Exhibit 10.16
EQUITY LINE REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made
and entered into as of December 3, 2001, among Composite Industries of
America, Inc., a Nevada corporation (formerly known as World Homes, Inc.) (the
"Company") and Burlington Street LLC ("Purchaser").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Equity Line Purchase
Agreement, dated as of the date hereof among the Company and the Purchaser
(the "Purchase Agreement").
The Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that
are defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms
in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms
shall have the following meanings:
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other
Person that directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or under
common control with such Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control," when used with respect to any Person, means the possession, direct
or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management
and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms of "affiliated,"
"controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
"Business Day" shall have the meaning set forth in the
Purchase Agreement.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Common Stock" shall have the meaning set forth in the
Purchase Agreement.
"Effectiveness Date" means, with respect to the initial
Registration Statement required to be filed hereunder, the 115th day following
the date of this Agreement and, with respect to any additional Registration
Statements which may be required pursuant to Section 3(c), the 90th day
following the date that notice of the requirement to file such additional
Registration Statement is provided.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2(a).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Filing Date" means the 6th day following the Closing Date
and, with respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be
required pursuant to Section 3(c), the 45th day following the date that notice
of the requirement to file such additional Registration Statement is provided.
"Holder" or "Holders" means the holder or holders, as the case
may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.
"Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5(c).
"Indemnifying Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5(c).
"Losses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
"Person" means an individual or a corporation, partnership,
trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited
liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or political
subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.
"Proceeding" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or
proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial
proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in the Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the
Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with
respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable
Securities covered by the Registration Statement, and all other amendments and
supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all
material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference
in such Prospectus.
"Put" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
"Put Shares" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
"Registrable Securities" means all Put Shares and Warrant
Shares.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statement 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 144" means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time,
or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Rule 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time,
or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"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 effect as such Rule.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Special Counsel" means one special counsel to the Holders,
for which the Holders will be reimbursed by the Company pursuant to Section4.
"Warrants" means the Common Stock purchase warrants issued to
the Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
"Warrant Shares" means the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon exercise in full of the Warrants.
2. Registration
(a) On or prior to each Filing Date, the Company shall
prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement covering the
sale of all Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a continuous
basis pursuant to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on such form
under which the Company may sell securities to the public or on a primary
basis and shall contain (except if otherwise directed by the Holders) the
"Plan of Distribution" attached hereto as Annex A. The Company shall use its
best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective
under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing thereof, but
in any event prior to the Effectiveness Date, and shall use its best efforts
to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective under the
Securities Act until the date which is twenty seven months after the date that
such Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission (the
"Effectiveness Period").
(b) The initial Registration Statement required to be
filed hereunder shall include a number of shares of Common Stock which shall
not be less than the sum of (i) 215% of the total amount of Put Shares that
would be issuable under the Purchase Agreement assuming all such Put Shares
are issued on the date hereof, the Filing Date or the Business Day preceding
the date the Company files an acceleration request with the Commission
relating to the Registration Statement (whichever yields more shares of Common
Stock) and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise in
full of the Warrants.
3. Registration Procedures
In connection with the Company's registration obligations
hereunder, the Company shall:
(a) Not less than five Business 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 the Holders and their Special Counsel 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 their Special Counsel which will provide the Company with any comments
thereto in a reasonably prompt manner, 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 conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the
Securities Act. The Company shall not file the Registration Statement or any
such Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto to which the Holders
of a majority of the Registrable Securities and their Special Counsel shall
reasonably object.
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such
amendments, including post-effective amendments, to each Registration
Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary
to keep the Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable
Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period and prepare and file with
the Commission such additional Registration Statements in order to register
for resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities; (ii)
cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required
Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant
to Rule 424; (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably possible, and in any
event within ten days, to any comments received from the Commission with
respect to the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and as promptly
as reasonably possible provide the Holders true and complete copies of all
correspondence from and to the Commission relating to the Registration
Statement; and (iv) comply in all material respects with the provisions of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the disposition of all
Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement during the
applicable period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by
the Holders thereof set forth in the Registration Statement as so amended or
in such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) File additional Registration Statements if the number
of Registrable Securities at any time exceeds 85% of the number of shares of
Common Stock then registered in a Registration Statement. Any additional
Registration Statements required to be filed under this Section shall cover
115% of the full number of Registrable Securities issuable at the prevailing
market price of the Common Stock as if all remaining Put Shares had been
issued.
(d) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be
sold and their Special Counsel as promptly as reasonably possible (and, in the
case of (i)(A) below, not less than five Business Days prior to such filing)
and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later
than one Business Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement is proposed to be filed; (B) when the Commission notifies the
Company whether there will be a "review" of such Registration Statement and
whenever the Commission comments in writing on such Registration Statement
(the Company shall provide true and complete copies thereof and all written
responses thereto to each of the Holders); and (C) with respect to the
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has
become effective; (ii) of any request by the Commission or any other Federal
or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to the
Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; (iii) of
the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable
Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) if at
any time any of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in
any Transaction Document (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) or other
agreement contemplated hereby ceases to be true and correct in all material
respects; (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect
to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any
of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation
or threatening of any Proceeding for such purpose; and (vi) of the occurrence
of any event or passage of time that makes the financial statements included
in the Registration Statement ineligible for inclusion therein or any
statement made in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any
material respect or that requires any revisions to the Registration Statement,
Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(e) Furnish to each Holder and their Special Counsel,
without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and
each amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all
documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and
all exhibits to the extent requested by such Person (including those
previously furnished or incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing
of such documents with the Commission.
(f) Promptly deliver to each Holder and their Special
Counsel, 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. 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.
(g) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its best
efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders and their
Special Counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or
exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable
Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder requests in writing, to
keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom)
effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or
things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions
of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement; provided,
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.
(h) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by
Section 3(d)(vi), as promptly as reasonably possible, prepare a supplement or
amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to the Registration Statement
or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required
document so that, as thereafter delivered, neither the Registration Statement
nor such Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
(i) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of
the Commission.
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 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 any Subsequent Market on which the Common Stock is then listed for
trading, and (B) in compliance with applicable state securities or Blue Sky
laws (including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Holders in connection with Blue Sky qualifications or exemptions of the
Registrable Securities and determination of the eligibility of the 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
Special Counsel for the Holders, (v) Securities Act liability insurance, if
the Company so desires such insurance, and (vi) fees and expenses of all other
Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In addition, the Company shall
be responsible for all of its internal expenses incurred in connection with
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and
employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual
audit and the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the
Registrable Securities on any securities exchange as required hereunder.
5. Indemnification
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless
each Holder, the officers, directors, agents, brokers (including brokers who
offer and sell Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or
any failure to perform under a margin call of Common Stock), investment
advisors and employees of each of them, each Person who controls any such
Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20
of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, agents and employees of each
such controlling Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law,
from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs
(including, without limitation, costs of preparation and attorneys' fees) and
expenses (collectively, "Losses"), as incurred, arising out of or relating to
any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising
out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in
the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except
to the extent, but only to the extent, that (1) 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 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(d)(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 6(e). The
Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or
assertion of any Proceeding of which the Company is aware in connection with
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall,
severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its
directors, officers, agents and employees, each Person who controls the
Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20
of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such
controlling Persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from
and against all Losses (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in
a final judgment not subject to appeal or review) arising solely out of or
based solely upon any untrue statement of a material fact contained in 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
any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading to the extent, but only to the
extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information
so furnished in writing by such Holder to the Company specifically for
inclusion in such Registration Statement or such Prospectus or to the extent
that (1) 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 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(d)(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 6(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 it shall be finally determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or further review)
that such failure shall have proximately and materially adversely prejudiced
the Indemnifying Party.
An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate
counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but
the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such
Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in
writing to pay such fees and expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall
have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ
counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such
Proceeding; or (3) the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any
impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying
Party, and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that a
conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent
such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such
Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to
employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the
Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and
such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party). The
Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such
Proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written
consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending
Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such
settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from
all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.
All fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including
reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with
investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not
inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as
incurred, within ten Business Days of written notice thereof to the
Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an
Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder; provided, that
the Indemnifying Party may require such Indemnified Party to undertake to
reimburse all such fees and expenses to the extent it is finally judicially
determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification
hereunder).
(d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under
Section 5(a) or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party (by reason of
public policy or otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of
indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying
Party and Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or
omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified
Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any
action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact, has been
taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by, such Indemnifying
Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action,
statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of
any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in
Section 5(c), any reasonable attorneys' or other reasonable fees or expenses
incurred by such party in connection with any Proceeding to the extent such
party would have been indemnified for such fees or expenses if the
indemnification provided for in this Section was available to such party in
accordance with its terms.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro
rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into
account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), no Holder
shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the
amount by which the proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of
the Registrable Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any
damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may
have to the Indemnified Parties.
6. Miscellaneous
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or
by a Holder, of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or
the Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all
rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages,
will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement.
The Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide
adequate compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of
any of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the
event of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it
shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor
any of its subsidiaries has 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 and to the extent
specified in Schedule 6(b) hereto, neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has previously entered into any agreement granting any
registration rights with respect to any of its securities to any Person.
(c) No Piggyback on Registrations. Except for shares of
Common Stock issuable upon conversion or exercise of the Company's 6%
Convertible Debentures Due November 13, 2002 and Warrants issued to the
Purchasers, neither the Company nor any of its security holders (other than
the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto) may include securities of the
Company in the Registration Statement other than the Registrable Securities,
and the Company shall not after the date hereof enter into any agreement
providing any such right to any of its security holders.
(d) 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.
(e) 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), 3(d)(iii), 3(d)(iv), 3(d)(v) or 3(d)(vi), such Holder will forthwith
discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under the Registration
Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented
Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement contemplated by Section 3(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.
(f) 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.
(g) 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 Holder.
(h) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications
or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the
date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via
facsimile at the facsimile telephone number specified in this Section prior to
6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on a Business Day, (ii) the Business Day after
the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via
facsimile at the facsimile telephone number specified in this Agreement later
than 6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m.
(New York City time) on such date, (iii) the Business Day following the date
of mailing, if sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service, or
(iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be
given. The address for such notices and communications shall be as follows:
If to the Company: Composite Industries of America, Inc.
0000 X. Xxxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxx X-0
Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (702) 579- 4833
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
With copies to: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
If to a Purchaser: To the address set forth under such
Purchaser's name on the signature pages hereto.
If to any other Person who is then the registered Holder:
To the address of such Holder as it appears in the stock transfer books of the
Company or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in
the same manner, by such Person.
(i) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to
the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of
each of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The
Company may not assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior
written consent of each Holder. Each Holder may assign their respective
rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted under the
Purchase Agreement.
(j) Execution and 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.
(k) 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 agrees that all legal proceedings concerning the
interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by
any of the Transaction Documents (whether brought against a party hereto or
its respective affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, employees or
agents) shall be commenced in the state and federal courts sitting in the City
of New York, Borough of Manhattan (the "New York Courts"). Each party hereto
hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the New York
Courts for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith
or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including
with respect to the enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents), and
hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or
proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of
any such court, or such New York Courts are improper or inconvenient venue for
such proceeding. 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 via registered or certified mail or
overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) 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. If either party
shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this
Agreement, then the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be
reimbursed by the other party for its attorneys fees and other costs and
expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such
action or proceeding.
(l) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are
cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(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 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 of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning hereof.
(o) Independent Nature of Holders' Obligations and Rights.
The obligations of each Holder hereunder is 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 Holder as a partnership, an
association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a
presumption that the Holder is 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 Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any
proceeding for such purpose.
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SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this
Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
COMPOSITE INDUSTRIES OF AMERICA,
INC.
By:_____________________________________
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: President
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SIGNATURE PAGES OF PURCHASER TO FOLLOW]
BURLINGTON STREET LLC
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
Address for Notice:
Burlington Street LLC
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
P.O. Box 972
Road Town, Tortola
British Virgin Islands
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
With copies to:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000 and (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
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Annex A
Plan of Distribution
The selling stockholders 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 any 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. The selling stockholder may use any one or more of the
following methods when selling shares:
- ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer
solicits purchasers;
- 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;
- purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer
for its account;
- an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
exchange;
- privately negotiated transactions;
- short sales;
- broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholder to sell a specified
number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
- a combination of any such methods of sale; and
- any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
The selling stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the
Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.
The selling stockholders may pledge its shares to their brokers under
the margin provisions of customer agreements. If the selling stockholders
default on a margin loan, the broker may, from time to time, offer and sell
the pledged shares.
The term "short sales" means any sale of a security that the seller
does not own or any sale which is consummated by the delivery of a security
borrowed by, or for the account of, the seller.
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. The selling stockholders do not expect these
commissions and discounts to exceed what is customary in the types of
transactions involved.
The selling stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are
involved in selling the shares acquired by selling stockholders under the
securities purchase agreement and warrants issued in connection with the
equity line financing will be considered "underwriters" by the Securities and
Exchange Commission within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection
with sales under this registration statement. Accordingly, any commissions
received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the
shares purchased by them will be deemed underwriting commissions or discounts
under the Securities Act.
The Company is required to pay all fees and expenses incident to the
registration of the shares, including fees and disbursements of counsel to the
selling stockholders. The Company has agreed to indemnify the selling
stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act.