REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of February
28, 2002, by and among Palladium Communications, Inc., a Nevada corporation,
with its headquarters located at 000 X. Xxxxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000 (the "Company"), and each of the undersigned (together with
their respective affiliates and any assignee or transferee of all of their
respective rights hereunder, the "Initial Investors").
WHEREAS:
A. In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement by and among
the parties hereto of even date herewith (the "Securities Purchase
Agreement"), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions contained therein, to issue and sell to the Initial Investors (i)
convertible debentures in the aggregate principal amount of up to Four Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($400,000) (the "Debentures") that are convertible into
shares of the Company's common stock (the "Common Stock"), upon the terms and
subject to the limitations and conditions set forth in such Debentures and
(ii) warrants (the "Warrants") to acquire an aggregate of 1,200,000 shares of
Common Stock, upon the terms and conditions and subject to the limitations and
conditions set forth in the Warrants dated February 28, 2002; and
B. To induce the Initial Investors to execute and deliver the
Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain
registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute
(collectively, the "1933 Act"), and applicable state securities laws;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each of the
Initial Investors hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
a. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
(i) "Investors" means the Initial Investors and any
transferee or assignee who agrees to become bound by the provisions of this
Agreement in accordance with Section 9 hereof.
(ii) "register," "registered," and "registration" refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or
Statements in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule 415 under the
1933 Act or any successor rule providing for offering securities on a
continuous basis ("Rule 415"), and the declaration or ordering of
effectiveness of such Registration Statement by the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
(iii) "Registrable Securities" means the Conversion Shares
issued or issuable upon conversion or otherwise pursuant to the Debentures and
Additional Debentures (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement)
including, without limitation, Damages Shares (as defined in the Debentures)
issued or issuable pursuant to the Debentures, shares of Common Stock issued
or issuable in payment of the Standard Liquidated Damages Amount (as defined
in the Securities Purchase Agreement), shares issued or issuable in respect of
interest or in redemption of the Debentures in accordance with the terms
thereof) and Warrant Shares issuable, upon exercise or otherwise pursuant to
the Warrants and Additional Warrants (as defined in the Securities Purchase
Agreement), and any shares of capital stock issued or issuable as a dividend
on or in exchange for or otherwise with respect to any of the foregoing.
(iv) "Registration Statement" means a registration statement of the Company
under the 0000 Xxx.
b. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein
shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase
Agreement or Convertible Debenture.
2. REGISTRATION.
a. Mandatory Registration. The Company shall prepare, and, on or
prior to thirty (30) days from the date of Closing (as defined in the
Securities Purchase Agreement) (the "Filing Date"), file with the SEC a
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or, if Form S-3 is not then available, on
such form of Registration Statement as is then available to effect a
registration of the Registrable Securities, subject to the consent of the
Initial Investors, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) covering
the resale of the Registrable Securities underlying the Debentures and
Warrants issued or issuable pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement,
which Registration Statement, to the extent allowable under the 1933 Act and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including Rule 416), shall
state that such Registration Statement also covers such indeterminate number
of additional shares of Common Stock as may become issuable upon conversion of
or otherwise pursuant to the Debentures and exercise of the Warrants to
prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar
transactions. The number of shares of Common Stock initially included in such
Registration Statement shall be no less than an amount equal to two (2) times
the sum of the number of Conversion Shares that are then issuable upon
conversion of the Debentures and Additional Debentures (based on the Variable
Conversion Price as would then be in effect and assuming the Variable
Conversion Price is the Conversion Price at such time), and the number of
Warrant Shares that are then issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, without
regard to any limitation on the Investor's ability to convert the Debentures
or exercise the Warrants. The Company acknowledges that the number of shares
initially included in the Registration Statement represents a good faith
estimate of the maximum number of shares issuable upon conversion of the
Debentures and upon exercise of the Warrants.
b. Underwritten Offering. If any offering pursuant to a
Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof involves an
underwritten offering, the Investors who hold a majority in interest of the
Registrable Securities subject to such underwritten offering, with the consent
of a majority-in-interest of the Initial Investors, shall have the right to
select one legal counsel and an investment banker or bankers and manager or
managers to administer the offering, which investment banker or bankers or
manager or managers shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company.
c. Payments by the Company. The Company shall use its best efforts
to obtain effectiveness of the Registration Statement as soon as practicable.
If (i) the Registration Statement(s) covering the Registrable Securities
required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof is not
filed by the Filing Date or declared effective by the SEC on or prior to
ninety (90) days from the date of Closing, or (ii) after the Registration
Statement has been declared effective by the SEC, sales of all of the
Registrable Securities cannot be made pursuant to the Registration Statement,
or (iii) the Common Stock is not listed or included for quotation on the
Nasdaq National Market ("Nasdaq"), the Nasdaq SmallCap Market ("Nasdaq
SmallCap"), the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") or the American Stock
Exchange (the "AMEX") after being so listed or included for quotation, or (iv)
the Common Stock ceases to be traded on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board
(the "OTC BB") prior to being listed or included for quotation on one of the
aforementioned markets, then the Company will make payments to the Investors
in such amounts and at such times as shall be determined pursuant to this
Section 2(c) as partial relief for the damages to the Investors by reason of
any such delay in or reduction of their ability to sell the Registrable
Securities (which remedy shall not be exclusive of any other remedies
available at law or in equity). The Company shall pay to each holder of the
Debentures or Registrable Securities an amount equal to the then outstanding
principal amount of the Debentures (and, in the case of holders of Registrable
Securities, the principal amount of Debentures from which such Registrable
Securities were converted) ("Outstanding Principal Amount"), multiplied by the
Applicable Percentage (as defined below) times the sum of: (i) the number of
months (prorated for partial months) after the Filing Date or the end of the
aforementioned ninety (90) day period and prior to the date the Registration
Statement is declared effective by the SEC, provided, however, that there
shall be excluded from such period any delays which are solely attributable to
changes required by the Investors in the Registration Statement with respect
to information relating to the Investors, including, without limitation,
changes to the plan of distribution, or to the failure of the Investors to
conduct their review of the Registration Statement pursuant to Section 3(h)
below in a reasonably prompt manner; (ii) the number of months (prorated for
partial months) that sales of all of the Registrable Securities cannot be made
pursuant to the Registration Statement after the Registration Statement has
been declared effective (including, without limitation, when sales cannot be
made by reason of the Company's failure to properly supplement or amend the
prospectus included therein in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,
but excluding any days during an Allowed Delay (as defined in Section 3(f));
and (iii) the number of months (prorated for partial months) that the Common
Stock is not listed or included for quotation on the OTC BB, Nasdaq, Nasdaq
SmallCap, NYSE or AMEX or that trading thereon is halted after the
Registration Statement has been declared effective. The term "Applicable
Percentage" means two hundredths (.02). (For example, if the Registration
Statement becomes effective one (1) month after the end of such thirty-day
period, the Company would pay $5,000 for each $250,000 of Outstanding
Principal Amount. If thereafter, sales could not be made pursuant to the
Registration Statement for an additional period of one (1) month, the Company
would pay an additional $5,000 for each $250,000 of Outstanding Principal
Amount.) Such amounts shall be paid in cash or, at each Investor's option,
in shares of Common Stock priced at the Conversion Price (as defined in the
Debentures) on such payment date.
d. Piggy-Back Registrations. Subject to the last sentence of this
Section 2(d), if at any time prior to the expiration of the Registration
Period (as hereinafter defined) the Company shall determine to file with the
SEC a Registration Statement relating to an offering for its own account or
the account of others under the 1933 Act of any of its equity securities
(other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 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), the Company shall send to each
Investor who is entitled to registration rights under this Section 2(d)
written notice of such determination and, if within fifteen (15) days after
the effective date of such notice, such Investor shall so request in writing,
the Company shall include in such Registration Statement all or any part of
the Registrable Securities such Investor requests to be registered, except
that if, in connection with any underwritten public offering for the account
of the Company the managing underwriter(s) thereof shall impose a limitation
on the number of shares of Common Stock which may be included in the
Registration Statement because, in such underwriter(s)' judgment, marketing or
other factors dictate such limitation is necessary to facilitate public
distribution, then the Company shall be obligated to include in such
Registration Statement only such limited portion of the Registrable Securities
with respect to which such Investor has requested inclusion hereunder as the
underwriter shall permit. Any exclusion of Registrable Securities shall be
made pro rata among the Investors seeking to include Registrable Securities in
proportion to the number of Registrable Securities sought to be included by
such Investors; provided, however, that the Company shall not exclude any
Registrable Securities unless the Company has first excluded all outstanding
securities, the holders of which are not entitled to inclusion of such
securities in such Registration Statement or are not entitled to pro rata
inclusion with the Registrable Securities; and provided, further, however,
that, after giving effect to the immediately preceding proviso, any exclusion
of Registrable Securities shall be made pro rata with holders of other
securities having the right to include such securities in the Registration
Statement other than holders of securities entitled to inclusion of their
securities in such Registration Statement by reason of demand registration
rights. No right to registration of Registrable Securities under this Section
2(d) shall be construed to limit any registration required under Section 2(a)
hereof. If an offering in connection with which an Investor is entitled to
registration under this Section 2(d) is an underwritten offering, then each
Investor whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration
Statement shall, unless otherwise agreed by the Company, offer and sell such
Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering using the same underwriter
or underwriters and, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, on the same
terms and conditions as other shares of Common Stock included in such
underwritten offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth
herein, the registration rights of the Investors pursuant to this Section 2(d)
shall only be available in the event the Company fails to timely file, obtain
effectiveness or maintain effectiveness of any Registration Statement to be
filed pursuant to Section 2(a) in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
e. Eligibility for Form X-0, XX-0 or S-1: Conversion to Form S-3.
The Company represents and warrants that it meets the requirements for the use
of Form X-0, XX-0 or S-1 for registration of the sale by the Initial Investors
and any other Investors of the Registrable Securities. The Company agrees to
file all reports required to be filed by the Company with the SEC in a timely
manner so as to remain eligible or become eligible, as the case may be, and
thereafter to maintain its eligibility, for the use of Form S-3. If the
Company is not currently eligible to use Form S-3, not later than five (5)
business days after the Company first meets the registration eligibility and
transaction requirements for the use of Form S-3 (or any successor form) for
registration of the offer and sale by the Initial Investors and any other
Investors of Registrable Securities, the Company shall file a Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (or such successor form) with respect to the Registrable
Securities covered by the Registration Statement on Form SB-2 or Form S-1,
whichever is applicable, filed pursuant to Section 2(a) (and include in such
Registration Statement on Form S-3 the information required by Rule 429 under
the 0000 Xxx) or convert the Registration Statement on Form SB-2 or Form S-1,
whichever is applicable, filed pursuant to Section 2(a) to a Form S-3 pursuant
to Rule 429 under the 1933 Act and cause such Registration Statement (or such
amendment) to be declared effective no later than forty-five (45) days after
filing. In the event of a breach by the Company of the provisions of this
Section 2(e), the Company will be required to make payments pursuant to
Section 2(c) hereof.
3. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY.
In connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities, the
Company shall have the following obligations:
a. The Company shall prepare promptly, and file with the SEC not
later than the Filing Date, a Registration Statement with respect to the
number of Registrable Securities provided in Section 2(a), and thereafter use
its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement relating to Registrable
Securities to become effective as soon as possible after such filing but in no
event later than ninety (90) days from the date of Closing), and keep the
Registration Statement effective pursuant to Rule 415 at all times until such
date as is the earlier of (i) the date on which all of the Registrable
Securities have been sold and (ii) the date on which the Registrable
Securities (in the opinion of counsel to the Initial Investors) may be
immediately sold to the public without registration or restriction (including
without limitation as to volume by each holder thereof) under the 1933 Act
(the "Registration Period"), which Registration Statement (including any
amendments or supplements thereto and prospectuses contained therein) shall
not contain any 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 not misleading.
b. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments
(including post-effective amendments) and supplements to the Registration
Statements and the prospectus used in connection with the Registration
Statements as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statements effective
at all times during the Registration Period, and, during such period, comply
with the provisions of the 1933 Act with respect to the disposition of all
Registrable Securities of the Company covered by the Registration Statements
until such time as all of such Registrable Securities have been disposed of in
accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers
thereof as set forth in the Registration Statements. In the event the number
of shares available under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this
Agreement is insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities issued or
issuable upon conversion of the Debentures and exercise of the Warrants, the
Company shall amend the Registration Statement, or file a new Registration
Statement (on the short form available therefore, if applicable), or both, so
as to cover all of the Registrable Securities, in each case, as soon as
practicable, but in any event within fifteen (15) days after the necessity
therefor arises (based on the market price of the Common Stock and other
relevant factors on which the Company reasonably elects to rely). The Company
shall use its best efforts to cause such amendment and/or new Registration
Statement to become effective as soon as practicable following the filing
thereof, but in any event within thirty (30) days after the date on which the
Company reasonably first determines (or reasonably should have determined) the
need therefor. The provisions of Section 2(c) above shall be applicable with
respect to such obligation, with the ninety (90) days running from the day the
Company reasonably first determines (or reasonably should have determined) the
need therefor.
c. The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose Registrable
Securities are included in a Registration Statement and its legal counsel (i)
promptly (but in no event more than two (2) business days) after the same is
prepared and publicly distributed, filed with the SEC, or received by the
Company, one copy of each Registration Statement and any amendment thereto,
each preliminary prospectus and prospectus and each amendment or supplement
thereto, and, in the case of the Registration Statement referred to in Section
2(a), each letter written by or on behalf of the Company to the SEC or the
staff of the SEC, and each item of correspondence from the SEC or the staff of
the SEC, in each case relating to such Registration Statement (other than any
portion of any thereof which contains information for which the Company has
sought confidential treatment), and (ii) promptly (but in no event more than
two (2) business days) after the Registration Statement is declared effective
by the SEC, such number of copies of a prospectus, including a preliminary
prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto and such other
documents as such Investor may reasonably request in order to facilitate the
disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor. The Company
will immediately notify each Investor by facsimile of the effectiveness of
each Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment. The Company will
promptly (but in no event more than five (5) business days) respond to any and
all comments received from the SEC (which comments shall promptly be made
available to the Investors upon request), with a view towards causing each
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto to be declared effective by
the SEC as soon as practicable, shall promptly file an acceleration request as
soon as practicable (but in no event more than two (2) business days)
following the resolution or clearance of all SEC comments or, if applicable,
following notification by the SEC that any such Registration Statement or any
amendment thereto will not be subject to review and shall promptly file with
the SEC a final prospectus as soon as practicable (but in no event more than
two (2) business days) following receipt by the Company from the SEC of an
order declaring the Registration Statement effective. In the event of a
breach by the Company of the provisions of this Section 3(c), the Company will
be required to make payments pursuant to Section 2(c) hereof.
d. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to (i) register and
qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statements
under such other securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions in the
United States as the Investors who hold a majority in interest of the
Registrable Securities being offered reasonably request, (ii) prepare and file
in those jurisdictions such amendments (including post-effective amendments)
and supplements to such registrations and qualifications as may be necessary
to maintain the effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii)
take such other actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and
qualifications in effect at all times during the Registration Period, and (iv)
take all other actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the
Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that
the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition
thereto to (a) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not
otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (b) subject itself
to general taxation in any such jurisdiction, (c) file a general consent to
service of process in any such jurisdiction, (d) provide any undertakings that
cause the Company undue expense or burden, or (e) make any change in its
charter or bylaws, which in each case the Board of Directors of the Company
determines to be contrary to the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders.
e. In the event Investors who hold a majority-in-interest of the
Registrable Securities being offered in the offering (with the approval of a
majority-in-interest of the Initial Investors) select underwriters for the
offering, the Company shall enter into and perform its obligations under an
underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, including, without
limitation, customary indemnification and contribution obligations, with the
underwriters of such offering.
f. As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event,
the Company shall notify each Investor of the happening of any event, of which
the Company has knowledge, as a result of which the prospectus included in any
Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a
material fact or omission to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and use
its best efforts promptly to prepare a supplement or amendment to any
Registration Statement to correct such untrue statement or omission, and
deliver such number of copies of such supplement or amendment to each Investor
as such Investor may reasonably request; provided that, for not more than ten
(10) consecutive trading days (or a total of not more than twenty (20) trading
days in any twelve (12) month period), the Company may delay the disclosure of
material non-public information concerning the Company (as well as prospectus
or Registration Statement updating) the disclosure of which at the time is
not, in the good faith opinion of the Company, in the best interests of the
Company (an "Allowed Delay"); provided, further, that the Company shall
promptly (i) notify the Investors in writing of the existence of (but in no
event, without the prior written consent of an Investor, shall the Company
disclose to such investor any of the facts or circumstances regarding)
material non-public information giving rise to an Allowed Delay and (ii)
advise the Investors in writing to cease all sales under such Registration
Statement until the end of the Allowed Delay. Upon expiration of the Allowed
Delay, the Company shall again be bound by the first sentence of this Section
3(f) with respect to the information giving rise thereto.
g. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance
of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of any Registration
Statement, and, if such an order is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such
order at the earliest possible moment and to notify each Investor who holds
Registrable Securities being sold (or, in the event of an underwritten
offering, the managing underwriters) of the issuance of such order and the
resolution thereof.
h. The Company shall permit a single firm of counsel designated by
the Initial Investors to review such Registration Statement and all amendments
and supplements thereto (as well as all requests for acceleration or
effectiveness thereof) a reasonable period of time prior to their filing with
the SEC, and not file any document in a form to which such counsel reasonably
objects and will not request acceleration of such Registration Statement
without prior notice to such counsel. The sections of such Registration
Statement covering information with respect to the Investors, the Investor's
beneficial ownership of securities of the Company or the Investors intended
method of disposition of Registrable Securities shall conform to the
information provided to the Company by each of the Investors.
i. The Company shall make generally available to its security
holders as soon as practicable, but not later than ninety (90) days after the
close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying
with the provisions of Rule 158 under the 0000 Xxx) covering a twelve-month
period beginning not later than the first day of the Company's fiscal quarter
next following the effective date of the Registration Statement.
j. At the request of any Investor, the Company shall furnish, on
the date that Registrable Securities are delivered to an underwriter, if any,
for sale in connection with any Registration Statement or, if such securities
are not being sold by an underwriter, on the date of effectiveness thereof (i)
an opinion, dated as of such date, from counsel representing the Company for
purposes of such Registration Statement, in form, scope and substance as is
customarily given in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the
underwriters, if any, and the Investors and (ii) a letter, dated such date,
from the Company's independent certified public accountants in form and
substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants
to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the
underwriters, if any, and the Investors.
k. The Company shall make available for inspection by (i) any
Investor, (ii) any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to a
Registration Statement, (iii) one firm of attorneys and one firm of
accountants or other agents retained by the Initial Investors, (iv) one firm
of attorneys and one firm of accountants or other agents retained by all other
Investors, and (v) one firm of attorneys retained by all such underwriters
(collectively, the "Inspectors") all pertinent financial and other records,
and pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, including
without limitation, records of conversions by other holders of convertible
securities issued by the Company and the issuance of stock to such holders
pursuant to the conversions (collectively, the "Records"), as shall be
reasonably deemed necessary by each Inspector to enable each Inspector to
exercise its due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company's officers,
directors and employees to supply all information which any Inspector may
reasonably request for purposes of such due diligence; provided, however, that
each Inspector shall hold in confidence and shall not make any disclosure
(except to an Investor) of any Record or other information which the Company
determines in good faith to be confidential, and of which determination the
Inspectors are so notified, unless (a) the disclosure of such Records is
necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration
Statement, (b) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena
or other order from a court or government body of competent jurisdiction, or
(c) the information in such Records has been made generally available to the
public other than by disclosure in violation of this or any other agreement.
The Company shall not be required to disclose any confidential information in
such Records to any Inspector until and unless such Inspector shall have
entered into confidentiality agreements (in form and substance satisfactory to
the Company) with the Company with respect thereto, substantially in the form
of this Section 3(k). Each Investor agrees that it shall, upon learning that
disclosure of such Records is sought in or by a court or governmental body of
competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to the
Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action
to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, the Records
deemed confidential. Nothing herein (or in any other confidentiality
agreement between the Company and any Investor) shall be deemed to limit the
Investor's ability to sell Registrable Securities in a manner which is
otherwise consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
l. The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure
of information concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless (i)
disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state
securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid
or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii) the
release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order
from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, or (iv) such
information has been made generally available to the public other than by
disclosure in violation of this or any other agreement. The Company agrees
that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such information concerning an
Investor is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent
jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to such Investor prior
to making such disclosure, and allow the Investor, at its expense, to
undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a
protective order for, such information.
m. The Company shall (i) cause all the Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement to be listed on each national securities
exchange on which securities of the same class or series issued by the Company
are then listed, if any, if the listing of such Registrable Securities is then
permitted under the rules of such exchange, or (ii) to the extent the
securities of the same class or series are not then listed on a national
securities exchange, secure the designation and quotation, of all the
Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement on Nasdaq or, if
not eligible for Nasdaq, on Nasdaq SmallCap or, if not eligible for Nasdaq or
Nasdaq SmallCap, on the OTC BB and, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, to arrange for at least two market makers to register with the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") as such with respect
to such Registrable Securities.
n. The Company shall provide a transfer agent and registrar, which
may be a single entity, for the Registrable Securities not later than the
effective date of the Registration Statement.
o. The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold
Registrable Securities being offered and the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing Registrable
Securities to be offered pursuant to a Registration Statement and enable such
certificates to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may be, as
the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or the Investors may
reasonably request and registered in such names as the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, or the Investors may request, and, within three (3)
business days after a Registration Statement which includes Registrable
Securities is ordered effective by the SEC, the Company shall deliver, and
shall cause legal counsel selected by the Company to deliver, to the transfer
agent for the Registrable Securities (with copies to the Investors whose
Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement) an
instruction in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1 and an opinion of such
counsel in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 2.
p. At the request of the holders of a majority-in-interest of the
Registrable Securities, the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such
amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to a
Registration Statement and any prospectus used in connection with the
Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to change the plan of
distribution set forth in such Registration Statement.
q. From and after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall
not, and shall not agree to, allow the holders of any securities of the
Company to include any of their securities in any Registration Statement under
Section 2(a) hereof or any amendment or supplement thereto under Section 3(b)
hereof without the consent of the holders of a majority-in-interest of the
Registrable Securities.
r. The Company shall take all other reasonable actions necessary to
expedite and facilitate disposition by the Investors of Registrable Securities
pursuant to a Registration Statement.
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTORS.
In connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities, the
Investors shall have the following obligations:
a. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the
Company to complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect
to the Registrable Securities of a particular Investor that such Investor
shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the
Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of
the Registrable Securities held by it as shall be reasonably required to
effect the registration of such Registrable Securities and shall execute such
documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably
request. At least three (3) business days prior to the first anticipated
filing date of the Registration Statement, the Company shall notify each
Investor of the information the Company requires from each such Investor.
b. Each Investor, by such Investor's acceptance of the Registrable
Securities, agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by
the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration
Statements hereunder, unless such Investor has notified the Company in writing
of such Investor's election to exclude all of such Investor's Registrable
Securities from the Registration Statements.
c. In the event Investors holding a majority-in-interest of the
Registrable Securities being registered (with the approval of the Initial
Investors) determine to engage the services of an underwriter, each Investor
agrees to enter into and perform such Investor's obligations under an
underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, including, without
limitation, customary indemnification and contribution obligations, with the
managing underwriter of such offering and take such other actions as are
reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the
Registrable Securities, unless such Investor has notified the Company in
writing of such Investor's election to exclude all of such Investor's
Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement.
d. Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the
Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(f) or
3(g), such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable
Securities until such Investor's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or
amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(f) or 3(g) and, if so directed by
the Company, such Investor shall deliver to the Company (at the expense of the
Company) or destroy (and deliver to the Company a certificate of destruction)
all copies in such Investor's possession, of the prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.
e. No Investor may participate in any underwritten registration
hereunder unless such Investor (i) agrees to sell such Investor's Registrable
Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements in usual and
customary form entered into by the Company, (ii) completes and executes all
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and
other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting
arrangements, and (iii) agrees to pay its pro rata share of all underwriting
discounts and commissions and any expenses in excess of those payable by the
Company pursuant to Section 5 below.
5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.
All reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and
commissions, incurred in connection with registrations, filings or
qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, including, without limitation,
all registration, listing and qualification fees, printers and accounting
fees, the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, and the
reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel selected by the Initial
Investors pursuant to Sections 2(b) and 3(h) hereof shall be borne by the
Company.
6. INDEMNIFICATION.
In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a Registration
Statement under this Agreement:
a. To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify, hold
harmless and defend (i) each Investor who holds such Registrable Securities,
(ii) the directors, officers, partners, employees, agents and each person who
controls any Investor within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), if any, (iii) any
underwriter (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) for the Investors, and (iv) the
directors, officers, partners, employees and each person who controls any such
underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, if any (each,
an "Indemnified Person"), against any joint or several losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses (collectively, together with actions,
proceedings or inquiries by any regulatory or self-regulatory organization,
whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof, "Claims") to which any of
them may become subject insofar as such Claims arise out of or are based upon:
(i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in a
Registration Statement or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading; (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus if used prior to
the effective date of such Registration Statement, or contained in the final
prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the Company files any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or the omission or alleged
omission to state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements
made therein, in light of the circumstances under which the statements therein
were made, not misleading; or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the
Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law, including, without
limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder
relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable Securities (the matters in
the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) being, collectively, "Violations").
Subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 6(c) with respect to the
number of legal counsel, the Company shall reimburse the Indemnified Person,
promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any
reasonable legal fees or other reasonable expenses incurred by them in
connection with investigating or defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement
contained in this Section 6(a): (i) shall not apply to a Claim arising out of
or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished in writing to the Company by any Indemnified Person or
underwriter for such Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with
the preparation of such Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof
or supplement thereto, if such prospectus was timely made available by the
Company pursuant to Section 3(c) hereof; (ii) shall not apply to amounts paid
in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior
written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld; and (iii) with respect to any preliminary prospectus, shall not
inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Person if the untrue statement or
omission of material fact contained in the preliminary prospectus was
corrected on a timely basis in the prospectus, as then amended or
supplemented, such corrected prospectus was timely made available by the
Company pursuant to Section 3(c) hereof, and the Indemnified Person was
promptly advised in writing not to use the incorrect prospectus prior to the
use giving rise to a Violation and such Indemnified Person, notwithstanding
such advice, used it. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person
and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Investors
pursuant to Section 9.
b. In connection with any Registration Statement in which an
Investor is participating, each such Investor agrees severally and not jointly
to indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same
manner set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of
its officers who signs the Registration Statement, each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, any
underwriter and any other stockholder selling securities pursuant to the
Registration Statement or any of its directors or officers or any person who
controls such stockholder or underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act or
the 1934 Act (collectively and together with an Indemnified Person, an
"Indemnified Party"), against any Claim to which any of them may become
subject, under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim
arises out of or is based upon any Violation by such Investor, in each case to
the extent (and only to the extent) that such Violation occurs in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by
such Investor expressly for use in connection with such Registration
Statement; and subject to Section 6(c) such Investor will reimburse any legal
or other expenses (promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and
payable) reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such Claim; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement
contained in this Section 6(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement
of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent
of such Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided,
further, however, that the Investor shall be liable under this Agreement
(including this Section 6(b) and Section 7) for only that amount as does not
exceed the net proceeds to such Investor as a result of the sale of
Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Such
indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party and shall survive
the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to
Section 9. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(b) with respect to any
preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Party
if the untrue statement or omission of material fact contained in the
preliminary prospectus was corrected on a timely basis in the prospectus, as
then amended or supplemented.
c. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action (including
any governmental action), such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall,
if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party
under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of
the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall have the right to
participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly
with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume control of the
defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party
and the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party, as the case may be;
provided, however, that an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall have
the right to retain its own counsel with the fees and expenses to be paid by
the indemnifying party, if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel retained by
the indemnifying party, the representation by such counsel of the Indemnified
Person or Indemnified Party and the indemnifying party would be inappropriate
due to actual or potential differing interests between such Indemnified Person
or Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such counsel in such
proceeding. The indemnifying party shall pay for only one separate legal
counsel for the Indemnified Persons or the Indemnified Parties, as
applicable, and such legal counsel shall be selected by Investors holding a
majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities included in the
Registration Statement to which the Claim relates (with the approval of a
majority-in-interest of the Initial Investors), if the Investors are entitled
to indemnification hereunder, or the Company, if the Company is entitled to
indemnification hereunder, as applicable. The failure to deliver written
notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement
of any such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability
to the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6, except to
the extent that the indemnifying party is actually prejudiced in its ability
to defend such action. The indemnification required by this Section 6 shall
be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the
investigation or defense, as such expense, loss, damage or liability is
incurred and is due and payable.
7. CONTRIBUTION.
To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is prohibited
or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum
contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be
liable under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided,
however, that (i) no contribution shall be made under circumstances where the
maker would not have been liable for indemnification under the fault standards
set forth in Section 6, (ii) no seller of Registrable Securities guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 0000
Xxx) shall be entitled to contribution from any seller of Registrable
Securities who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation, and (iii)
contribution (together with any indemnification or other obligations under
this Agreement) by any seller of Registrable Securities shall be limited in
amount to the net amount of proceeds received by such seller from the sale of
such Registrable Securities.
8. REPORTS UNDER THE 1934 ACT.
With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule 144
promulgated under the 1933 Act or any other similar rule or regulation of the
SEC that may at any time permit the investors to sell securities of the
Company to the public without registration ("Rule 144"), the Company agrees
to:
a. make and keep public information available, as those terms are
understood and defined in Rule 144;
b. file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other
documents required of the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so long
as the Company remains subject to such requirements (it being understood that
nothing herein shall limit the Company's obligations under Section 4(c) of the
Securities Purchase Agreement) and the filing of such reports and other
documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
c. furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns
Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the
Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the
1933 Act and the 1934 Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly
report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the
Company, and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested to
permit the Investors to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without
registration.
9. ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
The rights under this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by the
Investors to any transferee of all or any portion of Registrable Securities
if: (i) the Investor agrees in writing with the transferee or assignee to
assign such rights, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company
within a reasonable time after such assignment, (ii) the Company is, within a
reasonable time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with written
notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or assignee, and (b) the
securities with respect to which such registration rights are being
transferred or assigned, (iii) following such transfer or assignment, the
further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is
restricted under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, (iv) at or
before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause
(ii) of this sentence, the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the
Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein, (v) such
transfer shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements
of the Securities Purchase Agreement, and (vi) such transferee shall be an
"accredited investor" as that term defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D
promulgated under the 1933 Act.
10. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof
may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either
retroactively or prospectively), only with written consent of the Company,
each of the Initial Investors (to the extent such Initial Investor still owns
Registrable Securities) and Investors who hold a majority interest of the
Registrable Securities. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with
this Section 10 shall be binding upon each Investor and the Company.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
a. A person or entity is deemed to be a holder of Registrable
Securities whenever such person or entity owns of record such Registrable
Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or
elections from two or more persons or entities with respect to the same
Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions,
notice or election received from the registered owner of such Registrable
Securities.
b. Any notices required or permitted to be given under the terms
hereof shall be sent by certified or registered mail (return receipt
requested) or delivered personally or by courier (including a recognized
overnight delivery service) or by facsimile and shall be effective five days
after being placed in the mail, if mailed by regular United States mail, or
upon receipt, if delivered personally or by courier (including a recognized
overnight delivery service) or by facsimile, in each case addressed to a
party. The addresses for such communications shall be:
If to the Company:
Palladium Communications, Inc.
000 X. Xxxxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: President and Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Email: xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
With copy to:
Xxxxx Shy, Esq.
000 Xxxxx 000 Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxx 00000
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Email: xxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx
If to an Investor: to the address set forth immediately below such
Investor's name on the signature pages to the Securities Purchase Agreement.
With a copy to:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx & Ingersoll, LLP
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Email: xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
c. Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this
Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or
remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof.
d. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE ENFORCED, GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS
MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS. THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY SUBMIT TO THE
EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED NEW YORK,
NEW YORK WITH RESPECT TO ANY DISPUTE ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, THE
AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. BOTH PARTIES IRREVOCABLY WAIVE THE DEFENSE OF
AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH SUIT OR PROCEEDING. BOTH
PARTIES FURTHER AGREE THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON A PARTY MAILED BY FIRST
CLASS MAIL SHALL BE DEEMED IN EVERY RESPECT EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON
THE PARTY IN ANY SUCH SUIT OR PROCEEDING. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT EITHER
PARTY'S RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW. BOTH
PARTIES AGREE THAT A FINAL NON-APPEALABLE JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH SUIT OR
PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY
SUIT ON SUCH JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LAWFUL MANNER. THE PARTY WHICH DOES NOT
PREVAIL IN ANY DISPUTE ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
ALL FEES AND EXPENSES, INCLUDING ATTORNEYS' FEES, INCURRED BY THE PREVAILING
PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH DISPUTE.
e. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is invalid or
unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then such provision
shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that it may conflict therewith and
shall be deemed modified to conform with such statute or rule of law. Any
provision hereof which may prove invalid or unenforceable under any law shall
not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof.
f. This Agreement, the Warrants and the Securities Purchase
Agreement (including all schedules and exhibits thereto) constitute the entire
agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof
and thereof. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings,
other than those set forth or referred to herein and therein. This Agreement
and the Securities Purchase Agreement supersede all prior agreements and
understandings among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof and thereof.
g. Subject to the requirements of Section 9 hereof, this Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their
successors and assigns.
h. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference
only and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this
Agreement.
i. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and
the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been
signed by each party and delivered to the other party. This Agreement, once
executed by a party, may be delivered to the other party hereto by facsimile
transmission of a copy of this Agreement bearing the signature of the party so
delivering this Agreement.
j. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and
performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all
such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other
party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish
the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
k. Except as otherwise provided herein, all consents and other
determinations to be made by the Investors pursuant to this Agreement shall be
made by Investors holding a majority of the Registrable Securities, determined
as if the all of the Debentures then outstanding have been converted into for
Registrable Securities.
l. The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations
hereunder will cause irreparable harm to each Investor by vitiating the intent
and purpose of the transactions contemplated hereby. Accordingly, the Company
acknowledges that the remedy at law for breach of its obligations under this
Agreement will be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach or
threatened breach by the Company of any of the provisions under this
Agreement, that each Investor shall be entitled, in addition to all other
available remedies in law or in equity, and in addition to the penalties
assessable herein, to an injunction or injunctions restraining, preventing or
curing any breach of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and
provisions hereof, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without
any bond or other security being required.
m. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the
language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of
strict construction will be applied against any party.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the undersigned Initial Investors
have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above
written.
PALLADIUM COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
______________________________________
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
President and Chief Executive Officer
AJW PARTNERS, LLC
By: SMS Group, LLC
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
______________________________________
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Manager
NEW MILLENNIUM CAPITAL PARTNERS II, LLC
By: First Street Manager II, LLC
/s/ Xxxxx X Xxxxxxxxx
______________________________________
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Manager
AJW/NEW MILLENNIUM OFFSHORE, LTD.
By: First Street Manager II, LLC
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
______________________________________
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Manager
PEGASUS CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC
By: Pegasus Manager, LLC
/s/ Xxxxx X Xxxxxxxxx
____________________________________
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Manager
