EXHIBIT 4.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of April 28, 2004, by and among RS Group of Companies, Inc., a
Florida corporation (the "Company"), and the purchasers listed on Schedule I
hereto (the "Purchasers").
This Agreement is being entered into pursuant to the Series B
Convertible Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of the date hereof among
the Company and the Purchasers (the "Purchase Agreement").
The Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein 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 3(l).
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person 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 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 meanings
correlative to the foregoing.
"Board" shall have meaning set forth in Section 3(m).
"Business Day" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day
which shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the
state of New York generally are authorized or required by law or other
government actions to close.
"Closing Date" means the date of the closing of the purchase and
sale of the Preferred Stock and Warrants pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Common Stock" means the Company's Common Stock, no par value per
share.
"Effectiveness Date" means with respect to the Registration
Statement the earlier of the ninetieth (90th) day following the date that the
Company files its Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 or the
date which is within ten (10) days of the date on which the Commission informs
the Company that the Commission (i) will not review the Registration Statement
or (ii) that the Company may request the acceleration of the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement and the Company makes such request.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.
"Event" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(e).
"Event Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(e).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Filing Date" means the thirtieth (30th) day following the date the
Company files its Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.
"Holder" or "Holders" means the holder or holders, as the case may
be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.
"Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5(c).
"Indemnifying Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5(c).
"Losses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
"Person" means an individual or a corporation, partnership, trust,
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 Series B Convertible Preferred Stock of
the Company, no par value per share, issued to the Purchasers pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement.
"Proceeding" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or
proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial
proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in the Registration
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 in such Prospectus.
"Registrable Securities means the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon conversion of the Preferred Stock and the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon exercise of the Warrants.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statements and any
additional registration statements contemplated by Section 2, including (in each
case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement
or Prospectus, including pre- and
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post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated
by reference in such registration statement.
"Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Rule 158" means Rule 158 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Rule 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Special Counsel" means Jenkens & Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx LLP, for
which the Holders will be reimbursed by the Company pursuant to Section 4.
2. Resale Registration.
On or prior to the Filing Date the Company shall prepare and file
with the Commission a "resale" Registration Statement covering all Registrable
Securities for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule
415. The Registration Statement shall be on Form SB-2 (except if the Company is
not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form
SB-2, in which case such registration shall be on another appropriate form in
accordance herewith). The Company shall (i) not permit any securities other than
the Registrable Securities and the securities listed on Schedule II attached
hereto to be included in the Registration Statement and (ii) 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 to keep such Registration Statement
continuously effective under the Securities Act until such date as is the
earlier of (x) the date when all Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement have been sold or (y) the date on which the Registrable
Securities may be sold without any restriction pursuant to Rule 144 as
determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter,
addressed to the Company's transfer agent to such effect (the "Effectiveness
Period"). If at any time and for any reason, an additional Registration
Statement is required to be filed because at such time the actual number of
shares of Common Stock into which the Preferred Stock is convertible and the
Warrants are exercisable exceeds the number of shares of Registrable Securities
remaining under the Registration Statement, the Company shall have twenty (20)
Business Days to file such additional Registration Statement, and the Company
shall use its best efforts to cause such additional Registration Statement to be
declared effective by the Commission as soon as possible, but in no event later
than sixty (60) days after filing.
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 Form SB-2 (or if the Company is not then
eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form SB-2 such
registration shall be on another appropriate form in accordance herewith) in
accordance with the method or methods of distribution thereof as specified by
the Holders (except if otherwise directed by the Holders) and in accordance with
applicable law, and cause the Registration Statement to become effective and
remain effective as provided herein; provided, however, that not less than two
(2) Business Days prior to the filing of the Registration Statement or any
related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, the Company shall (i)
furnish to the Holders and the Special Counsel, copies of all such documents
proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the review of such
Holders and such Special Counsel, 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 Special Counsel,
to conduct a reasonable review of such documents. 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 or the
Special Counsel shall reasonably object in writing within one (1) Business Day
of their receipt thereof.
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement 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 possible, but in no event later
than ten (10) Business Days, to any comments received from the Commission with
respect to the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and as promptly
as 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) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities and the Special
Counsel as promptly as possible (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than
two (2) days prior to such filing) and (if requested by any such Person) confirm
such notice in writing no later than two (2) Business Days following the day
(i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement is 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 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
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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 or threatening of any
Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) 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 of any Proceeding for such purpose; and (v) of
the occurrence of any event that makes 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 the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
(d) Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued,
obtain the withdrawal of, as promptly as possible, (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.
(e) If requested by the Holders of a majority in interest of the
Registrable Securities, (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement such information as the
Company reasonably agrees 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.
(f) If requested by any Holder, furnish to such Holder and, if so
requested, to the Special Counsel, without charge, at least one conformed copy
of each Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, including 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.
(g) Promptly deliver to each Holder and the Special Counsel, 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 subject to the provisions of Section 3(m), the Company
hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement
thereto by each of the selling Holders in connection with the offering and sale
of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its
best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders and
the 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 requests in writing, to
keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective
during the Effectiveness Period
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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 generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not
then so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to general service
of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or subject
the Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so
subject.
(i) Cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation
and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold
pursuant to a Registration Statement, which certificates, to the extent
permitted by the Purchase Agreement and applicable federal and state securities
laws, shall be free of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable
Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as any
Holder may request in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section
3(c)(vi), as promptly as 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 the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(k) Use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities
relating to the Registration Statement to be listed on the OTC Bulletin Board or
any other securities exchange, quotation system or market, if any, on which
similar securities issued by the Company are then listed as and when required
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
(l) The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the
Company information regarding such Holder and the distribution of such
Registrable Securities as is required by law to be disclosed in the Registration
Statement, Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, 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.
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(g) and notice from the Company that such Registration Statement and
any post-effective amendments thereto have become effective as contemplated by
Section 3(c) 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 them in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant
to the Registration Statement.
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 Section 3(c)(ii), 3(c)(iii), 3(c)(iv), 3(c)(v) or 3(n),
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
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contemplated by Section 3(j), 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.
(m) If (i) there is material non-public information regarding the
Company which the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") reasonably
determines not to be in the Company's best interest to disclose and which the
Company is not otherwise required to disclose, or (ii) there is a significant
business opportunity (including, but not limited to, the acquisition or
disposition of assets (other than in the ordinary course of business) or any
merger, consolidation, tender offer or other similar transaction) available to
the Company which the Board reasonably determines not to be in the Company's
best interest to disclose, then the Company may postpone or suspend filing or
effectiveness of a registration statement for a period not to exceed 20
consecutive days, provided that the Company may not postpone or suspend its
obligation under this Section 3(m) for more than 45 days in the aggregate during
any 12 month period; provided, however, that no such postponement or suspension
shall be permitted for consecutive 20 day periods, arising out of the same set
of facts, circumstances or transactions.
4. Registration Expenses.
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, shall be borne by the Company 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 each
securities exchange or market on which Registrable Securities are required
hereunder to be listed and (B) with respect to filing fees required to be paid
to the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and the NASD Regulation,
Inc., (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of
printing certificates for Registrable Securities), (iii) messenger, telephone
and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company
and the Special Counsel for the Holders, in the case of the Special Counsel, to
a maximum amount of $5,000, (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, including, without limitation, the
Company's independent public accountants (including the expenses of any comfort
letters or costs associated with the delivery by independent public accountants
of a comfort letter or comfort letters). 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.
5. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless
each Holder, the officers,
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directors, agents, 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
out of or based upon 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 based upon 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 the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, except to the extent, but only to the extent, that such
untrue statements or omissions arise out of or are based upon information
regarding the Holders or such other Indemnified Party furnished in writing to
the Company by a Holder expressly for use therein, which information was
reasonably relied on by the Company for use therein or to the extent that such
information relates to a Holder or such Holder's proposed method of distribution
of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by
a Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or
such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto. 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
incurred, arising out of or based upon 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 based upon 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 the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement or omission is contained in any information so furnished in writing by
such Holder or other Indemnified Party to the Company expressly for use therein
and that such information was reasonably relied upon by the Company 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 any
amendment or supplement thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, the Holders shall be liable under this Section 5(b) for only
that amount as does not exceed the net proceeds to such Holder as a result of
the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall
be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an
"Indemnified Party"),
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such Indemnified Party promptly shall notify the Person from whom indemnity is
sought (the "Indemnifying Party) in writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall be
entitled to 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 parties 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 or delayed. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior
written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending
or threatened Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party
and indemnity has been sought hereunder, 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 (regardless of
whether it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified Party is not entitled to
indemnification hereunder; provided, that the Indemnified Party shall 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 due but unavailable to an Indemnified Party because of a failure or
refusal of a governmental authority to enforce such indemnification in
accordance with its terms (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
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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.
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 pursuant to the law.
6. Rule 144.
As long as any Holder owns Shares, Conversion Shares, Warrants or
Warrant Shares, the Company covenants to timely file (or obtain extensions in
respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports
required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. As long as any Holder owns Shares,
Conversion Shares, Warrants or Warrant Shares, if the Company is not required to
file reports pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, it will
prepare and furnish to the Holders and make publicly available in accordance
with Rule 144(c) promulgated under the Securities Act annual and quarterly
financial statements, together with a discussion and analysis of such financial
statements in form and substance substantially similar to those that would
otherwise be required to be included in reports required by Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Exchange Act, as well as any other information required thereby, in
the time period that such filings would have been required to have been made
under the Exchange Act. The Company further covenants that it will take such
further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required
from time to time to enable such Person to sell Conversion Shares and Warrant
Shares without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of
the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act,
including providing any legal opinions relating to such sale pursuant to Rule
144. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a
written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied
with such requirements.
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7. Miscellaneous.
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a
Holder, of any of their obligations under this Agreement, such 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 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 entered into and currently in effect,
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 disclosed in Schedule
2.1(c) of the Purchase Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has previously entered into any agreement currently in effect
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 with the
provisions of this Agreement.
(c) No Piggyback on Registrations. Neither the Company nor any of
its security holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto or
as disclosed in Schedule 2.1(c) of the Purchase Agreement) may include
securities of the Company in the Registration Statement, and the Company shall
not after the date hereof enter into any agreement providing such right to any
of its securityholders, unless the right so granted is subject in all respects
to the prior rights in full of the Holders set forth herein, and is not
otherwise in conflict with the provisions of this Agreement.
(d) Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time when there is not an
effective Registration Statement covering (i) Conversion Shares or (ii) Warrant
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, the Company shall send to each holder of Registrable Securities written
notice of such determination and, if within thirty (30) days after receipt of
such notice, or within such shorter period of time as may be specified by the
Company in such written notice as may be necessary for the Company to comply
with its obligations with respect to the timing of the filing of such
registration statement, any such holder shall so request in writing, (which
request shall specify the Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by
the Purchasers), the Company will cause the registration under the Securities
Act of all Registrable Securities which
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the Company has been so requested to register by the holder, to the extent
requisite to permit the disposition of the Registrable Securities so to be
registered, provided that if at any time after giving written notice of its
intention to register any securities and prior to the effective date of the
registration statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company
shall determine for any reason not to register or to delay registration of such
securities, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such
determination to such holder and, thereupon, (i) in the case of a determination
not to register, shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable
Securities in connection with such registration (but not from its obligation to
pay expenses in accordance with Section 4 hereof), and (ii) in the case of a
determination to delay registering, shall be permitted to delay registering any
Registrable Securities being registered pursuant to this Section 7(d) for the
same period as the delay in registering such other securities. 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 7(d) that are eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144(k) of the
Securities Act. In the case of an underwritten public offering, if the managing
underwriter(s) or underwriter(s) should reasonably object to the inclusion of
the Registrable Securities in such registration statement, then if the Company
after consultation with the managing underwriter should reasonably determine
that the inclusion of such Registrable Securities would materially adversely
affect the offering contemplated in such registration statement, and based on
such determination recommends inclusion in such registration statement of fewer
or none of the Registrable Securities of the Holders, then (x) the number of
Registrable Securities of the Holders included in such registration statement
shall be reduced pro-rata among such Holders (based upon the number of
Registrable Securities requested to be included in the registration), if the
Company after consultation with the underwriter(s) recommends the inclusion of
fewer Registrable Securities, or (y) none of the Registrable Securities of the
Holders shall be included in such registration statement, if the Company after
consultation with the underwriter(s) recommends the inclusion of none of such
Registrable Securities; provided, however, that if Securities are being offered
for the account of other persons or entities as well as the Company, such
reduction shall not represent a greater fraction of the number of Registrable
securities intended to be offered by the Holders than the fraction of similar
reductions imposed on such other persons or entities (other than the Company).
(e) Failure to File Registration Statement and Other Events. The
Company and the Purchasers agree that the Holders will suffer damages if the
Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to the Filing Date and not
declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the Effectiveness Date and
maintained in the manner contemplated herein during the Effectiveness Time or if
certain other events occur. The Company and the Holders further agree that it
would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages with precision.
Accordingly, if, except as set forth in Section 3(m), (A) the Registration
Statement is not filed on or prior to the Filing Date, or (B) the Registration
Statement is not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the
Effectiveness Date (or in the event an additional Registration Statement is
filed because the actual number of shares of Common Stock into which the
Preferred Stock is convertible and the Warrants are exercisable exceeds the
number of shares of Common Stock initially registered is not filed and declared
effective with the time periods set forth in Section 2), or (C) the Company
fails to file with the Commission a request for acceleration in accordance with
Rule 461 promulgated under the Securities Act within ten (10) days of the date
that the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the
Commission that a Registration Statement will not be "reviewed," or is not
subject to further review, or (D) the
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Registration Statement is filed with and declared effective by the Commission
but thereafter ceases to be effective as to all Registrable Securities at any
time prior to the expiration of the Effectiveness Period, without being
succeeded immediately by a subsequent Registration Statement filed with and
declared effective by the Commission in accordance with Section 2 hereof or (E)
the Company has breached Section 3(m), or (F) trading in the Common Stock shall
be suspended or if the Common Stock is delisted from the OTC Bulletin Board for
any reason for more than three Business Days in the aggregate (any such failure
or breach being referred to as an "Event," and for purposes of clauses (A) and
(B) the date on which such Event occurs, or for purposes of clause (C) the date
on which such five Business Day period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause
(D) after more than fifteen Business Days, or for purposes of clause (F) the
date on which such three Business Day period is exceeded, being referred to as
"Event Date"), the Company shall pay an amount as liquidated damages to each
Holder, payable in cash or shares of Common Stock at the Company's option, equal
to 2.0% for the first calendar month or portion thereof and 1.0% per calendar
month thereafter or portion thereof of the Holder's initial investment in the
Preferred Stock from the Event Date, less any amount of Preferred Stock that has
been converted by such Holder, until the applicable Event is cured.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (e), if (I) any of
the Events described in clauses (A), (B) or (C) shall have occurred, (II) on or
prior to the applicable Event Date, the Company shall have exercised its rights
under Section 3(m) hereof and (III) the postponement or suspension permitted
pursuant to such Section 3(m) shall remain effective as of such applicable Event
Date, then the applicable Event Date shall be deemed instead to occur on the
second Business Day following the termination of such postponement or
suspension. If the Company elects to pay liquidated damages in shares of Common
Stock, the number of such shares of Common Stock to be issued to the Holders
pursuant to this Section 7(e) shall be based on the liquidated damage amount
divided by the average of the closing bid price of the Common Stock for the five
trading days preceding the date that such liquidated damages are due and
payable, and shall be issuable promptly upon receipt by the Company of a written
demand from a Holder made on or after the Event Date.
(f) 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 two-thirds (2/3) of the Registrable Securities outstanding.
(g) 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 earlier of (i) the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified for notice prior to 5:00 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 for notice later than 5:00 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 overnight
delivery by nationally recognized overnight courier service or (iv) actual
receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The addresses
for such communications shall be with respect to each Holder at its address set
forth under its name on Schedule I attached hereto, or with respect to the
Company, addressed to:
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RS Group of Companies, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx X0X 0X0
Attention: President
Tel. No.: (000) 000-0000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
or to such other address or addresses or facsimile number or numbers as any such
party may most recently have designated in writing to the other parties hereto
by such notice. Copies of notices to the Company shall be sent to Xxxxx & Xxxxx,
X.X. Xxx 0000, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000-0000, Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx,
Esq., Tel. No.: (000) 000-0000, Fax No.: (000) 000-0000.
(h) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted assigns
and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder and its successors and assigns.
The Company may not assign this Agreement or any of its rights or obligations
hereunder without the prior written consent of each Holder. Each Purchaser may
assign its rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted under
the Purchase Agreement.
(i) Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights of each Holder
hereunder, including the right to have the Company register for resale
Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, shall be
automatically assignable by each Holder to any Affiliate of such Holder or any
other Holder or Affiliate of any other Holder of all or a portion of the
Preferred Stock or the Registrable Securities if: (i) the Holder agrees in
writing with the transferee or assignee to assign such rights, and a copy of
such agreement is furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such
assignment, (ii) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or
assignment, furnished with written notice of (a) the name and address of such
transferee or assignee, and (b) the securities with respect to which such
registration rights are being transferred or assigned, (iii) following such
transfer or assignment the further disposition of such securities by the
transferee or assignees is restricted under the Securities Act and applicable
state securities laws, (iv) at or before the time the Company receives the
written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this Section, the transferee or
assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions
of this Agreement, and (v) such transfer shall have been made in accordance with
the applicable requirements of the Purchase Agreement. In addition, each Holder
shall have the right to assign its rights hereunder to any other Person with the
prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld. The rights to assignment shall apply to the Holders (and to
subsequent) successors and assigns.
(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.
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(k) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving
effect to any of the conflicts of law principles which would result in the
application of the substantive law of another jurisdiction. This Agreement shall
not be interpreted or construed with any presumption against the party causing
this Agreement to be drafted.
(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 to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable in any
respect, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set
forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be
affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their
reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same
or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision,
covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the
intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be
hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(n) Headings. The headings herein are for convenience only, do not
constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect
any of the provisions 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.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized persons as
of the date first indicated above.
RS GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxx
-------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: General Counsel and Secretary
PURCHASER:
By:
-----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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Schedule I
Purchasers
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Schedule II
Securities Permitted to be Included in the Registration Statement
500,000 shares of Common Stock, no par value per share, issued to Ardent
Advisors, LLC and 700,000 shares of Common Stock issued to The Del Mar
Consulting Group, Inc.
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