REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
2
This
Registration Rights Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and
entered into as of October 17, 2007 (the “Effective Date”) among
Internet America, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “Company”), the parties set
forth on Exhibit A attached hereto (each, an “Investor” and collectively,
the “Investors”).
R
E C I T A L S:
A. The
Investors have purchased the Shares pursuant to that certain Purchase Agreement
(the “Purchase
Agreement”) dated October 17, 2007 by and between the Company and each of
the Investors.
B. The
Company and the Investors desire to set forth the registration rights to
be
granted by the Company to the Investors. The execution of this
Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase
Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, representations, warranties,
covenants, and conditions set forth herein, in the Stock Purchase Agreements,
or
otherwise, the parties mutually agree as follows:
A
G R E E M E N
T:
1. Certain
Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms
shall have the following respective meanings:
“Blackout
Period” means, with
respect to a registration, a period in each case commencing on the day
immediately after the Company notifies the Investors that they are required,
pursuant to Section 4(f), to suspend offers and sales of Registrable Securities
during which the Company, in the good faith judgment of its Board of Directors,
determines (because of the existence of, or in anticipation of, any acquisition,
financing activity, or other transaction involving the Company, or the
unavailability for reasons beyond the Company’s control of any required
financial statements, disclosure of information which is in its best interest
not to publicly disclose, or any other event or condition of similar
significance to the Company) that the registration and distribution of the
Registrable Securities to be covered by such registration statement, if any,
would be seriously detrimental to the Company and its shareholders and ending
on
the earlier of (1) the date upon which the material non-public information
commencing the Blackout Period is disclosed to the public or ceases to be
material and (2) such time as the Company notifies the selling Holders that
the
Company will no longer delay such filing of the Registration Statement and
recommences taking steps to make such Registration Statement effective or
allows
sales pursuant to such Registration Statement to resume.
“Business
Day” means any day of
the year, other than a Saturday, Sunday, or other day on which the Commission
is
required or authorized to close.
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“Closing
Date” means such time
as is mutually agreed between the Company and the Investors for the closing
of
the sale referred to in Recital A above.
“Commission”
means
the
Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal agency at the time
administering the Securities Act.
“Common
Stock” means the common
stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company and any and all shares of capital
stock
or other equity securities of: (i) the Company which are added to or exchanged
or substituted for the Common Stock by reason of the declaration of any stock
dividend or stock split, the issuance of any distribution or the
reclassification, readjustment, recapitalization or other such modification
of
the capital structure of the Company; and (ii) any other corporation, now
or
hereafter organized under the laws of any state or other governmental authority,
with which the Company is merged, which results from any consolidation or
reorganization to which the Company is a party, or to which is sold all or
substantially all of the shares or assets of the Company, if immediately
after
such merger, consolidation, reorganization or sale, the Company or the
stockholders of the Company own equity securities having in the aggregate
more
than 50% of the total voting power of such other corporation.
“Exchange
Act” means the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
of
the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“Family
Member” means (a) with
respect to any individual, such individual’s spouse, any descendants (whether
natural or adopted), any trust all of the beneficial interests of which are
owned by any of such individuals or by any of such individuals together with
any
organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
of
1986, as amended, the estate of any such individual, and any corporation,
association, partnership or limited liability company all of the equity
interests of which are owned by those above described individuals, trusts
or
organizations and (b) with respect to any trust, the owners of the beneficial
interests of such trust.
“Form
S-1” means such form
under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof.
“Holder”
means
each Investor or
any successor or Permitted Assignee of a Investor, who acquires rights in
accordance with this Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities
directly or indirectly from an Investor, including from any Permitted
Assignee.
“Inspector”
means
any attorney,
accountant, or other agent retained by a Investor for the purposes provided
in
Section 4(j).
“Permitted
Assignee” means (a)
with respect to a partnership, its partners or former partners in accordance
with their partnership interests, (b) with respect to a corporation, its
shareholders in accordance with their interest in the corporation, (c) with
respect to a limited liability company, its members or former members in
accordance with their interest in the limited liability company, (d) with
respect to an individual party, any Family Member of such party, (e) an entity
that is controlled by, controls, or is under common control with a transferor,
or (f) a party to this Agreement.
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The
terms “register,” “registered,”
and
“registration”
refers
to a
registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement in
compliance with the Securities Act, and the declaration or ordering of the
effectiveness of such registration statement.
“Registrable
Securities” means
the Underlying Shares as defined in the Purchase Agreement.
“Registration
Statement” means
the registration statement required to be filed by the Company pursuant to
Section 3(a).
“Securities
Act” means the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any similar federal statute promulgated
in replacement thereof, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.
“Shares”
means
all shares of
Series A Preferred Stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share, that
are
issued and sold pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
“SEC
Effective Date” means the
date the Registration Statement is declared effective by the
Commission.
“Underlying
Shares” means all
Underlying Shares (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) issuable upon
conversion of the Shares.
2. Term. This
Agreement shall continue in full force and effect for a period of two (2)
years
from the Effective Date, unless terminated sooner hereunder.
3. Registration.
(a) Piggyback
Registration. If the Company shall determine to register for
sale for cash any of its Common Stock, for its own account or for the account
of
others (other than the Holders), other than (i) a registration relating solely
to employee benefit plans or securities issued or issuable to employees,
consultants (to the extent the securities owned or to be owned by such
consultants could be registered on Form S-8) or any of their Family Members
(including a registration on Form S-8), (ii) a registration relating solely
to a
Commission Rule 145 transaction, a registration on Form S-4 in connection
with a merger, acquisition, divestiture, reorganization, or similar event,
or
(iii) a registration in which the only Common Stock being registered is Common
Stock issuable upon conversion of debt securities that are also being
registered, the Company shall promptly give to the Holders written notice
thereof (and in no event shall such notice be given less than 20 calendar
days
prior to the filing of such registration statement), and shall, subject to
Section 3(b), include in such registration (and any related qualification
under blue sky laws or other compliance) (a “Piggyback Registration”), all
of the Registrable Securities specified in a written request or requests,
made
within 10 calendar days after receipt of such written notice from the Company,
by any Holder or Holders. However, the Company may, without the
consent of the Holders, withdraw such registration statement prior to its
becoming effective if the Company or such other shareholders have elected
to
abandon the proposal to register the securities proposed to be registered
thereby.
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(b) Underwriting. If
a Piggyback Registration is for a registered public offering involving an
underwriting, the Company shall so advise the Holders in writing or as a
part of
the written notice given pursuant to Section 3(a). In such event the
right of any Holder to registration pursuant to Section 3(a) shall be
conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the
inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the
extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their
securities through such underwriting shall (together with the Company and
any
other shareholders of the Company distributing their securities through such
underwriting) enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with
the
underwriter or underwriters selected for such underwriting by the Company
or
selling shareholders, as applicable. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Section 3(b), if the underwriter or the Company determines
that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be
underwritten, the underwriter may exclude some or all Registrable Securities
from such registration and underwriting. The Company shall so advise
all Holders (except those Holders who failed to timely elect to distribute
their
Registrable Securities through such underwriting or have indicated to the
Company their decision not to do so), and the number of shares of Registrable
Securities that may be included in the registration and underwriting, if
any,
shall be allocated among such Holders as follows:
(i) In
the event of a Piggyback Registration that is initiated by the Company, the
number of shares that may be included in the registration and underwriting
shall
be allocated (i) first, to the Company, (ii) second, subject to obligations and
commitments existing as of the date hereof, to the Holders, who have requested
to sell in the registration, on a pro rata basis according to the number
of
shares requested to be included, and (iii) third, to all other selling
shareholders on a pro rata basis according to the number of shares requested
to
be included; and
(ii) In
the event of a Piggyback Registration that is initiated by the exercise of
demand registration rights by a shareholder or shareholders of the Company
(other than the Holders), then the number of shares that may be included
in the
registration and underwriting shall be allocated (i) first, to such selling
shareholders who exercised such demand, (ii) second, subject to obligations
and
commitments existing as of the date hereof, to the Holders, who have requested
to sell in the registration, on a pro rata basis according to the number
of
shares requested to be included, and (iii) third, to all other selling
shareholders on a pro rata basis according to the number of shares requested
to
be included.
No
Registrable Securities excluded from the underwriting by reason of the
underwriter’s marketing limitation shall be included in such
registration. If any Holder disapproves of the terms of any such
underwriting, such Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice
to
the Company and the underwriter. The Registrable Securities and/or
other securities so withdrawn from such underwriting shall also be withdrawn
from such registration; provided, however, that, if
by the withdrawal of such Registrable Securities a greater number of Registrable
Securities held by other Holders may be included in such registration (up
to the
maximum of any limitation imposed by the underwriters), then the Company
shall
offer to all Holders who have included Registrable Securities in the
registration the right to include
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additional
Registrable Securities pursuant to the terms and limitations set forth
herein in
the same proportion used above in determining the underwriter
limitation.
(c) Right
to Terminate
Registration. The Company shall have the right to terminate or
withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section 3 prior to the
effectiveness of such registration whether or not any Holder has elected
to
include securities in such registration. The registration expenses of
such withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Company in accordance with
Section 6 hereof.
4. Registration
Procedures. In the case of each registration, qualification,
or compliance effected by the Company pursuant to Section 3 hereof, the Company
will keep each Holder including securities therein reasonably advised in
writing
(which may include e-mail) as to the initiation of each registration,
qualification, and compliance and as to the completion thereof. With
respect to any registration statement filed pursuant to Section 3, the Company
will use its commercially reasonable best efforts to:
(a) prepare
and file with the Commission with respect to such Registrable Securities,
a
registration statement on Form S-1, or any other form for which the Company
then
qualifies or which counsel for the Company shall deem appropriate, and which
form shall be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities in accordance
with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof, and use its commercially
reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become and remain
effective at least for a period ending with the first to occur of (i) the
sale
of all Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement, (ii)
the
availability under Rule 144 for the Holder to immediately, freely resell
without
restriction all Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement,
(iii) 90 days after a Piggyback Registration is declared effective by the
Commission (in each case, the “Effectiveness Period”);
provided that no later than two business days before filing with the Commission
a registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto,
the Company shall (i) furnish to one special counsel (“Holders Counsel”) selected by
the Company for the benefit of the Holders (which Holders Counsel initially
shall be Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx of Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx L.L.P.,
Houston, Texas), copies of all such documents proposed to be filed (excluding
any exhibits other than applicable underwriting documents), in substantially
the
form proposed to be filed, which documents shall be subject to the review
of
such Holders Counsel, and (ii) notify each Holder of Registrable
Securities covered by such registration statement of any stop order issued
or threatened by the Commission and take all reasonable actions required
to
prevent the entry of such stop order or to remove it if entered;
(b) if
a registration statement is subject to review by the Commission, promptly
respond to all comments and diligently pursue resolution of any comments
to the
satisfaction of the Commission;
(c) prepare
and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such
registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as
may be
necessary to keep such registration statement effective during the Effectiveness
Period (but in any event at least until expiration of the 90-day period referred
to in Section 4(3) of the Securities Act and Rule 174, or any successor thereto,
thereunder, if applicable), and comply with the provisions of the Securities
Act
with respect to the disposition of all securities covered
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by
such registration statement during such period in accordance with the intended
method(s) of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration
statement;
(d) furnish,
without charge, to each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such
registration statement (i) a reasonable number of copies of such registration
statement (including any exhibits thereto other than exhibits incorporated
by
reference), each amendment and supplement thereto as such Holder may request,
(ii) such number of copies of the prospectus included in such registration
statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any other prospectus
filed
under Rule 424 under the Securities Act) as such Holders may request, in
conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and (iii) such other
documents as such Holder may reasonably request in order to facilitate the
disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder, but only
during
the Effectiveness Period;
(e) use
its commercially reasonable best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable
Securities under such other applicable securities or blue sky laws of such
jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such
registration statement reasonably requests as may be necessary for the
marketability of the Registrable Securities (such request to be made by the
time
the applicable registration statement is deemed effective by the Commission)
and
do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or
advisable to enable such Holder to consummate the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder; provided
that
the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business
in any
jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for
this
paragraph (e), (ii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction,
or
(iii) consent to general service of process in any such
jurisdiction;
(f) as
promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event, notify each Holder
of such Registrable Securities at any time when a prospectus relating thereto
is
required to be delivered under the Securities Act of the happening of any
event
which comes to the Company’s attention if as a result of such event the
prospectus included in such registration statement contains an untrue statement
of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and the
Company shall promptly prepare and furnish to such Holder a supplement or
amendment to such prospectus (or prepare and file appropriate reports under
the
Exchange Act) so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such
Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall not contain an 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 not misleading, unless suspension
of
the use of such prospectus otherwise is authorized herein or in the event
of a
Blackout Period, in which case no supplement or amendment need be furnished
(or
Exchange Act filing made) until the termination of such suspension or
Blackout Period;
(g) comply,
and continue to comply during the period that such registration statement
is
effective under the Securities Act, in all material respects with the Securities
Act and the Exchange Act and with all applicable rules and regulations of
the
Commission with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such
registration statement, and make available to its security holders, as soon
as
reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least
12
months, but not more than 18 months,
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beginning
with the first full calendar month after the SEC Effective Date, which
earnings
statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities
Act.
(h) as
promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event, notify each Holder
of Registrable Securities being offered or sold pursuant to the Registration
Statement of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or other
suspension of effectiveness of the Registration Statement at the earliest
possible time;
(i) permit
the Holders of Registrable Securities being included in the Registration
Statement and their legal counsel, at such Holders’ sole cost and expense
(except as otherwise specifically provided in Section 6) to review and have
a
reasonable opportunity to comment on the Registration Statement and all
amendments and supplements thereto at least two Business Days prior to their
filing with the Commission;
(j) make
available for inspection by any Holder and any Inspector retained by such
Holder, at such Holder’s sole expense, all Records as shall be reasonably
necessary to enable such Holder to exercise its due diligence responsibility,
and cause the Company’s officers, directors, and employees to supply all
information which such Holder or any Inspector may reasonably request for
purposes of such due diligence; provided, however, that such Holder shall
hold
in confidence and shall not make any disclosure of any record or other
information which the Company determines in good faith to be confidential,
and
of which determination such Holder is so notified at the time such Holder
receives such information, unless (i) the disclosure of such record is necessary
to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in the Registration Statement
and
a reasonable time prior to such disclosure the Holder shall have informed
the
Company of the need to so correct such misstatement or omission and the Company
shall have failed to correct such misstatement of omission, (ii) the release
of
such record is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court
or
governmental body of competent jurisdiction or (iii) the information in such
record has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure
in violation of this or any other agreement. The Company shall not be
required to disclose any confidential information in such records to any
Inspector until and unless such Inspector shall have entered into a
confidentiality agreement with the Company with respect thereto, substantially
in the form of this Section 4(j), which agreement shall permit such Inspector
to
disclose records to the Holder who has retained such Inspector. Each
Holder agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such Records
is
sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or
through other means, give prompt notice to the Company and allow the Company,
at
the Company’s expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of,
or to obtain a protective order for, the records deemed
confidential. The Company shall hold in confidence and shall not make
any disclosure of information concerning a Holder provided to the Company
pursuant to this Agreement unless (i) disclosure of such information is
necessary to comply with federal or state securities laws, (ii) disclosure
of
such information to the Staff of the Division of Corporation Finance is
necessary to respond to comments raised by the Staff in its review of the
Registration Statement, (iii) disclosure of such information is necessary
to
avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in the Registration Statement,
(iv)
release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order
from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, or (v) such
information has been made generally available to the public other than by
disclosure in violation of this or any other agreement. The Company
agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such
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information
concerning a Holder is sought in or by a court or governmental body of
competent
jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to such Holder
and allow
such Holder, at such Holder’s expense, to undertake appropriate action to
prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, such
information;
(k) use
its best efforts to cause all the Registrable Securities covered by the
Registration Statement to be listed or quoted on the principal securities
market
on which securities of the same class or series issued by the Company are
then
listed or traded;
(l) provide
a transfer agent and registrar, which may be a single entity, for the
Registrable Securities at all times;
(m) cooperate
with the Holders of Registrable Securities being offered pursuant to the
Registration Statement to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery
of
certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing Registrable
Securities to be offered pursuant to the Registration Statement and enable
such
certificates to be in such denominations or amounts as the Holders may
reasonably request and registered in such names as the Holders may request;
and
(n) take
all other reasonable actions necessary to expedite and facilitate disposition
by
the Holders of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration
Statement.
5. Suspension
of Offers and
Sales. Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees that, upon
receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the
kind
described in Section 4(f) hereof or of the commencement of an Blackout Period,
such Holder shall discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant
to
the registration statement covering such Registrable Securities until such
Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus
contemplated by Section 4(f) hereof or notice of the end of the Blackout
Period,
and, if so directed by the Company, such Holder shall deliver to the Company
(at
the Company’s expense) all copies (including, without limitation, any and all
drafts), other than permanent file copies, then in such Holder’s possession, of
the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of
receipt of such notice.
6. Registration
Expenses. The Company shall pay all expenses in connection
with any registration, including, without limitation, all registration, filing,
stock exchange and NASD fees, printing expenses, all fees and expenses of
complying with securities or blue sky laws, the fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company and of its independent accountants, and the reasonable
fees and disbursements of a Holders Counsel; provided that, in any underwritten
registration, each party shall pay for its own underwriting discounts and
commissions and transfer taxes. Except as provided above in this
Section 6 and Section 9, the Company shall not be responsible for the expenses
of any attorney or other advisor employed by a Holder of Registrable
Securities.
7. Assignment
of
Rights. No Holder may assign its rights under this Agreement
to any party without the prior written consent of the Company; provided, however, that a
Holder may assign its rights under this Agreement without such restrictions
to a
Permitted
8
Assignee
as long as (a) such transfer or assignment is effected in accordance with
applicable securities laws; (b) such transferee or assignee agrees in writing
to
become subject to the terms of this Agreement; and (c) the Company is given
written notice by such Holder of such transfer or assignment, stating the
name
and address of the transferee or assignee and identifying the Registrable
Securities with respect to which such rights are being transferred or
assigned.
8. Information
by
Holder. The Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities
included in any registration shall furnish to the Company such information
regarding such Holder or Holders and the distribution proposed by such Holder
or
Holders as the Company may request in writing.
9. Indemnification.
(a) In
the event of the offer and sale of Registrable Securities held by Holders
under
the Securities Act, the Company shall, and hereby does, indemnify and hold
harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each Holder, its directors,
officers, partners, each other person who participates as an underwriter
in the
offering or sale of such securities, and each other person, if any, who controls
or is under common control with such Holder or any such underwriter within
the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, against any losses, claims,
damages
or liabilities, joint or several, and expenses to which the Holder or any
such
director, officer, partner or underwriter or controlling person may become
subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced
or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any
registration statement under which such shares were registered under the
Securities Act, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or summary
prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or
any
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to
be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein in light of the
circumstances in which they were made not misleading, and the Company shall
reimburse the Holder, and each such director, officer, partner, underwriter
and
controlling person for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred
by
them in connection with investigating, defending or settling any such loss,
claim, damage, liability, action or proceeding; provided that the foregoing
shall not apply to, and the Company shall not be liable, in any such case
(i) to
the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability (or action or proceeding
in respect thereof) or expense arises out of or is based upon an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission
from
such registration statement, any such preliminary prospectus, final prospectus,
summary prospectus, amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Company through an instrument duly
executed by or on behalf of such Holder specifically stating that it is for
use
in the preparation thereof, (ii) provided that the Company has complied with
its
obligations hereunder to furnish such Holder with copies of the applicable
prospectus, if the person asserting any such loss, claim, damage, liability
(or
action or proceeding in respect thereof) who purchased the Registrable
Securities that are the subject thereof did not receive a copy of an amended
preliminary prospectus or the final prospectus (or the final prospectus as
amended or supplemented) at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale
of
such Registrable Securities to such person because of the failure of such
Holder
or underwriter to so provide such amended preliminary or final prospectus
and
the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
9
of
a material fact made in such preliminary prospectus was corrected in the
amended
preliminary or final prospectus (or the final prospectus as amended or
supplemented), or (iii) provided that the plan of distribution mechanics
described in the applicable prospectus are, in form and substance, reasonable
and customary for transactions of this type, to the extent that the Holders
failed to comply with the terms of such plan of distribution
mechanics. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Holders, or
any such
director, officer, partner, underwriter or controlling person and shall
survive
the transfer of such shares by the Holder.
(b) As
a condition to including any Registrable Securities to be offered by a Holder
in
any registration statement filed pursuant to this Agreement, each such Holder
agrees to be bound by the terms of this Section 9 and to indemnify and hold
harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company, its directors
and
officers, and each other person, if any, who controls the Company within
the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, legal counsel and accountants
for
the Company, any underwriter, any other Holder selling securities in such
registration statement and any controlling person within the meaning of the
Securities Act of any such underwriter or other Holder, against any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which the Company or
any
such director or officer or controlling person may become subject under the
Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened,
in
respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from such
registration statement, any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or summary
prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto, if
such
statement or alleged statement or omission or alleged omission was made in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information about such Holder
as a
Holder of the Company furnished to the Company, (ii) provided that the Company
has complied with its obligations hereunder to furnish such Holder
with copies of the applicable prospectus, if the person asserting any such
loss, claim, damage, liability (or action or proceeding in respect thereof)
who
purchased the Registrable Securities that are the subject thereof did not
receive a copy of an amended preliminary prospectus or the final prospectus
(or
the final prospectus as amended or supplemented) at or prior to the written
confirmation of the sale of such Registrable Securities to such person because
of the failure of such Holder or underwriter to so provide such amended
preliminary or final prospectus and the untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission of a material fact made in such
preliminary prospectus was corrected in the amended preliminary or final
prospectus (or the final prospectus as amended or supplemented), or (iii)
provided that the plan of distribution mechanics described in the applicable
prospectus are, in form and substance, reasonable and customary for transactions
of this type, to the extent that the Holders failed to comply with the terms
of
such plan of distribution mechanics. Such indemnity shall remain in
full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf
of
the Holders, or any such director, officer, partner, underwriter or controlling
person and shall survive the transfer of such shares by the Holder, and such
Holder shall reimburse the Company, and each such director, officer, legal
counsel and accountants, underwriter, other Holder, and controlling person
for
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with
investigating, defending, or settling and such loss, claim, damage, liability,
action, or proceeding; provided, however, that such indemnity agreement found
in
this Section 9(b) shall in no event exceed the gross proceeds from the offering
received by such Holder. Such indemnity shall remain in full force
and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or
10
on
behalf of the Company or any such director, officer or controlling person
and
shall survive the transfer by any Holder of such shares.
(c) Promptly
after receipt by an indemnified party of notice of the commencement of any
action or proceeding involving a claim referred to in Section 9(a) or (b)
hereof
(including any governmental action), such indemnified party shall, if a claim
in
respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party, give written
notice
to the indemnifying party of the commencement of such action; provided that
the
failure of any indemnified party to give notice as provided herein shall
not
relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations under Section 9(a) or (b)
hereof, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is actually prejudiced
by such failure to give notice. In case any such action is brought
against an indemnified party, unless in the reasonable judgment of counsel
to
such indemnified party a conflict of interest between such indemnified and
indemnifying parties may exist or the indemnified party may have defenses
not
available to the indemnifying party in respect of such claim, the indemnifying
party shall be entitled to participate in and to assume the defense thereof,
with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and, after
notice
from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so
to
assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to
such
indemnified party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by
the
latter in connection with the defense thereof, unless in such indemnified
party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and
indemnifying parties arises in respect of such claim after the assumption
of the
defenses thereof or the indemnifying party fails to defend such claim in
a
diligent manner, other than reasonable costs of
investigation. Neither an indemnified nor an indemnifying party shall
be liable for any settlement of any action or proceeding effected without
its
consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the
indemnified party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any
settlement, which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving
by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from
all
liability in respect of such claim or litigation. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth herein, and without limiting any of the
rights set forth above, in any event any party shall have the right to retain,
at its own expense, counsel with respect to the defense of a claim.
(d) In
the event that an indemnifying party does or is not permitted to assume the
defense of an action pursuant to Section 9(c) or in the case of the expense
reimbursement obligation set forth in Section 9(a) and (b), the indemnification
required by Section 9(a) and (b) hereof shall be made by periodic payments
of
the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as
and
when bills received or expenses, losses, damages, or liabilities are
incurred.
(e) If
the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is held by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified party with respect
to
any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense referred to herein, the
indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party hereunder,
shall (i) contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party
as
a result of such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense as is appropriate
to
reflect the proportionate relative fault of the indemnifying party on the
one
hand and the indemnified party on the other (determined by reference to,
among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact
or omission relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or
the
indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent,
11
knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue
statement or omission), or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i)
above
is not permitted by applicable law or provides a lesser sum to the indemnified
party than the amount hereinafter calculated, not only the proportionate
relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, but
also the
relative benefits received by the indemnifying party on the one hand and
the
indemnified party on the other, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. No indemnified party guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities
Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any indemnifying party who was not
guilty
of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
(f) Other
Indemnification. Indemnification similar to that specified in
the preceding subsections of this Section 9 (with appropriate modifications)
shall be given by the Company and each Holder of Registrable Securities with
respect to any required registration or other qualification of securities
under
any federal or state law or regulation or governmental authority other than
the
Securities Act.
10. Rule
144
Reporting. With a view to making available to the Holders the
benefits of certain rules and regulations of the Commission which may permit
the
sale of the Registrable Securities to the public without registration, the
Company agrees to use its reasonable efforts to:
(a) Make
and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and
defined
in Rule 144 or any similar or analogous rule promulgated under the Securities
Act, at all times after the effective date of the first registration filed
by
the Company for an offering of its securities to the general
public;
(b) File
with the Commission, in a timely manner, all reports and other documents
required of the Company under the Exchange Act; and
(c) So
long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish to such Holder
forthwith upon request: a written statement by the Company as to its compliance
with the reporting requirements of said Rule 144 of the Securities Act, and
of
the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting
requirements); a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the
Company; and such other reports and documents as a Holder may reasonably
request
in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the Commission allowing it
to
sell any such securities without registration.
11. Miscellaneous.
(a) Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Texas and the United States of America,
both substantive and remedial. Any judicial proceeding brought
against either of the parties to this agreement or any dispute arising out
of
this Agreement or any matter related hereto shall be brought in the courts
of
the State of Texas, Xxxxxx County, or in the United States District Court
for
the Southern District of Texas and, by its execution and delivery of this
agreement, each party to this Agreement accepts the jurisdiction of such
courts. The foregoing consent to
12
jurisdiction
shall not be deemed to confer rights on any person other than the parties
to
this Agreement.
(b) Successors
and
Assigns. Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions
hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the successors,
Permitted Assigns, executors and administrators of the parties
hereto. In the event the Company merges with, or is otherwise
acquired by, a direct or indirect subsidiary of a publicly traded company,
the
Company shall condition the merger or acquisition on the assumption by such
parent company of the Company’s obligations under this Agreement.
(c) Entire
Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire
understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects
hereof.
(d) Notices,
etc. All
notices or
other communications which are required or permitted under this Agreement
shall
be in writing and sufficient if delivered by hand, by facsimile transmission,
by
registered or certified mail, postage pre-paid, by electronic mail, or by
courier or overnight carrier, to the persons at the addresses set forth below
(or at such other address as may be provided hereunder), and shall be deemed
to
have been delivered as of the date so delivered:
If
to the Company:
|
Internet
America, Inc.
00000
X. Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx
Xxxxx
000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
|
|
|
||
With
a copy to:
|
Xxxxx
Xxxxx LLP
000
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxx
X. Xxxx, Xx.
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
|
|
If
to an Investor:
|
To
the address set forth immediately below such Investor’s name on the
signature pages to the Subscription Agreement delivered by such
Investor
to the Company on or prior to the date hereof.
|
|
With
a copy to:
|
Fulbright
& Xxxxxxxx L.L.P.
0000
XxXxxxxx Xx., Xxx 0000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
|
|
or
at such other address as any party shall have furnished to the other parties
in
writing.
(e) Delays
or
Omissions. No delay or omission to exercise any right, power
or remedy accruing to any Holder of any Registrable Securities, upon any
breach
or default of the Company under this Agreement, shall impair any such right,
power or remedy of such Holder nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of
any
such breach or default, or an
13
acquiescence
therein, or of or in any similar breach or default thereunder occurring;
nor
shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of
any other
breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. Any waiver,
permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on the part of any
Holder
of any breach or default under this Agreement, or any waiver on the part
of any
Holder of any provisions or conditions of this Agreement, must be in writing
and
shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such
writing. All remedies, either under this Agreement, or by law or
otherwise afforded to any holder, shall be cumulative and not
alternative.
(f) Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall
be
enforceable against the parties actually executing such counterparts, and
all of
which together shall constitute one instrument.
(g) Severability. In
the case any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
(h) Amendments. The
provisions of this Agreement may be amended at any time and from time to
time,
and particular provisions of this Agreement may be waived, with and only
with an
agreement or consent in writing signed by the Company and by the holders
of a
majority of the number of shares of Registrable Securities outstanding as
of the
date of such amendment or waiver. The Investors acknowledge that by
the operation of this Section 10(h), the holders of a majority of the
outstanding Registrable Securities may have the right and power to diminish
or
eliminate all rights of the Investors under this Agreement.
[Signature
Pages
Follow]
14
This
Registration Rights Agreement is hereby executed as of the date first above
written.
COMPANY: | ||||
Internet
America,
Inc.
|
||||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
|||
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxx
Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer
|
||||
[Investor
Signature Pages
Follow]
INVESTOR: | |||
Name
|
|||
Signature
|
EXHIBIT
A TO THE REGISTRATION
RIGHTS
AGREEMENT
INTENTIONALLY
OMITTED.