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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of January 30, 2007, among Drinks Americas Holdings, Ltd., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and the several purchasers signatory
hereto (each such purchaser, a "Purchaser" and collectively, the "Purchasers").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Securities Purchase
Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between the Company and each Purchaser
(the "Purchase Agreement").
The Company and each Purchaser hereby agrees 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 the meaning set forth in Section 6(d).
"Effectiveness Date" means, with respect to the initial Registration
Statement required to be filed hereunder, the 90th calendar day following
the date hereof (or the 120th calendar day following the date hereof in
the case of a "full review" by the Commission) and, with respect to any
additional Registration Statements which may be required pursuant to
Section 3(c), the 90th calendar day following the date on which the
Company first knows, or reasonably should have known, that such additional
Registration Statement is required hereunder; provided, however, that in
the event the Company is notified by the Commission that one of the above
Registration Statements will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to
further review and comments, the Effectiveness Date as to such
Registration Statement shall be the fifth Trading Day following the date
on which the Company is so notified if such date precedes the dates
required above.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(a).
"Event" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
"Event Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
"Filing Date" means, with respect to the initial Registration
Statement required hereunder, the 45th calendar day following the date
hereof and, with respect to any additional Registration Statements which
may be required pursuant to Section 3(c), the 45th calendar day following
the date on which the Company first knows, or reasonably should have known
that such additional Registration Statement is required hereunder.
"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).
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"Losses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
"Plan of Distribution" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(a).
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in a 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 a Registration Statement, and all
other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including
post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or
deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
"Registrable Securities" means all of (i) the Shares, (ii) the
Warrant Shares, (iii) the Placement Agent Shares, (iv) any additional
shares issuable in connection with any anti-dilution provisions in the
Warrants (without giving effect to any limitations on exercise set forth
in the Warrant) and (v) any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon
any stock split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization or
similar event with respect to the foregoing.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statements required
to be filed hereunder and any additional registration statements
contemplated by Section 3(c), 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 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 purpose and effect as such Rule.
"Rule 424" means Rule 424 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 purpose and effect as such Rule.
"Selling Shareholder Questionnaire" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 3(a).
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2. Shelf Registration.
(a) On or prior to each Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and
file with the Commission a "Shelf" Registration Statement covering the
resale of 130% of the Registrable Securities on such Filing Date for an
offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. The
Registration Statement shall be on Form SB-2 (except if the Company is not
then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form
SB-2, in which case such registration shall be on another appropriate form
in accordance herewith) and shall contain (unless otherwise directed by at
least an 85% majority in interest of the Holders) substantially the "Plan
of Distribution" attached hereto as Annex A. Subject to the terms of this
Agreement, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause a 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
applicable Effectiveness Date, and shall use its best efforts to keep such
Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act
until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement
have been sold, or may be sold without volume restrictions pursuant to
Rule 144(k), as determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a
written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to the
Company's transfer agent and the affected Holders (the "Effectiveness
Period"). The Company shall telephonically request effectiveness of a
Registration Statement as of 5:00 p.m. New York City time on a Trading
Day. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders via facsimile or
electronic mail of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement on the
same Trading Day that the Company telephonically confirms effectiveness
with the Commission, which shall be the date requested for effectiveness
of a Registration Statement. The Company shall, by 9:30 a.m. New York City
time on the Trading Day after the Effective Date (as defined in the
Purchase Agreement), file a final Prospectus with the Commission as
required by Rule 424. Failure to so notify the Holder within 1 Trading Day
of such notification or effectiveness or failure to file a final
Prospectus as aforesaid shall be deemed an Event under Section 2(b).
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(b) If: (i) a Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to its
Filing Date (if the Company files a Registration Statement without
affording the Holders the opportunity to review and comment on the same as
required by Section 3(a) herein, 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 461
promulgated under the Securities Act, within five Trading 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
not subject to further review, or (iii) prior to its Effectiveness Date,
the Company fails to file a pre-effective amendment and otherwise respond
in writing to comments made by the Commission in respect of such
Registration Statement within 10 calendar days after the receipt of
comments by or notice from the Commission that such amendment is required
in order for a Registration Statement to be declared effective, or (iv) a
Registration Statement filed or required to be filed hereunder is not
declared effective by the Commission by its Effectiveness Date, or (v)
after the Effectiveness Date, a Registration Statement ceases for any
reason to remain continuously effective as to all Registrable Securities
for which it is required to be effective, or the Holders are otherwise not
permitted to utilize the Prospectus therein to resell such Registrable
Securities, for more than 15 consecutive calendar days or more than an
aggregate of 25 calendar days during any 12-month period (which need not
be consecutive calendar days) (any such failure or breach being referred
to as an "Event", and for purposes of clause (i) or (iv) the date on which
such Event occurs, or for purposes of clause (ii) the date on which such
five Trading Day period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause (iii) the
date which such 10 calendar day period is exceeded, or for purposes of
clause (v) the date on which such 15 or 25 calendar day period, as
applicable, is exceeded being referred to as "Event Date"), then, in
addition to any other rights the Holders may have hereunder or under
applicable law, on each such Event Date and on each monthly anniversary of
each such Event Date (if the applicable Event shall not have been cured by
such date) until the applicable Event is cured, the Company shall pay to
each Holder an amount in cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a
penalty, equal to 1% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such Holder
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for any Registrable Securities then
held by such Holder (calculated as if all convertible securities had been
fully converted.) The parties agree that (1) the Company shall not be
liable for liquidated damages under this Agreement with respect to any
Warrants or Warrant Shares, (2) in no event shall the Company be liable
for liquidated damages under this Agreement in excess of 1% of the
aggregate Subscription Amount of the Holders in any 30-day period and (3)
the maximum aggregate liquidated damages payable to a Holder under this
Agreement shall be twenty percent (20%) of the aggregate Subscription
Amount paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. If the
Company fails to pay any partial liquidated damages pursuant to this
Section in full within seven days after the date payable, the Company will
pay interest thereon at a rate of 18% per annum (or such lesser maximum
amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable law) to the Holder,
accruing daily from the date such partial liquidated damages are due until
such amounts, plus all such interest thereon, are paid in full. The
partial liquidated damages pursuant to the terms hereof shall apply on a
daily pro-rata basis for any portion of a month prior to the cure of an
Event.
3. Registration Procedures
In connection with the Company's registration obligations hereunder,
the Company shall:
(a) Not less than five Trading Days prior to the filing of each
Registration Statement and not less than 1 Trading Day prior to the filing
of 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 each
Holder 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 (ii) cause its officers
and directors, counsel and independent certified public accountants to
respond to such inquiries as shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion
of respective counsel to each Holder, to conduct a reasonable
investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Company shall
not file a Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any amendments
or supplements thereto to which the Holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities shall reasonably object in good faith, provided
that the Company is notified of such objection in writing no later than 5
Trading Days after the Holders have been so furnished copies of a
Registration Statement or 1 Trading Day after the Holders have been so
furnished copies of any related Prospectus or amendments or supplements
thereto. Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Company a completed
questionnaire in the form attached to this Agreement as Annex B (a
"Selling Shareholder Questionnaire") not less than two Trading Days prior
to the Filing Date or by the end of the fourth Trading Day following the
date on which such Holder receives draft materials in accordance with this
Section.
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(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to a Registration Statement and the
Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep a
Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable
Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period, subject to allowable
"blackout" periods set forth in Section 2(b)(iv) herein, 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 (subject to the terms
of this Agreement), and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant
to Rule 424; (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably possible to any
comments received from the Commission with respect to a Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto and provide as promptly as reasonably
possible to the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence
from and to the Commission relating to a Registration Statement (provided
that the Company may excise any information contained therein which would
constitute material non-public information as to any Holder which has not
executed a confidentiality agreement with the Company); and (iv) comply in
all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities
covered by a Registration Statement during the applicable period in
accordance (subject to the terms of this Agreement) with the intended
methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in such
Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so
supplemented.
(c) If during the Effectiveness Period, the number of Registrable
Securities at any time exceeds 90% of the number of shares of Common Stock
then registered in a Registration Statement, then the Company shall file,
as soon as reasonably practicable but in any case prior to the applicable
Filing Date, an additional Registration Statement covering the resale by
the Holders of not less than 130% of the number of such Registrable
Securities.
(d) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold (which
notice shall, pursuant to clauses (iii) through (vi) hereof, be
accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until
the requisite changes have been made) as promptly as reasonably possible
(and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than 1 Trading Day prior to
such filing) and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in
writing no later than two Trading Days following the day (i)(A) when a
Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a
Registration Statement is proposed to be filed; (B) when the Commission
notifies the Company whether there will be a "review" of such Registration
Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on such
Registration Statement; and (C) with respect to a 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 a Registration
Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; (iii) of the
issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental
authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration
Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the
initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) 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; (v) of the occurrence of any event or
passage of time that makes the financial statements included in a
Registration Statement ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement
made in a 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 a Registration
Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of a
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; and (vi) the occurrence or existence of any pending
corporate development with respect to the Company that the Company
believes may be material and that, in the determination of the Company,
makes it not in the best interest of the Company to allow continued
availability of a Registration Statement or Prospectus, provided that any
and all of such information shall remain confidential to each Holder until
such information otherwise becomes public, unless disclosure by a Holder
is required by law; provided, further, that notwithstanding each Holder's
agreement to keep such information confidential, the Holders make no
acknowledgement that any such information is material, non-public
information.
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(e) Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued,
obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of a
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.
(f) Furnish to each Holder, without charge, at least one conformed
copy of each such Registration Statement and each amendment thereto,
including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference to the extent requested
by such Person, 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) Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company hereby
consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement
thereto by each of the selling Holders in connection with the offering and
sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any
amendment or supplement thereto, except after the giving of any notice
pursuant to Section 3(d).
(h) If NASDR Rule 2710 requires any broker-dealer to make a filing
prior to executing a sale by a Holder, the Company shall (i) make an
Issuer Filing with the NASDR, Inc. Corporate Financing Department pursuant
to proposed NASDR Rule 2710(b)(10)(A)(i), (ii) respond within five Trading
Days to any comments received from NASDR in connection therewith, and
(iii) pay the filing fee required in connection therewith.
(i) Prior to any resale of Registrable Securities by a Holder, use
its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate
with the selling Holders in connection with the registration or
qualification (or exemption from the Registration or qualification) of
such Registrable Securities for the resale by the Holder under the
securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States
as any Holder reasonably requests in writing, to keep each registration or
qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness
Period and to do any and all other acts or things reasonably necessary to
enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities
covered by each Registration Statement; provided, that the Company shall
not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction
where it is not then so qualified, subject the Company to any material tax
in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or file a general
consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction.
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(j) If requested by the Holders, cooperate with the Holders to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates
representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee
pursuant to a Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free, to
the extent permitted by the Purchase Agreement, of all restrictive
legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such
denominations and registered in such names as any such Holders may
request.
(k) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by this Section 3,
as promptly as reasonably possible under the circumstances taking into
account the Company's good faith assessment of any adverse consequences to
the Company and its stockholders of the premature disclosure of such
event, prepare a supplement or amendment, including a post-effective
amendment, to a 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 a 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. If the Company notifies the Holders in accordance
with clauses (iii) through (vi) of Section 3(d) above to suspend the use
of any Prospectus until the requisite changes to such Prospectus have been
made, then the Holders shall suspend use of such Prospectus. The Company
will use its best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be
resumed as promptly as is practicable. The Company shall be entitled to
exercise its right under this Section 3(k) to suspend the availability of
a Registration Statement and Prospectus, subject to the payment of partial
liquidated damages pursuant to Section 2(b), for a period not to exceed 60
calendar days (which need not be consecutive days) in any 12 month period.
(l) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission.
(m) The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the
Company a certified statement as to the number of shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned by such Holder and, if required by the Commission, the
natural persons thereof that have voting and dispositive control over the
Shares. During any periods that the Company is unable to meet its
obligations hereunder with respect to the registration of the Registrable
Securities solely because any Holder fails to furnish such information
within three Trading Days of the Company's request, any liquidated damages
that are accruing at such time as to such Holder only shall be tolled and
any Event that may otherwise occur solely because of such delay shall be
suspended as to such Holder only, until such information is delivered to
the Company.
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4. Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the
performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne
by the Company whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to a
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 any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then
listed for trading, (B) in compliance with applicable state securities or Blue
Sky laws reasonably agreed to by the Company in writing (including, without
limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company in connection with
Blue Sky qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities) and (C) if
not previously paid by the Company in connection with an Issuer Filing, with
respect to any filing that may be required to be made by any broker through
which a Holder intends to make sales of Registrable Securities with NASD
Regulation, Inc. pursuant to the NASD Rule 2710, so long as the broker is
receiving no more than a customary brokerage commission in connection with such
sale, (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of
printing certificates for Registrable Securities, (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 limitation, all salaries and
expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties),
the expense of any annual audit and the fees and expenses incurred in connection
with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange as
required hereunder. In no event shall the Company be responsible for any broker
or similar commissions of any Holder or, except to the extent provided for in
the Transaction Documents, any legal fees or other costs of the Holders.
5. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold
harmless each Holder, the officers, directors, members, partners, agents,
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 (and any other
Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such
titles, notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) of each
of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and
the officers, directors, members, shareholders, partners, agents and
employees (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a
Person holding such titles, notwithstanding a lack of such title or any
other title)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, reasonable
attorneys' fees) and expenses (collectively, "Losses"), as incurred,
arising out of or relating to (1) any untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in a 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, or (2) any violation or
alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, Exchange Act or
any state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder, in
connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement,
except to the extent, but only to the extent, that (i) such untrue
statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding such
Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for
use therein, 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 a Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such
form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (it being
understood that the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose)
or (ii) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in
Section 3(d)(iii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective
Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the
Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such
Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 6(d). The Company shall
notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any
Proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement of which the Company is aware.
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(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 incurred, to the extent arising out of or based
solely upon: (x) such Holder's failure to comply with the prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act or (y) any untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in any 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
not misleading (i) 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 such
Registration Statement or such Prospectus or (ii) to the extent that such
information relates to 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 a Registration Statement (it being
understood that the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose),
such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or (iii) in the case of an occurrence of an event of
the type specified in Section 3(d)(iii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an
outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such
Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior
to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 6(d).
In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater
in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such
Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such
indemnification obligation.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall
be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder
(an "Indemnified Party"), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the
Person from whom indemnity is sought (the "Indemnifying Party") in
writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to assume the
defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all fees and
expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof; provided, that the
failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the
Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this
Agreement, except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction (which determination is
not subject to appeal or further review) that such failure shall have
prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.
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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; (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 counsel to the Indemnified Party shall
reasonably believe that a material 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 the reasonable fees and
expenses of no more than one separate counsel shall be at the expense of
the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for
any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written
consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. 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.
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, all reasonable fees and
expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses
to the extent incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to
defend such Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Section)
shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within ten Trading
Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party, provided that
the Indemnified Party shall promptly reimburse the Indemnifying Party for
that portion of such fees and expenses applicable to such actions for
which such Indemnified Party is judicially determined to be not entitled
to indemnification hereunder.
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(d) Contribution. If the indemnification under Section 5(a) or 5(b)
is unavailable to an Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold an
Indemnified Party harmless for any Losses, then each Indemnifying Party
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party,
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 this Agreement,
any reasonable attorneys' or other fees or expenses incurred by such party
in connection with any Proceeding to the extent such party would have been
indemnified for such fees or expenses if the indemnification provided for
in this Section was available to such party in accordance with its terms.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into
account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d),
no Holder shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in
excess of the amount by which the net proceeds actually received by such
Holder from the sale of the Registrable Securities subject to the
Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission, except in the case of fraud by
such Holder.
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 respective 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, shall be entitled to specific performance of its
rights under this Agreement. The Company and each Holder agree that
monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for any losses
incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this
Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for
specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall not assert or
shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
11
(b) No Piggyback on Registrations. Except as set forth on Schedule
6(b) attached hereto or in connection with issuances contemplated by
clause (d) under the definition of Exempt Issuance in the Purchase
Agreement, 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 initial Registration Statement other than the
Registrable Securities. The Company shall not file any other registration
statements until the initial Registration Statement required hereunder is
declared effective by the Commission, provided that this Section 6(b)
shall not prohibit the Company from filing amendments to registration
statements filed prior to the date of this Agreement.
(c) Compliance. Each Holder covenants and agrees that 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 a Registration Statement.
(d) Discontinued Disposition. By its acquisition of Registrable
Securities, each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of a notice from the
Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section
3(d), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such
Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement until it is advised
in writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the applicable
Prospectus (as it may have been supplemented or amended) may be resumed.
The Company will use its best efforts to ensure that the use of the
Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as it practicable. The Company
agrees and acknowledges that any periods during which the Holder is
required to discontinue the disposition of the Registrable Securities
hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2(b).
(e) Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time during the
Effectiveness Period there is not an effective Registration Statement
covering all of the Registrable Securities 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 the stock option or other employee
benefit plans, then the Company shall send to each Holder a written notice
of such determination and, if within fifteen days after the date of such
notice, any such Holder shall so request in writing, the Company shall
include in such registration statement all or any part of such Registrable
Securities such Holder requests to be registered; provided, however, that,
the Company shall not be required to register any Registrable Securities
pursuant to this Section 6(e) that are eligible for resale pursuant to
Rule 144(k) promulgated under the Securities Act or that are the subject
of a then effective Registration Statement.
(f) 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 Holders of at least 50.1% of the then outstanding
Registrable Securities. 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
all 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.
12
(g) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or
deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be
delivered as set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
(h) 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 (except by merger) or obligations
hereunder without the prior written consent of all of the Holders of the
then-outstanding Registrable Securities. Each Holder may assign their
respective rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted
under the Purchase Agreement.
(i) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has entered, 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 would have the
effect of impairing the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. Except as set forth on
Schedule 6(i), 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 that have not been
satisfied in full.
(j) Execution and Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be
considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when
counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other
party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same
counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile
transmission or by e-mail delivery of a ".pdf" format data file, such
signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party
executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same
force and effect as if such facsimile or ".pdf" signature page were an
original thereof.
(k) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction,
validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be
determined in accordance with the provisions of the Purchase Agreement.
(l) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative
and not exclusive of any other remedies provided by law.
13
(m) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the
parties hereto shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to find and
employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same
result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or
restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of
the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be
hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(n) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience
only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement, and shall not be deemed
to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.
(o) Independent Nature of Holders' Obligations and Rights. The
obligations of each Holder hereunder are several and not joint with the
obligations of any other Holder hereunder, and no Holder shall be
responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other
Holder hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or
document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Holder
pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Holders as a
partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity,
or create a presumption that the Holders are in any way acting in concert
with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. Each Holder shall be entitled to protect and enforce its
rights, including without limitation the rights arising out of this
Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Holder to be joined
as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.
14
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration
Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
DRINKS AMERICAS HOLDINGS, LTD.
By:__________________________________________
Name:
Title:
[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS FOLLOWS]
15
[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS TO DKAM RRA]
Name of Holder: __________________________
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Holder: __________________________
Name of Authorized Signatory: _________________________
Title of Authorized Signatory: __________________________
[SIGNATURE PAGES CONTINUE]
16
ANNEX A
Plan of Distribution
Each Selling Stockholder (the "Selling Stockholders") of the common stock
and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time
to time, sell any or all of their shares of common stock on the OTC Bulletin
Board or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the
shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or
negotiated prices. A Selling Stockholder may use any one or more of the
following methods when selling shares:
o ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the
broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
o block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the
shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block
as principal to facilitate the transaction;
o purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the
broker-dealer for its account;
o an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the
applicable exchange;
o privately negotiated transactions;
o settlement of short sales entered into after the effective date of
the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part;
o broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a
specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
o through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging
transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;
o a combination of any such methods of sale; or
o any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
The Selling Stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), if available, rather
than under this prospectus.
Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other
brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions
or discounts from the Selling Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as
agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be
negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this Prospectus, in the
case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission
in compliance with NASDR Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a
markup or markdown in compliance with NASDR IM-2440.
17
In connection with the sale of the common stock or interests therein, the
Selling Stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or
other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the
Common Stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The Selling
Stockholders may also sell shares of the common stock short and deliver these
securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the common
stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The Selling
Stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with
broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more
derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other
financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such
broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this
prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).
The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are
involved in selling the shares may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the
meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any
commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the
resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting
commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Each Selling Stockholder has
informed the Company that it does not have any written or oral agreement or
understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Common
Stock. In no event shall any broker-dealer receive fees, commissions and markups
which, in the aggregate, would exceed eight percent (8%).
The Company is required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the
Company incident to the registration of the shares. The Company has agreed to
indemnify the Selling Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
Because Selling Stockholders may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the
meaning of the Securities Act, they will be subject to the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act including Rule 172 thereunder. In addition,
any securities covered by this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to
Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than under
this prospectus. There is no underwriter or coordinating broker acting in
connection with the proposed sale of the resale shares by the Selling
Stockholders.
We agreed to keep this prospectus effective until the earlier of (i) the
date on which the shares may be resold by the Selling Stockholders without
registration and without regard to any volume limitations by reason of Rule
144(k) under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect or (ii) all
of the shares have been sold pursuant to this prospectus or Rule 144 under the
Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect. The resale shares will be
sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under
applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the resale
shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in
the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification
requirement is available and is complied with.
Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person
engaged in the distribution of the resale shares may not simultaneously engage
in market making activities with respect to the common stock for the applicable
restricted period, as defined in Regulation M, prior to the commencement of the
distribution. In addition, the Selling Stockholders will be subject to
applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and
sales of shares of the common stock by the Selling Stockholders or any other
person. We will make copies of this prospectus available to the Selling
Stockholders and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of this
prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including by
compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).
18
Annex B
DRINKS AMERICAS HOLDINGS, LTD.
Selling Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire
The undersigned beneficial owner of common stock, par value $0.001 per
share (the "Registrable Securities") of Drinks Americas Holdings, Ltd., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), understands that the Company has filed or
intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a
registration statement (the "Registration Statement") for the registration and
resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), of the Registrable Securities, in accordance with the terms of the
Registration Rights Agreement (the "Registration Rights Agreement") to which
this document is annexed. A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement is
available from the Company upon request at the address set forth below. All
capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed
thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement.
Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling
securityholder in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus.
Accordingly, holders and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised
to consult their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being
named or not being named as a selling securityholder in the Registration
Statement and the related prospectus.
NOTICE
The undersigned beneficial owner (the "Selling Securityholder") of
Registrable Securities hereby elects to include the Registrable Securities owned
by it in the Registration Statement.
19
The undersigned hereby provides the following information to the Company and
represents and warrants that such information is accurate:
QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Name.
(a) Full Legal Name of Selling Securityholder
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
(b) Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as (a) above)
through which Registrable Securities are held:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Full Legal Name of Natural Control Person (which means a natural
person who directly or indirectly alone or with others has power to
vote or dispose of the securities covered by the questionnaire):
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Address for Notices to Selling Securityholder:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Fax:
Contact Person:
3. Broker-Dealer Status:
(a) Are you a broker-dealer?
Yes |_| No |X|
(b) If "yes" to Section 3(a), did you receive your Registrable
Securities as compensation for investment banking services to the
Company.
Yes |_| No |X|
20
Note: If no, the Commission's staff has indicated that you should be
identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.
(c) Are you an affiliate of a broker-dealer?
Yes |_| No |X|
(d) If you are an affiliate of a broker-dealer, do you certify that you
bought the Registrable Securities in the ordinary course of
business, and at the time of the purchase of the Registrable
Securities to be resold, you had no agreements or understandings,
directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the
Registrable Securities?
Yes |_| No |X|
Note: If no, the Commission's staff has indicated that you should be
identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.
4. Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company Owned by the
Selling Securityholder.
Except as set forth below in this Item 4, the undersigned is not the
beneficial or registered owner of any securities of the Company other than
the securities issuable pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
(a) Type and Amount of other securities beneficially owned by the
Selling Securityholder:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Relationships with the Company:
Except as set forth below, neither the undersigned nor any of its
affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (owners of 5%
of more of the equity securities of the undersigned) has held any position
or office or has had any other material relationship with the Company (or
its predecessors or affiliates) during the past three years.
State any exceptions here:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
21
The undersigned agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies
or changes in the information provided herein that may occur subsequent to the
date hereof at any time while the Registration Statement remains effective.
By signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the
information contained herein in its answers to Items 1 through 5 and the
inclusion of such information in the Registration Statement and the related
prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto. The undersigned
understands that such information will be relied upon by the Company in
connection with the preparation or amendment of the Registration Statement and
the related prospectus.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused
this Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or
by its duly authorized agent.
Dated: Beneficial Owner:
----------------------- -----------------------
By:___________________________________
Name:
Title:
PLEASE FAX A COPY OF THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE, AND
RETURN THE ORIGINAL BY OVERNIGHT MAIL, TO:
22
