REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of
September 28, 1998, by and among THE NETPLEX GROUP, INC., a corporation
organized under the laws of the State of New York (the "Company"), and the
undersigned (together with affiliates, the "Initial Investors").
WHEREAS:
A. In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement of
even date herewith by and between the Company and the Initial Investors (the
"Securities Purchase Agreement"), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and
subject to the conditions contained therein, to issue and sell to the Initial
Investors (i) prepaid common stock purchase warrants (the "Prepaid Warrants")
which entitle the holder thereof to acquire shares of the Company's common
stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), upon the terms and
subject to the limitations and conditions set forth in the Prepaid Warrants and
(ii) additional warrants (the "Incentive Warrants") to acquire shares of Common
Stock;
B. To induce the Initial Investors to execute and deliver the
Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain
registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the
"Securities Act"), and applicable state securities laws; and
C. The Company has agreed to issue to The Zanett Securities
Corporation (the "Placement Agent") warrants (the "Placement Agent Warrants"
and, collectively with the Prepaid Warrants and the Incentive Warrants, the
"Warrants") to purchase shares of Common Stock pursuant to that certain
Placement Agency Agreement, dated as of even date herewith, by and between the
Company and the Placement Agent and has agreed to provide the Placement Agent
the rights set forth herein. For purposes of this Agreement, the Placement Agent
shall be deemed an "Initial Investor" and the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon the exercise of, or otherwise pursuant to, the Placement Agent Warrants
shall be deemed "Warrant Shares."
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the
mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the
Initial Investors hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
a. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
(i) "Investors" means the Initial Investors and any
transferees or assignees who agree to become bound by the provisions of this
Agreement in accordance with Section 9 hereof.
(ii) "register," "registered," and "registration" refer
to a registration effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or
Statements in compliance with the Securities Act and pursuant to Rule 415 under
the Securities Act or any successor rule providing for offering securities on a
continuous basis ("Rule 415"), and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness
of such Registration Statement by the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC").
(iii) "Registrable Securities" means the Warrant Shares
(including any Warrant Shares issuable with respect to Exercise Default Payments
under the Warrants and any Warrant Shares issuable with respect to the Default
Amount under the Prepaid Warrants) issued or issuable upon exercise of, or
otherwise with respect to, the Warrants and any shares of capital stock issued
or issuable, from time to time (with any adjustments), as a distribution on or
in exchange for or otherwise with respect to any of the foregoing.
(iv) "Registration Statement" means a registration
statement of the Company under the Securities Act.
b. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined
herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase
Agreement and the Warrants.
2. REGISTRATION.
a. Mandatory Registration. The Company shall prepare, and,
on or before the forty-fifth (45th) day following the date of the Closing under
the Securities Purchase Agreement (the "Filing Date"), file with the SEC a
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or, if Form S-3 is not then available, on
such form of Registration Statement as is then available to effect a
registration of all of the Registrable Securities required to be included in
such Registration Statement, subject to the consent of the Initial Investors (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(j) hereof)) covering the resale of at least
3,000,000 Registrable Securities (200% of the maximum number of shares of Common
Stock issuable upon the full exercise of or otherwise with respect to the
Prepaid Warrants
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issued at the Closing (based upon the lowest Exercise Percentage thereunder),
plus 100% of the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the full
exercise of the Incentive Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants issued at the
Closing). The Registration Statement filed hereunder, to the extent allowable
under the Securities Act and the Rules promulgated thereunder (including Rule
416), shall state that such Registration Statement also covers such
indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock as may become issuable
upon exercise of the Warrants (i) to prevent dilution resulting from stock
splits, stock dividends or similar transactions or (ii) by reason of reductions
in the Exercise Price of the Warrants in accordance with the terms thereof
(including, but not limited to, in the case of the Prepaid Warrants, the terms
which cause the applicable Exercise Percentages to decrease and the terms which
cause the Variable Exercise Price to decrease to the extent the Closing Bid
Price of the Common Stock decreases). The Registrable Securities included in any
Registration Statement filed hereunder shall be allocated to the Investors as
set forth in Section 11(k) hereof. The Registration Statement filed hereunder
(and each amendment or supplement thereto, and each request for acceleration of
effectiveness thereof) shall be provided to (and subject to the approval of) the
Initial Investors and their counsel prior to its filing or other submission.
b. Underwritten Offering. If any offering pursuant to the
Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof involves an underwritten
offering, the Investors who hold a majority in interest of the Registrable
Securities subject to such underwritten offering, with the consent of the
Initial Investors, shall have the right to select one legal counsel to represent
the Investors (at the Investors' expense) and an investment banker or bankers
and manager or managers to administer the offering, which investment banker or
bankers or manager or managers shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company.
In the event that any Investors elect not to participate in such underwritten
offering, the Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities
shall contain appropriate plans of distribution reasonably satisfactory to the
Investors participating in such underwritten offering and the Investors electing
not to participate in such underwritten offering (including, without limitation,
the ability of nonparticipating Investors to sell from time to time and at any
time during the effectiveness of such Registration Statement).
c. Payments by the Company. The Company shall cause each
Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof to
become effective as soon as practicable, but in no event later than the one
hundred twentieth (120th) day following the date it was required to be filed
hereunder (each a "Registration Deadline"). If (i) (A) the Registration
Statement required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof is
not declared effective by the SEC on or before the Registration Deadline
applicable to such Registration Statement or (B) the Registration Statement
required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof is not
declared effective by the SEC within sixty (60) days after the applicable
Registration Trigger Date (as defined in Section 3(b) hereof), or (ii) if, after
any such Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC, sales of
all of the Registrable Securities required to be covered by such Registration
Statement (including any Registrable Securities required to be registered
pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof) cannot be made pursuant to such Registration
Statement (by reason of a stop order or the Company's failure to update the
Registration Statement or any other
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reason outside the control of the Investors) or (iii) the Common Stock
(including any Registrable Securities) is not listed or included for quotation
on the Nasdaq National Market ("NNM"), the Nasdaq SmallCap Market ("SmallCap"),
the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") or the American Stock Exchange (the
"AMEX") at any time after the initial Registration Deadline hereunder, then the
Company will make payments to the Investors in such amounts and at such times as
shall be determined pursuant to this Section 2(c) as partial relief for the
damages to the Investors by reason of any such delay in or reduction of their
ability to sell the Registrable Securities (which remedy shall not be exclusive
of any other remedies available at law or in equity). The Company shall pay to
each Investor an amount equal to the product of (i) the aggregate Purchase Price
of the Warrants held by such Investor (including, without limitation, Warrants
that have been exercised for Warrant Shares then held by such Investor) (the
"Aggregate Share Price"), multiplied by (ii) thirty-five thousandths (.035), for
the first thirty (30) day period (or portion thereof) (A) after a Registration
Deadline and prior to the date the applicable Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2(a) is declared effective by the SEC, (B) after the
sixtieth (60th) day following a Registration Trigger Date (as defined in Section
3(b)) and prior to the date the Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section
3(b) hereof is declared effective by the SEC, and (C) during which sales of any
Registrable Securities cannot be made pursuant to any such Registration
Statement after the Registration Statement has been declared effective or the
Common Stock (including any Registrable Securities) is not listed or included
for quotation on the NNM, SmallCap, NYSE or AMEX. In addition, the Company shall
pay to each Investor an amount equal to the product of (i) the Aggregate Share
Price, multiplied by (ii) fifty-five thousandths (.055), for each additional
thirty (30) day period (or portion thereof) following the initial thirty (30)
day period referred to in the preceding sentence (A) after a Registration
Deadline and prior to the date the applicable Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2(a) is declared effective by the SEC, (B) after the
sixtieth (60th) day following a Registration Trigger Date and prior to the date
the Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof is declared
effective by the SEC, and (C) during which sales of any Registrable Securities
cannot be made pursuant to any such Registration Statement after the
Registration Statement has been declared effective or the Common Stock
(including any Registrable Securities) is not listed or included for quotation
on the NNM, SmallCap, NYSE or AMEX; provided, however, that there shall be
excluded from each such period any delays which are solely attributable to
changes (other than corrections of Company mistakes with respect to information
previously provided by the Investors) required by the Investors in the
Registration Statement with respect to information relating to the Investors,
including, without limitation, changes to the plan of distribution. (For
example, if a Registration Statement is not effective by the Registration
Deadline applicable thereto, the Company would pay $35,000 for the first thirty
(30) days and $55,000 for each thirty (30) day period thereafter with respect to
each $1,000,000 of Aggregate Share Price until the Registration Statement
becomes effective.) Such amounts shall be paid in cash or, at each Investor's
option, may be convertible into Common Stock at the "Exercise Price" then in
effect with respect to the Prepaid Warrants. Any shares of Common Stock issued
upon conversion of such amounts shall be Registrable Securities. If the Investor
desires to convert the amounts due hereunder into Registrable Securities it
shall so notify the Company in writing within two (2) business days after the
date on which such amounts are first payable in cash and such amounts shall be
so convertible beginning on the last day upon which the cash amount would
otherwise be due in accordance with the following sentence. Payments of cash
pursuant hereto shall be made within five (5) days after the end of each period
that gives rise to such obligation, provided that, if any such period extends
for more than thirty (30) days, interim payments shall be made for each such
thirty (30) day period.
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d. Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time prior to the
expiration of the Registration Period (as hereinafter defined) the Company shall
file with the SEC a Registration Statement relating to an offering for its own
account or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity
securities (other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or their then equivalents
relating to equity securities to be issued solely in connection with any
acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities issuable in
connection with stock option or other employee benefit plans), the Company shall
send to each Investor who is entitled to registration rights under this Section
2(d) written notice of such determination and, if within five (5) business days
after the date of such notice, such Investor shall so request in writing, the
Company shall include in such Registration Statement all or any part of the
Registrable Securities such Investor requests to be registered, except that if,
in connection with any underwritten public offering, the managing underwriter(s)
thereof shall impose a limitation on the number of shares of Common Stock which
may be included in the Registration Statement because, in such underwriter(s)'
judgment, marketing or other factors dictate such limitation is necessary to
facilitate public distribution, then the Company shall be obligated to include
in such Registration Statement only such limited portion of the Registrable
Securities with respect to which such Investor has requested inclusion hereunder
as the underwriter shall permit. Any exclusion of Registrable Securities shall
be made pro rata among the Investors seeking to include Registrable Securities,
in proportion to the number of Registrable Securities sought to be included by
such Investors; provided, however, that the Company shall not exclude any
Registrable Securities unless the Company has first excluded all outstanding
securities, the holders of which are not entitled to inclusion of such
securities in such Registration Statement or are not entitled to pro rata
inclusion with the Registrable Securities; and provided, further, however, that,
after giving effect to the immediately preceding proviso, any exclusion of
Registrable Securities shall be made pro rata with holders of other securities
having the right to include such securities in the Registration Statement other
than holders of securities entitled to inclusion of their securities in such
Registration Statement by reason of demand registration rights. No right to
registration of Registrable Securities under this Section 2(d) shall be
construed to limit any registration required under Section 2(a) hereof. If an
offering in connection with which an Investor is entitled to registration under
this Section 2(d) is an underwritten offering, then each Investor whose
Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement shall, unless
otherwise agreed by the Company, offer and sell such Registrable Securities in
an underwritten offering using the same underwriter or underwriters and, subject
to the provisions of this Agreement, on the same terms and conditions as other
shares of Common Stock included in such underwritten offering.
e. Eligibility for Form S-3. The Company represents and
warrants that it meets the requirements for the use of Form S-3 for registration
of the sale by the Initial Investors and any other Investor of the Registrable
Securities and the Company shall file all reports required to be filed
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by the Company with the SEC in a timely manner so as to maintain such
eligibility for the use of Form S-3.
f. Rule 416. The Company and the Investors each acknowledge
that an indeterminate number of Registrable Securities shall be registered
pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act so as to include in such
Registration Statement any and all Registrable Securities which may become
issuable (i) to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or
similar transactions and (ii) by reason of reductions in the Exercise Price of
the Warrants in accordance with the terms thereof, including, but not limited
to, in the case of the Prepaid Warrants, the terms which cause the applicable
Exercise Percentages to decrease and the terms which cause the Variable Exercise
Price to decrease to the extent the Closing Bid Price of the Common Stock
decreases (collectively, the "Rule 416 Securities"). In this regard, the Company
agrees to take all steps necessary to ensure that all Registrable Securities are
registered pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act in the Registration
Statement and, absent guidance from the SEC or other definitive authority to the
contrary, the Company shall affirmatively support and not take any action
adverse to the position that the Registration Statements filed hereunder cover
all of the Rule 416 Securities. If the Company determines that the Registration
Statements filed hereunder do not cover all of the Rule 416 Securities, the
Company shall immediately provide to each Investor written notice (a "Rule 416
Notice") setting forth the basis for the Company's position and the authority
therefor. The Company acknowledges that the number of shares of Common Stock
initially included in any Registration Statement relating to the Registrable
Securities represents a good faith estimate of the maximum number of shares
issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.
3. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY.
In connection with the registration of the Registrable
Securities, the Company shall have the following obligations:
a. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC the
Registration Statements required by Section 2(a) (but in no event later than the
applicable Filing Date with respect thereto), and cause such Registration
Statements relating to Registrable Securities to become effective as soon as
practicable after such filing (but in no event later than the Registration
Deadline applicable thereto), and keep such Registration Statements effective
pursuant to Rule 415 at all times until such date as is the earlier of (i) the
date on which all of the Registrable Securities have been sold and (ii) the date
on which all of the Registrable Securities (in the reasonable opinion of counsel
to the Initial Investors) may be immediately sold to the public without
registration or restriction pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act or
any successor provision (the "Registration Period"), which Registration
Statements (including any amendments or supplements thereto and prospectuses
contained therein and all documents incorporated by reference therein) shall not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading.
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b. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such
amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to the
Registration Statements and the prospectus used in connection with the
Registration Statements as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statements
effective at all times during the Registration Period, and, during such period,
comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition
of all Registrable Securities of the Company covered by the Registration
Statements until such time as all of such Registrable Securities have been
disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller
or sellers thereof as set forth in the Registration Statements. In the event (i)
the Company delivers a Rule 416 Notice to the Investors or the Investors who
hold a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities shall reasonably
determine, or the SEC shall state formally or informally, that Rule 416 under
the Securities Act does not permit a registration statement to cover securities
which may become issuable upon conversion or exercise of convertible or
exercisable securities by reason of reductions in the conversion or exercise
price of such securities and (ii) the number of shares available under all
Registration Statements filed pursuant to this Agreement is, for any three (3)
consecutive trading days (the last of such three (3) trading days being the
"Registration Trigger Date"), insufficient to cover one hundred thirty-five
percent (135%) of the Registrable Securities issued or issuable upon exercise of
the Warrants (without giving effect to any limitations on exercise contained in
the Warrants), the Company shall amend the Registration Statements, or file a
new Registration Statement (on the short form available therefor, if
applicable), or both, so as to cover two hundred percent (200%) of the
Registrable Securities issued or issuable (without giving effect to any
limitations on exercise contained in the Warrants) as of the Registration
Trigger Date, in each case, as soon as practicable, but in any event within
fifteen (15) days after the Registration Trigger Date (based on the market price
then in effect of the Common Stock and other relevant factors on which the
Company reasonably elects to rely). The Company shall cause such amendment(s)
and/or new Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable
following the filing thereof, but in any event within sixty (60) days after the
applicable Registration Trigger Date.
c. The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose
Registrable Securities are included in any Registration Statement and its legal
counsel (i) promptly after the same is prepared and publicly distributed, filed
with the SEC, or received by the Company, one copy of each such Registration
Statement and any amendment thereto, each preliminary prospectus and prospectus
and each amendment or supplement thereto, and, in the case of any Registration
Statement referred to in Section 2(a), each letter written by or on behalf of
the Company to the SEC or the staff of the SEC (including, without limitation,
any request to accelerate the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or
amendment thereto), and each item of correspondence from the SEC or the staff of
the SEC, in each case relating to any such Registration Statement (other than
any portion, if any, thereof which contains information for which the Company
has sought confidential treatment), (ii) on the date of effectiveness of any
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, a notice stating that such
Registration Statement or amendment has been declared effective, and (iii) such
number of copies of a prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, and all
amendments and supplements thereto and such other documents as such Investor may
reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable
Securities owned by such Investor.
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d. The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) register
and qualify the Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement
under such other securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions in the
United States as each Investor who holds Registrable Securities being offered
reasonably requests, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions such
amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such
registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the
effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii) take such other
actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and qualifications in
effect at all times during the Registration Period, and (iv) take all other
actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the Registrable Securities
for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (a) qualify to do
business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify
but for this Section 3(d), (b) subject itself to general taxation in any such
jurisdiction, (c) file a general consent to service of process in any such
jurisdiction, (d) provide any undertakings that cause the Company undue expense
or burden, or (e) make any change in its charter or bylaws, which in each case
the Board of Directors of the Company determines to be contrary to the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders.
e. In the event the Investors who hold a majority in
interest of the Registrable Securities being offered in an offering select
underwriters for the offering, the Company shall enter into and perform its
obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form,
including, without limitation, customary indemnification and contribution
obligations, with the underwriters of such offering.
f. As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such
event, the Company shall notify each Investor of the happening of any event, of
which the Company has knowledge, as a result of which the prospectus included in
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 not misleading, and use its best
efforts promptly to prepare a supplement or amendment to the Registration
Statement to correct such untrue statement or omission, and deliver such number
of copies of such supplement or amendment to each Investor as such Investor may
reasonably request.
g. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the
issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of a
Registration Statement, and, if such an order is issued, to obtain the
withdrawal of such order at the earliest practicable moment (including in each
case by amending or supplementing such Registration Statement) and to notify
each Investor who holds Registrable Securities being sold (or, in the event of
an underwritten offering, the managing underwriters) of the issuance of such
order and the resolution thereof (and if such Registration Statement is
supplemented or amended, deliver such number of copies of such supplement or
amendment to each Investor as such Investor may reasonably request).
h. The Company shall permit a single firm of counsel
designated by the Initial Investors to review each Registration Statement (at
the Initial Investors' expense) and all
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amendments and supplements thereto a reasonable period of time prior to their
filing with the SEC, and not file any document in a form to which such counsel
reasonably objects and will not request acceleration of the effectiveness of any
Registration Statement without prior notice to such counsel.
i. The Company shall make generally available to its
security holders as soon as practical, but not later than ninety (90) days after
the close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form
complying with the provisions of Rule 158 under the Securities Act) covering a
twelve-month period beginning not later than the first day of the Company's
fiscal quarter next following the effective date of a Registration Statement.
j. At the request of any Investor, the Company shall
furnish, on the date of effectiveness of any Registration Statement which
involves an underwritten offering (i) an opinion, dated as of such date, from
counsel representing the Company addressed to the Investors and in form, scope
and substance as is customarily given in an underwritten public offering and
(ii) a letter, dated such date, from the Company's independent certified public
accountants in form and substance as is customarily given by independent
certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering,
addressed to the underwriters, if any, and the Investors.
k. The Company shall make available for inspection by (i)
any Investor, (ii) any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to
a Registration Statement, (iii) one firm of attorneys and one firm of
accountants or other agents retained by the Investors, and (iv) one firm of
attorneys retained by all such underwriters (collectively, the "Inspectors") all
pertinent financial and other records, and pertinent corporate documents and
properties of the Company (collectively, the "Records"), as shall be reasonably
deemed necessary by each Inspector to enable each Inspector to exercise its due
diligence responsibility, and cause the Company's officers, directors and
employees to supply all information which any Inspector may reasonably request
for purposes of such due diligence; provided, however, that each Inspector shall
hold in confidence and shall not make any disclosure (except to an Investor) of
any Record or other information which the Company determines in good faith to be
confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors are so notified, unless
(a) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a
misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (b) the release of such
Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court or
government body of competent jurisdiction, or (c) the information in such
Records has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure
in violation of this or any other agreement. The Company shall not be required
to disclose any confidential information in such Records to any Inspector until
and unless such Inspector shall have entered into confidentiality agreements (in
form and substance satisfactory to the Company) with the Company with respect
thereto, substantially in the form of this Section 3(k). Each Investor agrees
that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in or by
a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means,
give prompt notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to
undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective
order for, the Records deemed confidential. Nothing herein shall be deemed to
limit the Investors' ability to sell Registrable Securities in a manner which is
otherwise consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
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l. The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any
disclosure of information concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless
(i) disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state
securities laws (as determined in good faith by the Company upon advice of
outside legal counsel), (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to
avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii)
the release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order
from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, (iv) such
information has been made generally available to the public other than by
disclosure in violation of this or any other agreement, or (v) such Investor
consents to the form and content of any such disclosure. The Company agrees that
it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such information concerning an
Investor is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent
jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to such Investor prior
to making such disclosure, and allow the Investor, at its expense, to undertake
appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order
for, such information.
m. The Company shall use its best efforts to promptly
either (i) cause all of the Registrable Securities covered by any Registration
Statement to be listed on the NYSE or the AMEX or another national securities
exchange and on each additional national securities exchange on which securities
of the same class or series issued by the Company are then listed, if any, if
the listing of such Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules of
such exchange, or (ii) secure the designation and quotation of all of the
Registrable Securities covered by any Registration Statement on the NNM or
SmallCap and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to arrange for
or maintain at least two market makers to register with the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") as such with respect to such Registrable
Securities.
n. The Company shall provide a transfer agent and
registrar, which may be a single entity, for the Registrable Securities not
later than the effective date of any Registration Statement.
o. The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold
Registrable Securities being offered and the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing Registrable
Securities to be offered pursuant to any 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 the Investors may reasonably
request and registered in such names as the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, or the Investors may request, and, within three (3)
business days after a Registration Statement which includes Registrable
Securities is ordered effective by the SEC, the Company shall deliver, and shall
cause legal counsel selected by the Company to deliver, to the transfer agent
for the Registrable Securities (with copies to the Investors whose Registrable
Securities are included in such Registration Statement) an opinion of such
counsel in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1.
p. At the request of any Investor, the Company shall
prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including post-effective
amendments) and supplements to a Registration
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Statement and the prospectus used in connection with such Registration Statement
as may be necessary in order to change the plan of distribution set forth in
such Registration Statement.
q. The Company shall comply with all applicable laws
related to a Registration Statement and offering and sale of securities and all
applicable rules and regulations of governmental authorities in connection
therewith (including, without limitation, the Securities Act and the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by
the SEC.)
r. The Company shall take all such other actions as any
Investor or the underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or
facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities.
s. From and after the date of this Agreement, the Company
shall not, and shall not agree to, allow the holders of any securities of the
Company to include any of their securities in any Registration Statement under
Section 2(a) hereof or any amendment or supplement thereto under Section 3(b)
hereof without the consent of the holders of a majority in interest of the
Registrable Securities.
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTORS.
In connection with the registration of the Registrable
Securities, the Investors shall have the following obligations:
a. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of
the Company to complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect
to the Registrable Securities of a particular Investor that such Investor shall
furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable
Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable
Securities held by it as shall be reasonably required to effect the registration
of such Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection
with such registration as the Company may reasonably request. At least five (5)
business days prior to the first anticipated filing date of the Registration
Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor of the information the Company
requires from each such Investor.
b. Each Investor, by such Investor's acceptance of the
Registrable Securities, agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably
requested by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of each
Registration Statement hereunder, unless such Investor has notified the Company
in writing of such Investor's election to exclude all of such Investor's
Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement.
c. In the event Investors holding a majority in interest of
the Registrable Securities being offered determine to engage the services of an
underwriter, each Investor agrees to enter into and perform such Investor's
obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and
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customary form, including, without limitation, customary indemnification and
contribution obligations, with the managing underwriter of such offering and
take such other actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or
facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities, unless such Investor
has notified the Company in writing of such Investor's election not to
participate in such underwritten distribution.
d. Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice
from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Sections
3(f) or 3(g), such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such
Registrable Securities until such Investor's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Sections 3(f) or 3(g) and, if
so directed by the Company, such Investor shall deliver to the Company (at the
expense of the Company) or destroy (and deliver to the Company a certificate of
destruction) all copies in such Investor's possession, of the prospectus
covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such
notice.
e. No Investor may participate in any underwritten
distribution hereunder unless such Investor (i) agrees to sell such Investor's
Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements in
usual and customary form entered into by the Company, (ii) completes and
executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting
agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such
underwriting arrangements, and (iii) agrees to pay its pro rata share of all
underwriting discounts and commissions and any expenses in excess of those
payable by the Company pursuant to Section 5 below.
5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.
All reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and
commissions, incurred in connection with registrations, filings or
qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, including, without limitation, all
registration, listing and qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, the
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and the fees and disbursements
contemplated by Section 3(k) hereof shall be borne by the Company. In addition,
the Company shall pay all of the Investors' costs and expenses (including legal
fees) incurred in connection with the enforcement of the rights of the Investors
hereunder.
6. INDEMNIFICATION.
In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a
Registration Statement under this Agreement:
a. To the extent permitted by law, the Company will
indemnify, hold harmless and defend (i) each Investor who holds such Registrable
Securities, and (ii) the directors, officers, partners, members, employees,
agents and each person who controls any Investor within the meaning of Section
15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act"), if any, (each, an "Indemnified Person"),
against any joint or several losses,
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claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (collectively, together with actions,
proceedings or inquiries by any regulatory or self-regulatory organization,
whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof, "Claims") to which any of
them may become subject insofar as such Claims arise out of or are based upon:
(i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in a
Registration Statement or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus if used prior to the
effective date of such Registration Statement, or contained in the final
prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the Company files any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or the omission or alleged omission
to state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements made
therein, in light of the circumstances under which the statements therein were
made, not misleading, or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company
of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any other applicable securities law,
including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or
regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable
Securities (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) being,
collectively, "Violations"). Subject to the restrictions set forth in Section
6(c) with respect to the number of legal counsel, the Company shall reimburse
the Investors and each other Indemnified Person, promptly as such expenses are
incurred and are due and payable, for any reasonable legal fees or other
reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (i) shall
not apply to a Claim arising out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the
Company by such Indemnified Person expressly for use in the Registration
Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto; (ii) shall not
apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected
without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld; and (iii) with respect to any preliminary prospectus,
shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Person if the untrue statement
or omission of material fact contained in the preliminary prospectus was
corrected on a timely basis in the prospectus, as then amended or supplemented,
if such corrected prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant
to Section 3(c) hereof, and the Indemnified Person was promptly advised in
writing not to use the incorrect prospectus prior to the use giving rise to a
Violation and such Indemnified Person, notwithstanding such advice, used it.
Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person and shall survive
the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section
9 hereof.
b. In connection with any Registration Statement in which
an Investor is participating, each such Investor agrees severally and not
jointly to indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the
same manner set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each
of its officers who signs the Registration Statement, its employees, agents and
each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15
of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and any other
stockholder selling securities pursuant to the Registration Statement or any of
its directors or officers or any person who controls such stockholder within the
meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (collectively and together
with an
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Indemnified Person, an "Indemnified Party"), against any Claim to which any of
them may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or
otherwise, insofar as such Claim arises out of or is based upon any Violation,
in each case to the extent (and only to the extent) that such Violation occurs
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by such Investor expressly for use in connection with such Registration
Statement; and subject to Section 6(c) such Investor will reimburse any legal or
other expenses (promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable)
reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any
such Claim; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this
Section 6(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such
settlement is effected without the prior written consent of such Investor, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, further, however, that the
Investor shall be liable under this Agreement (including this Section 6(b) and
Section 7) for only that amount as does not exceed the net proceeds actually
received by such Investor as a result of the sale of Registrable Securities
pursuant to such Registration Statement. Such indemnity shall remain in full
force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such
Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities
by the Investors pursuant to Section 9 hereof. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this
Section 6(b) with respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the
benefit of any Indemnified Party if the untrue statement or omission of material
fact contained in the preliminary prospectus was corrected on a timely basis in
the prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, and the Indemnified Party
failed to utilize such corrected prospectus.
c. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any
action (including any governmental action), such Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to made against any
indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party a
written notice of the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall
have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so
desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume
control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the
indemnifying party and the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party, as the
case may be; provided, however, that such indemnifying party shall not be
entitled to assume such defense and an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the fees and expenses to be
paid by the indemnifying party, if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel
retained by the indemnifying party, the representation by such counsel of the
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and the indemnifying party would be
inappropriate due to actual or potential conflicts of interest between such
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such
counsel in such proceeding or the actual or potential defendants in, or targets
of, any such action include both the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party
and the indemnifying party and any such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
reasonably determines that there may be legal defenses available to such
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party which are different from or in addition
to those available to such indemnifying party. The indemnifying party shall pay
for only one separate legal counsel for the Indemnified Persons or the
Indemnified Parties, as applicable, and such legal counsel shall be selected by
Investors holding a majority-in-
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interest of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement to
which the Claim relates (with the approval of the Initial Investors if they hold
Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement), if the
Investors are entitled to indemnification hereunder, or by the Company, if the
Company is entitled to indemnification hereunder, as applicable. The failure to
deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the
commencement of any such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any
liability to the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6,
except to the extent that the indemnifying party is actually prejudiced in its
ability to defend such action. The indemnification required by this Section 6
shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of
the investigation or defense, as such expense, loss, damage or liability is
incurred and is due and payable.
7. CONTRIBUTION.
To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is
prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum
contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable
under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that
(i) no contribution shall be made under circumstances where the maker would not
have been liable for indemnification under the fault standards set forth in
Section 6, (ii) no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of
such fraudulent misrepresentation, and (iii) contribution (together with any
indemnification or other obligations under this Agreement) by any seller of
Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds
received by such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities.
8. REPORTS UNDER THE EXCHANGE ACT.
With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits
of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or any other similar rule or
regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Investors to sell
securities of the Company to the public without registration ("Rule 144"), the
Company agrees to:
a. file with the SEC in a timely manner and make and keep
available all reports and other documents required of the Company under the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act so long as the Company remains subject to
such requirements (it being understood that nothing herein shall limit the
Company's obligations under Section 4(c) of the Securities Purchase Agreement)
and the filing and availability of such reports and other documents is required
for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
b. furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns
shares of Preferred Stock, Warrants or Registrable Securities, promptly upon
request, (i) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the
reporting requirements of Rule 144, the Securities Act and the Exchange Act,
(ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and
such other reports and documents so filed by the Company, and (iii) such other
information as may be
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reasonably requested to permit the Investors to sell such securities under Rule
144 without registration.
9. ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
The rights of the Investors hereunder, including the right to
have the Company register Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement,
shall be automatically assignable by each Investor to any transferee of all or
any portion of the Warrants or the 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 after such assignment, (ii)
the Company is furnished with written notice of (a) the name and address of such
transferee or assignee, and (b) the securities with respect to which such
registration rights are being transferred or assigned, (iii) following such
transfer or assignment, the further disposition of such securities by the
transferee or assignee is restricted under the Securities Act and applicable
state securities laws, (iv) the transferee or assignee agrees in writing for the
benefit of the Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein,
and (v) such transfer shall have been made in accordance with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Purchase Agreement.
10. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance
thereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either
retroactively or prospectively), only with written consent of the Company and
Investors who hold a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities;
provided, however, that no amendment hereto which restricts the ability of an
Investor to elect not to participate in an underwritten offering shall be
effective against any Investor which does not consent in writing to such
amendment; provided, further, however, that no consideration shall be paid to an
Investor by the Company in connection with an amendment hereto unless each
Investor similarly affected by such amendment receives a pro-rata amount of
consideration from the Company. Unless an Investor otherwise agrees, each
amendment hereto must similarly affect each Investor. Any amendment or waiver
effected in accordance with this Section 10 shall be binding upon each Investor
and the Company.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
a. A person or entity is deemed to be a holder of
Registrable Securities whenever such person or entity owns of record such
Registrable Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions,
notices or elections from two or more persons or entities with respect to the
same Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of
instructions, notice or election received from the registered owner of such
Registrable Securities.
b. Any notices required or permitted to be given under the
terms of this Agreement shall be sent by certified or registered mail (return
receipt requested) or delivered personally or by courier or by confirmed
telecopy, and shall be effective five (5) days after being
-16-
placed in the mail, if mailed, or upon receipt or refusal of receipt, if
delivered personally or by courier or confirmed telecopy, in each case addressed
to a party. The addresses for such communications shall be:
If to the Company:
The Netplex Group, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
XxXxxx, XX 00000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxx Xxxxx, President and CEO
with a copy simultaneously transmitted by like means to:
Vedder, Price, Xxxxxxx & Kammholz
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Xx.
and if to any Investor, at such address as such Investor shall have provided in
writing to the Company, or at such other address as each such party furnishes by
notice given in accordance with this Section 11(b).
c. Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy
under this Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right
or remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof.
d. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made
and to be performed in the State of New York. The Company irrevocably consents
to the jurisdiction of the United States federal courts and the state courts
located in the City of New York in the State of New York in any suit or
proceeding based on or arising under this Agreement and irrevocably agrees that
all claims in respect of such suit or proceeding may be determined in such
courts. The Company irrevocably waives the defense of an inconvenient forum to
the maintenance of such suit or proceeding. The Company further agrees that
service of process upon the Company, mailed by first class mail shall be deemed
in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit
or proceeding. Nothing herein shall affect the Investors' right to serve process
in any other manner permitted by law. The Company agrees that a final
non-appealable judgment in any such suit or proceeding shall be conclusive and
may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on such judgment or in any other
lawful manner.
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e. This Agreement, the Securities Purchase Agreement
(including all schedules and exhibits thereto) and the Warrants constitute the
entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof and thereof. This Agreement, the Securities Purchase Agreement and the
Warrants supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
f. Subject to the requirements of Section 9 hereof, this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and
assigns of each of the parties hereto.
g. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
h. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall
constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement, once executed by a party,
may be delivered to the other party hereto by facsimile transmission of a copy
of this Agreement bearing the signature of the party so delivering this
Agreement.
i. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and
performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all
such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other
party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the
purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
j. All consents, approvals and other determinations to be
made by the Investors or the Initial Investors pursuant to this Agreement shall
be made by the Investors or the Initial Investors holding a majority in interest
of the Registrable Securities (determined as if all Warrants then outstanding
had been exercised for Registrable Securities) held by all Investors or Initial
Investors, as the case may be.
k. The initial number of Registrable Securities included on
any Registration Statement and each increase (if any) to the number of
Registrable Securities included thereon shall be allocated pro rata among the
Investors based on the number of Registrable Securities held by each Investor at
the time of such establishment or increase, as the case may be. In the event an
Investor shall sell or otherwise transfer any of such holder's Registrable
Securities, each transferee shall be allocated a pro rata portion of the number
of Registrable Securities included on a Registration Statement for such
transferor. Any shares of Common Stock included on a Registration Statement and
which remain allocated to any person or entity which does not hold any
Registrable Securities shall be allocated to the remaining Investors, pro rata
based on the number of shares of Registrable Securities then held by such
Investors. For the avoidance of doubt, the number of Registrable Securities held
by any Investor shall be determined as if all Warrants then outstanding were
exercised for Registrable Securities.
-18-
l. Each party to this Agreement has participated in the
negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. As such, the language used herein
shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their
mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction will be applied against any
party to this Agreement.
m. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "business day"
means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banking
institutions in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by law,
regulation or executive order to close.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed as of the date first above written.
THE NETPLEX GROUP, INC.
By:_________________________
Name:_______________________
Its:________________________
INITIAL INVESTORS:
XXXXXXX XXXXX PERFORMANCE PARTNERS, L.P.
By: Commodities Corporation LLC, its general partner
By:_________________________
Name:_______________________
Its:________________________
XXXXXXX SACHS PERFORMANCE PARTNERS
(OFFSHORE), L.P.
By: Commodities Corporation LLC, its general partner
By:_________________________
Name:_______________________
Its:________________________
THE ZANETT SECURITIES CORPORATION
By:_________________________
Name:_______________________
Its:________________________
EXHIBIT 1
to
Registration
Rights
Agreement
[Date]
[Name and address
of transfer agent]
RE: THE NETPLEX GROUP, INC.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are counsel to THE NETPLEX GROUP, INC., a corporation
organized under the laws of the State of New York (the "Company"), and we
understand that [Name of Investor] (the "Holder") has purchased from the Company
(i) prepaid common stock purchase warrants (the "Prepaid Warrants") which
entitle the holder thereof to acquire shares of the Company's common stock, par
value $.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), and (ii) additional warrants (the
"Incentive Warrants") to acquire shares of Common Stock. Pursuant to a
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September __, 1998, by and among the
Company and the signatories thereto (the "Registration Rights Agreement"), the
Company agreed with the Holder, among other things, to register the Registrable
Securities (as that term is defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), upon the terms
provided in the Registration Rights Agreement. In connection with the Company's
obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, on ___________, 1998, the
Company filed a Registration Statement on Form S-___ (File No. 333-
_____________) (the "Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") relating to the Registrable Securities, which names the
Holder as a selling stockholder thereunder. The Registration Statement was
declared effective by the SEC on _____________, 1998.
[Other customary introductory and scope of examination
language to be inserted]
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the
Registrable Securities have been registered under the Securities Act.
[Other customary language to be included.]
Very truly yours,
cc: [Name of Investor]
