EXHIBIT 10.13
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
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This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
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entered into as of August 17, 1999, among SoftLink, Inc., a Nevada corporation
(the "Company"), and the investors signatory hereto on the date of this
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Agreement (each such investor is a "Purchaser" and all such investors are,
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collectively, the "Purchasers").
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This Agreement is made pursuant to the Convertible Preferred Stock
Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof among the Company and the
Purchasers (the "Purchase Agreement").
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The Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
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Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are
defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in
the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
"Advice" shall have meaning set forth in Section 6(f).
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"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person
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that directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or under common control
with such Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control," when used
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with respect to any Person, means the possession, direct or indirect, of the
power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such
Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise; and the terms of "affiliated," "controlling" and "controlled" have
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meanings correlative to the foregoing.
"Business Day" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day
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which shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the
state of New York or the state of California generally are authorized or
required by law or other government actions to close.
"Closing Date" means August 17, 1999.
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"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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"Common Stock" means the Company's Common Stock, par value $.001
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per share, or such securities that such stock shall hereafter be reclassified
into.
"Effectiveness Date" means the 120/th/ day following the Closing
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Date.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
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2(a).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
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amended.
"Filing Date" means the 30/th/ day following the Closing Date.
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"Holder" or "Holders" means the holder or holders, as the case may be,
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from time to time of Registrable Securities.
"Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
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"Indemnifying Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
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"Losses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
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"Person" means an individual or a corporation, partnership, trust,
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incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability
company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or political subdivision
thereof) or other entity of any kind.
"Preferred Stock" means the Company's Series A Convertible Preferred
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Stock issued to the Purchasers in accordance with the Purchase Agreement.
"Proceeding" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding
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(including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as
a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in the Registration
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Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the
Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with
respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable
Securities covered by the Registration Statement, and all other amendments and
supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all
material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in
such Prospectus.
"Registrable Securities" means the shares of Common Stock issuable (i)
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upon conversion in full of the Preferred Stock, (ii) upon payment of dividends
on the Preferred Stock and (iii) upon exercise of the Warrants.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statement and any
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additional registration statements contemplated by Section 2(a), including (in
each case) 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 in such registration statement.
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"Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
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the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Rule 158" means Rule 158 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
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the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Rule 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
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the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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"Special Counsel" means one special counsel to the Holders, for which
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the Holders will be reimbursed by the Company pursuant to Section 4.
"Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering" means a
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registration in connection with which securities of the Company are sold to an
underwriter for reoffering to the public pursuant to an effective registration
statement.
"Warrants" means the Common Stock purchase warrants issued to the
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Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
2. Shelf Registration
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(a) On or prior to the Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and
file with the Commission a shelf Registration Statement covering the number of
Registrable Securities contemplated by Section 2(b) for an offering to be made
on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be
on Form SB-2 (or on another appropriate form in the event that the Company is
not eligible to file a Registration Statement on Form SB-2 for the resale of the
Registrable Securities). In the event that the Company becomes eligible to file
a Registration Statement on Form S-3, the Registration Statement on Form SB-2
shall be promptly converted to Form S-3 Registration Statement. The Company
shall use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared
effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing
thereof, but in any event prior to the Effectiveness Date, and shall use its
best efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective under
the Securities Act until the date which is three years after the date that such
Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission or such earlier
date when all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have
been sold or may be sold without volume restrictions pursuant to Rule 144(k) as
determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to
such effect, addressed and acceptable to the Company's transfer agent and the
affected Holders (the "Effectiveness Period"), provided, however, that the
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Company shall not be deemed to have used its best efforts to keep the
Registration Statement effective during the Effectiveness Period if it
voluntarily takes any action that would result in the Holders not being able to
sell the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement
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during the Effectiveness Period, unless such action is required under applicable
law or the Company has filed a post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement and the Commission has not declared it effective.
(b) In order to account for the fact that the number of shares of
Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock (and as payment of
dividend thereon) is determined in part upon the market price of the Common
Stock prior to the time of conversion, the initial Registration Statement
required to be filed hereunder shall include (but not be limited to) a number of
shares of Common Stock equal to no less than the sum of (i) the number of shares
of Common Stock into which the Preferred Stock, together with the payment of
dividends thereon (assuming all dividends are paid in shares of Common Stock and
that the Preferred Stock remain outstanding for three years), are convertible,
assuming such conversion occurred on the Closing Date and the Conversion Price
is [$1.00] and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise
in full of the Warrants. When initially filed, such initial Registration
Statement shall cause [3,870,000] shares of Common Stock to be registered for
the benefit of the Holders.
(c) If the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities so
elect, an offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration
Statement may be effected in the form of an Underwritten Offering. In such
event, and, if the managing underwriters advise the Company and such Holders in
writing that in their opinion the amount of Registrable Securities proposed to
be sold in such Underwritten Offering exceeds the amount of Registrable
Securities which can be sold in such Underwritten Offering, there shall be
included in such Underwritten Offering the amount of such Registrable Securities
which in the opinion of such managing underwriters can be sold, and such amount
shall be allocated pro-rata among the Holders proposing to sell Registrable
Securities in such Underwritten Offering.
(d) If any of the Registrable Securities are to be sold in an
Underwritten Offering, the investment banker in interest that will administer
the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities included in such offering upon consultation with the Company. No
Holder may participate in any Underwritten Offering hereunder unless such Holder
(i) agrees to sell its Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any
underwriting agreements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve
such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of
attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required
under the terms of such arrangements.
3. Registration Procedures
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In connection with the Company's registration obligations hereunder,
the Company shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the Commission on or prior to the Filing
Date, a Registration Statement on the form contemplated by Section 2(a) which
Registration Statement shall contain (except if otherwise directed by the
Holders) the "Plan of Distribution" attached hereto as Annex A, and cause the
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Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective as provided
herein; provided, however, that not less than three (3) Business Days prior to
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the filing of the
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Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto (other than any supplement required to be filed in accordance with
Section 3(c)(ii), which need only be furnished for review two (2) Business Days
prior to filing), the Company shall, (i) furnish to the Holders, their Special
Counsel and any managing underwriters, copies of all such documents proposed to
be filed, which documents (other than those incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference) will be subject to the review of such Holders, their
Special Counsel and such managing underwriters, and (ii) cause its officers and
directors, counsel and independent certified public accountants to respond to
such inquiries as shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of respective
counsel to such Holders and such underwriters, to conduct a reasonable
investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Holders shall
provide any comments or objections to any proposed filings by the expiration of
the third Business Day after actual receipt of the materials provided for their
review. For each Business Day after such third Business Day during which a
failure to provide such comments (which may be provided orally or in writing)
exists one day shall be added to each of the Filing Date and Effectiveness Date
for all purposes hereof. The Company shall not file the Registration Statement
or any such Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto to which the
Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities, their Special Counsel, or
any managing underwriters, shall reasonably object.
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep the
Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable
Securities for the Effectiveness Period and prepare and file with the Commission
such additional Registration Statements in order to register for resale under
the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities; (ii) cause the related
Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement,
and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any
similar provisions then in force) promulgated under the Securities Act; (iii)
respond as promptly as reasonably possible, and in any event within twenty (20)
days, to any comments received from the Commission with respect to the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and as promptly as reasonably
possible provide the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from
and to the Commission relating to the Registration Statement; and (iv) comply in
all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by the
Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the
intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in the
Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) (i) File additional Registration Statements if the number of
Registrable Securities at any time exceeds 85% of the number of shares of Common
Stock then registered in a Registration Statement. The Company shall have 30
days to file such additional Registration Statements after such requirement
notice of which may be given by the Holders). In such event, the Registration
Statement required to be filed by the Company shall include a number of shares
of Common Stock equal to no less than the number of shares of Common Stock into
which all then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock are convertible (assuming
such conversion occurred on the Filing Date for such Registration Statement or
the date of the filing of the final acceleration request therefor, whichever
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date yields a lower Conversion Price) less the shares covered by the prior
Registration Statement and any other Registrable Securities not then registered
in a Registration Statement.
(ii) File such supplements or "stickers" to the Registration
Statement or Prospectus as and when required by the Commission to evidence a
material amount of resales by a Holder pursuant to a Prospectus. In connection
therewith, if such supplements or such "stickers" are periodically required by
the Commission, the Company shall, within four (4) Business Days, file such
supplements or such "stickers" whenever a Holder has sold 50% of the Registrable
Securities covered by the then outstanding Prospectus (as last supplemented or
"stickered") in order to cover 100% of the number of the outstanding Registrable
Securities.
(d) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold, their
Special Counsel and any managing underwriters as promptly as reasonably possible
(and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than five (5) Business Days (or, in
the case of a supplement or "sticker" required to be filed pursuant to Section
3(c)(ii), within one Business Day) prior to such filing) and (if requested by
any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than one (1) Business
Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is proposed to be filed;
(B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a "review" of
such Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on
such Registration Statement (the Company shall provide true and complete copies
thereof and all written responses thereto to each of the Holders, which the
Holders shall keep confidential); and (C) with respect to the Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective;
(ii) of any request by the Commission or any other Federal or state governmental
authority for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or
Prospectus or for additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of
any Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) if at any time any of the representations
and warranties of the Company contained in any agreement (including any
underwriting agreement) contemplated hereby ceases to be true and correct in all
material respects; (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification
of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the
initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such purpose; and (vi) of the
occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes the financial statements
included in the Registration Statement ineligible for inclusion therein or any
statement made in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any
material respect or that requires any revisions to the Registration Statement,
Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(e) Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued,
obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or
exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in
any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.
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(f) If requested by any managing underwriter or the Holders of a
majority in interest of the Registrable Securities to be sold in connection with
an Underwritten Offering, (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement such information as such
managing underwriters and such Holders reasonably agree should 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
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shall not be required to take any action pursuant to this Section 3(f) that
would, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, violate applicable law or be
materially detrimental to the business prospects of the Company.
(g) Furnish to each Holder, their Special Counsel and any managing
underwriters, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration
Statement and each amendment thereto, including, if requested, financial
statements and schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference, and all exhibits to the extent requested by
such Person (including those previously furnished or incorporated by reference)
promptly after the filing of such documents with the Commission.
(h) Promptly deliver to each Holder, their Special Counsel, and any
underwriters, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses
(including each form of prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto as
such Persons may reasonably request; and the Company hereby consents to the use
of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the
selling Holders and any underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of
the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto.
(i) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its
best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders, any
underwriters and their Special Counsel in connection with the registration or
qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such
Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws
of such jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder or underwriter
requests in writing, to keep each such registration or qualification (or
exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and
all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in
such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration
Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify
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generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified
or subject the Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is
not then so subject.
(k) Cooperate with the Holders and any managing underwriters to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing
Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee pursuant to a
Registration Statement, which certificates shall comply with the requirements of
the Certificate of Designation and Warrants, and to enable such Registrable
Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as any such
managing underwriters or Holders may request.
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(k) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 6(e), as
promptly as reasonably possible, prepare a supplement or amendment, including a
post-effective amendment, to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the
related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
therein by reference, and file any other required document so that, as
thereafter delivered, neither the Registration Statement nor such Prospectus
will contain 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,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(l) Use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities relating
to such Registration Statement to be listed on the OTC Bulletin Board or on any
other stock market or trading facility on which the shares of Common Stock are
traded, listed or quoted (each a "Subsequent Market") as and when required
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pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
(m) Enter into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement
in form, scope and substance as is customary in Underwritten Offerings) and take
all such other actions in connection therewith (including those reasonably
requested by any managing underwriters and the Holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities being sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the
disposition of such Registrable Securities, and whether or not an underwriting
agreement is entered into, (i) make such representations and warranties to such
Holders and such underwriters as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters
in underwritten public offerings (subject to the scheduling of appropriate
exceptions to insure such representations and warranties are accurate), and
confirm the same if and when requested; (ii) in the case of an Underwritten
Offering obtain and deliver copies thereof to each Holder and the managing
underwriters, if any, of opinions of counsel to the Company and updates thereof
addressed to each Holder and each such underwriter, in form, scope and substance
reasonably satisfactory to any such managing underwriters and Special Counsel to
the selling Holders covering the matters customarily covered in opinions
requested in Underwritten Offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably
requested by such Special Counsel and underwriters; (iii) immediately prior to
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and, in the case of an
Underwritten Offering, at the time of delivery of any Registrable Securities
sold pursuant thereto, use its best reasonable efforts to obtain and deliver
copies to the Holders and the managing underwriters, if any, of "cold comfort"
letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public accountants of
the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public
accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the
Company for which financial statements and financial data is, or is required to
be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to the Company in form
and substance as are customary in connection with Underwritten Offerings; (iv)
if an underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall contain
indemnification provisions and procedures no less favorable to the selling
Holders and the underwriters, if any, than those set forth in Section 5 (or such
other provisions and procedures acceptable to the managing underwriters, if any,
and holders of a majority of Registrable Securities participating in such
Underwritten Offering); and (v) deliver such documents and certificates as may
be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities being sold, their Special Counsel and any managing underwriters to
evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties made
pursuant to Section 3(m)(i) above and to evidence compliance with any customary
conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered
into by the Company.
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(n) Make available for inspection by the selling Holders, any
representative of such Holders, any underwriter participating in any disposition
of Registrable Securities, and any attorney or accountant retained by such
selling Holders or underwriters, at the offices where normally kept, during
reasonable business hours, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, and cause the
officers, directors, agents and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to
supply all information in each case reasonably requested by any such Holder,
representative, underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the
Registration Statement; provided, however, that any information that is
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determined in good faith by the Company in writing to be of a confidential
nature at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by
such Persons, unless (i) disclosure of such information is required by court or
administrative order or is necessary to respond to inquiries of regulatory
authorities; (ii) disclosure of such information, in the opinion of counsel to
such Person, is required by law; (iii) such information becomes generally
available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to
safeguard by such Person; or (iv) such information becomes available to such
Person from a source other than the Company and such source is not known by such
Person to be bound by a confidentiality agreement with the Company.
(o) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission.
(p) The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the
Company such information regarding the distribution of such Registrable
Securities and the beneficial ownership of Common Stock held by such Holder as
is required by law to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, and the
Company may exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of any
such Holder who unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a
reasonable time after receiving such request.
(q) If the Registration Statement refers to any Holder by name or
otherwise as the holder of any securities of the Company, then such Holder shall
have the right to require (if such reference to such Holder by name or otherwise
is not required by the Securities Act or any similar Federal statute then in
force) the deletion of the reference to such Holder in any amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement filed or prepared subsequent to the
time that such reference ceases to be required.
(r) Each Holder covenants and agrees that (i) it will not sell any
Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until it has received
copies of the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented as contemplated in
Section 3(h) and notice from the Company that such Registration Statement and
any post-effective amendments thereto have become effective as contemplated by
Section 3(d) and (ii) it and its officers, directors or Affiliates, if any, will
comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as
applicable to it in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to
the Registration Statement.
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4. Registration Expenses
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(a) All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or
compliance with this Agreement by the Company, except as and to the extent
specified in Section 4(b), shall be borne by the Company whether or not pursuant
to an Underwritten Offering and whether or not the Registration Statement is
filed or becomes effective and whether or not any Registrable Securities are
sold pursuant to the Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to
in the foregoing sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all
registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses
(A) with respect to filings required to be made with the OTC Bulletin Board and
any Subsequent Market on which the Common Stock is then listed for trading, and
(B) in compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without
limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Holders in connection with
Blue Sky qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities and
determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Securities for investment
under the laws of such jurisdictions as the managing underwriters, if any, or
the Holders of a majority of Registrable Securities may designate)), (ii)
printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing
certificates for Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses if the
printing of prospectuses is requested by the managing underwriters, if any, or
by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the
Registration Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv)
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and Special Counsel for the
Holders, (v) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such
insurance, and (vi) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the
Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement. In addition, the Company shall be responsible for all of its
internal expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation, all
salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or
accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit, the fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any
securities exchange as required hereunder.
(b) If the Holders require an Underwritten Offering pursuant to the
terms hereof, and there shall be at such time an effective Registration
Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities pursuant to which the
Holders are both named Selling Security holders thereunder and permitted to
utilize the Prospectus thereunder to resell such Registrable Securities held by
them, then the Company shall be responsible for all costs, fees and expenses in
connection therewith, except for the fees and disbursements of the Underwriters
(including any underwriting commissions and discounts) and their legal counsel
and accountants. By way of illustration which is not intended to diminish from
the provisions of Section 4(a), the Holders shall not be responsible for, and
the Company shall be required to pay the fees or disbursements incurred by the
Company (including by its legal counsel and accountants) in connection with, the
preparation and filing of a Registration Statement and related Prospectus for
such offering, the maintenance of such Registration Statement in accordance with
the terms hereof, the listing of the Registrable Securities in accordance with
the requirements hereof, and printing expenses incurred to comply with the
requirements hereof. If the Holders require an Underwritten Offering at a time
when all of the circumstances specified in the opening clause to the first
sentence of this Section 4(b) are present, then such Holders shall bear all
costs associated with such Underwritten Offering, including those costs
specified in Section 4(a) above.
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5. Indemnification
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(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall,
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notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless
each Holder, the officers, directors, agents (including any underwriters
retained by such Holder in connection with the offer and sale of Registrable
Securities), brokers (including brokers who offer and sell Registrable
Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or any failure to perform under
a margin call of Common Stock), investment advisors and employees of each of
them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15
of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers,
directors, agents and employees of each such controlling Person, to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, costs of preparation
and attorneys' fees) and expenses (collectively, "Losses"), as incurred, arising
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out of or relating to any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any form of
prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary
prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or
supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made)
not misleading, except to the extent, but only to the extent, that (1) such
untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding such
Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use
therein, or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such
Holder's proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was
reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in
the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or (2) in the case of an occurrence of an event
of the type specified in Section 3(d)(ii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an
outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in
writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by
such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 6(f) or (3) such Holder fails
to comply with its prospectus delivery requirements in connection with the sale
giving rise to such Loss and such delivery would have avoided such Loss. The
Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or
assertion of any Proceeding of which the Company is aware in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall, severally and not
--------------------------
jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers,
agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the
directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses (as
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment not subject
to appeal or review) arising solely out of or based solely upon any untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any
Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement
thereto, or arising solely out of or based solely upon any omission of a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement or omission is contained in any information so furnished in writing by
such Holder to the Company specifically for inclusion in the Registration
Statement or such
-11-
Prospectus or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such
Holder's proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was
reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in
the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus, or in
any amendment or supplement thereto, or to the extent such loss was directly
caused by the Holder's failure to comply with its prospectus delivery
requirements in connection with the sale giving rise to such Loss and such
delivery would have avoided such Loss. In no event shall the liability of any
selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net
proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities
giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall
--------------------------------------
be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an
"Indemnified Party"), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person
-----------------
from whom indemnity is sought (the "Indemnifying Party") in writing, and the
------------------
Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all
fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof; provided, that
the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the
Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement,
except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally determined by a court
of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or
further review) that such failure shall have proximately and materially
adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.
An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel
in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party
or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such
fees and expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to
assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named
parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both
such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party
shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to
exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the
Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the
Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the
expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the
right to assume the defense thereof and such counsel shall be at the expense of
the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any
settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. No Indemnifying Party shall, without
the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any
pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless
such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from
all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.
All fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable
fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with investigating or
preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this
Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within ten (10)
Business Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party
-12-
(regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified Party is
not entitled to indemnification hereunder; provided, that the Indemnifying Party
--------
may require such Indemnified Party to undertake to reimburse all such fees and
expenses to the extent it is finally judicially determined that such Indemnified
Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder).
(d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under Section 5(a)
------------
or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party (by reason of public policy or
otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such
Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and
Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that
resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question,
including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission
or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to
information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or
payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject
to the limitations set forth in Section 5(c), any reasonable attorneys' or other
reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any
Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or
expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section was available to
such party in accordance with its terms.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata
--- ----
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account
the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), no Holder shall be required
to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the
proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable
Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that such
Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. 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 was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.
The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section
are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the
Indemnified Parties.
6. Miscellaneous
-------------
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a Holder,
--------
of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the Company, as
the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by
law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to
specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company and each
Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation
-13-
for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of
this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for
specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that
a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any of its
--------------------------
subsidiaries has, as of the date hereof, nor shall the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement
with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to
the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
Except as and to the extent specified in Schedule 6(b) hereto, neither the
-------------
Company nor any of its subsidiaries has previously entered into any agreement
granting any registration rights with respect to any of its securities to any
Person. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, without the written
consent of the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable
Securities, the Company shall not grant to any Person the right to request the
Company to register any securities of the Company under the Securities Act
unless the rights so granted are subject in all respects to the prior rights in
full of the Holders set forth herein, and are not otherwise in conflict or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.
(c) No Piggyback on Registrations. Except as and to the extent
-----------------------------
specified in Schedule 6(b) hereto, neither the Company nor any of its security
-------------
holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto) may include
securities of the Company in the Registration Statement other than the
Registrable Securities, and the Company shall not after the date hereof enter
into any agreement providing any such right to any of its security holders.
(d) Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time when there is not an
------------------------
effective Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities and
the Underlying Shares, the Company shall determine to prepare and file with the
Commission 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 (each as promulgated under the
Securities Act) 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, then the Company shall send to each holder of Registrable
Securities written notice of such determination and, if within twenty (20) days
after receipt of such notice, any such holder shall so request in writing, the
Company shall include in such registration statement all or any part of such
Registrable Securities such holder requests to be registered; provided, however,
-------- -------
that the Company shall not be required to register any Registrable Securities
pursuant to this Section 6(d) that are eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144(k)
of the Commission.
(e) Prospectus Delivery Requirements. Each Holder covenants and
--------------------------------
agrees that (i) it will not sell any Registrable Securities under the
Registration Statement until it has received copies of the Prospectus as then
amended or supplemented as contemplated in Section 3(h) and notice from the
Company that such Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments
thereto have become effective as contemplated by Section 3(d) and (ii) it and
its officers, directors or Affiliates, if any, will comply with the prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to any of them in
connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration
Statement.
-14-
(f) Discontinued Disposition. Each Holder agrees by its acquisition
------------------------
of such Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company
of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Sections 3(d)(ii),
3(d)(iii), 3(d)(iv), 3(d)(v) or 3(d)(vi), such Holder will forthwith discontinue
disposition of such Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement
until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or
amended Registration Statement contemplated by Section 3(k), or until it is
advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the applicable
------
Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any
additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement. The
Company may provide appropriate stop orders to enforce the provisions of this
paragraph.
(g) 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, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company
and the Holders of at least two-thirds of the then outstanding Registrable
Securities. 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 and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of
other Holders may be given by Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable
Securities to which such waiver or consent relates; 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.
(h) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or
-------
deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified in this Section prior to 6:30 p.m. (New
York City time) on a Business Day, (ii) the Business Day after the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified in the Purchase Agreement later than 6:30
p.m. (New York City time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m. (New York City
time) on such date, (iii) the Business Day following the date of mailing, if
sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual
receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address
for such notices and communications shall be as follows:
If to the Company: SoftLink, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxx 000
Xxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
With copies to: Silicon Valley Law Group
000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
-15-
If to a Purchaser: To the address set forth under such Purchaser's name
on the signature pages hereto.
If to any other Person who is then the registered Holder:
To the address of such Holder as it appears in the
stock transfer books of the Company
or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same
manner, by such Person.
(i) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
----------------------
of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the
parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company may not
assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of
each Holder. Each Holder may assign their respective rights hereunder in the
manner and to the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
(j) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
------------
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. In
the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission, such
signature shall create a valid binding obligation of the party executing (or on
whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with the same force and effect
as if such facsimile signature were the original thereof.
(k) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction,
-------------
validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by
and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of
New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each
party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and
federal courts sitting in the City of New York, borough of Manhattan, for the
adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any
transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably
waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim
that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that
such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably
waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any
such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the
address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such
service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice
thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right
to serve process in any manner permitted by law.
(l) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative
-------------------
and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(m) 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
-16-
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.
(n) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
--------
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(o) Shares Held by The Company and its Affiliates. Whenever the
---------------------------------------------
consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable
Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or
its Affiliates (other than any Holder or transferees or successors or assigns
thereof if such Holder is deemed to be an Affiliate solely by reason of its
holdings of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in determining
whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required
percentage.
(p) Attorney Fees. In the event any legal action is brought by a
-------------
party hereto to enforce its rights under this Agreement, the prevailing party
shall be entitled to recover in addition to any other relief to which it is
entitled, its reasonable attorneys fees and cost of suit.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW]
-17-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement as of the date first written above.
SOFTLINK, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxx
--------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Title: President
DEEPHAVEN PRIVATE PLACEMENT TRADING LTD.
By: /s/ Xxxx Sebczah
--------------------------
Name: Xxxx Sebczah
Title: CFO
Address for Notice:
Deephaven Private Placement Trading Ltd.
c/o Deephaven Capital Management LLC
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
With copies to:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx &
Xxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
HORNBLOWER INVESTORS LLC
By: /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
---------------------------
Name:
Title:
Address for Notice:
Hornblower Investors LLC
c/o WEC Asset Management LLC
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
With copies to:
Rosenman & Colin, LLP
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Esq.
Elliot Press, Esq.
-20-
Annex A
-------
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
--------------------
The Selling Stockholders and any of their pledgees, assignees and
successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their shares
of Common Stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the
shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or
negotiated prices. The Selling Stockholders may use any one or more of the
following methods when selling shares:
. ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer
solicits purchasers;
. block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as
agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to
facilitate the transaction;
. purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer
for its account;
. an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
exchange;
. privately negotiated transactions;
. short sales;
. broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a specified
number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
. a combination of any such methods of sale; and
. any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
The Selling Stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the
Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.
The Selling Stockholders may also engage in short sales against the box,
puts and calls and other transactions in securities of the Company or
derivatives of Company securities and may sell or deliver shares in connection
with these trades. The Selling Stockholders may pledge their shares to their
brokers under the margin provisions of customer agreements. If a Selling
Stockholder defaults on a margin loan, the broker may, from time to time, offer
and sell the pledged shares.
Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other
brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions
or discounts from the Selling Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as
agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser)
in amounts to be negotiated. The Selling Stockholders do not expect these
commissions and discounts to exceed what is customary in the types of
transactions involved.
The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved
in selling the shares may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of
the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions
received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the
shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or
discounts under the Securities Act.
The Company is required to pay all fees and expenses incident to the
registration of the shares, including fees and disbursements of counsel to the
Selling Stockholders. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling
Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act.
