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EXHIBIT 10.3
EXECUTION COPY
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made as of
August 29, 2001, by and between eMerge Interactive, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), and Allflex Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Investor").
RECITALS
1. The Company and the Investor are parties to that certain
Investment Agreement, dated effective as of August 27, 2001 (the "Investment
Agreement"), relating to the terms of closing an investment in the Company's
Class A common stock, par value $0.008 per share (the "Common Stock").
2. The obligations of the parties under the Investment Agreement
are conditioned, among other things, upon the execution and delivery by the
parties of this Agreement.
3. The Company and the Investor desire to grant and to be granted
the rights created in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
herein contained, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
1. DEFINITIONS. In addition to the other terms defined in this
Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Commission" means the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission, or any other federal agency at the time administering the
Securities Act.
(b) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, or any similar federal statute, and the rules and regulations
of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.
(c) "Person" means an individual, a corporation, a
partnership, a limited liability company, a joint venture, a trust, an estate,
an unincorporated organization, a government and any agency or political
subdivision thereof.
(d) "Registrable Securities" means (i) the Shares issued
pursuant to the Investment Agreement, and (ii) any other securities of the
Company distributable on, with respect to, or in substitution of such
Registrable Securities, except in either case for those that have been
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registered, sold or transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement,
or are available for sale or transfer pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities
Act.
(e) "Registration Expenses" means all expenses incurred
in effecting the registration provided for in Section 2, including without
limitation all registration and filing fees, printing expenses, fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company, underwriting expenses (other than
fees, commissions or discounts) and Company expenses of complying with the
securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdictions (but excluding fees and
disbursements of counsel and other agents for the selling holders of Registrable
Securities).
(f) "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or any similar federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.
2. DEMAND REGISTRATION.
(a) At any time subsequent to the date of this Agreement,
the holder or holders of at least two-thirds of the Registrable Securities, on
behalf of all holders of Registrable Securities, may notify the Company in
writing that such Investors intend to offer for public sale any Registrable
Securities (but only if the aggregate number of shares of such Registrable
Securities to be offered for public sale is more than 50% of the Registrable
Securities outstanding). Upon receipt of this written notice, the Company will
use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities as may be
requested by the Investors to be included in a registration statement on Form
S-3 under the Securities Act, which Form S-3, subject to Section 5(a), will be
prepared and filed with the Commission within 10 calendar days of receipt of the
above referenced notice (or, if that date is not a business day, on the next
succeeding business day). The Company will not be required to file any
registration statement for securities other than shares of Common Stock. In the
event the registration attempted under this Section 2 pursuant to which the
Company would be responsible for the Registration Expenses of the Investors is
not consummated, then the Company shall pay such expenses and shall remain
responsible for such expenses of the Investors with respect to one completed
registration made under this Section 2; provided, however, that if a
registration attempted under this Section 2 is not completed solely as a result
of the withdrawal of the Investors requesting such registration, unless such
Investors reimburse the Registration Expenses incurred by the Company, such
registration statement shall count against the one registration statement that
the Company is required to complete. The Investors covered by the registration
statement who desire to do so may sell such Registrable Securities in an
offering pursuant to this Section 2 that is underwritten ("Underwritten
Offering"). In an Underwritten Offering, the investment banker or investment
bankers and manager or managers that will administer the offering will be
selected by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in
the offering, subject to approval of the Company (which will not be unreasonably
withheld).
(b) A registration statement filed pursuant to the
request of the Investors may include other securities of the Company with
respect to which "piggy-back" registration rights have been granted, and may
include securities of the Company being sold for the account of the Company;
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provided, however, that if the Company shall request inclusion in any
registration pursuant to this Section 2 of the securities being sold for its own
account, or if other persons shall request inclusion in any registration
undertaken pursuant to this Section 2, the Investors shall, on behalf of all
entities requesting inclusion in such registration, offer to include such
securities in the offering; provided, however, that the Investors may condition
any such offer on their acceptance of reasonable conditions (including, without
limitation, if such offering is an Underwritten Offering, that the Company or
any other such requesting holders agree in writing to enter into an underwriting
agreement with usual and customary terms). Notwithstanding any other provisions
of this Section 2, if the representative of the underwriters advises the
Investors in writing that marketing factors require a limitation on the number
of shares to be underwritten, the number of shares to be underwritten and
included in the registration shall be allocated: (i) first, to the Investors
requiring registration, pro rata among such Investors on the basis of the number
of shares of Registrable Securities for which each such Investor has requested
registration, (ii) second, to the Company and (iii) third, to the other holders
requesting inclusion in the registration, pro rata among the respective holders
thereof on the basis of the number of shares for which each such requesting
holder has requested registration. If a Person who has requested inclusion in
such registration as provided above does not agree to the terms of any such
underwriting, such Person shall be excluded therefrom by written notice from the
Company, the underwriter or the Investors. The securities so excluded shall also
be withdrawn from registration.
(c) Except as provided in Section 2(a) with respect to
withdrawn registration statements, all Registration Expenses of the Investors
incurred in connection with the registration requested pursuant to this Section
2 will be borne by the Company.
3. "PIGGY-BACK" REGISTRATIONS.
(a) If the Company decides to register any of its Common
Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock under the
Securities Act on a form which is suitable for an offering for cash of shares of
the Company held by third parties and which is not a registration solely to
implement an employee benefit plan, a registration statement on Form S-4 (or
successor form) or a transaction to which Rule 145 or any other similar rule of
the Commission is applicable, the Company will promptly give written notice to
the Investors of its intention to effect such a registration. Subject to Section
3(b) below, the Company will use its reasonable efforts to effect the
registration under the Securities Act of all Registrable Securities that the
Investors request be included in such registration by a written notice delivered
to the Company within 15 days after the notice given by the Company. The
Investors agree that any securities they request to be included in a Company
registration pursuant to this Section 3 will be included by the Company on the
same form of registration statement as has been selected by the Company for the
securities the Company is registering for sale for its own account.
(b) If the registration involves an Underwritten
Offering, the Company will not be required to register Registrable Securities in
excess of the amount that the principal underwriter reasonably and in good faith
recommends may be included in such offering (a "Cutback"), which recommendation,
and supporting reasoning, shall be delivered to the Investors. If such a Cutback
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occurs, the number of shares that are entitled to be included in the
registration and underwriting shall be allocated in the following manner: (i)
first, to the Company for any securities it proposes to sell for its own
account, (ii) second, to the Investors requiring such registration, pro rata
among such Investors on the basis of the number of shares of Registrable
Securities held by the Investors for which each such requesting Investor has
requested registration, and (iii) third, to the other holders requesting
inclusion in the registration, pro rata among the respective holders thereof on
the basis of the number of shares for which each such requesting holder has
requested registration.
(c) If the Company elects to terminate any registration
filed under this Section 3, the Company will have no obligation to register the
securities sought to be included by the Investors in such registration. If the
Company includes in such registration any securities to be offered by it, all
Registration Expenses of the Investors will be borne by the Company.
4. PROCEDURE FOR REGISTRATION. Whenever the Company is required
under Section 2 to register Registrable Securities, it agrees to do the
following:
(a) use its reasonable best efforts to keep such
registration statement continuously effective until the Investors may first sell
any of the Registrable Securities under Rule 144 (i.e., one year from the
Closing Date, as defined in the Investment Agreement) in order to complete the
proposed distribution; upon the occurrence of any event that would cause the
registration statement or the prospectus contained therein to contain a material
misstatement or omission, file promptly an appropriate amendment to such
registration statement correcting any such misstatement or omission;
(b) prepare and file with the Commission a registration
statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and prepare and file with
the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the registration
statement as may be necessary to keep the registration statement effective for
the period set forth in Section 4(a); cause the prospectus to be supplemented by
any required prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant
to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, and to comply fully with the applicable
provisions of Rules 424 and 430A under the Securities Act in a timely manner;
and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the
disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement during the
applicable period in accordance with the intended method or methods of
distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement or
supplement to the prospectus;
(c) advise the underwriter(s), if any, and selling
Investors promptly and, if requested by such Persons, to confirm such advice in
writing, (i) when the prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment has been filed, and, with respect to the registration statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective, (ii) of
any request by the Commission for amendments to the registration statement or
amendments or supplements to the prospectus or for additional information
relating thereto, (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement under the Securities
Act or of the suspension by any state securities commission of the qualification
of the Registrable Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the
initiation of any proceeding for any of the preceding purposes, (iv) of the
existence of any fact or the happening of any event that
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makes any statement of a material fact made in the registration statement, the
prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any document incorporated by
reference therein untrue, or that requires the making of any additions to or
changes in the registration statement or the prospectus in order to make the
statements therein not misleading. If at any time the Commission shall issue any
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement or any
state securities commission or other regulatory authority shall issue an order
suspending the qualification or exemption from qualification of the Registrable
Securities under state securities or blue sky laws, the Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the
earliest possible time;
(d) furnish to each of the selling Investors and each of
the underwriter(s), if any, before filing with the Commission, copies of the
registration statement or any prospectus included therein or any amendments or
supplements to any such registration statement or prospectus (including, if
requested, all documents incorporated by reference after the initial filing of
such registration statement), and the Company will consult with the selling
Investors of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement or
the underwriter(s), if any, prior to the filing of such registration statement
or prospectus;
(e) if requested by any selling Investor or the
underwriter(s), if any, incorporate in the registration statement or prospectus,
pursuant to a supplement or post-effective amendment if necessary, such
information as such selling Investor and underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably
request to have included therein, with respect to the number of Registrable
Securities being sold to such underwriter(s), the purchase price being paid
therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be
sold in such offering and make all required filings of such prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company
is notified of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment;
(f) furnish to each selling Investor and each of the
underwriter(s), if any, without charge, at least one copy of the registration
statement, as first filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto,
including all documents incorporated by reference therein and all exhibits
(including exhibits incorporated therein by reference);
(g) deliver to each selling Investor and each of the
underwriter(s), if any, without charge, as many copies of the prospectus
(including each preliminary prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto
as such Persons reasonably may request; the Company hereby consents to the use
of the prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Investors and each of the underwriter(s), if any, in connection with the
offering and the sale of the Registrable Securities covered by the prospectus or
any amendment or supplement thereto;
(h) prior to any public offering of Registrable
Securities, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to register or
qualify the Registrable Securities under the securities or blue sky laws of such
jurisdictions as the selling Investors or underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably
request and do any and all other acts or things reasonably necessary or
advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable
Securities covered by the registration statement;
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provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to register or qualify
as a foreign corporation where it is not now so qualified or to take any action
that would subject it to the service of process in suits or to taxation, other
than as to matters and transactions relating to the registration statement, in
any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject;
(i) cooperate with the selling Investors and the
underwriter(s), if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any
restrictive legends; and enable such Registrable Securities to be in such
denominations and registered in such names as the holders or the underwriter(s),
if any, may request prior to any sale of Registrable Securities made by such
underwriter(s);
(j) if any fact or event contemplated by clause (c)(iv)
above shall exist or have occurred, promptly prepare a supplement or
post-effective amendment to the registration statement or related prospectus or
any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required
document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of Registrable
Securities, the prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading;
(k) cooperate and assist in any filings required to be
made with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") and in
the performance of any due diligence investigation by any underwriter (including
any "qualified independent underwriter") that is required to be retained in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the NASD;
(l) otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply
with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally
available to its security holders, as soon as practicable, a consolidated
earnings statement meeting the requirements of the Securities Act and Rule 158
thereunder (which need not be audited) for the twelve-month period (i)
commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Securities are
sold to underwriters in a firm or best efforts Underwritten Offering or (ii) if
not sold to underwriters in such an offering, beginning with the first month of
the Company's first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of the
registration statement;
(m) enter into such customary agreements (including an
underwriting agreement in form acceptable to the Company) with any underwriter
in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable
Securities;
(n) make available for inspection by any holder of
Registrable Securities included in such registration statement, any underwriter
participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement, and
any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such seller or
underwriter (collectively, the "Inspectors"), all financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the
"Records"), as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise their
due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company's officers, directors and
employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector
in connection with such registration statement; provided that records which the
Company
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determines, in good faith, to be confidential and which it notifies the
Inspectors are confidential shall not be disclosed by the Inspectors unless (i)
the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement
or omission in the registration statement or (ii) the release of such Records is
ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent
jurisdiction; provided, further, each holder of Registrable Securities agrees
that it will, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court
of competent jurisdiction, give notice to the Company and allow the Company, at
its expense, to undertake appropriate action and to prevent disclosure of the
Records deemed confidential.
5. LIMITATION ON REGISTRATION; LOCK-UP AGREEMENT; SUSPENSION OF
SALES.
(a) The Company is not required to file more than one
registration statement under Section 2(a).
(b) Each holder of Registrable Securities agrees not to
effect or request any public sale or distribution of securities which are the
same as or which are similar in nature as the securities of the Company being
registered, during the 14 days prior to and during the 90-day period beginning
on, the effective date of a registration statement filed by the Company (except
as part of such registration).
(c) The Company agrees not to effect or initiate a
registration statement for any public sale or distribution of any securities
similar to those being registered, or any securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for such securities, during the 14 days prior to,
and during the 90-day period beginning on, the effective date of any
registration statement in which the holders of Registrable Securities are
participating (except as part of such registration).
(d) Each holder of Registrable Securities agrees that,
upon receipt of notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the
kind described in Section 4(c)(ii-iv), such holder will forthwith discontinue
disposition of such Registrable Securities following the effective date of a
registration statement covering such Registrable Securities until such holder's
receipt of copies of the prospectus supplement and/or post-effective amendment
contemplated by Section 4(j), or until it is advised in writing by the Company
that the use of the applicable prospectus may be resumed and, in either case,
has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are
incorporate or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such prospectus or
registration statement.
6. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
each Investor and each Person, if any, who controls any Investor within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act,
from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses
arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact contained in any registration statement or prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto), or arising out of or based upon any omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except
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insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses arise out of or
are based upon any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission which has been made therein or omitted therefrom in reliance upon and
in conformity with the information relating to the Investors furnished in
writing to the Company by the Investors expressly for use in connection
therewith. The foregoing indemnity agreement shall be in addition to any
liability which the Company may otherwise have.
(b) If any action, suit or proceeding shall be brought
against the Investors or any Person controlling the Investors in respect of
which indemnity may be sought against the Company, the Investors or such
controlling Person shall promptly notify the parties against whom
indemnification is being sought (collectively the "Indemnifying Parties" and
each an "Indemnifying Party"), and such Indemnifying Parties shall assume the
defense thereof, including the employment of counsel and payment of all fees and
expenses; provided, however, that failure to so notify an Indemnifying Party
shall not relieve such Indemnifying Party from any liability unless and to the
extent it is prejudiced as a result of such failure. The Investors or any such
controlling Person shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such
action, suit or proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the
fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Investors or
such controlling Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Parties have agreed in
writing to pay such fees and expenses, (ii) the Indemnifying Parties have failed
to assume the defense and employ counsel, or (iii) the named parties to any such
action, suit or proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the
Investors or such controlling Person and the Indemnifying Parties and the
Investors or such controlling Person shall have been advised in writing by its
counsel that representation of such indemnified party and any Indemnifying Party
by the same counsel would be inappropriate under applicable standards of
professional conduct (whether or not such representation by the same counsel has
been proposed) due to actual or potential differing interests between them (in
which case the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense
of such action, suit or proceeding on behalf of the Investors or such
controlling Person). It is understood, however, that the Indemnifying Parties
shall, in connection with any one such action, suit or proceeding or separate
but substantially similar or related actions, suits or proceedings in the same
jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be
liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of only one separate firm of
attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at any time for the Investors and
controlling Persons not having actual or potential differing interests with the
Investors or among themselves, which firm shall be designated in writing by the
Investors, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are
incurred. The Indemnifying Parties shall not be liable for any settlement of any
such action, suit or proceeding effected without their written consent, but if
settled with such written consent, or if there be a final judgment for the
plaintiff in any such action, suit or proceeding, the Indemnifying Parties agree
to indemnify and hold harmless the Investors, to the extent provided in
paragraph (a) hereof, and any such controlling Person from and against any loss,
claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment.
(c) Each Investor, severally and not jointly, agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and its directors and officers, and any
Person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the
indemnity from the Company to the Investors set forth in paragraph (a) hereof,
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but only with respect to information relating to such Investor furnished in
writing by or on behalf of such Investor expressly for use in the registration
statement or prospectus; provided, however, that no Investor shall be liable for
any claims hereunder in an amount in excess of the net proceeds received by such
Investor from the sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the
registration statement. If any action, suit or proceeding shall be brought
against the Company, any of its directors or officers, or any such controlling
Person based on the registration statement or prospectus, and in respect of
which indemnity may be sought against the Investors pursuant to this paragraph
(c), the Investors shall have the rights and duties given to the Company by
paragraph (b) above (except that if the Company shall have assumed the defense
thereof the Investors shall not be required to do so, but may employ separate
counsel therein and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and
expenses of such counsel shall be at the Investors' expense), and the Company,
its directors and officers, and any such controlling Person shall have the
rights and duties given to the Investors by paragraph (b) above.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 6
is unavailable (except if inapplicable according to its terms) to an indemnified
party under paragraphs (a) or (c) hereof in respect of any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then an 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,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one
hand, and the Investors, on the other hand, from their sale of Registrable
Securities (it being expressly understood and agreed that the relative benefits
received by the Company from the sale of the Registrable Securities shall be
equal to the amount of net proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the
Registrable Securities to the Investors), or (ii) if the allocation provided by
clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i)
above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the
Investors, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions
that resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the
Company, on the one hand, and the Investors, on the other hand, shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, on the one hand,
or by the Investors, on the other hand, and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission.
(e) The Company and the Investors agree that it would not
be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6 were determined
by a pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The
amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to in paragraph (d) above
shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with investigating any claim or defending any such action, suit or
proceeding. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6, the Investors
shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which
the net proceeds received by them in
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connection with the sale of the Registrable Securities exceeds the amount of any
damages which the Investors have 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.
(f) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained
in this Section 6 and the representations and warranties of the Company set
forth in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect,
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any of the Investors or
any Person controlling the Investors, the Company, its directors or officers or
any Person controlling the Company. A successor to the Investors or any Person
controlling the Investors, or to the Company, its directors or officers or any
Person controlling the Company shall be entitled to the benefits of the
indemnity, contribution and reimbursement agreements contained in this Section
6.
(g) No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior
written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending
or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified
party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought
hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding.
7. RULE 144 REQUIREMENTS. The Company is subject to the reporting
requirements of the Exchange Act and the Company will use its reasonable best
efforts to file with the Commission such information as the Commission may
require and will use its reasonable best efforts to make available Rule 144
under the Securities Act (or any successor exemptive rule).
8. OBLIGATIONS OF INVESTORS AND OTHERS IN A REGISTRATION. Each
Investor agrees timely to furnish such information regarding such Person and the
securities sought to be registered and to take such other action as the Company
may reasonably request in connection with the registration, qualification or
compliance. The Company may exclude from any registration statement any Investor
that timely fails to comply with the provisions of the preceding sentence. If
the registration involves an underwriter, each Investor agrees, upon the request
of such underwriter, not to sell any unregistered securities of the Company for
a period of ninety (90) days following the effective date of the registration
statement for such offering and to enter into an underwriting agreement with
such underwriters containing usual and customary terms and provisions. The
Investors agree not to affect the sale of securities under any registration
statement until they have received a prospectus, as needed, and notice of the
effectiveness of the registration statement of which the prospectus forms a
part.
9. PREPARATION; REASONABLE INVESTIGATION. In connection with the
preparation and filing of each registration statement under the Securities Act
pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will give the holders of Registrable
Securities registered under such registration statement, their underwriters, if
any, and one counsel or firm of counsel and one accountant or firm of
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accountants representing all the holders of Registrable Securities to be
registered under such registration statement, the opportunity to participate in
the preparation of such registration statement, each prospectus included therein
or filed with the Commission, and each amendment thereof or supplement thereto.
10. RULE 144A. The Company agrees that, upon the request of any
holder of Registrable Securities or any prospective purchaser of Registrable
Securities designated by a holder, the Company shall promptly provide (but in
any case within 15 days of a request) to such holder or potential purchaser, the
following information:
(a) a brief statement of the nature of the business of
the Company and any subsidiaries and the products and services they offer;
(b) the most recent consolidated balance sheets and
profit and losses and retained earnings statements, and similar financial
statements of the Company for the two (2) most recent fiscal years (such
financial information shall be audited, to the extent reasonably available); and
(c) such other information about the Company, any
subsidiaries, and their business, financial condition and results of operations
as the requesting holder or purchaser of such Registrable Securities shall
request in order to comply with Rule 144A, as amended, and in connection
therewith the anti-fraud provisions of the federal and state securities laws.
The Company hereby represents and warrants to any such requesting
holder and any prospective purchaser of Registrable Securities from such holder
that the information provided by the Company pursuant to this Section 10 will,
as of their dates, not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
11. CONSENT TO BE BOUND. Each subsequent holder of Registrable
Securities must consent in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of
this Agreement in order to acquire the rights granted pursuant to this
Agreement.
12. ASSIGNABILITY OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS. Subject to Section 11
hereof, the registration rights set forth in this Agreement are assignable to
each assignee as to each share of Registrable Securities conveyed in accordance
herewith who agrees in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this
Agreement.
13. AMENDMENT, TERMINATION AND WAIVER. Except as otherwise
provided herein, no amendment, modification, termination or cancellation of this
Agreement shall be effective unless made in a writing signed by the Company and
the holders of at least two-thirds of the Shares.
14. SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The Company and the Investors agree that
the rights created by this Agreement are unique, and that the loss of any such
right is not susceptible to monetary quantification. Consequently, the parties
agree that an action for specific performance (including for
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temporary and/or permanent injunctive relief) of the obligations created by this
Agreement is a proper remedy for the breach of the provisions of this Agreement,
without the necessity of proving actual damages. If the parties hereto are
forced to institute legal proceedings to enforce their rights in accordance with
the provisions of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to
recover its reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees, in connection with
any such action.
15. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, all
notices, requests, demands and other communications provided for hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given (i) upon receipt when
personally delivered, (ii) one (1) day after being sent by overnight delivery or
telecopy providing confirmation or receipt of delivery, or (iii) three (3) days
after being sent by certified or registered mail, postage and charges prepaid,
return receipt requested, to the applicable party at the addresses indicated
below:
If to the Company:
eMerge Interactive, Inc.
00000 000xx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
With a copy to:
Jenkens & Xxxxxxxxx, P.C.
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
If to the Investors:
Allflex Holdings, Inc.
X.X. Xxx 000000
X/XX Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxx Xxxxxxxx
Telephone:
Telecopy:
With a copy to:
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Jenkens & Xxxxxxxxx, P.C.
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
or, as to each of the foregoing, at such other address as shall be designated by
such Person in a written notice to the other parties complying as to delivery
with the terms of this paragraph (a).
(b) This Agreement and the legal relations between the
parties arising hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance
with the laws of the State of Delaware.
(c) This Agreement and the Investment Agreement, and all
other agreements executed in connection herewith and therewith, constitute the
full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties regarding the
matters set forth herein and therein. Except as otherwise expressly provided
herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon
the successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators of the parties.
(d) This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
(e) If any provision of this Agreement shall be held to
be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, such illegality, invalidity or
unenforceability shall attach only to such provision and shall not in any manner
affect or render illegal, invalid or unenforceable any other provision of this
Agreement, and this Agreement shall be carried out as if any such illegal,
invalid or unenforceable provision were not contained herein.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY; SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first set forth above.
THE COMPANY:
eMerge Interactive, Inc.
By: /s/ Xxx Xxxxxxx
---------------------------------------
Name: Xxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Chief Executive Officer
THE INVESTOR:
Allflex Holdings, Inc.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx xx Xxxxxx
---------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx xx Xxxxxx
Title: Chief Executive Officer
[Signature page for Registration Rights Agreement]
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