1
EXHIBIT 10.51
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT"), dated as of March 25,
1999, by and among HomeCom Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation, with
headquarters at Fourteen Piedmont Center, Suite 100, 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000 (the "COMPANY"), and the undersigned buyer (the "BUYER").
WHEREAS:
A. In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement by and among
the parties of even date herewith (the "SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), the
Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the
Securities Purchase Agreement, (i) to issue and sell to the Buyer's shares of
the Company's Series B Preferred Stock (the "PREFERRED STOCK"), which will be
convertible into shares of the Company's common stock, $.0001 par value per
share (the "COMMON STOCK") (as converted, the "CONVERSION SHARES") in accordance
with the terms of (i) the Company's Certificate of Designations, Preferences and
Rights of Series B Preferred Shares (the "CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS") and (ii)
as set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement, to be issued warrants (the
"WARRANTS") which will be exercisable to purchase shares of Common Stock (the
"WARRANT SHARES"); and
B. To induce the Buyers to execute and deliver the Securities Purchase
Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the "1933 ACT"), and
applicable state securities laws:
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the
Buyers hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
a. "INVESTOR" means the Buyer and any transferee or assignee
thereof to whom the Buyer assigns its rights under this Agreement and
who agrees to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in
accordance with Section 9.
b. "PERSON" means a corporation, a limited liability company,
an association, a partnership, an organization, a business, an
individual, a governmental or political subdivision thereof or a
governmental agency.
c. "REGISTER," "REGISTERED," and "REGISTRATION" refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing one or more Registration
Statements in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule 415
under the 1933 Act or any successor rule providing for offering
securities on a continuous basis ("RULE 415"), and the declaration or
ordering of
2
effectiveness of such Registration Statement(s) by the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
d. REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means the Conversion Shares and the
Warrant Shares issued or issuable upon conversion of the Preferred
Stock and the exercise of the Warrants, respectively, and any shares of
capital stock issued or issuable with respect to the Conversion Shares,
the Warrant Shares, the Warrants, or the Preferred Stock as a result of
any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, exchange, merger,
consolidation, reorganization, or similar event.
e. "REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means a registration statement of
the Company filed under the 1933 Act.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall
have the respective meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement, the
Certificate of Designations, or the Warrants, as applicable.
2. REGISTRATION.
a. Mandatory Registration. The Company shall prepare, and, on
or prior to April 26, 1999, file with the SEC a Registration Statement
or Registration Statements (as is necessary) on Form S-3 (or, if such
form is unavailable for such a registration, on such other form as is
available for such a registration, subject to the consent of each Buyer
and the provisions of Section 2(e), which consent will not be
unreasonably withheld), covering the resale of all of the Registrable
Securities, which Registration Statement(s) shall state that, in
accordance with Rule 416 promulgated under the 1933 Act, such
Registration Statement(s) also covers such indeterminate number of
additional shares of Common Stock (i) to prevent dilution resulting
from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions and (ii) by
reason of changes in the Conversion Price or Conversion Rate of the
Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms thereof Such Registration
Statement shall initially register for resale at least 1,225,000 shares
of Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3(b), and
such registered shares of Common Stock shall be allocated among the
Investors pro rata based on the total number of Registrable Securities
issued or issuable as of each date that a Registration Statement, as
amended, relating to the resale of the Registrable Securities is
declared effective by the SEC. The Company shall use its best efforts
to have the Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC within
ninety (90) days after the issuance of the Preferred Stock (the
"REGISTRATION DEADLINE"). The Company shall permit the registration
statement to become effective within five (5) business days after
receipt of a "no review" notice from the SEC. In the event that the
Registration Statement is not declared effective by the Registration
Deadline, the Company shall pay to the Buyers, on a monthly basis, 2%
of the face amount of the outstanding Preferred Stock in cash or Common
Stock at the election of the Company for every thirty (30) days
thereafter (pro-rated for partial months) until the Registration is
declared effective. In addition, in the event that during the
Registration Period (as defined herein) (i) the Registration Statement
is no longer effective, (ii) the Prospectus forming a part of the
Registration Statement is no longer current, or (iii) the SEC has
issued a "stop order" with respect to the Registration Statement,
-2-
3
the Company shall have thirty (30) days to take appropriate action to
cause the Registration Statement to become effective. In the event that
during the Registration Period the Company is unable to cause the
Registration Statement to become effective, removes the stop order or
makes the Prospectus current, as the case may be, within such thirty
(30) day period, the Company shall pay to the then existing holders of
Preferred Stock, on a monthly basis, 2% of the face amount of the
outstanding Preferred Stock in cash or Common Stock at the election of
the Company for every thirty (30) days thereafter (pro-rated for
partial months) until the Registration Statement is declared effective,
removes the stop order or makes the Prospectus current, as the case may
be.
b. Underwritten Offering. If any offering pursuant to a
Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) involves an
underwritten offering, the Buyers shall have the right to select one
legal counsel and an investment banker or bankers and manager or
managers to administer their interest in the offering, which investment
banker or bankers or manager or managers shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Company.
c. Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time prior to the
expiration of the Registration Period (as hereinafter defined) the
Company proposes to file with the SEC a Registration Statement relating
to an offering for its own account or the account of others under the
1933 Act of any of its securities (other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8
or their then equivalents relating to 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 promptly send to each Investor who is
entitled to registration rights under this Section 2(c) written notice
of the Company's intention to file a Registration Statement and of such
Investor's rights under this Section 2(c) and, if within twenty (20)
days after receipt of such notice, such Investor shall so request in
writing, the Company shall include in such Registration Statement all
or any part of the Registrable Securities such Investor requests to be
registered, subject to the priorities set forth in Section 2(d) below.
No right to registration of Registrable Securities under this Section
2(c) shall be construed to limit any registration required under
Section 2(a). The obligations of the Company under this Section 2(c)
may be waived by Investors holding a majority of the Registrable
Securities. If an offering in connection with which an Investor is
entitled to registration under this Section 2(c) is an underwritten
offering, then each Investor whose Registrable Securities are included
in such Registration Statement shall, unless otherwise agreed by the
Company, offer and sell such Registrable Securities in an underwritten
offering using the same underwriter or underwriters and, subject to the
provisions of this Agreement, on the same terms and conditions as other
shares of Common Stock included in such underwritten offering.
d. Priority in Piggy-Back Registration Rights in connection
with Registrations or Company Account. If the registration referred to
in Section 2(c) is to be an underwritten public offering for the
account of the Company and the managing underwriter(s) advise the
Company in writing, that in their reasonable good faith opinion,
marketing or other factors dictate that a limitation on the number of
shares of Common Stock which may be included in the Registration
Statement is necessary to facilitate and not adversely affect the
proposed offering, then the Company shall include in such registration:
(1) first, all securities the
-3-
4
Company proposes to sell for its own account, (2) second, up to the
full number of securities proposed to be registered for the account of
the holders of securities entitled to inclusion of their securities in
the Registration Statement by reason of demand registration rights, and
(3) third, the securities requested to be registered by the Investors
and other holders of securities entitled to participate in the
registration on a pari passu basis, drawn from them pro rata based on
the number each has requested to be included in such registration.
e. Eligibility for Form S-3. The Company represents, warrants,
and covenants that it is currently eligible to utilize Form S-3 and
that it has filed and shall file all reports required to be filed by
the Company with the SEC in a timely manner so as to obtain and
maintain such eligibility for the use of Form S-3. In the event that
Form S-3 is not available for sale by the Investors of the Registrable
Securities, then (i) the Company, with the consent of each Investor
pursuant to Section 2(a), shall register the sale of the Registrable
Securities on another appropriate form, such as Form S-1 and (ii) the
Company shall undertake to register the Registrable Securities on Form
S-3 as soon as such form is available.
3 . RELATED OBLIGATIONS.
Whenever an Investor has requested that any Registrable Securities be
registered pursuant to Section 2(c) or at such time as the Company is obligated
to file a Registration Statement with the SEC pursuant to Section 2(a), the
Company will use its best efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable
Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof and,
pursuant thereto, the Company shall have the following obligations:
a. The Company shall promptly prepare and file with the SEC a
Registration Statement with respect to the Registrable Securities (on
or prior to the thirtieth (30th) day following the date of issuance of
any Preferred Stock, for the registration of Registrable Securities
pursuant to Section 2(a)) and use its best efforts to cause such
Registration Statement(s) relating to Registrable Securities to become
effective as soon as possible after such filing (by the ninetieth
(90th) day following the issuance of the relevant Preferred Stock for
the registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a),
and keep the Registration Statement(s) effective pursuant to Rule 415
at all times until the earlier of (i) the date as of which the
Investors may sell all of the Registrable Securities without
restriction pursuant to Rule 144(k) promulgated under the 1933 Act (or
successor thereto) or (ii) the date on which (A) the Investors shall
have sold all the Registrable Securities and (B) none of the Preferred
Stock and Warrants are outstanding (the "REGISTRATION PERIOD"), which
Registration Statement(s) (including any amendments or supplements
thereto and prospectuses contained therein) shall not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not
misleading.
b. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such
amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to the
Registration Statement(s) and the prospectus(es) used in connection
with the Registration Statement(s), which prospectus(es) are to be
filed pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated under the 1933 Act, as may be
necessary to keep the Registration Statement(s) effective at all times
during the
-4-
5
Registration Period, and, during such period, comply with the
provisions of the 1933 Act with respect to the disposition of all
Registrable Securities of the Company covered by the Registration
Statement(s) until such time as all of such Registrable Securities
shall have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of
disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth in the
Registration Statement(s). In the event the number of shares available
under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement is
insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities, the Company
shall amend the Registration Statement, or file a new Registration
Statement (on the short form available therefor, if applicable), or
both, so as to cover all of the Registrable Securities, in each case,
as soon as practicable, but in any event within fifteen (15) days after
the necessity therefor arises (based on the market price of the Common
Stock and other relevant factors on which the Company reasonably elects
to rely). The Company shall use its best efforts to cause such
amendment and/or new Registration Statement to become effective as soon
as practicable following the filing thereof. For purposes of the
foregoing provision, the number of shares available under a
Registration Statement shall be deemed "insufficient to cover all of
the Registrable Securities" if at any time the number of Registrable
Securities issued or issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock
and exercise of the Warrants is greater than the quotient determined by
dividing (i) the number of shares of Common Stock available for resale
under such Registration Statement by (ii) 1.0. For purposes of the
calculation set forth in the foregoing sentence, any restrictions on
the convertibility of the Preferred Stock shall be disregarded and such
calculation shall assume that the Preferred Stock are then convertible
into shares of Common Stock at the then prevailing Conversion Rate (as
defined in the Preferred Stock) and that the Warrants are exercisable
at the prevailing exercise price.
c. The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose
Registrable Securities are included in the Registration Statement(s)
and its legal counsel without charge (i) promptly after the same is
prepared and filed with the SEC at least one copy of the Registration
Statement and any amendment thereto, including financial statements and
schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference and all
exhibits, the prospectus(es) included in such Registration Statement(s)
(including each preliminary prospectus ) and, with regards to the
Registration Statement, any correspondence by or on behalf of the
Company to the SEC or the staff of the SEC and any correspondence from
the SEC or the staff of the SEC to the Company or its representatives,
(ii) upon the effectiveness of any Registration Statement, ten (10)
copies of the prospectus included in such Registration Statement and
all amendments and supplements thereto (or such other number of copies
as such Investor may reasonably request) and (iii) such other
documents, including any preliminary prospectus, as such Investor may
reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the
Registrable Securities owned by such Investor.
d. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to (i) register
and qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration
Statement(s) under such other securities or "blue sky" laws of such
jurisdictions in the United States as any Investor reasonably requests,
(ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions, such amendments
(including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such
registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the
effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii) take such
other actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and
qualifications in effect
-5-
6
at all times during the Registration Period, and (iv) take all other
actions reasonably necessary or advisable to quality the Registrable
Securities for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition
thereto to (a) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it
would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d),
(b) subject itself to general taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (c)
file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction.
The Company shall promptly notify each Investor who holds Registrable
Securities of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the registration or qualification of any
of the Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or "blue
sky" laws of any jurisdiction in the United States or its receipt of
actual notice of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for
such purpose.
e. In the event Investors who hold a majority of the
Registrable Securities being offered in the offering select
underwriters for the offering, the Company shall enter into and perform
its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary
form, including, without limitation, customary indemnification and
contribution obligations, with the underwriters of such offering.
f. As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such
event, the Company shall notify each Investor in writing of the
happening of any event, of which the Company has knowledge, as a result
of which the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as then
in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omission
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading, and promptly prepare a supplement or
amendment to the Registration Statement to correct such untrue
statement or omission, and deliver ten (10) copies of such supplement
or amendment to each Investor (or such other number of copies as such
Investor may reasonably request). The Company shall also promptly
notify each Investor in writing (i) when a prospectus or any prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and when a
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment has become
effective (notification of such effectiveness shall be delivered to
each Investor by facsimile on the same day of such effectiveness and by
overnight mail) (ii) of any request by the SEC for amendments or
supplements to a Registration Statement or related prospectus or
related information, (iii) of the Company's reasonable determination
that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be
appropriate.
g. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the
issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of a
Registration Statement, or the suspension of the qualification of any
of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction and, if such
an order or suspension is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such
order or suspension at the earliest possible moment and to notify each
Investor who holds Registrable Securities being sold (and, in the event
of an underwritten offering, the managing underwriters) of the issuance
of such order and the resolution thereof or its receipt of actual
notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose.
-6-
7
h. The Company shall permit each Investor a single firm of
counsel or such other counsel as thereafter designated as selling
stockholders' counsel by the Investors who hold a majority of the
Registrable Securities being sold, to review and comment upon the
Registration Statement(s) and all amendments and supplements thereto at
least five (5) days prior to their filing with the SEC, and not file
any document in a form to which such counsel reasonably objects. The
Company shall not submit a request for acceleration of the
effectiveness of a Registration Statement(s) or any amendment or
supplement thereto without the prior approval of such counsel, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
i. At the request of the Investors who hold a majority of the
Registrable Securities being sold, the Company shall furnish, on the
date that Registrable Securities are delivered to an underwriter, if
any, for sale in connection with the Registration Statement (i) if
required by an underwriter, a letter, dated such date, from the
Company's independent certified public accountants in form and
substance as is customarily given by independent certified public
accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering,
addressed to the underwriters, and (ii) an opinion, dated as of such
date, of counsel representing the Company for purposes of such
Registration Statement, in form, scope and substance as is customarily
given in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters
and the Investors.
j. The Company shall make available for inspection by (i) any
Investor, (ii) any underwriter participating in any disposition
pursuant to a Registration Statement, (iii) one firm of attorneys and
one firm of accountants or other agents retained by the Investors, and
(iv) one firm of attorneys retained by all such underwriters
(collectively, the "INSPECTORS") all pertinent financial and other
records, and pertinent corporate documents and properties of the
Company (collectively, the "RECORDS"), as shall be reasonably deemed
necessary by each Inspector to enable each Inspector to exercise its
due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company's officers,
directors and employees to supply all information which any Inspector
may reasonably request for purposes of such due diligence provided,
however, that each Inspector shall hold in strict confidence and shall
not make any disclosure (except to an Investor) or use of any Record or
other information which the Company determines in good faith to be
confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors are so
notified, unless (a) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to
avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration
Statement or is otherwise required under the 1933 Act, (b) the release
of such Records is ordered pursuant to a final, non-appealable subpoena
or order from a court or government body of competent jurisdiction, or
(c) the information in such Records has been made generally available
to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this or any
other agreement. Each Investor agrees that it shall, upon learning that
disclosure of such Records is sought in or by a court or governmental
body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt
notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to
undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a
protective order for, the Records deemed confidential.
k. The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any
disclosure of information concerning an Investor provided to the
Company unless (i) disclosure of such
-7-
8
information is necessary to comply with federal or state securities
laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid or
correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii)
the release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or
other final, non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of
competent jurisdiction, or (iv) 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 information concerning an Investor is
sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction
or through other means, give prompt written notice to such Investor and
allow such Investor, at the Investor's expense, to undertake
appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective
order for, such information.
l. The Company shall use its best efforts either to (i) cause
all the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to
be listed on each national securities exchange on which securities of
the same class or series issued by the Company are then listed, if any,
if the listing of such Registrable Securities is then permitted under
the rules of such exchange, (ii) to secure designation and quotation of
all the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement on
the Nasdaq National Market System, (iii) if, despite the Company's best
efforts to satisfy the preceding clause (i) or (ii), the Company is
unsuccessful in satisfying the preceding clause (i) or (ii) to secure
the inclusion for quotation on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market for such
Registrable Securities or, (iv) if, despite the Company's best efforts
to satisfy the preceding clause (iii), the Company is unsuccessful in
satisfying the preceding clause (iii), to secure the inclusion for
quotation on the over-the-counter market for such Registrable
Securities, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in
the case of clause (iii) or (iv), to arrange for at least two market
makers to register with the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. ("NASD") as such with respect to such Registrable Securities. The
Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying
its obligation under this Section 3(l).
m. The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold
Registrable Securities being offered and, to the extent applicable, any
managing underwriter or underwriters, to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive
legend) representing the Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant
to a Registration Statement and enable such certificates to be in such
denominations or amounts, as the case may be, as the managing
underwriter or underwriters, if any, or, if there is no managing
underwriter or underwriters, the Investors may reasonably request and
registered in such names as the managing underwriter or underwriters,
if any, or the Investors may request. Not later than the date on which
any Registration Statement registering the resale of Registrable
Securities is declared effective, the Company shall deliver to its
transfer agent instructions, accompanied by any reasonably required
opinion of counsel, that permit sales of unlegended securities in a
timely fashion that complies with then mandated securities settlement
procedures for regular way market transactions.
n. The Company shall take all other reasonable actions
necessary to expedite and facilitate disposition by the Investors of
Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.
-8-
9
o. The Company shall provide a transfer agent and registrar of
all such Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of
such Registration Statement.
p. If requested by the managing underwriters or an Investor,
the Company shall immediately incorporate in a prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment such information as the managing underwriters
and the Investors agree should be included therein relating to the sale
and distribution of Registrable Securities, including, without
limitation, information with respect to the number of Registrable
Securities being sold to such underwriters, the purchase price being
paid therefor by such underwriters and with respect to any other terms
of the underwritten (or best efforts underwritten) offering of the
Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; make all required
filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as
soon as notified of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment; and supplement or make
amendments to any Registration Statement if requested by a shareholder
or any underwriter of such Registrable Securities.
q. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the
Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement
to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies
or authorities as may be necessary to consummate the disposition of
such Registrable Securities.
r. The Company shall otherwise use its best efforts to comply
with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC in connection with
any registration hereunder.
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTORS.
a. At least five (5) days prior to the first anticipated
filing date of the Registration Statement, the Company shall notify
each Investor in writing of the information the Company requires from
each such Investor if such Investor elects to have any of such
Investor's Registrable Securities included in the Registration
Statement. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the
Company to complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with
respect to the Registrable Securities of a particular Investor that
such Investor shall furnish to the Company such information regarding
itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method
of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it as shall be
reasonably required to effect the registration of such Registrable
Securities and shall execute such documents in connection with such
registration as the Company may reasonably request.
b. Each Investor by such Investor's acceptance of the
Registrable Securities agrees to cooperate with the Company as
reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the preparation
and filing of the Registration Statement(s) hereunder, unless such
Investor has notified the Company in writing of such Investor's
election to exclude all of such Investor's Registrable Securities from
the Registration Statement.
c. In the event Investors holding a majority of the
Registrable Securities being registered determine to engage the
services of an underwriter, each Investor agrees to enter
-9-
10
into and perform such Investor's obligations under an underwriting
agreement, in usual and customary form, including, without limitation,
customary indemnification and contribution obligations, with the
managing underwriter of such offering and take such other actions as
are reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the
disposition of the Registrable Securities, unless such Investor
notifies the Company in writing of such Investor's election to exclude
all of such Investor's Registrable Securities from the Registration
Statement(s).
d. Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from
the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in
Section 3(g) or the first sentence of 3(f), such Investor will
immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant
to the Registration Statement(s) covering such Registrable Securities
until such Investor's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or
amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(g) or the first sentence
of 3(f) and, if so directed by the Company, such Investor shall deliver
to the Company (at the expense of the Company) or destroy all copies in
such Investor's possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable
Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.
e. No Investor may participate in any underwritten
registration hereunder unless such Investor (i) agrees to sell such
Investor's Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any
underwriting arrangements approved by the Investors entitled hereunder
to approve such arrangements, (ii) completes and executes all
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting
agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of
such underwriting arrangements, and (iii) agrees to pay its pro rata
share of all underwriting discounts and commissions.
5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.
All reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and
commissions, incurred in connection with registrations, filings or
qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, including, without limitation, all
registration, listing and qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, and
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company shall be borne by the Company.
The Investors shall bear the fees and disbursements of their counsel.
6. INDEMNIFICATION
In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a Registration
Statement under this Agreement:
a. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will,
and hereby does, indemnify, hold harmless and defend each Investor who
holds such Registrable Securities, the directors, officers, partners,
employees, agents and each Person, if any, who controls any Investor
within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "1934 ACT"), and any underwriter (as defined in
the 0000 Xxx) for the Investors, and the directors and officers of, and
each Person, if any, who controls, any such underwriter within the
meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (each, an "INDEMNIFIED
PERSON"), against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments,
fines, penalties,
-10-
11
charges, costs, attorneys' fees, amounts paid in settlement or
expenses, joint or several, (collectively, "CLAIMS") incurred in
investigating, preparing or defending any action, claim, suit, inquiry,
proceeding, investigation or appeal taken from the foregoing by or
before any court or governmental, administrative or other regulatory
agency, body or the SEC, whether pending or threatened, whether or not
an indemnified party is or may be a party thereto ("INDEMNIFIED
DAMAGES"), to which any of them may become subject insofar as such
Claims (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in
respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in a
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or in
any filing made in connection with the qualification of the offering
under the securities or other "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction in
which Registrable Securities are offered ("BLUE SKY FILING"), or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which the statements therein were made, not
misleading, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus if used prior to
the effective date of such Registration Statement, or contained in the
final prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the Company files any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or the omission
or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary to
make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under
which the statements therein were made, not misleading, or (iii) any
violation or alleged violation by the Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934
Act, any other law, including, without limitation, any state securities
law, or any rule or regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale
of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement (the
matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) being, collectively,
"VIOLATIONS"). Subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 6(d)
with respect to the number of legal counsel, the Company shall
reimburse the Investors and each such underwriter or controlling
person, promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable,
for any legal fees or other reasonable expenses incurred by them in
connection with investigating or defending any such Claim.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (i) shall not
apply to a Claim arising out of or based upon a Violation which occurs
in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in
writing to the Company by any Indemnified Person or underwriter for
such Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with the
preparation of the Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof
or supplement thereto, if such prospectus was timely made available by
the Company pursuant to Section 3(c); (ii) with respect to any
preliminary prospectus, shall not inure to the benefit of any such
person from whom the person asserting any such Claim purchased the
Registrable Securities that are the subject thereof (or to the benefit
of any person controlling such person) if the untrue statement or
mission of material fact contained in the preliminary prospectus was
corrected in the prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, if such
prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section
3(c), and the Indemnified Person was promptly advised in writing not to
use the incorrect prospectus prior to the use giving rise to a
violation and such Indemnified Person, notwithstanding such advice,
used it; (iii) shall not be available to the extent such Claim is based
on a failure of the Investor to deliver or to cause to be delivered the
prospectus made available by the Company; and (iv) shall not apply to
amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected
without the prior written consent of the
-11-
12
Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Such
indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person and shall
survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Investors
pursuant to Section 9.
b. In connection with any Registration Statement in which an
Investor is participating, each such Investor agrees to severally and
not jointly indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and
in the same manner as is set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each
of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration
Statement, each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the
meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (collectively and together with
an Indemnified Person, an "INDEMNIFIED PARTY"), against any Claim or
Indemnified Damages to which any of them may become subject, under the
1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim or
Indemnified Damages arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in
each case to the extent, and only to the extent, that such Violation
occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by such Investor expressly for use in
connection with such Registration Statement; and, subject to Section
6(d), such Investor will reimburse any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such Claim; provided, however, that the indemnity
agreement contained in this Section 6(b) and Section 7 shall not apply
to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is
effected without the prior written consent of such Investor, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Such indemnity shall remain
in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on
behalf of such Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of the
Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 9.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(b) with respect
to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any
Indemnified Party if the untrue statement or omission of material fact
contained in the preliminary prospectus was corrected on a timely basis
in the prospectus, as then amended or supplemented.
c. The Company shall be entitled to receive indemnities from
underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers and similar securities
industry professionals participating in any distribution, to the same
extent as provided above, with respect to information such persons so
furnished in writing expressly for inclusion in the Registration
Statement.
d. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of
any action or proceeding (including any governmental action or
proceeding) involving a Claim such Indemnified Person or Indemnified
Party shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against any
indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying
party a written notice of the commencement thereof, and the
indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the
extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other
indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume control of the defense
thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party
and the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party, as the case may
be; provided, however, that an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the fees and
expenses to be paid by the
-12-
13
indemnifying party, if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel retained
by the indemnifying party, the representation by such counsel of the
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and the indemnifying party
would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests
between such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any other
party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The Company shall
pay reasonable fees for only one separate legal counsel for the
Investors, which counsel shall be acceptable to the Company and such
legal counsel shall be selected by the Investors holding a majority in
interest of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration
Statement to which the Claim relates. The Indemnified Party or
Indemnified Person shall cooperate fully with the indemnifying party in
connection with any negotiation or defense of any such action or claim
by the indemnifying party and shall furnish to the indemnifying party
all information reasonably available to the Indemnified Party or
Indemnified Person which relates to such action or claim. The
indemnifying party shall keep the Indemnified Party or Indemnified
Person fully apprised at all times as to the status of the defense or
any settlement negotiations with respect thereto. No indemnifying party
shall be liable for any settlement of any action, claim or proceeding
effected without its written consent, provided, however, that the
indemnifying party shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition
its consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person, consent to entry of any
judgment or enter into any settlement or other compromise which does
not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant
or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person of a
release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
Following indemnification as provided for hereunder, the indemnifying
party shall be subrogated to all rights of the Indemnified Party or
Indemnified Person with respect to all third parties, firms or
corporations relating to the matter for which indemnification has been
made. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party
within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall
relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the Indemnified
Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6.
e. The indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in
addition to (i) any cause of action or similar right of the Indemnified
Party or Indemnified Person against the indemnifying party or others,
and (ii) any liabilities the indemnifying party may be subject to
pursuant to the law.
7. CONTRIBUTION.
To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is
prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum
contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable
under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that:
(i) no contribution shall be made under circumstances where the maker would not
have been liable for indemnification under the fault standards set forth in
Section 6; (ii) no seller of Registrable Securities guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 0000 Xxx) shall be
entitled to contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation; and (iii) contribution by any seller of
Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds
received by such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities.
-13-
14
8. REPORTS UNDER THE 1934 ACT.
With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule
144 promulgated under the 1933 Act or any other similar rule or regulation of
the SEC that may at any time permit the investors to sell securities of the
Company to the public without registration ("RULE 144"), the Company agrees to:
a. make and keep public information available, as those terms
are understood and defined in Rule 144;
b. file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other
documents required of the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act
so long as the Company remains subject to such requirements (it being
understood that nothing herein shall limit the Company's obligations
under Section 4(c) of the Securities Purchase Agreement) and the filing
of such reports and other documents is required for the applicable
provisions of Rule 144; and
c. furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns
Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement
by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of
Rule 144, the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent
annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and
documents so filed by the Company, and (iii) such other information as
may be reasonably requested to permit the investors to sell such
securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.
9. ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
The rights to have the Company register Registrable Securities pursuant
to this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by the Investors to any
transferee of all or any portion of Registrable Securities if: (i) the Investor
agrees in writing with the transferee or assignee to assign such rights, and a
copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company 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) before
the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of
this sentence the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to
be bound by all of the provisions contained herein; (iv) such transferee shall
be an "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" as that term is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D
promulgated under the 1933 Act; and (v) in the event the assignment occurs
subsequent to the date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement required
to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a), the transferee agrees to pay all
reasonable expenses of amending or supplementing such Registration Statement to
reflect such assignment.
10. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof
may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either
retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company
and Investors who hold a majority of the Registrable Securities.
-14-
15
Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 10 shall be
binding upon each Investor and the Company. After the date hereof, as long as at
least 25% of the Preferred Stock is outstanding, the Company shall not grant
registration rights to any private placement investor which shall be superior as
to priority in registration to those granted to the Investors hereunder.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Company may grant
registration rights which are pari passu to those granted to the investors
hereunder. The restrictions imposed by the preceding two sentences shall not
apply to registration rights granted in connection to employee benefit plans,
employee, or consultant compensation or in connection with mergers and
acquisitions.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
a. A person or entity is deemed to be a holder of Registrable
Securities whenever such person or entity owns of record such
Registrable Securities. If the Company receives conflicting
instructions, notices or elections from two or more persons or entities
with respect to the same Registrable Securities, the Company shall act
upon the basis of instructions, notice or election received from the
registered owner of such Registrable Securities.
b. Any notices consents, waivers or other communications
required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement
must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered (i) upon
receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by
facsimile, provided a copy is mailed by U.S. certified mail, return
receipt requested; (iii) three (3) days after being sent by U.S.
certified mail, return receipt requested, or (d) one (1) day after
deposit with a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, in
each case properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The
addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications shall be:
If to the Company: HomeCom Communications, Inc.
Fourteen Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
With a copy to: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Esq.
Xxxx Moss Kline & Xxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
1000 Xxxxxxxxx Road, N.E.
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
If to a Buyer, to its address and facsimile number on the Schedule of
Buyers, with copies to such Buyer's counsel as set forth on the Schedule of
Buyers. Each party shall provide five (5) days' prior written notice to the
other party of any change in address or facsimile number.
-15-
16
c. Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under
this Agreement or otherwise, delay by a party in exercising such right
or remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof.
d. This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the
principles of conflict of laws. If any provision of this Agreement
shall be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity
or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
the remainder of this Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or
enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other
jurisdiction.
e. This Agreement and the Securities Purchase Agreement
constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect
to the subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no restrictions,
promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or
referred to herein and therein. This Agreement and the Securities
Purchase Agreement supersede all prior agreements and understandings
among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and
thereof.
f. Subject to the requirements of Section 9, this Agreement
shall inure to the benefit and of and be binding upon the permitted
successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto.
g. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning
hereof.
h. This Agreement may be executed in two or more identical
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of
which shall constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement, once
executed by a party, may be delivered to the other party hereto by
facsimile transmission of a copy of this Agreement bearing the
signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.
i. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and
performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and
deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and
documents, as the other party may reasonably request in order to carry
out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
-16-
17
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration Rights
Agreement to be duly executed as of day and year first above written.
HOMECOM COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By:
-----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxx
Its: Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer
"BUYER"
CPR (USA), INC.
By:
-----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Managing Director
"BUYER"
LIBERTYVIEW FUNDS, L.P.
By:
-----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title:
"BUYER"
LIBERTYVIEW FUND, L.L.C.
By:
-----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title:
-17-
18
SCHEDULE OF BUYERS
NUMBER OF SERIES B
BUYER'S NAME ADDRESS/FACSIMILE NUMBER OF BUYER PREFERRED SHARES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
x/x XxxxxxxXxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx 00.0
XXX (XXX), Inc. 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
LibertyView Funds, L.P. c/o LibertyView Capital Management 50
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
x/x XxxxxxxXxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx 00.0
XxxxxxxXxxx Xxxx, X.X.X. 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
