of Registrable Securities) which shall
contain the "Plan of Distribution" attached hereto as Annex A (except if
otherwise directed by the Holders), and cause the Registration Statement to
become effective and remain effective as provided herein; provided, however,
that not less than five (5) Business Days prior to the filing of the
Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto (including any document that would be incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall, (i)
furnish to the Holders, their Special Counsel and any managing underwriters,
copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents (other
than those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference) will be
subject to the review of such Holders, their Special Counsel and such
managing underwriters, and (ii) cause its officers and directors, counsel and
independent certified public accountants to respond to such inquiries as
shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of respective counsel to such
Holders and such underwriters, to conduct a reasonable investigation within
the meaning of the Securities Act. The Company shall not file the
Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any amendments or
supplements thereto to which the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities, their Special Counsel, or any managing underwriters, shall
reasonably object on a timely basis.
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep the Registration Statement continuously effective as to the
applicable Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period and prepare
and file with the Commission such additional Registration Statements in order
to register for resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable
Securities; (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented
by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented or amended to
be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force)
promulgated under the Securities Act; (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably
possible to any comments received from the Commission with respect to the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and as promptly as reasonably
possible provide the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence
from and to the Commission relating to the Registration Statement; and (iv)
comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and
the Exchange Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable
Securities covered by the Registration Statement during the applicable period
in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof
set forth in the Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus
as so supplemented.
(c) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold, their
Special Counsel and any managing underwriters as promptly as reasonably
possible (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than five (5) days prior
to such filing) and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in
writing no later than one (1) Business Day following the day (i)(A) when a
Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement is proposed to be filed; (B) when the Commission
notifies the Company whether there will be a "review" of such Registration
Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on such
Registration Statement (the Company shall provide true and complete copies
thereof and all written responses thereto to each of the Holders); and (C)
with respect to the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment,
when the same has become effective; (ii) of any request by the Commission or
any other Federal or state governmental authority for amendments or
supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional
information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement covering any or
all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for
that purpose; (iv) if at any time any of the representations and warranties
of the Company contained in any agreement (including any underwriting
agreement) contemplated hereby ceases to be true and correct in all material
respects; (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect
to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any
of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation
or threatening of any Proceeding for such purpose; and (vi) of the occurrence
of any event that makes any statement made in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein
by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires any revisions to
the Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the
case of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it
will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
(d) Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued,
obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or
exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale
in any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.
(e) If requested by any managing underwriter or the Holders of a
majority in interest of the Registrable Securities to be sold in connection
with an Underwritten Offering, (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement such
information as such managing underwriters and such Holders reasonably agree
should be included therein, and (ii) make all required filings of such
Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as practicable
after the Company has received notification of the matters to be incorporated
in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be required to take any action pursuant to this
Section 3(e) that would, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, violate
applicable law or be materially detrimental to the business prospects of the
Company.
(f) Furnish to each Holder, their Special Counsel and any managing
underwriters, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Regis-
tration Statement and each amendment thereto, including financial statements
and schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
therein by reference, and all exhibits to the extent requested by such Person
(including those previously furnished or incorporated by reference) promptly
after the filing of such documents with the Commission.
(g) Promptly deliver to each Holder, their Special Counsel, and
any underwriters, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or
Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each amendment or
supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request; and the Company
hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or
supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders and any underwriters in
connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered
by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use
its best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling
Holders, any underwriters and their Special Counsel in connection with the
registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or
qualification) of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the
securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as
any Holder or underwriter requests in writing, to keep each such registration
or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness
Period and to do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to
enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities
covered by a Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company
shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction
where it is not then so qualified or to take any action that would subject it
to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then
so subject or subject the Company to any material tax in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(i) Cooperate with the Holders and any managing underwriters to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing
Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee pursuant to a
Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, of all restrictive legends, and to enable such
Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such
names as any such managing underwriters or Holders may request at least two
Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section
3(c)(vi), as promptly as reasonably possible, prepare a supplement or
amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to the Registration
Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any
other required document so that, as thereafter delivered, neither the
Registration Statement nor such Prospectus will contain an untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(k) Use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities
relating to such Registration Statement to be listed on the Nasdaq SmallCap
Market ("NASDAQ") and any other securities exchange, quotation system, market
or over-the-counter bulletin board, if any, on which similar securities
issued by the Company are then listed as and when required pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement.
(l) Enter into such agreements (including an underwriting
agreement in form, scope and substance as is customary in Underwritten
Offerings) and take all such other actions in connection therewith (including
those reasonably requested by any managing underwriters and the Holders of a
majority of the Registrable Securities being sold) in order to expedite or
facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities, and whether or not
an underwriting agreement is entered into, (i) make such representations and
warranties to such Holders and such underwriters as are customarily made by
issuers to underwriters in underwritten public offerings, and confirm the
same if and when requested; (ii) in the case of an Underwritten Offering
obtain and deliver copies thereof to each Holder and the managing
underwriters, if any, of opinions of counsel to the Company and updates
thereof addressed to each Holder and each such underwriter, in form, scope
and substance reasonably satisfactory to any such managing underwriters and
Special Counsel to the selling Holders covering the matters customarily
covered in opinions requested in Underwritten Offerings and such other
matters as may be reasonably requested by such Special Counsel and
underwriters; (iii) immediately prior to the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, and, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, at the
time of delivery of any Registrable Securities sold pursuant thereto, use its
best reasonable efforts to obtain and deliver copies to the Holders and the
managing underwriters, if any, of "cold comfort" letters and updates thereof
from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if
necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any sub-
sidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for which
financial statements and financial data is, or is required to be, included in
the Registration Statement), addressed to the Company in form and substance
as are customary in connection with Underwritten Offerings; (iv) if an
underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall contain
indemnification provisions and procedures no less favorable to the selling
Holders and the underwriters, if any, than those set forth in Section 5 (or
such other provisions and procedures acceptable to the managing underwriters,
if any, and holders of a majority of Registrable Securities participating in
such Underwritten Offering); and (v) deliver such documents and certificates
as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities being sold, their Special Counsel and any managing
underwriters to evidence the continued validity of the representations and
warranties made pursuant to clause 3(l)(i) above and to evidence compliance
with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or
other agreement entered into by the Company.
(m) Make available for inspection by the selling Holders, any
representative of such Holders, any underwriter participating in any
disposition of Registrable Securities, and any attorney or accountant
retained by such selling Holders or underwriters, at the offices where
normally kept, during reasonable business hours, all financial and other
records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its
subsidiaries, and cause the officers, directors, agents and employees of the
Company and its subsidiaries to supply all information in each case
reasonably requested by any such Holder, representative, underwriter,
attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration Statement;
provided, however, that any information that is determined in good faith by
the Company in writing to be of a confidential nature at the time of delivery
of such information shall be kept confidential by such Persons, unless (i)
disclosure of such information is required by court or administrative order
or is necessary to respond to inquiries of regulatory authorities; (ii)
disclosure of such information, in the opinion of counsel to such Person, is
required by law; (iii) such information becomes generally available to the
public other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard by such
Person; or (iv) such information becomes available to such Person from a
source other than the Company and such source is not known by such Person to
be bound by a confidentiality agreement with the Company.
(n) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission.
(o) The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the
Company such information regarding the distribution of such Registrable
Securities and the beneficial ownership of Common Stock held by such Holder
as is required by law to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, and the
Company may exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of any
such Holder who unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a
reasonable time after receiving such request.
If the Registration Statement refers to any Holder by name or
otherwise as the holder of any securities of the Company, then such Holder
shall have the right to require (if such reference to such Holder by name or
otherwise is not required by the Securities Act or any similar Federal
statute then in force) the deletion of the reference to such Holder in any
amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement filed or prepared
subsequent to the time that such reference ceases to be required.
Each Holder covenants and agrees that (i) it will not sell any
Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until it has received
copies of the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented as contemplated in
Section 3(g) and notice from the Company that such Registration Statement and
any post-effective amendments thereto have become effective as contemplated
by Section 3(c) and (ii) it and its officers, directors or Affiliates, if
any, will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act as applicable to it in connection with sales of Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Registration Statement.
Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable
Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence
of any event of the kind described in Section 3(c)(ii), 3(c)(iii), 3(c)(iv),
3(c)(v) or 3(c)(vi), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of
such Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until such
Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended
Registration Statement contemplated by Section 3(j), or until it is advised
in writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the applicable Pro-
spectus may be resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any
additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement.
4. Registration Expenses
(a) All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or
compliance with this Agreement by the Company, except as and to the extent
specified in Section 4(b), shall be borne by the Company whether or not
pursuant to an Underwritten Offering and whether or not the Registration
Statement is filed or becomes effective and whether or not any Registrable
Securities are sold pursuant to the Registration Statement. The fees and
expenses referred to in the foregoing sentence shall include, without
limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without
limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings required to be made
with the NASDAQ and any subsequent market on which the Common Stock is then
listed for trading, and (B) in compliance with state securities or Blue Sky
laws (including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for
the Holders in connection with Blue Sky qualifications or exemptions of the
Registrable Securities and determination of the eligibility of the Regis-
trable Securities for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as the
managing underwriters, if any, or the Holders of a majority of Registrable
Securities may designate)), (ii) printing expenses (including, without
limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities and
of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is requested by the
managing underwriters, if any, or by the holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement), (iii)
messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company and Special Counsel for the Holders, (v) Securities
Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance, and (vi)
fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection
with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In
addition, the Company shall be responsible for all of its internal expenses
incurred in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses
of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the
expense of any annual audit, the fees and expenses incurred in connection
with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange as
required hereunder.
(b) If the Holders require an Underwritten Offering pursuant to
the terms hereof, the Company shall be responsible for all costs, fees and
expenses in connection therewith, except for the fees and disbursements of
the Underwriters (including any underwriting commissions and discounts) and
their legal counsel and accountants. By way of illustration which is not
intended to diminish from the provisions of Section 4(a), the Holders shall
not be responsible for, and the Company shall be required to pay the fees or
disbursements incurred by the Company (including by its legal counsel and
accountants) in connection with, the preparation and filing of a Registration
Statement and related Prospectus for such offering, the maintenance of such
Registration Statement in accordance with the terms hereof, the listing of
the Registrable Securities in accordance with the requirements hereof, and
printing expenses incurred to comply with the requirements hereof.
5. Indemnification
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold
harmless each Holder, the officers, directors, agents (including any
underwriters retained by such Holder in connection with the offer and sale of
Registrable Securities), brokers (including brokers who offer and sell
Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or any failure to
perform under a margin call of Common Stock), investment advisors and
employees of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act) and the officers, directors, agents and employees of each such
controlling Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from
and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs
(including, without limitation, costs of preparation and attorneys' fees) and
expenses (collectively, "Losses"), as incurred, arising out of or relating to
any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising
out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
(in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading,
except to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statements or
omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished
in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, which
information was reasonably relied on by the Company for use therein or to the
extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed
method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and
expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto. The Company shall notify the Holders
promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding of which
the Company is aware in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(b) Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall, severally and
not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors,
officers, agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the
Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such
controlling Persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from
and against all Losses (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in
a final judgment not subject to appeal or review) arising solely out of or
based solely upon any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or in any
amendment or supplement thereto, or arising solely out of or based solely
upon any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading to the extent, but
only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in
any information so furnished in writing by such Holder to the Company
specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or such Prospectus
and that such information was reasonably relied upon by the Company for use
in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of prospectus or
to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder's
proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed
and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus, or in any
amendment or supplement thereto. In no event shall the liability of any
selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the
net proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable
Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding
shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity
hereunder (an "Indemnified Party"), such Indemnified Party shall promptly
notify the Person from whom indemnity is sought (the "Indemnifying Party") in
writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof,
including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Party and the payment of all fees and expenses incurred in
connection with defense thereof; provided, that the failure of any
Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying
Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement, except
(and only) to the extent that it shall be finally determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or
further review) that such failure shall have proximately and materially
adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.
An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate
counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but
the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indem-
nified Party or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in
writing to pay such fees and expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall
have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ
counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such
Proceeding; or (3) the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any
impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying
Party, and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that a
conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent
such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such
Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects
to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the
Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and
such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party). The
Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such
Proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior
written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any
pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party,
unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified
Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such
Proceeding.
All fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including
reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with
investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not
inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as
incurred, within ten (10) Business Days of written notice thereof to the
Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an
Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder; provided,
that the Indemnifying Party may require such Indemnified Party to undertake
to reimburse all such fees and expenses to the extent it is finally
judicially determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to
indemnification hereunder).
(d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under Section
5(a) or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party (by reason of public
policy or otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying
such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and
Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions
that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and
Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material
fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by, such
Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a
result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations
set forth in Section 5(c), any reasonable attorneys' or other reasonable fees
or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any Proceeding to the
extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or expenses if
the indemnification provided for in this Section was available to such party
in accordance with its terms.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into
account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), no Holder
shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of
the amount by which the proceeds actually received by such Holder from the
sale of the Registrable Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the
amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by
reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.
The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section
are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to
the Indemnified Parties.
6. Miscellaneous
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a
Holder, of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the
Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all
rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of dam-
ages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this
Agreement. The Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not
provide adequate compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach
by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees
that, in the event of any action for specific performance in respect of such
breach, it shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any of
its subsidiaries has, as of the date hereof, nor shall the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any
agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights
granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the
provisions hereof. Except as and to the extent specified in Schedule 6(b)
hereto, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has previously
entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to
any of its securities to any Person. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, without the written consent of the Holders of a majority of the
then outstanding Registrable Securities, the Company shall not grant to any
Person the right to request the Company to register any securities of the
Company under the Securities Act unless the rights so granted are subject in
all respects to the prior rights in full of the Holders set forth herein, and
are not otherwise in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions of this
Agreement.
(c) No Piggyback on Registrations. Except as and to the extent
specified in Schedule 6(b) hereto, neither the Company nor any of its
security holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto)
may include securities of the Company in the Registration Statement other
than the Registrable Securities, and the Company shall not after the date
hereof enter into any agreement providing any such right to any of its
security holders.
(d) Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time when there is not an
effective Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities
and the Underlying Shares, the Company shall determine to prepare and file
with the Commission a registration statement relating to an offering for its
own account or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its
13
equity securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated
under the Securities Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity
securities to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any
entity or business or equity securities issuable in connection with stock
option or other employee benefit plans, then the Company shall send to each
holder of Registrable Securities written notice of such determination and, if
within twenty (20) days after receipt of such notice, any such holder shall
so request in writing, the Company shall include in such registration
statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such holder requests
to be registered; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required
to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 7(d) that are
eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144(k) of the Commission.
(e) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions
hereof may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by
the Company and the Holders of at least two-thirds of the then outstanding
Registrable Securities; provided, however, that, for the purposes of this
sentence, Registrable Securities that are owned, directly or indirectly, by
the Company, or an Affiliate of the Company are not deemed outstanding.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the
provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the
rights of Holders and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights
of other Holders may be given by Holders of at least a majority of the
Registrable Securities to which such waiver or consent relates; provided,
however, that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified,
or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the immediately
preceding sentence.
(f) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or
deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at
the facsimile telephone number specified in this Section prior to 8:00 p.m.
(New York City time) on a Business Day, (ii) the Business Day after the date
of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile
at the facsimile telephone number specified in the Purchase Agreement later
than 8:00 p.m. (New York City time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m.
(New York City time) on such date, (iii) the Business Day following the date
of mailing, if sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service, or
(iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be
given. The address for such notices and communications shall be as follows:
If to the Company: I-Link Incorporated
00000 X. Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (801)_______
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
With copies to: Hardy & Xxxxx
00 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxx
14
If to the Purchaser:JNC Opportunity Fund Ltd.
c/o Olympia Capital (Cayman) Ltd.
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, 00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx XX00, Xxxxxxx
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Director
With copies to: Encore Capital Management, L.L.C.
00000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Managing Member
With copies to: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxx
If to any other Person who is then the registered Holder:
To the address of such Holder as it appears in the
stock transfer books of the Company
or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same
manner, by such Person.
(g) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each
of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company
may not assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written
consent of each Holder. Each Holder may assign their respective rights
hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted under the Purchase
Agreement.
(h) Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights of each Holder
hereunder, including the right to have the Company register for resale
Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, shall
be automatically assignable by each Holder to any Affiliate of such Holder,
any other Holder or Affiliate of any other Holder if: (i) the Holder 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)
following such transfer or assignment the further disposition of such
securities by the transferee or assignees is restricted under the Securities
Act and applicable state securities laws, (iv) at or before the time the
Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this
Section, the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be
bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement, and (v) such transfer shall
have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Purchase
Agreement. The rights to assignment shall apply to the Holders (and to
subsequent) successors and assigns.
(i) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an
original and, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
Agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile
transmission, such signature shall create a valid binding obligation of the
party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with
the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature were the original
thereof.
(j) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of
New York without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each
party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state
and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, borough of Manhattan, for
the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with
any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with
respect to the enforcement of the any of the Transaction Documents), and
hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or
proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction
of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each
party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to
process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy
thereof to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this
Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient
service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be
deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted
by law.
(k) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are
cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(l) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction
of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the
parties hereto shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an
alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as
that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is
hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they
would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and
restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared
invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(m) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience
of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(n) Shares Held by The Company and its Affiliates. Whenever the
consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable
Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company
or its Affiliates (other than any Holder or transferees or successors or
assigns thereof if such Holder is deemed to be an Affiliate solely by reason
of its holdings of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in
determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such
required percentage.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration
Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
I-LINK INCORPORATED
By:_____________________________________
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: President
JNC OPPORTUNITY FUND LTD.
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
Annex A
Plan of Distribution
The Selling Stockholders, their pledgees, donees, transferees or other
successors-in-interest, may, from time to time, sell all or a portion of the
shares of Common Stock being registered hereunder (the "Shares") in privately
negotiated transactions or otherwise, at fixed prices that may be changed, at
market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such
market prices or at negotiated prices. The Shares may be sold by the Selling
Stockholders by one or more of the following methods, without limitation: (a)
block trades in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell
the Shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as
principal to facilitate the transaction, (b) purchases by a broker or dealer
as principal and resale by such broker or dealer for its account pursuant to
this Prospectus, (c) an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of
the applicable exchange, (d) ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions
in which the broker solicits purchasers, (e) privately negotiated
transactions, (f) short sales, (g) a combination of any such methods of sale
and (h) any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
From time to time the Selling Stockholders may engage in short sales,
short sales against the box, puts and calls and other transactions in
securities of the Company or derivatives thereof, and may sell and deliver
the Shares in connection therewith or in settlement of securities loans. If
the Selling Stockholders engage in such transactions, the applicable
conversion price may be affected. From time to time the Selling Stockholders
may pledge their Shares pursuant to the margin provisions of its customer
agreements with its brokers. Upon a default by the Selling Stockholders, the
broker may offer and sell the pledged Shares from time to time.
In effecting sales, brokers and dealers engaged by the Selling
Stockholders may arrange for other brokers or dealers to participate in such
sales. Brokers or dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the
Selling Stockholders (or, if any such broker-dealer acts as agent for the
purchaser of such shares, from such purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated
which are not expected to exceed those customary in the types of transactions
involved. Broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a
specified number of such Shares at a stipulated price per share, and, to the
extent such broker-dealer is unable to do so acting as agent for a Selling
Stockholder, to purchase as principal any unsold Shares at the price required
to fulfill the broker-dealer commitment to the Selling Stockholders. Broker-
dealers who acquire Shares as principal may thereafter resell such Shares
from time to time in transactions (which may involve block transactions and
sales to and through other broker-dealers, including transactions of the
nature described above) in the over-the-counter market or otherwise at prices
and on terms then prevailing at the time of sale, at prices then related to
the then-current market price or in negotiated transactions and, in
connection with such resales, may pay to or receive from the purchasers of
such Shares commissions as described above. The Selling Stockholders may
also sell the Shares in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act,
rather than pursuant to this Prospectus.
The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that
participate with the Selling Stockholders in sales of the Shares may be
deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act in
connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such
broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the Shares purchased
by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the
Securities Act.
The Company is required to pay all fees and expenses incident to the
registration of the Shares, including fees and disbursements of counsel to
the Selling Stockholders. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling
Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act.
