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EXHIBIT 10.7
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ CAPITAL CORPORATION
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (the "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of _______________,1998, by and between ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Capital
Corporation, a Georgia corporation (the "Company"), and Friedman, Billings,
▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., Inc., a Virginia corporation (the "Purchaser").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement (the
"Underwriting Agreement"), dated April __, 1998, between the Company and the
Purchaser. In order to induce the Purchaser to enter into the Underwriting
Agreement on its own behalf as Purchaser, the Company has agreed to provide the
registration rights provided for in this Agreement to the Purchaser and its
respective direct and indirect transferees. The execution of this Agreement is a
condition to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Underwriting
Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
Affiliate: (i) Any person directly or indirectly owning, controlling,
or holding, with power to vote ten percent or more of the outstanding voting
securities of such other person, (ii) any person ten percent or more of whose
outstanding voting securities are directly or indirectly owned, controlled, or
held, with power to vote, by such other person, (iii) any person directly or
indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such other
person, (iv) any executive officer, director, trustee or general partner of such
other person, and (v) any legal entity for which such person acts as an
executive officer, director, trustee or general partner. An indirect
relationship shall include circumstances in which a person's spouse, children,
parents, siblings or mothers-, fathers-, sisters or brothers-in-law is or has
been associated with a person.
Agreement: This Registration Rights Agreement, as the same may be
amended, supplemented or modified from time to time in accordance with the terms
hereof.
Business Day: With respect to any act to be performed hereunder, each
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which
banking institutions in New York, New York, or other applicable place where such
act is to occur are authorized or obligated by applicable law, regulation or
executive order to close.
Closing Date: The Closing Date for the IPO.
Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Common Stock: Common stock of the Company, par value $.01 per share.
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Company: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Capital Corporation, a Georgia corporation, and any
successor corporation thereto.
Controlling person: As defined in Section 7(a) hereof.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission pursuant thereto.
Form S-3. Such form under the Securities Act as is in effect on the
date hereof or any successor registration form under the Securities Act
subsequently adopted by the Commission that permits inclusion or incorporation
of substantial information by reference to other documents filed by the Company
with the Commission.
Holder: Each holder of any Registrable Shares.
Indemnified Party: As defined in Section 7(a) hereof.
IPO: As defined in the Underwriting Agreement.
Person: An individual, partnership, corporation, trust, unincorporated
organization, government or agency or political subdivision thereof, or any
other legal entity.
Proceeding: An action, claim, suit or proceeding (including, without
limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition),
whether commenced or, to the knowledge of the person subject thereto,
threatened.
Prospectus: The prospectus included in any Registration Statement,
including any preliminary prospectus, and all other amendments and supplements
to any such prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material
incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference, if any, in
such prospectus.
Purchaser: Friedman, Billings, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., Inc..
Register, registered and registration: Such terms shall refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement in
compliance with the Securities Act and applicable rules and regulations
thereunder, and the declaration or ordering of the effectiveness of such
registration statement.
Registrable Shares: Each of the Shares until (i) the date on which it
has been registered effectively pursuant to the Securities Act and disposed of
in accordance with a Registration Statement relating to it, (ii) the date on
which it is sold pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provisions then in
effect), (iii) the date on which it can be sold without restriction, pursuant to
an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act, or (iv) the
date on which it is sold to the Company.
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Registration Statement: Any registration statement of the Company that
covers the resale of any of the Registrable Shares pursuant to the provisions of
this Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such
registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective
amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or
deemed to be incorporated by reference, if any, in such registration statement.
Rule 144: Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar
rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission as a replacement thereto
having substantially the same effect as such rule.
Rule 144A: Rule 144A promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar
rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission as a replacement thereto
having substantially the same effect as such rule.
Rule 424: Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar
rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission as a replacement thereto
having substantially the same effect as such rule.
Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder.
Shares: The ______ shares of Common Stock being offered and sold to
Purchaser for its own account pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
Underwriting Agreement: The Underwriting Agreement is as defined in the
preamble.
Underwritten Offering: A sale of securities of the Company to an
underwriter or underwriters pursuant to a Registration Statement for reoffering
to the public.
2. Piggyback Registration
(a) Piggyback Registration Rights and Notice of Registration.
Commencing fourteen (14) days prior to the first anniversary of the Closing
Date, the Company shall notify all Holders of Registrable Shares in writing at
least fourteen (14) days prior to filing any registration statement under the
Securities Act for the purpose of effecting a public offering of securities of
the Company (including, but not limited to, registration statements relating to
offerings of securities of the Company by any shareholders of the Company, but
excluding registration statements relating to any employee benefit plan or
corporate reorganization) and will afford each such Holder an opportunity to
include in such registration statement all or any part of the Registrable Shares
then held by such Holder. Each Holder desiring to include in any such
registration statement all or any part of the Registrable Shares held by such
Holder shall, within seven (7) days after receipt of the above-described notice
from the Company, so notify the Company in writing, and in such notice shall
inform the Company of the number of Registrable Shares such Holder wishes to
include in such registration statement. If a Holder decides not to include all
of its Registrable Shares in any registration statement thereafter filed by the
Company, such Holder shall nevertheless continue to have the right to include
any Registrable Shares in any
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subsequent registration statement or registration statements as may be filed by
the Company with respect to offerings of its securities, all upon the terms and
conditions set forth herein.
(b) Right to Terminate Registration. The Company shall have the right,
in its sole discretion, to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by
it under this Section 2 prior to the effectiveness of such registration whether
or not any Holder has elected to include Registrable Shares in such
registration.
(c) Underwriting. If a registration statement under which the Company
gives notice under this Section 2 is for an Underwritten Offering, then the
Company shall so advise the Holders of Registrable Shares. In such event, the
right of any Holder to include its Registrable Shares in a registration pursuant
to this Section 2 shall be conditioned upon such Holder's participation in such
underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder's Registrable Shares in the
underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to distribute
their Registrable Shares through such underwriting shall enter into an
underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter(s) selected for
such underwriting. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the
managing underwriter(s) determine(s) in good faith that marketing factors
require a limitation of the number of shares to be underwritten, then the
managing underwriter(s) may exclude shares (including Registrable Shares) from
the registration and the underwriting, and the number of shares that may be
included in the registration and the underwriting shall be allocated, first, to
the Company, and second, to each of the holders (including the Holders)
requesting inclusion of their shares in such registration statement on a pro
rata basis based on the total number of shares then held by each such holder
provided, however, that the right of the underwriters to exclude shares
(including Registrable Shares) from the registration and underwriting as
described above shall be restricted so that (i) the number of Registrable Shares
included in any such registration is not reduced below twenty-five percent (25%)
of the shares requested to be included in the registration by the Holders, and
(ii) all shares that are not Registrable Shares and that are held by persons who
are officers or directors of the Company (or any subsidiary of the Company)
shall first be excluded from such registration and underwriting before any
Registrable Shares are so excluded. If any Holder disapproves of the terms of
any such underwriting, such Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by written
notice to the Company and the managing underwriter(s), delivered at least ten
(10) business days prior to the effective date of the registration statement.
Any Registrable Shares excluded or withdrawn from such underwriting shall be
excluded and withdrawn from the registration. For any Holder that is a
partnership or corporation, the partners, retired partners and shareholders of
such Holder, or the estates and family members of any such partners and retired
partners and any trusts for the benefit of any of the foregoing persons shall be
deemed to be a single "Holder," and any pro rata reduction with respect to such
"Holder" shall be based upon the aggregate amount of shares carrying
registration rights owned by all entities and individuals included in such
"Holder," as defined in this sentence.
(d) Holdback Agreement. By electing to include Registrable Shares in
any registration pursuant to Section 2 hereof, the Holder of the Registrable
Shares shall be deemed to have agreed not to effect any public sale or
distribution of securities of the Company of the same or similar class or
classes of the securities included in the Registration Statement or any
securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such securities,
including a sale pursuant to
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Rule 144 or Rule 144A under the Securities Act, during such periods as
reasonably requested by the managing underwriter(s), if an Underwritten
Offering, or the Company, in any other registration. Any period up to 180 days
shall be deemed reasonable.
(e) The Company shall not be obligated to effect, or to take any action
to effect any such registration of Registrable Shares pursuant to this Section
2:
(i) in any particular jurisdiction in which the Company would be
required to execute a general consent to service of process or to qualify to do
business as a foreign corporation in affecting such registration, qualification,
or compliance, unless the Company is already subject to service or required to
be so qualified in such jurisdiction and except as may be required by the
Securities Act, or
(ii) if within 14 days after its receipt of a written request to
effect such registration, the Company causes to be delivered to the Holders an
opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Holders to the effect that the
proposed disposition of Registrable Shares by the Holders will not require
registration under the Securities Act, it being specifically understood and
agreed that the Holders will promptly furnish to the Company and such counsel
all information such counsel may reasonably request in order to enable such
counsel to determine whether it would be able to render such opinion.
(iii) Expenses. All expenses incurred in connection with a
registration pursuant to this Section 2 (excluding underwriters' and brokers'
discounts and commissions), including without limitation all federal and "blue
sky" registration and qualification fees, printers' and accounting fees and fees
and disbursements of counsel for the Company and reasonable fees and
disbursements of one counsel for the selling Holders shall be borne by the
Company. Each Holder participating in a registration pursuant to this Section 2
shall bear such Holder's proportionate share (based on the total number of
shares sold in such registration other than for the account of the Company) of
all discounts, commissions or other amounts payable to underwriters or brokers
in connection with such offering.
3. Demand Registration
If the Company shall receive from the Holders of at least twenty-five
(25) percent of all outstanding Registrable Shares a written request or requests
that the Company effect a registration and any related qualification or
compliance under applicable state securities or "Blue Sky" laws with respect to
all or a part of the Registrable Shares owned by such Holders, then the Company
will:
(a) Notice. Promptly give written notice of the proposed registration
and the Holders' request therefor, and any related qualification or compliance,
to all other Holders of Registrable Shares; and
(b) Registration. As soon as practicable, use commercially reasonable
efforts to effect such registration and all such qualifications and compliances
as may be so requested and as would permit or facilitate the sale and
distribution of all or such portion of such Holders' Registrable Shares as are
specified in such request (which may include a shelf registration on Form
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S-3 or, if Form S-3 is not available to the Company, a registration on Form S-11
or other available form), together with all or such portion of the Registrable
Shares of any other Holders joining in such request as are specified in a
written request given within twenty (20) days after receipt of such written
notice from the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
obligated to effect any such registration, qualification or compliance pursuant
to this Section 3:
(1) if the Company shall furnish to the Holders a certificate
signed by the President or Chief Executive Officer of the Company stating that
in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, it would be
detrimental to the Company and its shareholders for such registration statement
to be filed at such time, then the Company shall have the right to defer the
filing of such registration statement for a period of not more than 120 days
after receipt of the request of the Holders under this Section 3;
(2) in any particular jurisdiction in which the Company would
be required to qualify to do business as a foreign corporation or to execute a
general consent to service of process in effecting such registration,
qualification, or compliance, unless the Company is already subject to service
or required to be so qualified in such jurisdiction and except as may be
required by the Securities Act; or
(3) if within 14 days after its receipt of a written request to
effect such registration, the Company causes to be delivered to the Holders an
opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Holders to the effect that the
proposed disposition of Registrable Shares by the Holders will not require
registration under the Securities Act, it being specifically understood and
agreed that the Holders will promptly furnish to the Company and such counsel
all information such counsel may reasonably request in order to enable such
counsel to determine whether it would be able to render such opinion.
(c) Expenses. The Company shall pay all expenses incurred in connection
with each registration requested pursuant to this Section 3, (excluding
underwriters' or brokers' discounts and commissions), including without
limitation all filing, registration and qualification, printers' and accounting
fees and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, and the
reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for the selling Holders.
(d) Form S-3. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts
to insure the availability of Form S-3 for any offering of Registrable Shares
pursuant to this Section 3.
4. Rule 144 Reporting. With a view to making available the benefits of
certain rules and regulations of the Commission that may at any time permit the
sale of the Registrable Shares to the public without registration, after such
time as a public market exists for the Common Stock of the Company, the Company
agrees to:
(a) make and keep public information available, as those terms are
understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, at all times after
the effective date of the first registration under the Securities Act filed by
the Company for an offering of its securities to the general public;
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(b) use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission in
a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under
the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject
to such reporting requirements); and
(c) so long as a Holder owns any Registrable Shares, to furnish to the
Holder forthwith upon written request a written statement by the Company as to
its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 (at any time after 90
days after the effective date of the first registration statement filed by the
Company for an offering of its securities to the general public), and of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to
the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act), a copy of the most recent
annual or quarterly report of the Company, and such other reports and documents
of the Company as a Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule
or regulation of the Commission allowing a Holder to sell any such securities
without registration (at any time after the Company has become subject to the
reporting requirements of the Exchange Act).
5. Registration Procedures. In connection with the obligations of the
Company with respect to any registration pursuant to this Agreement, the Company
shall use commercially reasonable efforts to effect or cause to be effected the
registration of the Registrable Shares under the Securities Act to permit the
sale of such Registrable Shares by the Holder or Holders in accordance with the
Holders' intended method or methods of distribution, and the Company shall:
(a) prepare and file with the Commission, as specified in this
Agreement, a Registration Statement, which Registration Statement shall comply
as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form
and include all financial statements required by the Commission to be filed
therewith, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration
Statement to become effective and remain effective (i) (A) with respect to a
Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2, for ninety (90) days or (B)
with respect to a Registration Statement filed under Section 3 hereof (1) if on
Form S-3, for one year, and (2) if on any other form, ninety (90) days, or (ii)
until all such Registrable Shares have been sold;
(b) subject to Section 5(i) hereof, prepare and file with the
Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to each such
Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement
effective for the applicable period; cause each such Prospectus to be
supplemented by any required prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be
filed pursuant to Rule 424 or any similar rule that may be adopted under the
Securities Act; and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act applicable
to the Company with respect to such Registration Statement during the applicable
period;
(c) furnish to the Holder of Registrable Shares without charge as many
copies of each Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any
amendment or supplement thereto and such other documents as such Holder may
reasonably request, in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition
of the Registrable Shares;
(d) use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify, or
obtain an exemption from registration or qualification for, all Registrable
Shares by the time the applicable Registration Statement is declared effective
by the Commission under all applicable state securities or "blue
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sky" laws of such jurisdictions as the Holder of Registrable Shares covered by a
Registration Statement shall reasonably request in writing, keep each such
registration or qualification or exemption effective during the period such
Registration Statement is required to be kept effective and do any and all other
acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such
Holder to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of such
Registrable Shares owned by such Holder; provided, however, that the Company
shall not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any
jurisdiction or to register as a broker or dealer in such jurisdiction where it
would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 5(d), (ii)
subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (iii) submit to the
general service of process in any such jurisdiction; provided, further, that if
the Company fails to list the Registrable Shares on a national stock exchange or
qualify for quotation on an automatic quotation system at or prior to the time
the Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission because it
fails to meet requirements for such listing or quotation regarding the number of
holders, the obligation in this Section 5(d) shall not require the Company to
register or qualify the Registrable Shares in any jurisdiction where the Company
reasonably concludes, based upon the advice of securities counsel, that such
registration or qualification would require unreasonable effort (including,
without limitation, amendments to the Company's charter or bylaws) or expense;
(e) notify the Holder of Registrable Shares promptly and, if requested
by such Holder, confirm such advice in writing (i) when a Registration Statement
has become effective and when any post-effective amendments and supplements
thereto become effective, (ii) of the issuance by the Commission or any state
securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose,
and (iii) of the happening of any event during the period a Registration
Statement is effective as a result of which such Registration Statement or the
related Prospectus contains any 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 not misleading, and (iv) at the written request of any such
Holder, promptly to furnish to such Holder a reasonable number of copies of a
supplement to or an amendment of such Prospectus as may be necessary so that, as
thereafter delivered to the purchaser of such securities, such Prospectus shall
not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading;
(f) upon written request, furnish to the Holder of Registrable Shares
copies of any request by the Commission or any state securities authority for
amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement and Prospectus or for
additional information;
(g) make every reasonable effort to avoid the issuance of, or if issued
to obtain the withdrawal of, any enjoining order suspending the use or
effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the lifting of any suspension of
the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable
Shares for sale in any jurisdiction, at the earliest possible moment;
(h) upon written request, furnish to the Holder of Registrable Shares,
without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and
any post-effective amendment thereto (without documents incorporated therein by
reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested);
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(i) upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 5(e)(iii)
hereof, use commercially reasonable efforts to prepare a supplement or
post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement or the related Prospectus
or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required
document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable
Shares, such Prospectus will 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, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading;
(j) If requested by the representative of the underwriters, if any, or
any Holders of Registrable Shares being sold in connection with such offering,
(i) promptly incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment
such information as the representative of the underwriters, if any, or such
Holders indicate relates to them or otherwise reasonably request be included
therein, and (ii) make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or
such post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company has
received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment; provided, however, that the Company
shall not be required to take any action pursuant to this Section 5 that would,
in the opinion of counsel for the Company, violate applicable law;
(k) make available for inspection by representatives of the Holder of
the Registrable Shares and the representative of any underwriters participating
in any disposition pursuant to a Registration Statement and any special counsel
or accountant retained by such Holders or underwriters, all financial and other
records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and cause
the respective officers, directors and employees of the Company to supply all
information reasonably requested by any such representatives, the representative
of the underwriters, the special counsel or accountants in connection with a
Registration Statement; provided, however, that such records, documents or
information that the Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential and
notifies such representatives, representative of the underwriters, special
counsel or accountants are confidential shall not be disclosed by the
representatives, representative of the underwriters, special counsel or
accountants unless (i) the disclosure of such records, documents or information
is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in a Registration
Statement, (ii) the release of such records, documents or information is ordered
pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction, or
(iii) such records, documents or information have been generally made available
to the public;
(l) use commercially reasonable efforts (including, without limitation,
seeking to cure any deficiencies (within the Company's control) cited by the
exchange or market in the Company's listing application) to list all Registrable
Shares on the American Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq National Market (or the
Nasdaq Small Cap Market, if not qualified for the Nasdaq National Market) unless
the Company qualifies and chooses to list all Registrable Shares on the New York
Stock Exchange, in which event the Company shall use its best efforts to list
all Registrable Shares on the New York Stock Exchange);
(m) otherwise use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and make generally available
to its securityholders, as soon as reasonably practicable, earnings statements
covering at least 12 months that satisfy the provisions
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of Section 1l(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 (or any similar rule
promulgated under the Securities Act) thereunder;
(n) provide and cause to be maintained a transfer agent for all
Registrable Shares covered by any Registration Statement from and after a date
not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement; and
(o) in connection with any sale or transfer of Registrable Shares that
will result in such securities no longer being Registrable Shares, cooperate
with the Holders and the representative of the underwriters, if any, to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the
Registrable Shares to be sold, which certificates shall not bear any restrictive
legends, and to cause the issuance of certificates representing such Registrable
Shares in such denominations and registered in such names as the representative
of the underwriters, if any, or Holders may request at least two Business Days
prior to any sale of the Registrable Shares.
In addition, the Company may require the Holder of Registrable
Shares to furnish to the Company such information regarding the proposed
distribution by such Holder of such Registrable Shares as the Company may from
time to time reasonably request in writing or as shall be required to effect the
registration of their Registrable Shares.
The Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company
of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 5(e)(iii) hereof,
such Holder will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Shares
pursuant to a Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies
of the supplemented or amended Prospectus. If so directed by the Company, such
Holder will deliver to the Company (at the expense of the Company) all copies in
its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder's
possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Shares current at the
time of receipt of such notice.
6. Black-Out Period. (a) Following the effectiveness of a Registration
Statement (and the filings with any state securities commissions), the Company
may direct the Holder to suspend sales of the Registrable Shares for such times
as the Company reasonably may determine are necessary and advisable, including
upon the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) an Underwritten Offering
by the Company where the Company is advised by the managing underwriter(s) for
such Underwritten Offering that sale of Registrable Shares under the
Registration Statement would have a material adverse effect on the offering, or
(ii) pending negotiations relating to, or consummation of, a transaction or the
occurrence of an event (x) that would require additional disclosure of material
information by the Company in the Registration Statement (or such filings), (y)
as to which the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving
confidentiality, or (z) that renders the Company unable to comply with
Commission requirements, in each case under circumstances that would make it
impractical or inadvisable to cause the Registration Statement (or such filings)
to become effective or to promptly amend or supplement the Registration
Statement on a post-effective basis, as applicable (a "Suspension Event").
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(b) In the case of a Suspension Event, the Company shall give written
notice (a "Suspension Notice") to the Holders to suspend sales of the
Registrable Shares so that the Company may correct or update the Registration
Statement (or such filings); provided, however, that such suspension shall
continue only for so long as the Suspension Event or its effect is continuing.
No Holder shall effect any sales of the Registrable Shares pursuant to such
Registration Statement (or such filings) at any time after it has received a
Suspension Notice from the Company. If so directed by the Company, the Holders
will deliver to the Company all copies of the Prospectus covering the
Registrable Shares held by them at the time of receipt of the Suspension Notice.
The Holders may recommence effecting sales of the Registrable Shares pursuant to
the Registration Statement (or such filings) following further notice to such
effect (an "End of Suspension Notice") from the Company, which End of Suspension
Notice shall be given by the Company promptly following the conclusion of any
Suspension Event.
7. Indemnification and Contribution
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless (i) the Purchaser, (ii) each Holder of the Registrable Shares,
(iii) each person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act) any of the foregoing (any of the persons referred to in
this clause (iii) being hereinafter referred to as a "controlling person"), and
(iv) the respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives
and agents of the Purchaser, each Holder of the Registrable Shares, or any
controlling person thereof (any person referred to in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or
(iv) may hereinafter be referred to as an "Indemnified Party"), as follows:
(i) from and against any and all loss, claim, liability,
damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto) pursuant to which Registrable Shares were
registered under the Securities Act including all documents incorporated therein
by reference, or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or arising
out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), including
all documents incorporated therein by reference; provided, however, that such
indemnity with respect to any Prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of the
Holder (or any controlling person thereof) to the extent that any such loss,
claim, liability, damage or expense arises out of such Holder's failure to send
or give a copy of the final Prospectus, as the same may be then supplemented or
amended, to the person asserting an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
or omission or alleged omission at or prior to the written confirmation of the
sale of Registrable Shares to such person if such statement or omission was
corrected in such final Prospectus.
(ii) from and against any and all loss, liability, claim,
damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate
amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or investigation or proceeding by
any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim
whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, if, and only if,
such
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settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company (which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld); and
(iii) from and against any and all expense whatsoever, as
incurred (including reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel, except as
otherwise provided in Section 7(c) hereof), incurred in investigating, preparing
or defending against any litigation, or investigation or proceeding by any
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, in each case whether or
not a party, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or
omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that
any such expense is not paid under subparagraph (i) or (ii) above;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement does not apply to the Holder
with respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent
arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by such Holder expressly for use in a Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto).
(b) Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder severally agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors and officers
(including each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement),
each person, if any, who controls the Company, within the meaning of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act, any underwriter and any Holder selling
securities under such Registration Statement or any of such other Holder's
partners, directors or officers or any person who controls such Holder within
the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any and all loss,
liability, claim, damage and expenses described in the indemnity contained in
Section 7(a) hereof (provided, however, that any settlement described in Section
7(a) (ii) hereof is effected with the written consent of such Holder, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), as incurred, but only with respect
to such untrue statement or omission, or alleged untrue statements or omissions,
made in a Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus
(or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by the Holder expressly for use in
such Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or such Prospectus (or
any amendment or supplement thereto). If the Holder elects to include
Registrable Shares in an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2, the Holder
shall be required to agree to such indemnification provisions as may be required
by the underwriter in connection with such Underwritten Offering.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Each Indemnified Party
shall give reasonably prompt notice to each indemnifying party of any action or
proceeding commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought
hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve it
from any liability that it may have under this indemnity agreement except to the
extent that the indemnifying party is actually prejudiced by such failure to
give notice. If the indemnifying party so elects within a reasonable time after
receipt of such notice, the indemnifying party may assume the defense of such
action or proceeding at such indemnifying party's own expense with counsel
chosen by the indemnifying party and approved by the Indemnified Party or
parties in such action or proceeding, which approval shall not be
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unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that if such Indemnified Party or
parties reasonably determines that a conflict of interest exists where it is
advisable for such Indemnified Party or parties to be represented by separate
counsel or that, upon advice of counsel, there may be legal defenses available
to them that are different from or in addition to those available to the
indemnifying party, then the indemnifying party shall not be entitled to assume
such defense and the Indemnified Party or parties shall be entitled to one
separate counsel at the indemnifying party's expense. If an indemnifying party
is not entitled to assume the defense of such action or proceeding as a result
of the proviso to the preceding sentence, such indemnifying party's counsel
shall be entitled to conduct such indemnifying party's defense, and counsel for
the Indemnified Party or parties shall be entitled to conduct the defense of
such Indemnified Party or parties, it being understood that both such counsel
will cooperate with each other to conduct the defense of such action or
proceeding as efficiently as possible. If an indemnifying party is not so
entitled to assume the defense of such action or does not assume such defense,
after having received the notice referred to in the first sentence of this
paragraph, the indemnifying party or parties will pay the reasonable fees and
expenses counsel for the Indemnified Party or parties. In such event, however,
no indemnifying party will be liable for any settlement effected without the
written consent of such indemnifying party. No indemnifying party shall, without
the consent of the Indemnified Party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter
into a settlement that 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 to such claim or litigation. If an indemnifying party
is entitled to assume, and assumes, the defense of such action or proceeding in
accordance with this paragraph, such indemnifying party shall not be liable for
any fees and expenses for counsel for the Indemnified Parties incurred
thereafter in connection with such action or proceeding.
(d) Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable
contribution in circumstances in which the indemnity agreement provided for in
this Section 7 is for any reason held to be unenforceable, unavailable or
insufficient although applicable in accordance with its terms, the Company and
Holder shall contribute to the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims, damages
and expenses of the nature contemplated by such indemnity agreement incurred by
the Company and the Holder in such proportion so that the Holder is responsible
for the portion represented by the percentage that the public offering price of
its Registrable Shares offered by and sold under the Registration Statement
bears to the public offering price of all securities offered by and sold under
such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who is not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 7,
each person, if any, who controls a Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of
the Securities Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Holder,
and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the
Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as the Company. Each party entitled to contribution agrees that
upon the service of a summons or other initial legal process upon it in any
action instituted against it in respect of which contribution may be sought, it
shall promptly give written notice of such service to the party or parties from
whom contribution may be sought, but the omission so to notify such party or
parties of any such service
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shall not relieve the party from whom contribution may be sought from any
obligation it may have hereunder or otherwise.
(e) Survival. The obligations of the Company and the Holders under this
Section 7 shall survive the completion of any offering of Registrable Shares in
a Registration Statement and otherwise.
8. Termination of the Company's Obligations. The Company shall have no
obligations pursuant to this Agreement with respect to: (a) any request or
requests for registration made by any Holder on a date more than two (2) years
after the Closing Date or (b) any Registrable Shares proposed to be sold by a
Holder in a registration pursuant to this Agreement if, in the opinion of
counsel to the Company, all such Registrable Shares proposed to be sold by a
Holder may be sold in a three-month period without registration under the
Securities Act pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
9. Miscellaneous
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company, or by a Holder
of the Registrable Shares, of any of their obligations under this Agreement,
each Holder of the Registrable Shares of the Company, in addition to being
entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery and damages,
will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement;
provided, however, that no holder shall have any right to obtain or seek an
injunction restraining or otherwise delaying any registration as the result of
any controversy that might arise with respect to the interpretation or
implementation of this Agreement.
(b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including
the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented,
and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be
given, except if the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the then outstanding Registrable Shares is obtained;
provided, however, that for the purposes of this Agreement, Registrable Shares
that are owned, directly or indirectly, by either the Company or an Affiliate of
the Company are not deemed outstanding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver
or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that
relates exclusively to the rights of Holders of the Registrable Shares whose
securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not
directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders of the Registrable
Shares may be given by Holders of a majority of the Registrable Shares being
sold by such Holders pursuant to such Registration Statement; provided, however,
that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or
supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the immediately
preceding sentence.
(c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for herein
shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, next-day air courier, certified
first-class mail, return receipt requested, telex or telecopy;
(i) if to the Company, to ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇., ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ATTN: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Secretary;
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(ii) if to the Purchaser, to ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ATTN: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Chief Executive Officer;
(iii) if to any other person who is then the registered Holder of
any Registrable Shares, to the address of such Holder as it appears in the
Common Stock register of the Company.
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all such communications
shall be deemed to have been duly given (v) when delivered by hand, if
personally delivered, (w) one Business Day after being timely delivered to a
next-day air courier, (x) five Business Days after being deposited in the mail,
postage prepaid, if mailed, (y) when answered back, if telexed, or (z) when
receipt is acknowledged by the recipient's telecopier machine, if telecopied.
(d) Successors and Assigns. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, the registration rights of a Holder under Sections 2 or 3 hereof may
be assigned only to a party who acquires at least 10,000 Shares; provided,
however, that no party may be assigned any of the foregoing rights unless the
Company is given written notice by the assigning party at the time of such
assignment stating the name and address of the assignee and identifying the
Shares as to which the rights in question are being assigned; and provided,
further that any such assignee shall receive such assigned rights subject to all
the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including without limitation the
provisions of this Section 9(d).
(e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
(f) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia, as applied to contracts made
and performed within the State of Georgia without regard to principles of
conflicts of law.
(g) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative
means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated
by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and
declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the
remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of
such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the terms of this
Agreement. All references made in this Agreement to "Section" refer to such
Section of this Agreement, unless expressly stated otherwise.
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(i) Costs and Attorneys' Fees. In any action or proceeding brought to
enforce any provision of this Agreement, or where any provision hereof is
validly asserted as a defense, the prevailing party, as determined by the court,
shall be entitled to recover its reasonable costs and attorneys' fees in
addition to any other available remedy.
(j) Adjustment for Stock Splits, etc. Wherever in this Agreement there
is a reference to a specific number of shares, then upon the occurrence of any
subdivision, combination, or stock dividend of such shares, the specific number
of shares so referenced in this Agreement shall automatically be proportionally
adjusted to reflect the affect on the outstanding shares of such class or series
of stock by such subdivision, combination, or stock dividend.
(k) Aggregation of Stock. All shares held or acquired by affiliated
entities or persons shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining
the availability of any rights under this Agreement.
SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
THE COMPANY: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ CAPITAL CORPORATION
By:
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Name:
------------------------------------
Title:
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THE PURCHASER: FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO.,
INC.
By:
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Name:
------------------------------------
Title:
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