EXHIBIT 4.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is made and
entered into as of February 14, 2005, among Technest Holdings, Inc., a Nevada
corporation (the "COMPANY"), and the purchasers signatory hereto (each such
purchaser is a "PURCHASER" and all such purchasers are, collectively, the
"PURCHASERS").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement,
dated as of the date hereof among the Company and the Purchasers (the "PURCHASE
AGREEMENT").
The Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS
CAPITALIZED TERMS USED AND NOT OTHERWISE DEFINED HEREIN THAT ARE
DEFINED IN THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN SUCH TERMS IN
THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
"COMMON STOCK" means common stock, par value $.001 per share
of the Company.
"CONVERSION SHARES" means the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock, $.001 par value per
share, of the Company.
"EFFECTIVENESS DATE" means the one hundred thirty-fifth
(135th) calendar day following the Closing Date.
"EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD" shall have the meaning set forth in
SECTION 2(a).
"FILING DATE" means the seventy-fifth (75th) day following the
Closing Date.
"HOLDER" or "HOLDERS" means the holder or holders, as the case
may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.
"INDEMNIFIED PARTY" shall have the meaning set forth in
SECTION 6(c) hereof.
"INDEMNIFYING PARTY" shall have the meaning set forth in
SECTION 6(c) hereof.
"LOSSES" shall have the meaning set forth in SECTION 6(a).
"PROCEEDING" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or
proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial
proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
"PROSPECTUS" means the prospectus included in 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 (1) the Conversion Shares, (2)
the Warrant Shares, (3) ________________ shares issuable in lieu of the
payment of partial liquidated damages (the "LIQUIDATED DAMAGE SHARES")
pursuant to SECTIONS 2(b) of this Agreement, (4) any securities issued
or issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution
recapitalization or similar event with respect to the foregoing and (5)
any additional shares issuable in connection with any anti-dilution
provisions in the Series C Preferred Stock and the Warrants.
"REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means the registration statements
required to be filed hereunder, 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.
"SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"SERIES C PREFERRED STOCK" means the Series C Preferred Stock,
$.001 par value per share, of the Company.
"WARRANTS" shall mean the Common Stock purchase warrants
issued to the Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
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"WARRANT SHARES" shall mean the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.
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 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 S-2 (unless the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the
Registrable Securities on Form S-2, in which case such registration shall be on
another appropriate form in accordance herewith) and shall contain (unless
otherwise directed by 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 the Registration Statement to be declared
effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing
thereof, but in any event prior to the applicable Effectiveness Date, and shall
use its best efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective
under the Securities Act until the earlier of (a) the date that is twenty-four
(24) months following the date on which the shelf registration becomes effective
and (b) 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
promptly notify the Holders via email of the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement.
(b) If: (i) a Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to its
Filing Date or (ii) a Registration Statement filed or required to be filed
hereunder is not declared effective by the Commission by its Effectiveness Date,
or (iii) after the Effective 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 not permitted to
utilize the Prospectus therein to resell such Registrable Securities for fifteen
(15) consecutive Trading Days in any individual case or an aggregate of
forty-five (45) Trading Days during any 12 month period (which need not be
consecutive Trading Days) (any such failure or breach being referred to as an
"EVENT", and for purposes of clause (i) or (ii) the date on which such Event
occurs, or for purposes of clause (iii) the date on which such 15 Trading Day
period, as applicable, is exceeded being referred to as "EVENT DATE"), then, on
each such Event Date and every monthly anniversary thereof until the applicable
Event is cured, the Company shall pay to each Holder an amount in cash (or
shares of Common Stock in accordance with SECTION 2(c) below), as liquidated
damages and not as a penalty, equal to 2.0% per month pro rata on a daily basis,
of (i) the Subscription Amount paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement for Securities then held by such Holder. If the Company fails to pay
any liquidated damages pursuant to this Section in full within 10 business days
after the end of the calendar month on which they accrued, the Company will pay
interest thereon at a rate of 12% 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 liquidated damages are due until such amounts, plus all such
interest thereon, are paid in full. The liquidated damages pursuant to the terms
hereof shall apply on a pro-rata basis for any portion of a month prior to the
cure of an Event.
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(c) The Company may pay liquidated damages incurred pursuant to CLAUSE
(B) above by issuing shares of Common Stock valued at 90% of the average of the
trailing 5 trading days' closing prices before the payment; provided that such
shares are the subject of a then effective Registration Statement.
3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
In connection with the Company's registration obligations hereunder,
the Company shall:
(a) Not less than two Trading Days prior to the filing of each
Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto (including any document that would be incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall, (i) furnish to 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 counsel to
the Holders conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the
Securities Act.
(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 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 promptly to any comments received from the Commission
with respect to a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and promptly
provide the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to
the Commission relating to a Registration Statement; and (iv) comply in all
material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act
with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by 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 Liquidated Damage
Shares at any time exceeds the number of Liquidated Damage Shares 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 such
additional Liquidated Damage Shares.
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(d) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold (which
notice shall, pursuant to CLAUSES (ii) THROUGH (vi) hereof, be accompanied by an
instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes
have been made) promptly (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than two
Trading Days prior to such filing) (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 (the Company shall provide true and
complete copies thereof and all written responses thereto to each of the
Holders); 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 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 the 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,
notwithstanding each Holder's agreement to keep such information confidential,
the Holders make no acknowledgement that any such information is material,
non-public information.
(e) Promptly deliver to each Holder, without charge, as many copies of
the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each
amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request. 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.
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(f) Use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the
resale of such Registrable Securities as required under applicable securities or
Blue Sky laws of each State within the United States as any Holder requests in
writing, to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption
therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period; provided that the Company
shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction
where it is not then so qualified or subject the Company to any material tax in
any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(g) 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.
(h) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by this SECTION 3, as
promptly as reasonably possible, 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 (ii) THROUGH (vi) OF
SECTION 3(d) above to suspend the use of the use of any Prospectus until the
requisite changes to such Prospectus have been made, or the Company otherwise
notifies the Holders of its election to suspend the availability of a
Registration Statement and Prospectus pursuant to CLAUSE (vi) OF SECTION 3(d),
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, except that in the case of suspension of the availability of
a Registration Statement and Prospectus pursuant to CLAUSE (vi) OF SECTION 3(d),
the Company shall not be required to take such action until such time as it
shall determine that the continued availability of the Registration Statement
and Prospectus is no longer not in the best interests of the Company. The
Company shall be entitled to exercise its right under this SECTION 3(h) to
suspend the availability of a Registration Statement and Prospectus, subject
only to the payment of partial liquidated damages pursuant to SECTION 2(b).
(i) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission.
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(j) 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.
(k) The Company may require, at any time prior to the second Trading
Day prior to the Filing Date, each Holder to furnish to the Company a statement
as to the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Holder
and, if requested by the Commission, the controlling person thereof, within two
Trading days of the Company's request. 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 two Trading Days of the Company's request, any partial
liquidated damages that are accruing as to all Holders at such time shall be
tolled and any Event that may otherwise occur as to such Holder solely because
of such delay shall be suspended, until such information is delivered to the
Company.
(l) Attached as SCHEDULE 3(l) hereto is a schedule of shareholders and
shares registered in their names or which they have rights to acquire from the
Company, by way of conversion or otherwise. For each such shareholder, the
shares listed on SCHEDULE 3(l) shall be included in a Registration Statement on
a piggyback basis, unless such shares are included in another registration
statement or may be sold, without volume limitations, pursuant to Rule 144 of
the Act.
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE HOLDERS. In connection with sales of Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement, each Holder agrees as follows:
(a) It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company
to take any action pursuant to SECTION 3 with respect to the Registrable
Securities of any Holder that such Holder shall furnish to the Company such
information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it, and the
intended method of disposition of such securities as shall be reasonably
required to effect the registration of such Holder's Registrable Securities.
(b) Each Holder shall comply with all applicable securities laws in
connection with its sales of Registrable Securities, including, without
limitation, any prospectus delivery requirement.
(c) Each Holder shall not, and shall cause all persons to whom such
Holder may transfer Registrable Securities not to, sell more than 25% of the
Registrable Securities acquired by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement in any period of 20 consecutive trading days.
5. 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
the Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing
sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees
(including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings
required to be made with the Principal Market on which the Common Stock is then
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listed for trading, and (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
determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Securities for investment
under the laws of such jurisdictions as requested by the Holders )), (ii)
printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing
certificates for Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses requested
by the Holders), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company, and (v) 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 or any legal
fees or other costs of the Holders.
6. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY. The Company shall, notwithstanding
any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the
officers, directors, agents, and employees of each of them, each Person who
controls any such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act
or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, agents and
employees of each such controlling Person, to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, costs of preparation and
reasonable attorneys' fees) and expenses (collectively, "LOSSES"), as incurred,
arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in 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, except to the extent, but only to the extent, that (1) such
untrue statements or omissions or alleged untrue statements or omissions are
based 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 or (2) in the
case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in SECTION
3(c)(ii)-(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 7(e). 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
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment not subject
to appeal or review) arising out of or based upon any 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 arising solely
out of or based solely upon: (i) such Holder's failure to comply with the
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act or (ii) any omission of a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading to the extent, but only to the extent, 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 to the extent that (1) such untrue statements or
omissions are based upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing
to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent such
information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of
distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved
in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such
Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or (2) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in SECTION
3(c)(ii)-(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 7(e). In no event shall the liability of any selling
Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds
received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise
to such indemnification obligation.
(c) CONDUCT OF INDEMNIFICATION PROCEEDINGS. If any Proceeding shall be
brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an
"INDEMNIFIED PArty"), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person
from whom indemnity is sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PARTY") in writing, and the
Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all
fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof; provided, that
the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the
Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement,
except (and only) to the extent that 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; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to
assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named
parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both
such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party
shall have been advised by counsel that a 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 expense of one such counsel for all
Holders shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying
Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected
without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the
Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of
which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, all fees and expenses of the
Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred
in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a
manner not inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified
Party, as incurred, within thirty days of written notice thereof to the
Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an
Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder; provided, that
the Indemnifying Party may require such Indemnified Party to undertake to
reimburse all such fees and expenses to the extent it is finally judicially
determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification
hereunder).
(d) CONTRIBUTION. If a claim for indemnification under SECTION 6(a) or
6(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party (by reason of public policy or
otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such
Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and
Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that
resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question,
including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission
or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to
information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or
payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject
to the limitations set forth in SECTION 6(c), any reasonable attorneys' or other
reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any
Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or
expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section was available to
such party in accordance with its terms.
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The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this SECTION 6(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 6(d), no Holder shall be required
to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the
proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable
Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that such
Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
7. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. The provisions of this Agreement, including
the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented,
and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be
given, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company and the
Holders of a majority 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 one or
some 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.
(b) 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 conflicts with the provisions
hereof. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 7(b), 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.
(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 the
Registration Statement.
(d) DISCONTINUED DISPOSITION. Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of
such Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of
the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Sections 3(d)(ii), (iii) OR
(vi), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable
Securities under a Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the
copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement
contemplated by SECTION 3(h), or until it is advised in writing (the "ADVICE")
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 incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or
Registration Statement. The Company may provide appropriate stop orders to
enforce the provisions of this paragraph.
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(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 stock option or other employee
benefit plans, then the Company shall send to each Holder written notice of such
determination and, if within fifteen days after receipt of such notice, any such
Holder shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such
registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such
holder requests to be registered; provided, that, the Company shall not be
required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to this SECTION 6(f)
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) 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.
(g) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the
parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company may not
assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of
the Holders of a majority 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) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original
and, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. In
the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission, such
signature shall create a valid binding obligation of the party executing (or on
whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with the same force and effect
as if such facsimile signature were the original thereof.
(j) GOVERNING LAW. All questions concerning the construction, validity,
enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by and
construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New
York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party
hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts
sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of
any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction
12
contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and
agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not
personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action
or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service
of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or
proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address in effect for
notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute
good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained
herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any
manner permitted by law. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury
in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby.
(k) CUMULATIVE REMEDIES. The remedies provided herein are cumulative
and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(l) SEVERABILITY. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative
means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated
by such term, provision, covenant or restriction.
(m) HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(n) INDEPENDENT NATURE OF PURCHASERS' OBLIGATIONS AND RIGHTS. The
obligations of each Purchaser hereunder are several and not joint with the
obligations of any other Purchaser hereunder, and no Purchaser shall be
responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other
Purchaser hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or
document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant
hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a
partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or
create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert with
respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Each Purchaser 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 Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any
proceeding for such purpose.
********************
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement as of the date first written above.
TECHNEST HOLDINGS, INC.
By: ________________________________________
Name: ______________________________________
Title: _____________________________________
[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS FOLLOWS]
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[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS TO RRA]
[INVESTOR]
By: _____________________________________
Name:_________________________________
Title:________________________________
[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS FOLLOWS]
15
[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS TO RRA]
[INVESTOR]
By: ____________________________
Name:___________________________
Title:__________________________
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
--------------------
Each Selling Stockholder (the "SELLING STOCKHOLDERS") of the common
stock ("COMMON STOCK") of Technest Holdings, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the
"COMPANY") 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 Over
the Counter 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 broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell
a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per
share;
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. Each Selling Stockholder does not expect these
commissions and discounts relating to its sales of shares to exceed what is
customary in the types of transactions involved.
The Selling Stockholders may from time to time pledge or grant a
security interest in some or all of the Shares or Common Stock or Warrants owned
by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations,
the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of Common Stock
from time to time under this prospectus, or under an amendment to this
prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities
Act amending the list of Selling Stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee
or other successor in interest as Selling Stockholders under this prospectus.
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The Selling Stockholders also may transfer the shares of Common Stock
in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other
successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of
this prospectus.
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.
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SCHEDULE 3(l)
1. Verdi Consulting, Inc. Common Stock underlying 25 shares of
the Company's Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock.
2. Xxxxx LLC Common Stock underlying 99.325 shares
of the Company's Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock.
3. Xxxxx LLC 5,599,744 shares of Common Stock
4. Greenfield Investment 12,205,370 shares of Common Stock
Consultants LLC
5. Southshore Capital Fund 3,507,291 shares of Common Stock
Limited
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