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Exhibit 99.5
EXHIBIT D
TO
SECURITIES
PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT"), dated as of April 27,
2000, by and among ARI Network Services, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation, with its
headquarters located at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53202-3149 (the "COMPANY"), and each of the undersigned (together with their
respective affiliates and any assignee or transferee of all of their respective
rights hereunder, the "INITIAL INVESTORS").
WHEREAS:
A. In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement by and among
the parties hereto of even date herewith (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) convertible subordinated
debentures (the "DEBENTURES") that are convertible into 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 such Debentures, (ii)
investment options (the "INVESTMENT OPTIONS") to acquire 800,000 shares of
Common Stock, upon the terms and conditions and subject to the limitations and
conditions set forth in the Investment Options dated April 27, 2000; and (iii)
warrants (the "WARRANTS") to acquire 600,000 shares of Common Stock, upon the
terms and conditions and subject to the limitations and conditions set forth in
the Warrants dated April 27, 2000; and
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
"1933 ACT"), and applicable state securities laws;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each
of 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 transferee
or assignee who agrees to become bound by the provisions of this
Agreement in accordance with Section 9 hereof.
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(II) "REGISTER," "REGISTERED," and "REGISTRATION" refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement
or Statements in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule 415
under the 1933 Act or any successor rule providing for offering
securities on a continuous basis ("RULE 415"), and the declaration or
ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement by the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
(III) "REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means (a) the Conversion Shares
issued and issuable upon conversion of or otherwise pursuant to the
Debentures issued and issuable, (b) Investment Option Shares issued and
issuable upon exercise of or otherwise pursuant to the Investment
Options issued and issuable, (c) Warrant Shares issued and issuable
upon exercise of or otherwise pursuant to the Warrants issued and
issuable and (d) any shares of capital stock issued or issuable as a
dividend on or in exchange for or otherwise with respect to any of the
foregoing.
(IV) "REGISTRATION STATEMENT(S)" means a registration
statement(s) of the Company under the 1933 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.
A. MANDATORY REGISTRATION. The Company shall prepare, and, on or prior
to the date (the "FILING DATE") which is thirty (30) days after the date of the
Closing under the Securities Purchase Agreement (the "CLOSING 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 the Registrable Securities, subject to the consent of the
Initial Investors, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) covering the
resale of the Registrable Securities, which Registration Statement, to the
extent allowable under the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations 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 or otherwise pursuant to the Debentures
and exercise of or otherwise pursuant to the Investment Options and the Warrants
to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar
transactions. The number of shares of Common Stock initially included in such
Registration Statement shall be no less than one and one-half (1 1/2) times the
sum of (i) the aggregate number of Conversion Shares that are then issuable upon
conversion of or otherwise pursuant to the Debentures, (ii) the aggregate number
of Investment Option Shares that are then issuable upon exercise of or otherwise
pursuant to the Investment Options and (iii) the aggregate number of Warrant
Shares that are then issuable upon exercise of or otherwise pursuant to the
Warrants, without regard to any limitation on the Investor's ability to convert
the Debentures or exercise the Investment Options and the Warrants. The Company
acknowledges that the number of shares initially included in the Registration
Statement represents a good faith estimate of the maximum number of shares
issuable upon
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conversion of or otherwise pursuant to the Debentures and exercise of or
otherwise pursuant to the Investment Options and the Warrants. 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 Investors and their counsel prior to its filing or
other submission. The Initial Investors shall not resell the Registrable
Securities pursuant to a public offering underwritten by an investment bank or
similar manager.
B. [Intentionally Omitted]
C. PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY. The Company shall use its best efforts to
obtain effectiveness of the Registration Statement as soon as practicable, but
in any event not later than the one hundred twentieth (120th) day after the
Closing Date (the "REGISTRATION DEADLINE"). If (i) the Registration Statement
covering the Registrable Securities required to be filed by the Company pursuant
to Section 2(a) hereof is not declared effective by the SEC by the Registration
Deadline, or (ii) after the Registration Statement has been declared effective
by the SEC, sales of all of the Registrable Securities cannot be made pursuant
to the Registration Statement, or (iii) the Common Stock is not listed or
included for quotation on the Nasdaq National Market ("NASDAQ"), the Nasdaq
SmallCap Market ("NASDAQ SMALLCAP"), the New York Stock Exchange (the " NYSE")
or the American Stock Exchange (the "AMEX") after being so listed or included
for quotation, 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 holder of the Debentures or Registerable
Securities an amount equal to the then outstanding principal amount of the
Debentures (and, in the case of holders of Registrable Securities, the principal
amount of Debentures from which such Registrable Securities were converted)
("OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL AMOUNT ") multiplied by the Applicable Percentage (as
defined below) times the sum of: (i) the number of months (prorated for partial
months) after the end of the Registration Deadline and prior to the date the
Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC; provided, however, that
there shall be excluded from such period any delays which are solely
attributable to changes 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, or to the failure of the
Investors to conduct their review of the Registration Statement pursuant to
Section 3(h) below in a reasonably prompt manner; and (ii) the number of months
(prorated for partial months) during the Registration Period (as defined below)
that sales of all of the Registrable Securities cannot be made pursuant to the
Registration Statement after the Registration Statement has been declared
effective (including, without limitation, when sales cannot be made by reason of
the Company's failure to properly supplement or amend the prospectus included
therein in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (including Section 3(b)
hereof or otherwise), but excluding any days during an Allowed Delay (as defined
in Section 3(f)); and (iii) the number of months (prorated for partial months)
that the Common Stock is not listed or included for quotation on the Nasdaq,
Nasdaq SmallCap, NYSE or AMEX or that trading thereon is halted after the
Registration Statement has been declared effective. The term "APPLICABLE
PERCENTAGE" means (i) one hundredth (.01) with respect to the first two (2)
calendar months of any
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calculation hereunder and (ii) two hundredths (.02) for any other purpose. (For
example, if the Registration Statement becomes effective one (1) month after the
Registration Deadline, the Company would pay $10,000 for each $1,000,000 of
Outstanding Principal Amount. If thereafter, sales of all of the Registrable
Securities could not be made pursuant to the Registration Statement for any
additional period of two (2) months, the Company would pay an additional $10,000
for the first month for each $1,000,000 of Outstanding Principal Amount and
$20,000 for the second month for each $1,000,000 of Outstanding Principal
Amount.) Such amounts shall be paid in cash or, at each Investor's option, may
be added to the Conversion Amount (as defined in the Debentures) of the
Debentures pursuant to Section II.A.1 of the Debentures and thereafter be
convertible into Common Stock at the "CONVERSION PRICE" (as defined in the
Debentures) in accordance with the terms of 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 I 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. Subject to the last sentence of this
Section 2(d), if at any time prior to the expiration of the Registration Period
(as hereinafter defined) the Company shall determine to file with the SEC a
Registration Statement relating to an offering for its own account or the
account of others under the 1933 Act of any of its 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 fifteen (15) days after the effective 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
by contract 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
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immediately preceding proviso, any exclusion of Registrable Securities shall be
made pro rata with holders of other securities having the contractual 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. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
set forth herein, the registration rights of the Investors pursuant to this
Section 2(d) shall only be available in the event the Company fails to timely
file, obtain effectiveness or maintain effectiveness of any Registration
Statement to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a) in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement.
E. ELIGIBILITY FOR FORM S-3. The Company represents and warrants that
it meets the registrant eligibility and transaction requirements for the use of
Form S-3 for registration of the sale by the Initial Investors and any other
Investors 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.
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 promptly, and file with the SEC as soon as
practicable after the Closing Date (but no later than the Filing Date), a
Registration Statement with respect to the number of Registrable Securities
provided in Section 2(a), and thereafter use its best efforts to cause such
Registration Statement relating to Registrable Securities to become effective as
soon as possible 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 Securities have been sold and (ii) the date on which the Registrable
Securities (in the opinion of counsel to the Initial Investors) may be
immediately sold to the public without registration or restriction (including
without limitation as to volume by each holder thereof) under the 1933 Act (the
"REGISTRATION PERIOD"), which Registration Statement (including any amendments
or supplements thereto and prospectuses contained therein) shall not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be required to keep the
Registration Statement effective past the date which is one (1) year after the
date the last of the Debentures, Warrants or Investment Options have expired or
been converted or exercised (subject to extension by one (1) Trading Day (as
defined in the Debenture) for each Trading Day that (i) any Registration
Statement required to be filed and to be effective pursuant to this
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Agreement is not effective or sales of all of the Registrable Securities
otherwise cannot be made thereunder during the Registration Period (whether by
reason of the Company's failure to properly supplement or amend the prospectus
included therein in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or otherwise,
including during an Allowed Delay (as defined below)), (ii) any Mandatory
Redemption Event or Trading Market Redemption Event (both as defined in the
Debenture) exists, without regard to whether any periods shall have run or (iii)
the Company is in breach of any of its obligations pursuant to Section 4(h) of
the Securities Purchase Agreement).
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 1933 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 that on any
Trading Day (as defined in the Debentures) (the "REGISTRATION TRIGGER DATE ")
the number of shares available under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to
this Agreement is insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities issued
or issuable upon conversion of or otherwise pursuant to the Debentures (based on
the Conversion Price of the Debentures) and exercise of or otherwise pursuant to
the Investment Options and the Warrants, in each case without giving effect to
any limitations on the Investors' ability to convert the Debentures or exercise
the Investment Options and the Warrants, the Company shall amend the
Registration Statement, or file a new Registration Statement (on the short form
available therefore, if applicable), or both, so as to cover one hundred and
fifty percent (150%) of all of the Registrable Securities so issued or issuable
(without giving effect to any limitations on conversion contained in the
Debentures or exercise contained in the Investment Options and the Warrants) as
of the Registration Trigger Date, in each case, as soon as practicable, but in
any event within twenty (20) business days after the necessity therefor arises
(based on the Conversion Price of the Debentures and the exercise price of the
Investment Options and the Warrants and other relevant factors on which the
Company reasonably elects to rely). The Company shall use its best efforts to
cause such amendment and/or new Registration Statement to become effective as
soon as practicable following the filing thereof, but in any event within sixty
(60) days of the Registration Trigger Date. The provisions of Section 2(c) above
shall be applicable with respect to the Company's obligations under this Section
3(b).
C. The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose Registrable
Securities are included in a 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 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, 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 of any thereof which
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contains information for which the Company has sought confidential treatment),
and (ii) 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. The Company will
immediately notify each Investor by facsimile of the effectiveness of each
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment. The Company will
promptly respond to any and all comments received from the SEC, with a view
towards causing each Registration Statement or any amendment thereto to be
declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable and shall file an
acceleration request as soon as practicable following the resolution or
clearance of all SEC comments or, if applicable, following notification by the
SEC that any such Registration Statement or any amendment thereto will not be
subject to review.
D. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to (i) register and qualify
the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statements under such
other securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions in the United States
as the Investors who hold a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities
being offered reasonably request, (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 by-laws, 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. [Intentionally Omitted]
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 any
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 any 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; provided that, for not more than twenty (20) consecutive
trading days (or a total of not more than forty-five (45) trading days in any
twelve (12) month period), the Company may delay the disclosure of material
non-public information concerning the Company (as well as prospectus or
Registration Statement updating) the disclosure of which at the time is not, in
the good faith opinion of the Company, in the best interests of the Company (an
"ALLOWED DELAY"); provided, further, that the Company shall promptly (i) notify
the Investors in writing of the existence of (but in no event,
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without the prior written consent of an Investor, shall the Company disclose to
such Investor any of the facts or circumstances regarding) material non-public
information giving rise to an Allowed Delay and (ii) advise the Investors in
writing to cease all sales under such Registration Statement until the end of
the Allowed Delay. Upon expiration of the Allowed Delay, the Company shall again
be bound by the first sentence of this Section 3(f) with respect to the
information giving rise thereto.
G. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of
any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of any Registration
Statement, and, if such an order is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such
order at the earliest possible moment and to notify each Investor who holds
Registrable Securities being sold of the issuance of such order and the
resolution thereof.
H. The Company shall permit a single firm of counsel designated by the
Initial Investors to review such Registration Statement and all amendments and
supplements thereto (as well as all requests for acceleration or effectiveness
thereof) 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 such Registration Statement without prior notice to
such counsel. The sections of such Registration Statement covering information
with respect to the Investors, the Investor's beneficial ownership of securities
of the Company or the Investors intended method of disposition of Registrable
Securities shall conform to the information provided to the Company by each of
the Investors.
I. The Company shall make generally available to its security holders
as soon as practicable, 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 0000 Xxx) 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. [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
K. The Company shall make available for inspection by (i) any
Investor,(ii) one firm of attorneys and one firm of accountants or other agents
retained by the Initial Investors, and (iii) one firm of attorneys and one firm
of accountants or other agents retained by all other Investors, (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
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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 (or in any other confidentiality agreement between
the Company and any Investor) shall be deemed to limit the Investor's 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, or (iv) such information has
been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in
violation of this or any other agreement. The Company agrees that it shall, upon
learning that disclosure of such information concerning an Investor is sought in
or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other
means, give prompt 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 (i) cause all the Registrable Securities covered
by the Registration Statement to be listed on each national securities exchange
on which securities of the same class or series issued by the Company are then
listed, if any, if the listing of such Registrable Securities is then permitted
under the rules of such exchange, or (ii) to the extent the securities of the
same class or series are not then listed on a national securities exchange,
secure the designation and quotation, of all the Registrable Securities covered
by the Registration Statement on Nasdaq or, if not eligible for Nasdaq on the
Nasdaq SmallCap and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to
arrange for at least two market makers to register with the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") as such with respect to such Registrable
Securities.
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 to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing Registrable
Securities to be offered pursuant to such Registration Statement and enable such
certificates to be in such denominations or amounts, as
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the case may be, as the Investors may reasonably request and registered in such
names as 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 instruction in the form attached
hereto as EXHIBIT 1 and an opinion of such counsel in the form attached hereto
as EXHIBIT 2.
P. At the request of the holders of a majority-in-interest of the
Registrable Securities, subject to Section 2(a), the Company shall prepare and
file with the SEC such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and
supplements to a Registration Statement and any 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 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. In addition, the Company
shall not offer any securities for its own account or the account of others 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.
R. The Company shall take all other reasonable actions necessary to
expedite and facilitate disposition by the Investors of Registrable Securities
pursuant to a Registration Statement.
S. 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 1933 Act or the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "1934 Act") and the rules and regulations promulgated by
the SEC).
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 three (3) business
days prior to the first
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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
Statements 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 Statements.
C. [Intentionally Omitted]
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.
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 qualification fees, printers and accounting fees, and
the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company shall be borne by the
Company. The reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel selected by the
Initial Investors pursuant to Section 3(h) hereof, which fees and disbursements
of one counsel selected by the Initial Investors shall be counted toward the cap
of $20,000 set forth in Section 4(f) of the Securities Purchase Agreement, shall
be borne by the Company.
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,
(ii) the directors, officers, partners, employees, agents and each person who
controls any Investor within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, if
any, (iii) any underwriter (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) for the Investors, and
(iv) the directors, officers, partners, employees and each person who controls
any such underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 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
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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 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law,
including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or
regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable
Securities (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 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 any Indemnified Person
or underwriter for such Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with
the preparation of such 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, 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, each person, if any, who controls
the Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, any underwriter
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 1933 Act or the 1934 Act
(collectively and together with an Indemnified Person, an "INDEMNIFIED PARTY"),
against any Claim to which any of them may become subject, under the 1933 Act,
the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim arises out of or is based upon
any
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Violation by such Investor, 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 to 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.
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 be made against any indemnifying party under this
Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the
commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall have the right to
participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly
with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume control of the
defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party and
the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party, as the case may be; provided,
however, that an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall have the right to
retain its own counsel with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying
party, if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel retained by the indemnifying
party, the representation by such counsel of the Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party and the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to
actual or potential differing interests between such Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such counsel in such
proceeding. The 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 a majority-in-interest of the Initial
Investors), if the Investors are entitled to indemnification hereunder, or 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
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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 seller of Registrable Securities guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 0000 Xxx) shall be
entitled to contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not
guilty of 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 1934 ACT.
With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule 144
promulgated under the 1933 Act or any other similar rule or regulation of the
SEC that may at any time permit the investors to sell securities of the Company
to the public without registration ("RULE 144"), the Company agrees to:
A. make and keep current public information available, as those terms
are understood and defined in Rule 144;
B. file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents
required of the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so long as the
Company remains subject to such requirements (it being understood that nothing
herein shall limit the Company's obligations under Section 4(c) of the
Securities Purchase Agreement) and the filing of such reports and other
documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
C. furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns Registrable
Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company that
it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the 1933 Act and
the 1934 Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the
Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company, and (iii)
such other information as may be reasonably requested to permit the Investors to
sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.
9. ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
The rights under this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by the
Investors to any transferee of all or any portion of Registrable Securities if:
(i) the Investor agrees in writing with the transferee or assignee to assign
such rights, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the
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Company within a reasonable time after such assignment, (ii) the Company is,
within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with
written notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or assignee, and
(b) the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being
transferred or assigned, (iii) following such transfer or assignment, the
further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is
restricted under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, (iv) at or
before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause
(ii) of this sentence, the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the
Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein, (v) such transfer
shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of the
Securities Purchase Agreement and (vi) such transferee shall be an "ACCREDITED
INVESTOR" as that term defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the
1933 Act.
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, each of the Initial
Investors (to the extent such Initial Investor still owns Registrable
Securities) and Investors who hold a majority interest of the Registrable
Securities. 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 hereof
shall be sent by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested) or
delivered personally or by courier (including a recognized overnight delivery
service) or by facsimile and shall be effective five days after being placed in
the mail, if mailed by regular United States mail, or upon receipt, if delivered
personally or by courier (including a recognized overnight delivery service) or
by facsimile, in each case addressed to a party. The addresses for such
communications shall be:
If to the Company:
ARI Network Services, Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
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With copy to:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxxxxx & Xxxx
000 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
If to an Investor: to the address set forth immediately below such Investor's
name on the signature pages to the Securities Purchase Agreement.
With copy to:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Akerman, Senterfitt & Xxxxxx, P.A.
Xxx XX Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
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 Wisconsin applicable to agreements made and to be
performed in the State of Wisconsin (without regard to principles of conflict of
laws). Both parties irrevocably consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the
United States federal courts located in Delaware with respect to any suit or
proceeding based on or arising under this Agreement, the agreements entered into
in connection herewith or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby and
irrevocably agree that all claims in respect of such suit or proceeding may be
determined in such courts. Both parties irrevocably waive the defense of an
inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such suit or proceeding. Both parties
further agree that service of process upon a party mailed by first class mail
shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the party in
any such suit or proceeding. Nothing herein shall affect either party's right to
serve process in any other manner permitted by law. Both parties agree 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 and the Securities Purchase Agreement (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 and the Securities
Purchase Agreement supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
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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. Except as otherwise provided herein, all consents and other
determinations to be made by the Investors pursuant to this Agreement shall be
made by Investors holding a majority of the Registrable Securities, determined
as if the all of the Debentures then outstanding have been converted into for
Registrable Securities.
K. The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations
hereunder will cause irreparable harm to each Investor by vitiating the intent
and purpose of the transactions contemplated hereby. Accordingly, the Company
acknowledges that the remedy at law for breach of its obligations hereunder will
be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by the
Company of any of the provisions hereunder, that each Investor shall be
entitled, in addition to all other available remedies in law or in equity, to an
injunction or injunctions to prevent or cure breaches of the provisions of this
Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, without
the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security
being required.
L. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the
language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of
strict construction will be applied against any party.
M. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is invalid or
unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then such provision
shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that it may conflict therewith and
shall be deemed modified to conform with such statute or rule of law. Any
provision hereof which may prove invalid or unenforceable under any law shall
not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof.
N. The initial number of Registrable Securities included in any
Registration Statement and each increase to the number of Registrable Securities
included therein shall be
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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 in 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 the
Debentures, Investment Options and Warrants then outstanding and held by an
Investor were converted into or exercised for Registrable Securities.
[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the undersigned Initial Investors
have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above
written.
ARI NETWORK SERVICES, INC.
By: /s Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
-----------------------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
RGC INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS, LDC
By: Xxxx Xxxx Capital Management, L.P.,
Investment Manager
By: RGC General Partner Corp.,
as General Partner
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Managing Director
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