EXHIBIT 4.1
EXHIBIT C
TO SECURITIES
PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT"), dated as of April 12,
1999, by and among XXXXXX HEALTHCARE, INC., a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of Texas (the "COMPANY"), and the undersigned (together with
affiliates, the "INITIAL INVESTORS").
WHEREAS:
A. In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement of even date
herewith by and between the Company and the Initial Investors (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 C Convertible Preferred Stock (the "PREFERRED STOCK") that
are convertible into shares (the "CONVERSION Shares") of the Company's common
stock, par value $.01 per share (the "COMMON STOCK"), upon the terms and subject
to the limitations and conditions set forth in the Statement of Designation of
Rights and Preferences with respect to such Preferred Stock (the "STATEMENT OF
DESIGNATION") and (ii) warrants (the AINVESTOR WARRANTS") to acquire shares (the
"WARRANT SHARES") of Common Stock;
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
"SECURITIES ACT"), and applicable state securities laws;
C. The Company has agreed to issue to The Zanett Securities Corporation
(the "PLACEMENT AGENT") warrants (the "PLACEMENT WARRANTS" and, collectively
with the Investor Warrants, the "WARRANTS") to purchase shares of Common Stock
pursuant to that certain Placement Agency Agreement, dated as of even date
herewith, by and between the Company and the Placement Agent and has agreed to
provide the Placement Agent the rights set forth herein. For purposes of this
Agreement, the Placement Agent shall be deemed an AINITIAL INVESTOR@ and the
shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of, or otherwise pursuant to,
the Placement Agent Warrants shall be deemed "WARRANT SHARES"; and
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 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
transferees or assignees who agree 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 Securities Act and pursuant to Rule 415 under
the Securities 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
the Warrant Shares (including any Conversion Shares issuable in redemption of
any Preferred Stock and any Warrant Shares issuable with respect to Exercise
Default Payments under the Warrants) issued or issuable with respect to the
Preferred Stock and the Warrants and any shares of capital stock issued or
issuable, from time to time (with any adjustments), as a distribution on or in
exchange for or otherwise with respect to any of the foregoing.
(iv) "REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means a registration statement
of the Company under the Securities Act.
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
before May 27, 1999 (the "FIRST FILING DATE"), and within 45 days after the
Second Closing Date (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) (the
"SECOND CLOSING DATE") (each, a "CLOSING DATE") file with the SEC a Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (or, if Form S-3 is not then available, on such form of
Registration Statement as is then available to effect a registration of all of
the Registrable Securities issued at such Closing, subject to the consent of the
Initial Investors (as determined pursuant to Section 11(j) hereof)) covering the
resale of at least that number of shares of Common Stock equal to 175% of the
Registrable Securities issued or issuable upon conversion (without giving effect
to any limitations on conversion contained in Article IV.C of the
Statement of Designation) of the Preferred Stock and exercise of the Warrants
(without giving effect to any limitations on exercise contained in Section 7 of
the Warrants), calculated as of a mutually agreeable date within the five (5)
trading days prior to the filing date for any Registration Statement. The
Registration Statement filed hereunder, to the extent allowable under the
Securities Act and the Rules promulgated thereunder (including Rule 416), shall
state that the Registration Statement 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
reductions in the Conversion Price of the Preferred Stock or the Exercise Price
of the Warrants in accordance with the terms thereof (including, but not limited
to, in the case of the Preferred Stock, the terms which cause the Conversion
Price to decrease to the extent the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock
decreases). The parties acknowledge that as of the date hereof the SEC's
position is that Rule 416 doe not permit the registration of the securities
described in clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, and that the Registration
Statement will not state that it covers such securities unless the SEC changes
its postion prior to the filing of the Registration Statement. The Registrable
Securities included in each Registration Statement filed hereunder shall be
allocated to the Investors as set forth in Section 11(k) hereof. Each
Registration Statement filed hereunder (and each amendment or supplement
thereto, and each request for acceleration of effectiveness thereof) shall be
provided to (and subject to the approval of) the Initial Investors and their
counsel prior to its filing or other submission.
b. UNDERWRITTEN OFFERING. If any offering pursuant to the
Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof involves an underwritten
offering, the Investors who hold a majority in interest of the Registrable
Securities subject to such underwritten offering, with the consent of the
Initial Investors, shall have the right to select one legal counsel to represent
the Investors 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. In the event that any
Investors elect not to participate in such underwritten offering, the
Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities shall contain
appropriate plans of distribution reasonably satisfactory to the Investors
participating in such underwritten offering and the Investors electing not to
participate in such underwritten offering (including, without limitation, the
ability of nonparticipating Investors to sell from time to time and at any time
during the effectiveness of such Registration Statement).
c. PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY. The Company shall cause each
Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof to
become effective as soon as practicable, but in no event later than the one
hundred and twentieth (120th) day following the applicable Filing Date (the
"REGISTRATION
DEADLINE"). If (i) (A) a Registration Statement required to be filed by the
Company pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof is not declared effective by the SEC on
or before the Registration Deadline or (B) any Registration Statement required
to be filed by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof is not declared
effective by the SEC within sixty (60) days after the applicable Registration
Trigger Date (as defined in Section 3(b) hereof), or (ii) if, after any such
Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC, sales of all of
the Registrable Securities required to be covered by such Registration Statement
(including any Registrable Securities required to be registered pursuant to
Section 3(b) hereof) cannot be made pursuant to such Registration Statement (by
reason of a stop order or the Company's failure to update the Registration
Statement or any other reason outside the control of the Investors) or (iii) the
Common Stock is not listed or included for quotation on the Nasdaq SmallCap
Market ("SMALLCAP") , the American Stock Exchange (the "AMEX"), the New York
Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") or the Nasdaq National Market ("NNM") at any time
after the initial Registration Deadline hereunder, 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
Investor an amount equal to the product of (i) the aggregate Purchase Price of
the Preferred Stock and Warrants held by such Investor (including, without
limitation, Preferred Stock that has been converted into Conversion Shares and
Warrants that have been exercised for Warrant Shares then held by such Investor)
(the "AGGREGATE SHARE PRICE"), multiplied by (ii) fifteen thousandths (.015),
for each thirty (30) day period (or portion thereof) (A) after the Registration
Deadline and prior to the date the Registration Statement filed pursuant to
Section 2(a) is declared effective by the SEC, (B) after the sixtieth (60th) day
following a Registration Trigger Date (as defined in Section 3(b)) and prior to
the date the Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof is
declared effective by the SEC, and (c) during which sales of any Registrable
Securities cannot be made pursuant to any such Registration Statement after the
Registration Statement has been declared effective or the Common Stock is not
listed or included for quotation on the SmallCap, AMEX, NYSE or NNM; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that there shall be excluded from each such period any delays which are
solely attributable to changes (other than corrections of Company mistakes with
respect to information previously provided by the Investors) 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. (For example, if the Registration Statement is not effective by
the Registration Deadline, the Company would pay $15,000 for each thirty (30)
day period thereafter with respect to each $1,000,000 of Aggregate Share Price
until the Registration Statement becomes effective.) Such amounts shall be paid
in cash or, at each Investor's option, may be convertible into Common Stock at
the "CONVERSION PRICE" (as defined in the Statement of Designation) then in
effect. Any shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of such amounts shall
be Registrable Securities. If any Investor desires to convert the amounts due
hereunder into Registrable Securities it shall so notify the Company in writing
within two (2) business days after the date on which such amounts are first
payable in cash and such amounts shall be so convertible (pursuant to the
mechanics set forth under Article IV of the Statement 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. If at any time prior to the expiration
of the Registration Period (as hereinafter defined) the Company shall file with
the SEC a Registration Statement relating to an offering for its own account or
the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity securities
(other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or their then equivalents relating to equity
securities to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity
or business or equity securities issuable in connection with stock option or
other employee benefit plans), the Company shall send to each Investor who is
entitled to registration rights under this Section 2(d) written notice of such
determination and, if within fifteen (15) days after the date of such notice,
such Investor shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such
Registration Statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities such
Investor requests to be registered, except that if, in connection with any
underwritten public offering, the managing underwriter(s) thereof shall impose a
limitation on the number of shares of Common Stock which may be included in the
Registration Statement because, in such underwriter(s)' judgment, marketing or
other factors dictate such limitation is necessary to facilitate public
distribution, then the Company shall be obligated to include in such
Registration Statement only such limited portion of the Registrable Securities
with respect to which such Investor has requested inclusion hereunder as the
underwriter shall permit. Any exclusion of Registrable Securities shall be made
pro rata among the Investors seeking to include Registrable Securities, in
proportion to the number of Registrable Securities sought to be included by such
Investors; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not exclude any Registrable
Securities unless the Company has first excluded all outstanding securities, the
holders of which are not entitled to inclusion of such securities in such
Registration Statement or are not entitled to pro rata inclusion with the
Registrable Securities; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, HOWEVER, that, after giving
effect to the immediately preceding proviso, any exclusion of Registrable
Securities shall be made pro rata with holders of other securities having the
right to include such securities in the Registration Statement other than
holders of securities entitled to inclusion of their securities in such
Registration Statement by reason of demand registration rights. No right to
registration of Registrable Securities under this Section 2(d) shall be
construed to limit any registration required under Section 2(a) hereof. If an
offering in connection with which an Investor is entitled to registration under
this Section 2(d) is an underwritten offering, then each Investor whose
Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement shall, unless
otherwise agreed by the Company, offer and sell such Registrable Securities in
an underwritten offering using the same underwriter
or underwriters and, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, on the same
terms and conditions as other shares of Common Stock included in such
underwritten offering.
e. ELIGIBILITY FOR FORM S-3. The Company represents and warrants
that it meets the 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 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.
f. RULE 416; NOTICE OF REGISTRATION TRIGGER DATE. The Company and
the Investors each acknowledge that an indeterminate number of Registrable
Securities shall be registered pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act so
as to include in such Registration Statement any and all Registrable Securities
which may become issuable to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock
dividends or similar transactions (collectively, the "RULE 416 SECURITIES"). In
this regard, the Company agrees to take all steps necessary to ensure that all
Rule 416 Securities are registered pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act
in the Registration Statement and, absent guidance from the SEC or other
definitive authority to the contrary, the Company shall affirmatively support
and not take any action adverse to the position that the Registration Statements
filed hereunder cover all of the Rule 416 Securities. If the Company determines
that the Registration Statement(s) filed hereunder do not cover all of the Rule
416 Securities, the Company shall immediately provide to each Investor written
notice (a "RULE 416 NOTICE") setting forth the basis for the Company's position
and the authority therefor. In the event that a Registration Trigger Date (as
defined below) occurs, the Company shall provide each Investor written notice of
such Registration Trigger Date within three (3) business days thereafter. The
Company acknowledges that the number of shares of Common Stock initially
included in any Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Securities
represents a good faith estimate of the maximum number of shares issuable upon
conversion of the Preferred Stock and exercise of the Warrants.
g. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 2, the
registration rights contained herein shall not be interpreted to adversely
affect the Company's existing registration rights as described on Schedule A
hereto (the AExisting Registration Rights@).
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 and file with the SEC each Registration Statement
required by Section 2(a) (but in no event later than the Filing Date), and cause
such Registration Statement relating to Registrable Securities to become
effective as soon as practicable after such filing (but in no event later than
the Registration Deadline), and keep such 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 all
of the Registrable Securities (in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the
Initial Investors) may be immediately sold to the public without registration or
restriction pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act or any successor
provision (the "REGISTRATION PERIOD"), which Registration Statement (including
any amendments or supplements thereto and prospectuses contained therein and all
documents incorporated by reference therein) shall not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
b. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including
post-effective amendments) and supplements to the Registration Statements and
the prospectuses used in connection with the Registration Statements as may be
necessary to keep the Registration Statements effective at all times during the
Registration Period, and, during such period, comply with the provisions of the
Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities of
the Company covered by the Registration Statements until such time as all of
such Registrable Securities have been disposed of in accordance with the
intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth in
the Registration Statements. In the event that the number of shares available
under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement is, for any
three (3) consecutive trading days (the last of such three (3) trading days
being the "REGISTRATION TRIGGER DATE"), insufficient to cover one hundred
thirty-five percent (135%) of the Registrable Securities issued or issuable upon
conversion (without giving effect to any limitations on conversion contained in
Article IV.C of the Statement of Designation) of the Preferred Stock and
exercise of the Warrants (without giving effect to any limitations on exercise
contained in Section 7 of the Warrants), the Company shall amend the
Registration Statement, or file a new Registration Statement (on the short form
available therefor, if applicable), or both, so as to cover two hundred percent
(200%) of the Registrable Securities issued or issuable (without giving effect
to any limitations on conversion or exercise contained in the Statement of
Designation or the Warrants) as of the Registration Trigger Date, in each case,
as soon as practicable, but in any event within fifteen (15) days after the
Registration Trigger Date (based on the market price then in effect of the
Common Stock and other relevant factors on which the Company reasonably elects
to rely). The Company shall cause such amendment(s) and/or new Registration
Statement to become effective as soon as practicable following the filing
thereof. In the event the Company fails to obtain the effectiveness of any such
Registration Statement within seventy-five (75) days after a Registration
Trigger Date, each Investor shall thereafter have the option, exercisable in
whole or in part at any time and from time to time by delivery of a written
notice to the Company (a "MANDATORY REDEMPTION NOTICE"), to require the Company
to purchase for cash, at an amount per share equal to the Redemption Amount (as
defined in Article VIII.B of the Statement of Designation), a portion of the
Investor's Preferred Stock such that the total number of Registrable Securities
included on the Registration Statements for resale by such Investor exceeds 135%
of the Registrable Securities issued or issuable upon
conversion (without giving effect to any limitations on conversion contained in
Article IV.C of the Statement of Designation) of such Investor's Preferred Stock
and exercise of such Investor's Warrants. If the Corporation fails to redeem any
of such shares within five (5) business days after its receipt of a Mandatory
Redemption Notice, then such Investor shall be entitled to the remedies provided
in Article VIII.C of the Statement of Designation.
c. The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose Registrable
Securities are included in the Registration Statements and its legal counsel (i)
promptly after the same is prepared and publicly distributed, filed with the
SEC, or received by the Company, one copy of each Registration Statement and any
amendment thereto, each preliminary prospectus and prospectus and each amendment
or supplement thereto, and, in the case of the Registration Statements referred
to in Section 2(a), each letter written by or on behalf of the Company to the
SEC or the staff of the SEC (including, without limitation, any request to
accelerate the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or amendment
thereto), and each item of correspondence from the SEC or the staff of the SEC,
in each case relating to the Registration Statements (other than any portion, if
any, thereof which contains information for which the Company has sought
confidential treatment), (ii) on the date of effectiveness of a Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto, a notice stating that such Registration
Statement or amendment has been declared effective, and (iii) 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.
d. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to
(i) register and qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration
Statements under such other securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions
in the United States as each Investor who holds Registrable Securities being
offered 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, (c) file a general consent to service of process in any such
jurisdiction, (d) provide any undertakings that cause the Company undue expense
or burden, or (e) make any change in its charter or bylaws, which in each case
the Board of Directors of the
Company determines to be contrary to the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders.
e. In the event the Investors who hold a majority in interest of the
Registrable Securities being offered in an 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, of which
the Company has knowledge, 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 use its
commercially reasonable best efforts promptly to 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.
g. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to
prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of a
Registration Statement, and, if such an order is issued, to obtain the
withdrawal of such order at the earliest practicable moment (including in each
case by amending or supplementing such Registration Statement) and to notify
each Investor who holds Registrable Securities being sold (or, in the event of
an underwritten offering, the managing underwriters) of the issuance of such
order and the resolution thereof (and if such Registration Statement is
supplemented or amended, deliver such number of copies of such supplement or
amendment to each Investor as such Investor may reasonably request).
h. The Company shall permit a single firm of counsel designated by
the Initial Investors to review each Registration Statement and all amendments
and supplements thereto a reasonable period of time prior to its 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 effectiveness of any
Registration Statement without prior notice to such counsel.
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 Securities Act) 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 of effectiveness of each Registration Statement (i) an opinion, dated as of
such date, from counsel representing the Company addressed to the Investors and
in form, scope and substance as is customarily given in an underwritten public
offering and (ii) in the case of an underwriting, a letter, dated such date,
from the Company's independent certified public accountants in form and
substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to
underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters,
if any, and the Investors.
k. The Company shall make available for inspection by (i) any
Investor, (ii) any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to a
Registration Statement, (iii) one firm of attorneys and one firm of accountants
or other agents retained by the Investors, and (iv) 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 shall be deemed to
limit the Investors' ability to sell Registrable Securities in a manner which is
otherwise consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
l. The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure
of information concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless (i)
disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state
securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid
or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii) the
release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order
from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, (iv) such
information has been made generally available to the public other than by
disclosure in violation of this or any other
agreement, or (v) such Investor consents to the form and content of any such
disclosure. 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 use its commercially reasonable best efforts to
promptly either (i) cause all of the Registrable Securities covered by the
Registration Statement to be listed on the SmallCap, AMEX, NNM or the NYSE or
another national securities exchange and on each additional 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 of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration
Statement on the NNM and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to
arrange for or maintain at least two market makers to register with the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") as such with respect to such
Registrable Securities.
n. The Company shall provide a transfer agent and registrar, which
may be a single entity, for the Registrable Securities not later than the
effective date of the Registration Statement.
o. The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold
Registrable Securities being offered and the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing Registrable
Securities to be offered pursuant to the Registration Statements and enable such
certificates to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may be, as the
managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or the Investors may reasonably
request and registered in such names as the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, or the Investors may request, and, within three (3)
business days after a Registration Statement which includes Registrable
Securities is ordered effective by the SEC, the Company shall deliver, and shall
cause legal counsel selected by the Company to deliver, to the transfer agent
for the Registrable Securities (with copies to the Investors whose Registrable
Securities are included in such Registration Statement) an opinion of such
counsel in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT 1.
p. At the request of any Investor, the Company shall prepare and
file with the SEC such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and
supplements to a Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection
with such Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to change the plan
of
distribution set forth in such Registration Statement.
q. The Company shall comply with all applicable laws related to a
Registration Statement and offering and sale of securities and all applicable
rules and regulations of governmental authorities in connection therewith
(including, without limitation, the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC.)
r. The Company shall take all such other actions as any Investor or
the underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate
the disposition of the Registrable Securities.
s. From and after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not,
and shall not agree to, allow the holders of any securities of the Company,
other than holders of securities having the Existing Registration Rights, to
include any of their securities in a Registration Statement under Section 2(a)
hereof or any amendment or supplement thereto under Section 3(b) hereof without
the consent of the holders of a majority in interest of the Registrable
Securities.
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 five (5)
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 such Registration Statement.
c. In the event Investors holding a majority in interest of the
Registrable Securities being offered determine to engage the services of an
underwriter, each Investor agrees to enter into and perform such Investor's
obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form,
including, without
limitation, customary indemnification and contribution obligations, with the
managing underwriter of such offering and take such other actions as are
reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the
Registrable Securities, unless such Investor has notified the Company in writing
of such Investor's election not to participate in such underwritten
distribution.
d. Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the
Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Sections 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 Sections 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 distribution
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
and costs of counsel to Investors, incurred in connection with registrations,
filings or qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, including, without
limitation, all registration, listing and qualifications fees, printers and
accounting fees, the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and the
fees and disbursements contemplated by Section 3(k) hereof shall be borne by the
Company. In addition, the Company shall pay all of the Investors' costs and
expenses (including legal fees) incurred in connection with the enforcement of
the rights of the Investors hereunder.
6. INDEMNIFICATION.
In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a Registration
Statement under this Agreement:
a. To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify, hold
harmless and defend (i) each Investor who holds such Registrable Securities, and
(ii) the directors, officers, partners, members, employees, agents and each
person who controls any Investor within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "EXCHANGE ACT"), if any,
and underwriters for Investors and such underwriters' directors, officers,
partners, members, employees, agents and each person who controls any such
underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Exchange Act (each, an
"INDEMNIFIED PERSON"), against any joint or several losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses (collectively, together with actions, proceedings or
inquiries by any regulatory or self-regulatory organization, whether commenced
or threatened, in respect thereof, "CLAIMS") to which any of them may become
subject insofar as such Claims arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in a Registration
Statement or any filing made in connection with qualification under state
securities laws or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in any preliminary prospectus if used prior to the effective date
of such Registration Statement, or contained in the final prospectus (as amended
or supplemented, if the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement
thereto with the SEC) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein any
material fact necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the
circumstances under which the statements therein were made, not misleading,
(iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act,
the Exchange Act, any other applicable securities law, including, without
limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder
relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable Securities or (iv) any material
breach of this Agreement (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv)
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 Investors and each other Indemnified Person, promptly as such
expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any reasonable legal fees or
other reasonable out of pocket 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 such Indemnified Person expressly for use
in the Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement
thereto; (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, if 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 hereof.
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, its employees, agents and
each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15
of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively and
together with an Indemnified Person, an "INDEMNIFIED PARTY"), against any Claim
to which any of them may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim arises out of or is based upon any
Violation, 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 out of pocket 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 any Investor shall be liable under
this Agreement (including this Section 6(b) and Section 7) for only that amount
as does not exceed the net proceeds actually received by 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 any Investor pursuant to
Section 9 hereof. 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, and the Indemnified Party failed to utilize such
corrected prospectus.
c. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified
Party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action
(including any governmental action), such Indemnified Person or Indemnified
Party shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against any
indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party a
written notice of the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall
have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so
desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume
control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the
indemnifying party and the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party, as the
case may be; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such indemnifying party shall not be
entitled to assume
such defense and 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 conflicts of interest between such Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such counsel in such
proceeding or the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such
action include both the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party and the
indemnifying party and any such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
reasonably determines that there may be legal defenses available to such
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party which are different from or in addition
to those available to such indemnifying party. The indemnifying party shall pay
for only one separate legal counsel for the Indemnified Persons or the
Indemnified Parties, as applicable, and such legal counsel shall be selected by
Investors holding a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities included
in the Registration Statement to which the Claim relates (with the approval of
the Initial Investors if they hold Registrable Securities included in such
Registration Statement), if the Investors are entitled to indemnification
hereunder, or by the Company, if the Company is entitled to indemnification
hereunder, as applicable. The failure to deliver written notice to the
indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such
action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6, except to the
extent that the indemnifying party is actually prejudiced in its ability to
defend such action. The indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be made
by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the
investigation or defense, as such expense, loss, damage or liability is incurred
and is due and payable.
7. CONTRIBUTION.
To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is prohibited
or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum
contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable
under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
(i) no contribution shall be made under circumstances where the maker would not
have been liable for indemnification under the fault standards set forth in
Section 6, (ii) no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of
such fraudulent misrepresentation, and (iii) contribution (together with any
indemnification or other obligations under this Agreement) by any seller of
Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds
received by such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities pursuant to
the Registration Statement.
8. REPORTS UNDER THE EXCHANGE ACT.
With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule 144
promulgated under the Securities 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. file with the SEC in a timely manner and make and keep available
all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act
and the Exchange 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 and
availability of such reports and other documents is required for the applicable
provisions of Rule 144; and
b. furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns shares of
Preferred Stock, Warrants or Registrable Securities, promptly upon
request, (i) a written statement by the
Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the
Securities Act and the Exchange 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 under Rule 144 without registration.
9. ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
The rights of the Investors hereunder, including the right to have the
Company register Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement, shall be
automatically assignable by each Investor to any transferee of all or any
portion of the shares of Preferred Stock, the Warrants or the Registrable
Securities if: (i) shares of Preferred Stock are transferred in increments of
$100,000 of face amount of the Preferred Stock and the Warrants and Registrable
Securities are transferred in increments of that number of shares of Common
Stock issuable in relation to such increments of $100,000 of face amount of the
Preferred Stock, (ii) 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 after such assignment, (iii) the Company is 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, (iv) following such transfer or assignment, the further disposition
of such securities by the transferee or assignee is restricted under the
Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, (v) the transferee or
assignee agrees in writing for the benefit of the Company to be bound by all of
the provisions contained herein, and (vi) such transfer shall have been made in
accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Purchase
Agreement.
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 and Investors who
hold a
majority in interest of the Registrable Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no
amendment hereto which restricts the ability of an Investor to elect not to
participate in an underwritten offering shall be effective against any Investor
which does not consent in writing to such amendment; PROVIDED, further, HOWEVER,
that no consideration shall be paid to an Investor by the Company in connection
with an amendment hereto unless each Investor similarly affected by such
amendment receives a pro-rata amount of consideration from the Company. Unless
an Investor otherwise agrees, each amendment hereto must similarly affect each
Investor. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 10
shall be binding upon each Investor and the Company.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
a. A person or entity is deemed to be a holder of Registrable
Securities whenever such person or entity owns of record such Registrable
Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or
elections from two or more
persons or entities with respect to the same Registrable Securities, the Company
shall act upon the basis of instructions, notice or election received from the
registered owner of such Registrable Securities.
b. Any notices required or permitted to be given under the terms of
this Agreement shall be sent by certified or registered mail (return receipt
requested) or delivered personally or by courier or by confirmed telecopy, and
shall be effective upon receipt or refusal of receipt, if delivered personally
or by courier or confirmed telecopy, in each case addressed to a party. The
addresses for such communications shall be:
If to the Company:
XXXXXX HEALTHCARE, INC.
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
and if to any Investor, at such address as such shall have provided in writing
to the Company, or at such other address as each such party furnishes by notice
given in accordance with this Section 11(b).
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 governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be
performed in the State of New York without regard to principles of choice of law
or conflicts of law that would defer to the substantive law of another
jurisdiction. The Company irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of the United
States federal courts and the state courts located in the State of New York in
any suit or proceeding based on or arising under this Agreement and irrevocably
agrees that all claims in respect of such suit or proceeding shall be determined
exclusively in such courts. The Company irrevocably waives the defense of an
inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such suit or proceeding. The Company
further agrees that service of process upon the Company, mailed by first class
mail shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the
Company in any such suit or proceeding. Nothing herein shall affect the
Investors' right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. The
Company agrees that a final non-appealable judgment in any such suit or
proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by
suit on such judgment or in any other lawful manner.
e. This Agreement, the Securities Purchase Agreement (including all
schedules and exhibits thereto) and the Warrants constitute the entire agreement
among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
This Agreement, the Securities Purchase Agreement and the Warrants 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. All consents, approvals and other determinations to be made by
the Investors or the Initial Investors pursuant to this Agreement shall be made
by the Investors or the Initial Investors holding a majority in interest of the
Registrable Securities (determined as if all shares of Preferred Stock and
Warrants then outstanding had been converted into or exercised for Registrable
Securities) held by all
Investors or Initial Investors, as the case may be.
k. The initial number of Registrable Securities included on any
Registration Statement and each increase (if any) to the number of Registrable
Securities included thereon shall be allocated pro rata among the Investors
based on the number of Registrable Securities held by each Investor at the time
of such establishment or increase, as the case may be. In the event an Investor
shall sell or otherwise transfer any of such holder's Registrable Securities,
each transferee shall be allocated a pro rata portion of the number of
Registrable Securities included on a Registration Statement for such transferor.
Any shares of Common Stock included on a Registration Statement and which remain
allocated to any person or entity which does not hold any Registrable Securities
shall be allocated to the remaining Investors, pro rata based on the number of
shares of Registrable Securities then held by such Investors. For the avoidance
of doubt, the number of Registrable Securities held by any Investor shall be
determined as if all shares of Preferred Stock and Warrants then outstanding
were converted into or exercised for Registrable Securities.
l. Each party to this Agreement has participated in the negotiation
and drafting of this Agreement. As such, the language used herein shall be
deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual
intent, and no rule of strict construction will be applied against any party to
this Agreement.
m. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "business day" means any
day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in
the State of New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or
executive order to close.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed as of the date first above written.
XXXXXX HEALTHCARE, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXX
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Its: President and CEO
INITIAL INVESTOR:
ZANETT LOMBARDIER, LTD.
By: /s/ G. A. CICOGNA
Name:
Its:
EXHIBIT 1
TO
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS
AGREEMENT
[Date]
[Name and address
of transfer agent]
RE: XXXXXX HEALTHCARE, INC.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are counsel to XXXXXX HEALTHCARE, INC., a corporation organized under
the laws of the State of Texas (the "COMPANY"), and we understand that [Name of
Investor] (the "HOLDER") has purchased from the Company (i) shares of the
Company's Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (the "PREFERRED STOCK") that are
convertible into shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per share
(the "COMMON STOCK"), and (ii) warrants (the "WARRANTS") to acquire shares of
Common Stock. Pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of ________,
1999, by and among the Company and the signatories thereto (the "REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT"), the Company agreed with the Holder, among other things, 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. In
connection with the Company's obligations under the Registration Rights
Agreement, on ____________, 1999, the Company filed a Registration Statement on
Form S-___ (File No. 333-_____________) (the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT") with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") relating to the Registrable
Securities, which names the Holder as a selling stockholder thereunder. The
Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC on _____________, 1998.
[Other customary introductory and scope of examination
language to be inserted]
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the resale of the
Registrable Securities have been registered under the Securities Act.
[Other customary language to be included.]
Very truly yours,
cc: [Name of Investor]
