EXHIBIT 4.4
EXHIBIT C
to
Securities
Purchase
Agreement
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of September 8,
1997, by and among THE L. L. XXXXXXXXXXXXX CO., INC., a corporation organized
under the laws of the State of California, with headquarters located at 00000
Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 (the "Company"), and the undersigned
(together with affiliates, the "Initial Investor").
WHEREAS:
A. In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement of even date
herewith by and between the Company and the Initial Investor (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 Investor (i)
convertible debentures ("Debentures") in the aggregate principal amount of Five
Million Dollars ($5,000,000) due September 7, 2000, which are convertible into
shares of the Company's common stock, no par value per share (the "Common
Stock"), and (ii) warrants (the "Warrants") to acquire an aggregate of 88,132
shares of Common Stock. The shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of
or otherwise pursuant to the Debentures are referred to herein as the
"Conversion Shares" and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of or
otherwise pursuant to the Warrants are referred to herein as the "Warrant
Shares."
B. To induce the Initial Investor 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;
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
Investor hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
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a. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
(i) "Investors" means the Initial Investor 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 (i) the Conversion Shares,
(ii) the Warrant Shares and (iii) 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.
2. REGISTRATION.
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a. Mandatory Registration. The Company shall prepare and use its
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best efforts to file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC"), on or prior to the date (the "Filing Date") which is twenty (20) days
after the Issue Date (as defined in the Debentures), 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, subject to the consent of the Initial Investor (as
determined pursuant to Section 11(j) hereof)) covering the resale of at least
1,240,000 Registrable Securities, which Registration Statement, 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 conversion of the Debentures and 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 Conversion Price of the
Debentures or the Exercise Price of the Warrants in accordance with the terms
thereof, including, but not limited to, the terms which cause the Variable
Conversion Price of the Debentures to decrease to the extent the bid price of
the Common Stock decreases. The Registrable Securities included in the
Registration Statement shall be allocated to the Investors as set forth in
Section 11(k) hereof. The Registration Statement (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 Investor and
its counsel prior to its filing or other submission.
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b. Underwritten Offering. If any offering pursuant to a
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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 Investor, shall have the right to select one legal counsel to represent
the Investors 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 use its best efforts
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to cause the 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 ninetieth (90th) day after the Issue Date (the "Registration
Deadline"). If (i) the Registration Statement(s) covering the Registrable
Securities required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof
is not filed with the SEC by the Filing Date or declared effective by the SEC on
or before the Registration Deadline or if, after the Registration Statement has
been declared effective by the SEC, sales of all the Registrable Securities
(including any Registrable Securities required to be registered pursuant to
Section 3(b) hereof) cannot be made pursuant to the Registration Statement (by
reason of a stop order or the Company's failure to update the Registration
Statement or any other reason outside the control of the Investors) or (ii) the
Common Stock is not listed or included for quotation on the Nasdaq National
Market (the "NNM"), the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") or the American
Stock Exchange (the "AMEX") at any time after the Registration Deadline, 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
principal amount of the Debentures held by such Investor (including, without
limitation, Debentures that have been converted into Conversion Shares then held
by such Investor) (the "Aggregate Principal Amount"), multiplied by (ii) two
percent (2.0%), multiplied by (iii) the sum of (x) the number of months (pro
rated for partial months) after the Filing Date and prior to the date the
Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a) is filed
with the SEC, plus (y) the number of months (pro rated for partial months) after
the Registration Deadline and prior to the date the Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2(a) is declared effective by the SEC, plus (z) the number
of additional months (prorated for partial months) that sales of any Registrable
Securities cannot be made pursuant to the Registration Statement after the
Registration Statement has been declared effective or the Common Stock is not
listed or included for quotation on the NNM, the 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
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in the Registration Statement with respect to information relating to
the Investors, including, without limitation, changes to the plan of
distribution. For example, if the Registration Statement is not effective by
the Registration Deadline, the Company would pay $20,000 per month for each
$1,000,000 of Aggregate Principal Amount 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 "Conversion Price" (as
defined in the Debentures). 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 of the date on which
such amounts are first payable in cash and such amounts shall be so convertible
(pursuant to the mechanics set forth under Article IV of the Debentures),
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.
d. Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time prior to the expiration
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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) and the Company is not prohibited from including
such Registrable Securities on such Registration Statement, 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 fifteen (15) 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 for the account of the Company
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
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demand registration rights (except to the extent any existing agreements
otherwise provide). 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
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that it meets the requirements for the use of Form S-3 for registration of the
sale by the Initial Investor and any other Investor of the Registrable
Securities and the Company shall file all reports required to be filed 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
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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 Conversion Price of the
Debentures in accordance with the terms thereof, including, but not limited to,
the terms which cause the Variable Conversion Price to decrease to the extent
the 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 the maximum number of Registrable Securities which may be registered
pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act are covered by 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.
3. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY.
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In connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities, the
Company shall have the following obligations:
a. The Company shall prepare promptly and use its best efforts to
file with the SEC the Registration Statement required by Section 2(a) as soon as
practicable after the Issue Date (but in no event later than the Filing Date),
and cause such Registration Statement relating to Registrable Securities to
become effective as soon as practicable after such filing (but in no event later
than the Registration Deadline), and keep the Registration Statement 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
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Securities have been sold and (ii) the date on which all of the Registrable
Securities (in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Initial Investor) may be
immediately sold to the public without registration or restriction pursuant to
Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act (the "Registration Period"), which
Registration Statement (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.
b. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments
(including post-effective amendments) and supplements to the Registration
Statement and the prospectus used in connection with the Registration Statement
as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement 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 Statement
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 Statement. 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 a
Registration Statement 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 conversion
of the Debentures and exercise of the Warrants (without giving effect to any
limitations on conversion or exercise contained in Article IV.C of the
Debentures or Section 7(g) of the Warrants), 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 two hundred percent
(200%) of the Registrable Securities so issued or issuable (without giving
effect to any limitations on conversion or exercise contained in Article IV.C of
the Debentures or Section 7(g) of 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 of the
Common Stock and other relevant factors on which the Company reasonably elects
to rely). The Company shall cause such amendment and/or new Registration
Statement to become effective as soon as practicable following the filing
thereof. In the event the Company fails to obtain the effectiveness of any such
Registration Statement within sixty (60) days after a Registration Trigger Date,
each Investor shall thereafter have the option, exercisable in whole or in part
at any time and from time to time by delivery of a written notice to the Company
(a "Redemption Notice"), to require the Company to purchase for cash, at an
amount per share equal to the Default Amount (as defined in Article VIII of the
Debentures), a portion of the Investor's Debentures such that the total number
of Registrable Securities included on the Registration Statement for resale by
such Investor exceeds 135% of the Registrable Securities issued or issuable upon
conversion of such Investor's Debentures and exercise of such Investor's
Warrants (without
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giving effect to any limitations on conversion or exercise contained in Article
IV.C of the Debentures or Section 7(g) of the Warrants). If the Company fails to
purchase any of such Debentures within five (5) business days after its receipt
of a Redemption Notice, then such Investor shall be entitled to the remedies
provided in Article VIII.C of the Debentures.
c. The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose Registrable
Securities are included in the 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 the Registration Statement and any
amendment thereto, each preliminary prospectus and prospectus and each amendment
or supplement thereto, and, in the case of the 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 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 the Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto, a notice stating that the 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.
d. The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) register and
qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the 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.
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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 the
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 Investor to review the Registration Statement and all 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.
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 the Registration Statement.
j. At the request of any Investor, the Company shall furnish, on the
date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement (i) an opinion, dated as of
such date, from counsel representing the Company addressed to the Investors and
in form, scope and substances as is customarily given in an underwritten public
offering and (ii) in the case of an underwriting, 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 the
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
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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.
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, (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 the Registrable Securities covered by the 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 the Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement on the NNM 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 ("NASD")
as such with respect to such Registrable Securities.
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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 the 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 the 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 Statement and the prospectus used in connection
with the 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 such 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.
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In connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities, the
Investors shall have the following obligations:
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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 the 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 the 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 customary form,
including, without limitation, customary indemnification and contribution
obligations, with the underwriter(s) of such offering and the Company 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 Section 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 Section 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.
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5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.
------------------------
All reasonable expenses incurred by the Company or the Investors in
connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Sections 2
and 3 above, including, without limitation, all registration, listing and
qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, the fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company, the fees and disbursements of one counsel selected by
the Investors, and underwriting discounts and commissions 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 and agents of such
Investor 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, 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 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
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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.
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 or
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act
(collectively and together with an 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. 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.
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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 in conflict with 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-interest of the Registrable Securities included in the
Registration Statement to which the Claim relates (with the approval of the
Initial Investor if it holds 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
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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 Debentures,
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
reasonably requested to permit the Investors to sell such securities pursuant to
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 Debentures, 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 with 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
-15-
written consent of the Company, the Initial Investor (to the extent the Initial
Investor still owns Debentures, Warrants or Registrable Securities) and
Investors who hold a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities or, in
the case of a waiver, with the written consent of the party charged with the
enforcement of any such provision. 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 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 L.L. Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Co., Inc.
00000 Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, CFO
with a copy to:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
00 Xxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopy: (000) 000-0000
If to an Investor, at such address as such Investor shall have
provided in writing to the Company or such other address as such Investor
furnishes by notice given in accordance with this Section 11(b).
-16-
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. Governing Law; Jurisdiction. 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
state courts located in San Francisco, California 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 an Investor's 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.
e. This Agreement, the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Debentures
and the Warrants (including all schedules and exhibits thereto) 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, the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Debentures and the Warrants
supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the parties hereto and
thereto 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.
-17-
j. All consents, approvals and other determinations to be made by
the Investors or the Initial Investor pursuant to this Agreement shall be made
by the Investors holding a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities
(determined as if all Debentures and Warrants then outstanding had been
converted into or exercised for Registrable Securities) then held by all
Investors or by the Initial Investor, as the case may be.
k. The initial number of Registrable Securities included on any
Registration Statement and each increase 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 an Investor shall be determined as
if all Debentures and Warrants then outstanding and held by an Investor were
converted into or exercised for Registrable Securities.
l. 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 L.L. XXXXXXXXXXXXX CO., INC.
By:
---------------------------------
Name:
-------------------------------
Its:
--------------------------------
Initial Investor:
CAPITAL VENTURES INTERNATIONAL
By: Heights Capital Management, its authorized agent
By:
----------------------------
Name:
--------------------------
Title:
-------------------------
