Exhibit 10.2
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of December
24, 1997, by and among AMNEX, Inc., a New York corporation, with its
headquarters located at 0 Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 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) shares of its Series M
Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock") that are convertible into
shares (the "Conversion Shares") of the Company's common stock, par value $.001
per share (the "Common Stock"), upon the terms and subject to the limitations
and conditions set forth in the Certificate of Designations, Rights,
Preferences, Privileges and Restrictions with respect to the Preferred Stock
(the "Certificate of Designation") and (ii) warrants (the "Warrants") to acquire
30,000 shares of Common Stock issued to the Initial Investors and 15,000 shares
of Common Stock issued to Xxxxxx Unman Securities, Inc. (collectively, the
"Warrant Shares"), upon the terms and conditions and subject to the limitations
and conditions set forth in the Warrants dated December 24, 1997; 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 and Warrant Shares issued or issuable and any shares of capital stock
issued or issuable with respect to any of the foregoing as a result of any stock
split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reclassification, exchange,
combination, merger, consolidation, distribution or similar event or otherwise.
(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.
2. REGISTRATION.
a. Mandatory Registration. The Company shall prepare, and, on
or prior to the date which is twenty (20) days after the date of the Closing
under the Securities Purchase Agreement (the "Closing Date"), file with the SEC
a Registration Statement or Registration Statements (as is necessary) 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,
which Registration Statement(s), to the extent allowable under the 1933 Act and
the Rules promulgated thereunder (including Rule 416), shall state that such
Registration Statement(s) also covers such indeterminate number of additional
shares of Common Stock as may become issuable upon conversion of the Preferred
Stock and exercise of the Warrants (i) to prevent dilution resulting from stock
splits, stock dividends or similar transactions or (ii) by reason of changes in
the Conversion Price of the Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms thereof
or the Exercise Price of the Warrants in accordance with the terms thereof. The
number of shares of Common Stock initially included in such Registration
Statement shall be no less than two (2) times the sum of the number of
Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares that are then issuable upon conversion of
the Preferred Stock and the exercise of the Warrants without regard to any
limitation on the Investor's ability to convert the Preferred Stock or exercise
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 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 declared effective
by the SEC within ninety (90) days after the Closing Date or if, after the
Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC, sales cannot be
made pursuant to the Registration Statement, or (ii) 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, 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 Preferred Stock or
Registerable Securities an amount equal to the then outstanding principal amount
of the Preferred Stock (and, in the case of holders of Registerable Securities,
the principal amount of Preferred Stock from which such Registerable Securities
were converted) ("Aggregate Share Price") multiplied by the Applicable
Percentage (as defined below) times the sum of: (i) the number of months
(prorated for partial months) after the end of such 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 timely manner; (ii) the number of months
(prorated for partial months) that sales 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 Allowed
Delays (as defined below)); and (iii) the number of months (prorated for partial
months) that the Common Stock is not listed or included for quotation on the
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) with respect to the first thirty (30)
days of any calculation under clause (i) of the sentence in which the term is
used, and three hundredths (.03) for any other purpose. (For example, if the
Registration Statement becomes effective one (1) month after the end of such
90-day period, the Company would pay $20,000 for each $1,000,000 of Aggregate
Share Price. 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 $30,000 for each $1,000,000 of Aggregate Share Price.) Such amounts
shall be paid in cash or, at each Investor's option, may be added to the
principal amount of the Preferred Stock and thereafter be convertible into
Common Stock at the "Conversion Price" (as defined in the Certificate of
Designation) in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Stock. Any shares of
Common Stock issued upon conversion of such amounts shall be Registrable
Securities. If the Investor desires to convert the amounts due hereunder into
Registrable Securities, it shall so notify the Company in writing within five
(5) business days of the date on which such amounts are first payable in cash
and such amounts shall be so convertible (pursuant to the mechanics set forth in
the Certificate of Designation), beginning on the last day upon which the cash
amount would otherwise be due in accordance with the following sentence.
Payments of cash pursuant hereto shall be made within five (5) days after the
end of each period that gives rise to such obligation, provided that, if any
such period extends for more than thirty (30) days, interim payments shall be
made for each such thirty (30) day period.
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 proposes 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 promptly send to each Investor who is entitled
to registration rights under this Section 2(d) written notice of such intention
and of such Investor's rights under this Section 2(d) and, if within twenty (20)
days after the receipt 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)' good faith 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. Unless required by the terms and conditions of
registration rights agreements or arrangements existing on the date hereof (and
of which the Company has made the Initial Investors aware), 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. The Investor may withdraw his request for inclusion, in whole or in
part, at any time prior to the effective date. 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 the Registration
Statement to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a) in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement.
e. Eligibility for Form S-3. The Company represents and
warrants that it meets and will meet the registrant eligibility and transaction
requirements for the use of Form S-3 for registration of the sale by the Initial
Investors and any other Investors of the Registrable Securities and the Company
has filed and shall file all reports required to be filed by the Company with
the SEC in a timely manner so as to maintain such eligibility for the use of
Form S-3.
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 twenty (20) days after the Closing Date, a Registration Statement
with respect to the Registrable Securities, and shall use its best efforts to
cause such Registration Statement relating to Registrable Securities to become
effective as soon as possible after such filing, 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 sold without restriction (including
without limitation as to volume by each holder thereof) without registration
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 Statement and the prospectus used in connection with the
Registration Statement, which prospectus is to be filed pursuant to Rule 424
promulgated under the 1933 Act, as may be necessary to keep the Registration
Statement 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 Statement 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 Statement. 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, 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) business 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. The provisions of Section 2(c) above shall be applicable with
respect to such obligation, with the ninety (90) days running from the day after
the date on which 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 the Registration Statement and its legal
counsel (i) promptly after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC one copy
of the Registration Statement and any amendment(s) thereto, all documents
incorporated by reference and all exhibits, each preliminary prospectus and
prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto, and, in the case of the
Registration Statement, 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) 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 the Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment or supplement. The Company will promptly respond to any
and all comments received from the SEC, with a view towards causing any
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto to be declared effective by the
SEC as soon as practicable and shall promptly file an acceleration request as
soon as practicable following the resolution or clearance of all SEC comments
or, if applicable, following notification by the SEC that the Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto will not be subject to review.
d. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to (i) register
and qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement
under such other securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions in the
United States any Investor reasonably requests, (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, or (c) file a general consent to
service of process in any such jurisdiction. The Company shall promptly notify
each Investor who holds Registrable Securities of the receipt by the Company of
any notification with respect to the suspension of the registration or
qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or
"blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction in the United States or its receipt of
actual notice of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for such
purpose.
e. In the event Investors who hold a majority-in-interest of
the Registrable Securities being offered in the offering 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 as a
result of which the prospectus included in the 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 promptly prepare a supplement or
amendment to the 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 thirty (30) consecutive trading days (or an aggregate of forty five
(45) 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) if the Board of Directors of the
Company determines in good faith that in its reasonable business judgment such
disclosure would interfere in any material respect with any financing,
acquisition, corporate reorganization or other transaction or development
involving the Company that in the reasonable good faith business judgment of
such board is a transaction or development that is or would be material to the
Company and, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, such disclosure is not
otherwise required (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 the 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 a
Registration Statement, or the suspension of the qualification of any
Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction and, if such an order or
suspension is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such order or suspension at
the earliest possible moment and to notify each Investor who holds Registrable
Securities being sold (and, in the event of an underwritten offering, the
managing underwriters) of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof
or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat or any proceeding
for such purpose.
h. The Company shall permit each Investor and a single firm of
counsel designated by the Initial Investors who hold a majority-in-interest of
the Registrable Securities being offered to review and comment upon the
Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto (as well as
all requests for acceleration or effectiveness thereof) within 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 the Registration Statement without prior approval of such
counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The sections of the
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 practical, 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 the 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 the
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 (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 final,
non-appealable 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 Agreement 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) secure the designation and
quotation, of all the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration
Statement on the Nasdaq or, if not eligible for the Nasdaq, on the Nasdaq
SmallCap 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. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with
satisfying its obligations under this Section 3(m).
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 the 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 two (2) 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. The Company shall take all other reasonable actions
necessary to expedite and facilitate disposition by the Investors of Registrable
Securities pursuant to the 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 seven (7)
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 Statement 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 Statement.
c. In the event Investors holding a majority-in-interest of
the Registrable Securities being registered 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 (only with respect to violation which occur in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such Investor
expressly for use in the Registration Statement for such underwritten public
offering), 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 the 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.
6. INDEMNIFICATION.
In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a Registration
Statement under this Agreement:
a. To the fullest 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, judgments, fines, penalties or charges, as well as reasonable
costs, attorneys' fees 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 any post-effective amendment thereto or in any filing
made in connection with the qualification of the offering under the securities
or other "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction in which Registrable Securities are
offered ("Blue Sky Filings") or the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which the statements
therein were made, 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 the 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
(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
of a Claim 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 or proceeding (including any governmental action or proceeding), 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, 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 indemnifying party shall keep the Indemnified
Party or Indemnified Person fully apprised at all times as to the status of the
defense or any settlement negotiations with respect thereto. No indemnifying
party shall be liable for any settlement of any action, claim or proceeding
effected without its written consent; provided, however, that the indemnifying
party shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition its consent. 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.
d. The indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in
addition to (i) any cause of action or similar right of the Indemnified Party or
Indemnified Person against the indemnifying party or others, and (ii) any
liabilities the indemnifying party may be subject to pursuant to the law.
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 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, consents, waivers or other communications
required or permitted to be given under the terms hereof must be in writing
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 (5) days after being placed
in the mail, if mailed by regular U.S. 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:
AMNEX, Inc.
0 Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
With copy to:
Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
If to an Investor: to the address set forth immediately below such Investor's
name on the signature pages to the Securities Purchase Agreement. Each party
shall provide five (5) days prior notice to the other party of any change in
address, phone number or facsimile number.
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 conflicts of laws. 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. The parties hereto hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the
United States Federal Courts located in New York located in the Southern
District of New York with respect to any dispute arising under this Agreement or
the transactions contemplated hereby.
e. This Agreement 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.
f. Subject to the requirements of Section 9 hereof, this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and
assigns of each of the parties hereto.
g. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
h. 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. 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.
i. 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.
j. 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 shares of Preferred Stock then outstanding have been
converted into for Registrable Securities.
k. 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.
AMNEX, INC.
By:--------------------
Name:
Title:
FOURTEEN HILL CAPITAL, L.P.
By:--------------------
Name:
Title:
ATTACHMENTS TO:
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
dated as of January 26, 1998
AMNEX, Inc.
and
Fourteen Hill Capital, L.P.
Attachments:
- Schedule of Differences
- Exhibit 1 - Irrevocable Instruction to Transfer Agent
- Exhibit 2 - Form of Legal Opinion to Transfer Agent
SCHEDULE OF DIFFERENCES
Material differences between attached Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of
January 26, 1998, between AMNEX, Inc. and Fourteen Hill Capital, L.P. and
Registration Rights Agreement dated as of December 24, 1997, between AMNEX, Inc.
and Pangaea Fund Ltd.
Initial Investors
-----------------
Pangaea Fund Ltd.
Shares of Preferred Stock Issued
--------------------------------
1,000
Warrants Issued to Initial Investors
------------------------------------
40,000
Warrants Issued to Xxxxxx Unman Securities, Inc.
------------------------------------------------
20,000
Expenses of Registration
------------------------
The Company is responsible for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one
counsel selected by the Initial Investors in connection with the preparation of
the Registration Statement.
EXHIBIT 1
IRREVOCABLE INSTRUCTION
TO
TRANSFER AGENT
[Company Letterhead]
[Date]
[Name and address of Transfer Agent]
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter shall serve as our irrevocable authorization and
direction to you (1) to transfer or re-register (or at the holders request to
reissue to the holder thereof without any restrictive legend) the certificates
for the shares of Common Stock, par value $.0001 per share (the "Common Stock"),
of AMNEX, Inc., a New York corporation (the "Company"), represented by
certificate numbers ____ for an aggregate of _____ shares (the "Outstanding
Shares") of Common Stock presently registered in the name of ________________
(the "Investor") (which shares were previously issued upon conversion of the
Preferred Shares (as hereinafter defined) or exercise of the Warrants (as
hereinafter defined)), upon surrender of such certificates to you,
notwithstanding the legend appearing on such certificates, (2) to issue shares
(the "Conversion Shares") of Common Stock to or upon the order of the registered
holder from time to time of shares of Series M Convertible Preferred Stock of
the Company (the "Preferred Shares") upon surrender to you of a properly
completed and duly executed Notice of Conversion notwithstanding the legend
appearing on such certificates and (3) to issue shares (the "Warrant Shares") of
Common Stock to or upon the order of the registered holder from time to time of
the Warrants of the Company (the "Warrants") upon surrender to you of a properly
completed and duly executed Exercise Agreement and such Warrants notwithstanding
the legend appearing on such Warrants. The transfer or re-registration of the
certificates for the Outstanding Shares by you should be made at such time as
you are requested to do so by the record h older of the Outstanding Shares. The
certificate issued upon such transfer or re-registration should be registered in
such name as requested by the holder of record of the certificate surrendered to
you and should not bear any legend which would restrict the transfer of the
shares represented thereby. In addition, you are hereby directed to remove any
stop-transfer instruction relating to the Outstanding Shares. Certificates for
the Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares should not bear any restrictive legend
and should not be subject to any stop-transfer restriction.
Pursuant to applicable securities laws or certain agreements
between the Company and the Investor, the Investor may be prohibited during
certain limited periods of time from selling its Outstanding Shares or other
shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Shares and
exercise of the Warrant Shares under the Registration Statement; provided,
however, that such Investor may continue to sell such securities pursuant to an
exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"1933 Act"). The Company may,
during such periods, deliver a notice to you advising you to refrain from
transferring any Outstanding Shares pursuant to such Registration Statement,
provided that such notice shall not prohibit the transfer of such shares
pursuant to an exemption from registration under the 1933 Act during such
periods.
Contemporaneous with the delivery of this letter, the Company
is delivering to you a letter of Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP as to registration of
the Outstanding Shares and the Conversion Shares under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended.
Should you have any questions concerning this matter, please
contact me.
Very truly yours,
AMNEX, INC.
--------------------------
By:
Title:
Enclosures
cc: [Name of Investor]
EXHIBIT 2
FORM OF LEGAL OPINION
TO
TRANSFER AGENT
[Date]
[Name and address
of transfer agent]
Re: AMNEX, Inc.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are counsel to AMNEX, Inc., a New York corporation (the "Company"),
and we understand that [Name of Investor] (the "Holder") has purchased from the
Company shares of the Company's Series M Convertible Preferred Stock (the
"Preferred Stock") and warrants (the "Warrants") that are convertible or
exercisable into the Company's Common Stock, par value $.001 per share (the
"Common Stock"). The Preferred Stock and Warrants were purchased by the Holder
and the Company pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of January
__, 1998, between the Holder and the Company (the "Agreement"). Pursuant to a
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of January __, 1998, between the Company
and the Holder (the "Registration Rights Agreement"), the Company agreed with
the Holder, among other thins, to register the Registrable Securities (as that
term is defined in the Registration Rights Agreement (under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), upon the terms provided in the
Registration Rights Agreement, on ________ __, 1998, the Company filed a
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (file No. 333-__________) (the "Registration
Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the
Registrable Securities, which names the Holder as a selling stockholder
thereunder.
[Other introductory language to be inserted]
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Registrable
Securities have been registered under the Securities Act.
[Other appropriate language to be included]
Very truly yours,
cc: [Name of investor]
