EXHIBIT 10.2
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of March 29, 1999, between Digital Biometrics, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and the parties who have executed this Agreement
and whose names appear on Schedule 1 hereto (each party listed on Schedule 1
hereto, a "Purchaser" and collectively, the "Purchasers").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Securities Purchase
Agreement, dated as of the date hereof among the Company and the Purchasers (the
"Purchase Agreement").
The Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are
defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in
the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
"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 "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 Minnesota 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 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Common Stock" means the Company's Common Stock, $.01 par value per
share.
"Effectiveness Date" means the 90th day following the Closing Date
or, if such day is not a Business Day, the Effectiveness Date shall be the next
succeeding Business Day.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(a).
"Exchange Act" means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Filing Date" means the 30th day following the Closing Date or, if
such day is not a Business Day, the succeeding Business Day.
"Holder" or "Holders" means the holder or holders, as the case may
be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.
"Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5(c).
"Indemnifying Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5(c).
"Losses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
"Person" means an individual or a corporation, partnership, trust,
incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability
company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or political subdivision
thereof) or other entity of any kind.
"Proceeding" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or
proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial
proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in the Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the
Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with
respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable
Securities covered by the Registration Statement, and all other amendments and
supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all
material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in
such Prospectus.
"Purchaser Warrants" means the Common Stock purchase warrants issued
to the Purchasers on the Closing Date pursuant to the terms of the Purchase
Agreement.
"Registrable Securities" means the (i) Shares purchased by the
Purchasers on the Closing Date pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and (ii) the
shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise in full of the Purchaser Warrants.
The Registration Statement shall cover at least such number of shares of Common
Stock as equals the sum of (x) the number of Shares issued on the Closing Date
and (2) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise in full of
the Warrant.
"Registration Delay Payments" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2(c).
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"Registration Statement" means the registration statement
contemplated by Section 2(a) (covering such number of Registrable Securities and
any additional Registration Statements contemplated in the definition of
Registrable Securities), 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 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.
"Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
"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.
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 promulgated under
the Securities Act or, if the Company is not then permitted to register the
resale of Registrable Securities on Form S-3, the Registration Statement shall
be on such other appropriate form in accordance herewith. 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 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) promulgated under the Securities
Act, as determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion
letter to such effect, addressed 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 all of the Registrable Securities
covered by such Registration Statement during the Effectiveness Period,
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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, the investment banker that will administer the offering will be selected
by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be included in
such offering. In connection with any Underwritten Offering, if the managing
underwriters advise the Company and the participating 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. 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.
(c) If (i) a Registration Statement covering the Registrable
Securities is not filed on or before the Filing Date (if the Company files such
Registration Statement without affording the Holder the opportunity to review
and comment on the same as required by Section 3(a) hereof, the Company shall
not be deemed to have satisfied this clause (i)), or (ii) the Company fails to
file with the Commission a request for acceleration in accordance with Rule
12d1-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act within five (5) days of the date that
the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the
Commission that a Registration Statement will not be "reviewed" or is not
subject to further review, provided, however, that such five (5) day period may
be extended in the event that the Company reasonably believes that such
Registration Statement should be amended to include material non-public
information; or (iii) a Registration Statement covering the Registrable
Securities is not declared effective by the Commission on or before the
Effectiveness Date, or (iv) after the Registration Statement has been declared
effective by the Commission, the Registration Statement is either not effective
as to the Registrable Securities throughout the applicable Effectiveness Period
(unless such Registration Statement is succeeded by a subsequent Registration
Statement filed with and declared effective by the Commission within 10 Business
Days) or the Holders are not permitted for any reason to make sales thereunder
during such period, or (v) an amendment to the Registration Statement is not
filed by the Company with the Commission within ten (10) days of the
Commission's notifying the Company that such amendment is required in order for
the Registration Statement to be declared effective (any such failure or breach
being referred to as an "Event," and for purposes of clauses (i), (iii) and (iv)
the date on which such Event occurs, or for purposes of clause (ii) the date on
which such five (5) day period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause (v) the
date on which such ten (10) day period is exceeded, being referred to as "Event
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Date"), then, in any such case, as partial relief for the damages suffered
therefrom by the Holders (which remedy shall not be exclusive of any other
remedies available at law or in equity), the Company shall pay to the Holders
1.0% of aggregate purchase price paid by such Holder (or its
predecessor-in-interest) on the Closing Date for such Holder's Shares pursuant
to the Purchase Agreement, in cash on the Event Date and an additional 1.0% for
each applicable 30 day period thereafter, as liquidated damages. Commencing the
60th day after the Event Date, for each applicable 30 day period thereafter, the
Company shall pay to the Holders 3.0% of the aggregate purchase price paid by
such Holder (or its predecessor-in-interest) on the Closing Date for such
Holder's Shares pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, in cash until such time as
the applicable Event is cured; provided, that the total amount of liquidated
damages the Company shall pay to the Holder pursuant to this Section 5(c)(i)
shall not exceed $____________ in aggregate. The payments to which a Holder
shall be entitled pursuant to this Section are referred to herein as
"Registration Delay Payments." Registration Delay Payments shall be calculated
on a cumulative basis.
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 (and any additional Registration Statements as
may be required hereunder) in accordance with Section 2(a), 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 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 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 opinion of 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 if the Holders of a
majority of the Registrable Securities, or any managing underwriters, shall
reasonably object in writing within three (3) Business Days of their receipt
thereof (provided, that any days that shall elapse after the date the Holders of
a majority of the Registrable Securities or any managing underwriters provides
the Company such objection and the date such party approves the filing of the
Registration Statement shall not count towards determining the Filing Date or
the Effectiveness Date).
(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
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Registration Statement continuously effective as to all 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 practicable to any comments received from the Commission
with respect to the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and promptly
provide the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to
the Commission relating to the Registration Statement; and (iv) comply 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 and any
managing underwriters immediately (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) whenever
the Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a "review" of such
Registration Statement; (C) whenever the Company receives (or representatives of
the Company receive on its behalf) any oral or written comments from the
Commission in respect of a Registration Statement (copies or, in the case of
oral comments, summaries of such comments shall be promptly furnished by the
Company to the Holders; and (D) 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. In addition, the
Company shall furnish the Holders with copies of all intended written responses
to the comments contemplated in clause (i)(C) of this Section
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3(c) no later than one Business Day in advance of the filing of such responses
with the Commission so that the Holder shall have the opportunity to comment
thereon.
(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 and any managing underwriters, without
charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and each
amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and all exhibits
to the extent requested by such Person (including those previously furnished or
incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such documents with the
Commission.
(g) Promptly deliver to each Holder and 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 and
any underwriters 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 as any Holder or underwriter reasonably requests in writing, to
keep each such reg istration 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
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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 sold pursuant to a Registration Statement, which
certificates shall be free 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 practicable, 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 National
Market 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) In the case of an Underwritten Offering, 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) 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 selling Holder
and each such underwriter, in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory
to any such managing underwriters covering the matters customarily covered in
opinions requested in Underwritten Offerings and such other matters as may be
reasonably requested by or such underwriters; (iii) immediately prior to the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or at the time of delivery of any
Registrable Securities sold pursuant thereto (at the option of the
underwriters), 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
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accountants of any subsidiary 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 each Person and in
such 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 6
(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 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 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 and make generally available to its security holders earning
statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and
Rule 158 not later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month period (or 90 days
after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a fiscal year) (i)
commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Securities are
sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts Underwritten Offering
and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, commencing on the
first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company after the effective date of
the Registration Statement, which statement shall cover said 12-month period, or
end shorter periods as is consistent with the requirements of Rule 158.
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(o) The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the
Company such information regarding the distribution of such Registrable
Securities as is required by law to be disclosed in the Registration Statement
or any amendment thereto or any supplement to the Prospectus 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.
(p) 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 (i) the inclusion therein of language, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to such Holder, to the effect that the
ownership by such Holder of such securities in not to be construed as a
recommendation by such Holder of the investment quality of the Company's
securities covered thereby that such Holder will assist in meeting any future
financial requirements of the Company or (ii) 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.
(q) Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable
Securities that (i) it will not offer or 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), (ii) it will
comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as
applicable to it in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to
the Registration Statement and (iii) so long as a Registration Statement
covering all of the Registrable Securities is effective and all of the Holders
are permitted to make sales of Registrable Securities under such Registration
Statement, such Holder will only sell the Registrable Securities that it holds
pursuant to such Registration Statement or in accordance with Rule 144
promulgated under the Securities Act. Each Holder shall indemnify and hold
harmless the Company and its officers, directors and agents, to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities, costs and expenses, as incurred, arising out of or
relating to the breach by such Holder of its obligations under this Section
3(r).
(r) 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 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 Pro spectus or
Registration Statement.
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4. Registration Expenses
(a) All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or
compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall, except as and to the extent
specified in Section 4(b), 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 Stock Market, Inc. and the Nasdaq
National Market and each other securities exchange or market or over-the-counter
bulletin board on which Registrable Securities are required hereunder to be
listed and (B) in compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws (including,
without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters or
Holders in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities
and determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Securities for
investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Holders of a majority of
Registrable Securities may reasonably 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, (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 limi tation, 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 Holders shall be responsible for all costs, fees and expenses
in connection therewith, except for the fees and disbursements of the Company's
legal counsel and accountants, which shall be borne by the Company.
5. Indemnification
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement and without limitation as to
time, 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
-11-
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
or any such underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of
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 or alleged untrue statement of material fact
contained in the Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or any form of
prospectus, or arising solely out of or based solely upon any omission or
alleged 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. 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.
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(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 promptly shall 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
independent outside 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 Indemnified Party
or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such
fees and expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to
assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named
parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both
such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party
shall have been advised by 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), provided, however that the Indemnifying Party shall
only be responsible for the fees and expenses of one law firm as separate
counsel for the Indemnified 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 10 Business
Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party (regard less 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).
-13-
(d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under Section 5(a)
or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party because of a failure or refusal
of a governmental authority to enforce such indemnification in accordance with
its terms (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 Purchaser shall not be
required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by
which the proceeds actually received by such Purchaser from the sale of the
Registrable Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any
damages that such Purchaser 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 damages,
will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The
Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate
compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the
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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. Except as set forth on Schedule 6(b)
annexed hereto, 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 set forth on Schedule
6(b) annexed 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 set forth on Schedule
6(c) annexed 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 enter into any agreement providing any such right to any
of its securityholders.
(d) Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time during the
Effectiveness Period there is not an effective Registration Statement and the
Company shall determine to prepare and file with the Commission a registration
statement relating to an offering for its own account or the account of others
under the Securities Act of any of its equity securities, other than on Form S-4
or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the Securities Act) or their then
equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in connection with
any acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities issuable in
connection with stock option or other employee benefit plans, then the Company
shall send to each holder 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 the Registrable Securities such holder
requests to be registered, except that if, in connection with any Underwritten
Offering for the account of the Company the managing underwriter(s) thereof
shall impose a limitation on the number of shares of Common Stock which may be
included in the registration statement because, in such underwriter(s)'
judgment, such limitation is necessary to effect an orderly public distribution
of securities covered thereby, then the Company shall be obligated to include in
such registration statement only such limited portion of the Registrable
Securities for to which such holder has requested inclusion hereunder. Any
exclusion of Registrable Securities shall be made pro rata among the holders
seeking to include Registrable Securities, in proportion to the number of
Registrable Securities sought to be
-15-
included by such holders; provided, however, that the Company shall not exclude
any Registrable Securities unless the Company has first excluded all outstanding
securities the holders of which are not entitled by right to inclusion of
securities in such registration statement; and provided, further, however, that,
after giving effect to the immediately preceding proviso, any exclusion of
Registrable Securities shall be made pro rata with holders of other securities
having the right to include such securities in such registration statement. No
right to registration of Registrable Securities under this Section shall be
construed to limit any registration otherwise required hereunder.
(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 a majority 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 4:30 p.m.
(Minnetonka 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 4:30
p.m. (Minnetonka time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m. (Minnetonka 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: Digital Biometrics, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
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With copies to: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx & Brand
3300 Norwest Center
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
If to the Purchasers: to the addresses set forth on Schedule 1 hereto
If to any other Person who is then the registered Holder:
To the address of such Holder as it appears in
the stock transfer books of the Company
or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same
manner, by such Person.
(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 Purchaser may assign its rights hereunder in the manner and to
the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
(h) Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights of each Purchaser
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 such Purchaser to any assignee or transferee of all
or a portion of the Shares, the Purchaser Warrants or the Registrable Securities
without the consent of the Company if: (i) such Purchaser 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 such registration rights are
being transferred or assigned, (iii) 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 (iv) such transfer shall have been made in
accordance with the applicable requirements of the Purchase Agreement. The
rights to assignment shall apply to the Purchasers' (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
-17-
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
in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to
principles of conflicts of 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 Agree ment 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 restric tion. 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.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration
Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
Company:
DIGITAL BIOMETRICS, INC.
By:
-------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Executive Vice President
Purchasers:
-----------------------------------------
By:
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Name:
Title:
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By:
-------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
-----------------------------------------
By:
-------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
-----------------------------------------
By:
-------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
-----------------------------------------
By:
-------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
-----------------------------------------
By:
-------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
-----------------------------------------
By:
-------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Schedule I
Purchaser Purchase Price
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