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Exhibit 4.6
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of the 31st day of December, 1997 by and between VENTURI
TECHNOLOGY ENTERPRISES, INC., a Nevada corporation (the "Company") and
ENTREPRENEURIAL INVESTORS, LTD., a Bahamas company (the "Shareholder").
R E C I T A L S:
WHEREAS, the Shareholder is acquiring Two Hundred Thousand (200,000)
shares (the "Shares") of the Company's Series B 6% Cumulative Convertible
Preferred Stock, stated value $10.00 per share, (the "Series B Preferred Stock")
pursuant to that certain Investor Subscription Agreement by and between the
Company and the Shareholder of even date herewith (the "Investor Agreement");
and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to grant to the Shareholder certain
registration rights relating to the shares of the common stock of the Company,
par value $0.001 per share (the "Common Stock") issuable upon conversion of the
Shares and the Shareholder desires to obtain such registration rights, subject
to the terms and conditions set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual premises,
representations, warranties and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the
parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions and References. For purposes of this Agreement, in
addition to the definitions set forth above and elsewhere herein, the following
terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) The term "Commission" shall mean the Securities and
Exchange Commission and any successor agency.
(b) The terms "register", "registered" and "registration"
shall refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a
registration statement or similar document in compliance with the 1933
Act (as herein defined) and the declaration or ordering of
effectiveness of such registration statement or document.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Registrable
Stock" shall mean (i) any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable
upon the conversion of the Shares, (ii) any shares of Common Stock
issued by way of a stock split, reorganization, merger or
consolidation, and (iii) any Common Stock issued as a dividend on the
Shares. For purposes of this Agreement, any Registrable Stock shall
cease to be Registrable Stock when (v) a registration statement
covering such Registrable Stock has been declared effective and such
Registrable Stock has been disposed of pursuant to such effective
registration statement, (w) such Registrable Stock is sold pursuant to
Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force)
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under the 1933 Act (x) such Registrable Stock is eligible to be sold
pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the 1933 Act, (y) such Registrable Stock
has been otherwise transferred, no stop transfer order affecting such
stock is in effect and the Company has delivered new certificates or
other evidences of ownership for such Registrable Stock not bearing any
legend indicating that such shares have not been registered under the
1933 Act, or (z) such Registrable Stock is sold by a person in a
transaction in which the rights under the provisions of this Agreement
are not assigned.
(d) The term "Holder" shall mean the Shareholder or any
transferee or assignee thereof to whom the rights under this Agreement
are assigned in accordance with Section 10 hereof, provided that the
Shareholder or such transferee or assignee shall then own the
Registrable Stock.
(e) The term "1933 Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended.
(f) An "affiliate of such Holder" shall mean a person who
controls, is controlled by or is under common control with a Holder, or
the spouse or children (or a trust exclusively for the benefit of the
spouse and/or children) of a Holder, or, in the case of a Holder that
is a partnership, its partners.
(g) The term "Person" shall mean an individual, corporation,
partnership, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated
organization or association or other entity, including any governmental
entity.
(h) The term "Requesting Holder" shall mean a Holder or
Holders of in the aggregate at least a majority of the Registrable
Stock.
(i) References in this Agreement to any rules, regulations or
forms promulgated by the Commission shall include rules, regulations
and forms succeeding to the functions thereof, whether or not bearing
the same designation.
2. Demand Registration.
(a) Commencing December 31, 1997, any Requesting Holders may
make a written request to the Company (specifying that it is being made
pursuant to this Section 2) that the Company file a registration
statement under the 1933 Act (or a similar document pursuant to any
other statute then in effect corresponding to the 0000 Xxx) covering
the registration of Registrable Stock. In such event, the Company shall
(x) within ten (10) days thereafter notify in writing all other Holders
of Registrable Stock of such request, and (y) use its best efforts to
cause to be registered under the 1933 Act all Registrable Stock that
the Requesting Holders and such other Holders have, within forty-five
(45) days after the Company has given such notice, requested be
registered.
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(b) If the Requesting Holders intend to distribute the
Registrable Stock covered by their request by means of an underwritten
offering, they shall so advise the Company as a part of their request
pursuant to Section 2.(a) above, and the Company shall include such
information in the written notice referred to in clause (x) of Section
2.(a) above. In such event, the Holder's right to include its
Registrable Stock in such registration shall be conditioned upon such
Holder's participation in such underwritten offering and the inclusion
of such Holder's Registrable Stock in the underwritten offering to the
extent provided in this Section 2. All Holders proposing to distribute
Registrable Stock through such underwritten offering shall enter into
an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or
underwriters. Such underwriter or underwriters shall be selected by a
majority in interest of the Requesting Holders and shall be approved by
the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld;
provided, that all of the representations and warranties by, and the
other agreements on the part of, the Company to and for the benefit of
such underwriters shall also be made to and for the benefit of such
Holders and that any or all of the conditions precedent to the
obligations of such underwriters under such underwriting agreement
shall be conditions precedent to the obligations of such Holders; and
provided further, that no Holder shall be required to make any
representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the
underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements
regarding such Holder, the Registrable Stock of such Holder and such
Holder's intended method of distribution and any other representation
required by law or reasonably required by the underwriter.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2 to
the contrary, if the managing underwriter of an underwritten offering
of the Registrable Stock requested to be registered pursuant to this
Section 2 advises the Requesting Holders in writing that in its opinion
marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be
underwritten, the Requesting Holders shall so advise all Holders of
Registrable Stock that would otherwise be underwritten pursuant hereto,
and the number of shares of Registrable Stock that may be included in
such underwritten offering shall be allocated among all such Holders,
including the Requesting Holders, in proportion (as nearly as
practicable) to the amount of Registrable Stock requested to be
included in such registration by each Holder at the time of filing the
registration statement; provided, that in the event of such limitation
of the number of shares of Registrable Stock to be underwritten, the
Holders shall be entitled to an additional demand registration pursuant
to this Section 2. If any Holder of Registrable Stock disapproves of
the terms of the underwriting, such Holder may elect to withdraw by
written notice to the Company, the managing underwriter and the
Requesting Holders. The securities so withdrawn shall also be withdrawn
from registration.
(d) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, the Company shall not be required to effect a registration
pursuant to this Section 2 during the period starting with the
fourteenth (14th) day immediately preceding the date of an anticipated
filing by the Company of, and ending on a date ninety (90) days
following the effective date of, a registration statement pertaining to
a public offering of securities for the
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account of the Company; provided, that the Company shall actively
employ in good faith all reasonable efforts to cause such registration
statement to become effective; and provided further, that the Company's
estimate of the date of filing such registration statement shall be
made in good faith.
(e) The Company shall be obligated to effect and pay for a
total of only one (1) registration pursuant to this Section 2, unless
increased pursuant to Section 2.(c) hereof; provided, that a
registration requested pursuant to this Section 2 shall not be deemed
to have been effected for purposes of this Section 2.(e), unless (i) it
has been declared effective by the Commission, (ii) if it is a shelf
registration, it has remained effective for the period set forth in
Section 3.(b), (iii) the offering of Registrable Stock pursuant to such
registration is not subject to any stop order, injunction or other
order or requirement of the Commission (other than any such action
prompted by any act or omission of the Holders), and (iv) no limitation
of the number of shares of Registrable Stock to be underwritten has
been required pursuant to Section 2.(c) hereof.
3. Obligations of the Company. Whenever required under Section 2 to use
its best efforts to effect the registration of any Registrable Stock, the
Company shall, as expeditiously as possible:
(a) prepare and file with the Commission, not later than
ninety (90) days after receipt of a request to file a registration
statement with respect to such Registrable Stock, a registration
statement on any form for which the Company then qualifies or which
counsel for the Company shall deem appropriate and which form shall be
available for the sale of such issue of Registrable Stock in accordance
with the intended method of distribution thereof, and use its best
efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective as
promptly as practicable thereafter; provided that before filing a
registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements
thereto, the Company will (i) furnish to one (1) counsel selected by
the Requesting Holders copies of all such documents proposed to be
filed, and (ii) notify each such Holder of any stop order issued or
threatened by the Commission and take all reasonable actions required
to prevent the entry of such stop order or to remove it if entered;
(b) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in
connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration
statement effective for such period of time as would satisfy the
holding period requirements of Rule 144(k) promulgated by the
Commission with respect to the Shares or such shorter period which will
terminate when all Registrable Stock covered by such registration
statement has been sold (but not before the expiration of the forty
(40) or ninety (90) day period referred to in Section 4(3) of the 1933
Act and Rule 174 thereunder, if applicable), and comply with the
provisions of the 1933 Act with respect to the disposition of all
securities covered by such registration statement during such period in
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accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers
thereof set forth in such registration statement;
(c) furnish to each Holder and any underwriter of Registrable
Stock to be included in a registration statement copies of such
registration statement as filed and each amendment and supplement
thereto (in each case including all exhibits thereto), the prospectus
included in such registration statement (including each preliminary
prospectus) and such other documents as such Holder may reasonably
request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Stock
owned by such Holder;
(d) use its best efforts to register or qualify such
Registrable Stock under such other securities or blue sky laws of such
jurisdictions as any selling Holder or any underwriter of Registrable
Stock reasonably requests, and do any and all other acts which may be
reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Holder to consummate
the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Stock owned by
such Holder; provided that the Company will not be required to (i)
qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not
otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3.(d) hereof,
(ii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (iii)
consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction;
(e) use its best efforts to cause the Registrable Stock
covered by such registration statement to be registered with or
approved by such other governmental agencies or other authorities as
may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the
Company to enable the selling Holders thereof to consummate the
disposition of such Registrable Stock;
(f) notify each selling Holder of such Registrable Stock and
any underwriter thereof, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto
is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act (even if such time is
after the period referred to in Section 3.(b)), of the happening of any
event as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration
statement contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein in light of the circumstances being made
not misleading, and prepare a supplement or amendment to such
prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such
Registrable Stock, such prospectus will not contain an 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 being made not misleading;
(g) make available for inspection by any selling Holder, any
underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such
registration statement, and any attorney, accountant or other agent
retained by any such seller or underwriter (collectively, the
"Inspectors"), all financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the "Records"),
and cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all
information reasonably requested by any such Inspector, as shall
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be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence
responsibility, in connection with such registration statement. Records
or other information which the Company determines, in good faith, to be
confidential and which it notifies the Inspectors are confidential
shall not be disclosed by the Inspectors unless (i) the disclosure of
such Records or other information is necessary to avoid or correct a
misstatement or omission in the registration statement or (ii) the
release of such Records or other information is ordered pursuant to a
subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction. Each
selling Holder shall, upon learning that disclosure of such Records or
other information is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, give
notice to the Company and allow the Company, at the Company's expense,
to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the Records or
other information deemed confidential;
(h) furnish, at the request of any Requesting Holder, on the
date that such shares of Registrable Stock are delivered to the
underwriters for sale pursuant to such registration or, if such
Registrable Stock is not being sold through underwriters, on the date
that the registration statement with respect to such shares of
Registrable Stock becomes effective, (1) a signed opinion, dated such
date, of the legal counsel representing the Company for the purposes of
such registration, addressed to the underwriters, if any, and if such
Registrable Stock is not being sold through underwriters, then to the
Requesting Holders as to such matters as such underwriters or the
Requesting Holders, as the case may be, may reasonably request and as
would be customary in such a transaction; and (2) a letter dated such
date, from the independent certified public accountants of the Company,
addressed to the underwriters, if any, and if such Registrable Stock is
not being sold through underwriters, then to the Requesting Holders
and, if such accountants refuse to deliver such letter to such Holder,
then to the Company (i) stating that they are independent certified
public accountants within the meaning of the 1933 Act and that, in the
opinion of such accountants, the financial statements and other
financial data of the Company included in the registration statement or
the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, comply as to
form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
requirements of the 1933 Act, and (ii) covering such other financial
matters (including information as to the period ending not more than
five (5) business days prior to the date of such letter) with respect
to the registration in respect of which such letter is being given as
the Requesting Holders may reasonably request and as would be customary
in such a transaction;
(i) enter into customary agreements (including if the method
of distribution is by means of an underwriting, an underwriting
agreement in customary form) and take such other actions as are
reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition
of the Registrable Stock to be so included in the registration
statement;
(j) otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make available
to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, but not
later than eighteen (18) months after the effective date of the
registration statement, an earnings statement covering the period of at
least twelve (12)
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months beginning with the first full month after the effective date of
such registration statement, which earnings statements shall satisfy
the provisions of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act; and
(k) use its best efforts to cause all such Registrable Stock
to be listed on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market and/or any other securities
exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then
listed or traded.
The Company may require each selling Holder of Registrable Stock as to
which any registration is being effected to furnish to the Company such
information regarding the distribution of such Registrable Stock as the Company
may from time to time reasonably request in writing.
Each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of
the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3.(f) hereof, such
Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Stock pursuant to
the registration statement covering such Registrable Stock until such Holder's
receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by
Section 3.(f) hereof, and, if so directed by the Company, such Holder will
deliver to the Company (at the Company's expense) all copies, other than
permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession, of the prospectus
covering such Registrable Stock current at the time of receipt of such notice.
In the event the Company shall give any such notice, the Company shall extend
the period during which such registration statement shall be maintained
effective pursuant to this Agreement (including the period referred to in
Section 3.(b)) by the number of days during the period from and including the
date of the giving of such notice pursuant to Section 3.(f) hereof to and
including the date when each selling Holder of Registrable Stock covered by such
registration statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or
amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3.(f) hereof.
4. Incidental Registration. Commencing immediately after the date of
Closing (as defined in the Investor Agreement), if the Company determines that
it shall file a registration statement under the 1933 Act (other than a
registration statement on a Form S-4 or S-8 or filed in connection with an
exchange offer or an offering of securities solely to the Company's existing
stockholders) on any form that would also permit the registration of the
Registrable Stock and such filing is to be on its behalf and/or on behalf of
selling holders of its securities for the general registration of its common
stock to be sold for cash, at each such time the Company shall promptly give
each Holder written notice of such determination setting forth the date on which
the Company proposes to file such registration statement, which date shall be no
earlier than thirty (30) days from the date of such notice, and advising each
Holder of its right to have Registrable Stock included in such registration.
Upon the written request of any Holder received by the Company no later than
twenty (20) days after the date of the Company's notice, the Company shall use
its best efforts to cause to be registered under the 1933 Act all of the
Registrable Stock that each such Holder has so requested to be registered. If,
in the written opinion of the managing underwriter or underwriters (or, in the
case of a non-underwritten offering, in the written opinion of the placement
agent, or if there is none, the Company), the total amount of such securities to
be so registered, including such
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Registrable Stock, will exceed the maximum amount of the Company's securities
which can be marketed (i) at a price reasonably related to the then current
market value of such securities, or (ii) without otherwise materially and
adversely affecting the entire offering, then the amount of Registrable Stock to
be offered for the accounts of Holders shall be reduced pro rata to the extent
necessary to reduce the total amount of securities to be included in such
offering to the recommended amount; provided, that if securities are being
offered for the account of other Persons as well as the Company, such reduction
shall not represent a greater fraction of the number of securities intended to
be offered by Holders than the fraction of similar reductions imposed on such
other Persons other than the Company over the amount of securities they intended
to offer.
5. Holdback Agreement-- Restrictions on Public Sale by Holder.
(a) To the extent not inconsistent with applicable law, each
Holder whose Registrable Stock is included in a registration statement
agrees not to effect any public sale or distribution of the issue being
registered or a similar security of the Company, or any securities
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such securities,
including a sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, during the
fourteen (14) days prior to, and during the ninety (90) day period
beginning on, the effective date of such registration statement (except
as part of the registration), if and to the extent requested by the
Company in the case of a nonunderwritten public offering or if and to
the extent requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters in the
case of an underwritten public offering.
(b) Restrictions on Public Sale by the Company and Others. The
Company agrees (i) not to effect any public sale or distribution of any
securities similar to those being registered, or any securities
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such securities,
during the fourteen (14) days prior to, and during the ninety (90) day
period beginning on, the effective date of any registration statement
in which Holders are participating (except as part of such
registration), if and to the extent requested by the Holders in the
case of a non-underwritten public offering or if and to the extent
requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters in the case of an
underwritten public offering; and (ii) that any agreement entered into
after the date of this Agreement pursuant to which the Company issues
or agrees to issue any securities convertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable for such securities (other than pursuant to an effective
registration statement) shall contain a provision under which holders
of such securities agree not to effect any public sale or distribution
of any such securities during the periods described in (i) above, in
each case including a sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the 1933 Act.
6. Expenses of Registration. The Company shall bear all expenses
incurred in connection with each registration pursuant to Sections 2 and 4 of
this Agreement, excluding underwriters' discounts and commissions, but
including, without limitation, all registration, filing and qualification fees,
word processing, duplicating, printers' and accounting fees (including the
expenses of any special audits or "cold comfort" letters required by or incident
to such performance and compliance), exchange listing fees or National
Association of Securities Dealers fees, messenger
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and delivery expenses, all fees and expenses of complying with securities or
blue sky laws, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company. The selling
Holders shall bear and pay the underwriting commissions and discounts applicable
to the Registrable Stock offered for their account in connection with any
registrations, filings and qualifications made pursuant to this Agreement.
7. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company agrees to
indemnify, to the full extent permitted by law, each Holder, its
officers, directors and agents and each Person who controls such Holder
(within the meaning of the 0000 Xxx) against all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and expenses caused by any untrue or alleged
untrue statement of material fact contained in any registration
statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or any omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statement therein (in case of a
prospectus or preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made) not misleading. The Company will also
indemnify any underwriters of the Registrable Stock, their officers and
directors and each Person who controls such underwriters (within the
meaning of the 0000 Xxx) to the same extent as provided above with
respect to the indemnification of the selling Holders.
(b) Indemnification by Holders. In connection with any
registration statement in which a Holder is participating, each such
Holder will furnish to the Company in writing such information with
respect to such Holder as the Company reasonably requests for use in
connection with any such registration statement or prospectus and
agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, the Company, its
directors and officers and each Person who controls the Company (within
the meaning of the 0000 Xxx) against any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and expenses resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of material fact or any omission or alleged omission of a
material fact required to be stated in the registration statement,
prospectus or preliminary prospectus or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto or necessary to make the statements therein (in the
case of a prospectus or preliminary prospectus, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, to the
extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission
is contained in any information with respect to such Holder so
furnished in writing by such Holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
liability of each such Holder under this Section 7.(b) shall be limited
to an amount equal to the initial public offering price of the
Registrable Stock sold by such Holder, unless such liability arises out
of or is based on willful misconduct of such Holder.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Any Person
entitled to indemnification hereunder agrees to give prompt written
notice to the indemnifying party after the receipt by such Person of
any written notice of the commencement of any action, suit, proceeding
or investigation or threat thereof made in writing for which such
Person will claim indemnification or contribution pursuant to this
Agreement and, unless in the
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reasonable judgment of such indemnified party, a conflict of interest
may exist between such indemnified party and the indemnifying party
with respect to such claim, permit the indemnifying party to assume the
defense of such claims with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such
indemnified party. Whether or not such defense is assumed by the
indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will not be subject to any
liability for any settlement made without its consent (but such consent
will not be unreasonably withheld). Failure by such Person to provide
said notice to the indemnifying party shall itself not create liability
except to the extent of any injury caused thereby. No indemnifying
party will consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any
settlement which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the
giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a
release from all liability in respect of such claim or litigation. If
the indemnifying party is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the
defense of a claim, it will not be obligated to pay the fees and
expenses of more than one (1) counsel with respect to such claim,
unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict
of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other such
indemnified parties with respect to such claim, in which event the
indemnifying party shall be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of
such additional counsel or counsels.
(d) Contribution. If for any reason the indemnity provided for
in this Section 7 is unavailable to, or is insufficient to hold
harmless, an indemnified party, then the indemnifying party shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a
result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (i) in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits
received by the indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified
party on the other, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i)
above is not permitted by applicable law, or provides a lesser sum to
the indemnified party than the amount hereinafter calculated, in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits
received by the indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified
party on the other but also the relative fault of the indemnifying
party and the indemnified party as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of such indemnifying party and
indemnified parties 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 to
state a material fact, has been made by, or relates to information
supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified parties; and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such action. The amount paid or
payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include,
subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7.(c), any legal or
other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection
with any investigation or proceeding.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 7.(d) were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of
the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the 1933
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Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of
such fraudulent misrepresentation.
If indemnification is available under this Section 7, the indemnifying
parties shall indemnify each indemnified party to the full extent provided in
Sections 7.(a) and 7.(b) without regard to the relative fault of said
indemnifying party or indemnified party or any other equitable consideration
provided for in this Section 7.
8. Participation in Underwritten Registrations. No Holder may
participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such Holder (a)
agrees to sell such Holder's securities on the basis provided in any
underwriting arrangements approved by the Holders entitled hereunder to approve
such arrangements, and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of
attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably
required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.
9. Rule 144. The Company covenants that it will file the reports
required to be filed by it under the 1933 Act and the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations adopted by the Commission
thereunder; and it will take such further action as any Holder may reasonably
request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to
sell Registrable Stock without registration under the 1933 Act within the
limitations of the exemptions provided by (a) Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, as
such Rule may be amended from time to time, or (b) any similar rule or
regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission. Upon the request of any Holder,
the Company will deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has
complied with such requirements.
10. Transfer of Registration Rights. The registration rights of any
Holder under this Agreement with respect to any Registerable Stock may be
transferred to any transferee of such Registrable Stock; provided that such
transfer may otherwise be effected in accordance with applicable securities
laws; provided further, that the transferring Holder shall give the Company
written notice at or prior to the time of such transfer stating the name and
address of the transferee and identifying the securities with respect to which
the rights under this Agreement are being transferred; provided further, that
such transferee shall agree in writing, in form and substance satisfactory to
the Company, to be bound as a Holder by the provisions of this Agreement; and
provided further, that such assignment shall be effective only if immediately
following such transfer the further disposition of such securities by such
transferee is restricted under the 1933 Act. Except as set forth in this Section
10, no transfer of Registrable Stock shall cause such Registrable Stock to lose
such status.
11. Mergers, Etc. The Company shall not, directly or indirectly, enter
into any merger, consolidation or reorganization in which the Company shall not
be the surviving corporation unless the proposed surviving corporation shall,
prior to such merger, consolidation or reorganization, agree in writing to
assume the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, and for that purpose
references hereunder to "Registrable Stock" shall be deemed to be references to
the securities which
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT Page 11
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the Holders would be entitled to receive in exchange for Registrable Stock under
any such merger, consolidation or reorganization; provided, however, that the
provisions of this Section 11 shall not apply in the event of any merger,
consolidation or reorganization in which the company is not the surviving
corporation if each Holder is entitled to receive in exchange for its
Registrable Stock consideration consisting solely of (i) cash, (ii) securities
of the acquiring corporation which may be immediately sold to the public without
registration under the 1933 Act, or (iii) securities of the acquiring
corporation which the acquiring corporation has agreed to register within ninety
(90) days of completion of the transaction for resale to the public pursuant to
the 1933 Act.
12. Miscellaneous.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company will not hereafter
enter into any agreement with respect to its securities which is
inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement.
(b) Remedies. Each Holder, in addition to being entitled to
exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will
be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement.
The Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate
compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the
provisions of this Agreement and hereby agrees to waive (to the extent
permitted by law) the defense in any action for specific performance
that a remedy of law would be adequate.
(c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement
may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents
to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the
Company has obtained the written consent of the Holders of at least a
majority of the Registrable Stock then outstanding affected by such
amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or departure.
(d) Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise expressly
provided herein, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure
to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective successors and
assigns of the parties hereto. Nothing in this Agreement, express or
implied, is intended to confer upon any Person other than the parties
hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies,
obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement,
except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
(e) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Nevada
applicable to contracts made and to be performed wholly within that
state, without regard to the conflict of law rules thereof.
(f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or
more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all
of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT Page 12
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(g) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are used for
convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in
construing or interpreting this Agreement.
(h) Notices. Any notice required or permitted under this
Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be delivered in person or
by telecopy or by overnight courier guaranteeing no later than second
business day delivery, directed to (i) the Company at the address set
forth below its signature hereof or (ii) a Holder at the address of the
Administrator set forth below its signature hereof. Any party may
change its address for notice by giving ten (10) days advance written
notice to the other parties. Every notice or other communication
hereunder shall be deemed to have been duly given or served on the date
on which personally delivered, or on the date actually received, if
sent by telecopy or overnight courier service, with receipt
acknowledged.
(i) Severability. In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any
circumstances, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect
for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such
provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions
contained herein shall not be in any way impaired thereby, it being
intended that all of the rights and privileges of the Holders shall be
enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.
(j) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the
parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a
complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of
the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein.
There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings other
than those set forth or referred to herein. This Agreement supersedes
all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with
respect to such subject matter.
(k) Enforceability. This Agreement shall remain in full force
and effect notwithstanding any breach or purported breach of, or
relating to, the Investor Agreement.
(l) Recitals. The recitals are hereby incorporated in the
Agreement as if fully set forth herein.
[REST OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT Page 13
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the date first written hereinabove.
VENTURI TECHNOLOGY ENTERPRISES,
INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
---------------------------------
XXXXXXX XXXXXX, Chairman and CEO
0000 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
ENTREPRENEURIAL INVESTORS, LTD.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
---------------------------------
XXXXXX X. XXXXXX, Director
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx
X.X. Xxx 00000
Freeport, Bahamas
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT Page 14
