EXHIBIT 10.10
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made
and entered into as of December 1, 1997, between Digital Biometrics, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and KA Investments LDC, a Cayman Islands
corporation (the "Purchaser").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Convertible
Subordinated Debenture Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof between
the Company and the Purchaser (the "Purchase Agreement").
The Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that
are defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms
in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
"Advice" shall have meaning set forth in Section 3(o).
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other
Person that directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or under common
control with such Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control," when
used with respect to any Person, means the possession, direct or indirect, of
the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of
such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise; and the terms "affiliated," "controlling" and "controlled" have
meanings correlative to the foregoing.
"Business Day" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any
day which shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the
state of Minnesota generally are authorized or required by law or other
government actions to close.
"Commission" means the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission.
"Common Stock" means the Company's Common Stock, $.01 par
value per share.
"Debentures" means the Company's series of 8% Convertible
Debentures in the aggregate principal amount of $2,500,000 issued to and/or to
be issued to the
Purchaser on the Tranche 1 Closing Date, Tranche 2 Closing Date, Tranche 3
Closing Date, Tranche 4 Closing Date and Tranche 5 Closing Date, pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement.
"Effectiveness Date" means the 90th day following the Tranche
1 Closing Date or, if such day is not a Business Day, the Effectiveness Date
shall be the next succeeding Business Day.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2(a).
"Exchange Act" means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
"Filing Date" means the 30th day following the Tranche 1
Closing Date or, if such day is not a Business Day, the succeeding Business Day.
"Holder" or "Holders" means the holder or holders, as the case
may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.
"Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5(c).
"Indemnifying Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5(c).
"Losses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
"Person" means an individual or a corporation, partnership,
trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited
liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or political
subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.
"Proceeding" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or
proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial
proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in the Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the
Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with
respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable
Securities covered by the Registration Statement, and all other amendments and
supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all
material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in
such Prospectus.
"Purchaser Warrants" means the Common Stock purchase warrants
issued to and/or to be issued to the Purchaser on the Tranche 1 Closing Date,
Tranche 2 Closing Date, Tranche 3 Closing Date, Tranche 4 Closing Date and
Tranche 5 Closing Date, in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement.
"Registrable Securities" means the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon (a) conversion in full of the Debentures, (b) exercise in full of
the Purchaser Warrants and the warrants issued by the Company to Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx
& Xxxxx, Inc. in connection with the Purchase Agreement, and (c) payment of
interest in respect of the Debentures; provided, however that in order to
account for the fact that the number of shares of Common Stock that are issuable
upon conversion of Debentures is determined in part upon the market price of the
Common Stock at the time of conversion, Registrable Securities contemplated by
clause (a) of this definition shall be deemed to include not less than 200% of
the number of shares of Common Stock into which the Debentures are convertible
assuming such conversion occurred on the Tranche 1 Closing Date. The initial
Registration Statement shall cover at least such number of shares of Common
Stock as equals the sum of (x) 200% of the number of shares of Common Stock into
which the Debentures are convertible, assuming such conversion occurred on the
Tranche 1 Closing Date, (y) interest thereon and (2) the number of shares of
Common Stock contemplated in clause (b) of this definition with respect to
warrants. The Company shall be required to file an additional Registration
Statement or amend the Registration Statement, if not effective, to the extent
that the actual number of shares of Common Stock into which Debentures are
convertible, plus shares issuable upon payment of interest as described above
and shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants included therein exceeds the
number of shares of Common Stock initially registered, the Company shall have 30
days to file such additional Registration Statement after notice of the
requirement thereof, which the Holder may give at such time when the number of
shares of Common Stock as are issuable upon conversion of Debentures exceeds
200% of the number of shares of Common Stock into which the Debentures are
convertible, assuming such conversion occurred on the Tranche 1 Closing Date.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statement
contemplated by Section 2(a) (covering such number of Registrable Securities and
any additional Registration Statements contemplated in the definition of
Registrable Securities), including (in each case) the Prospectus, amendments and
supplements to such registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and
post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated
by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration
statement.
"Rule 158" means Rule 158 promulgated by the Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time,
or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Rule 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time,
or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Special Counsel" means the law firm acting as counsel to the
Holders, for which the Holders will be reimbursed by the Company pursuant to
Section 4.
"Tranche 1 Closing Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
the Purchase Agreement.
"Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering" means a
registration in connection with which securities of the Company are sold to an
underwriter for reoffering to the public pursuant to an effective registration
statement.
2. Shelf Registration
(a) On or prior to the Filing Date the Company shall prepare
and file with the Commission a "Shelf" Registration Statement covering all
Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant
to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 promulgated under
the Securities Act or, if the Company is not then permitted to register the
resale of Registrable Securities on Form S-3, the Registration Statement shall
be on such other appropriate form in accordance herewith. The Company shall use
its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective
under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing thereof, but
in any event prior to the Effectiveness Date, and to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the date which
is three years after the date that such Registration Statement is declared
effective by the Commission or such earlier date when all Registrable Securities
covered by such Registration Statement have been sold or may be sold without
volume restrictions pursuant to Rule 144(k) promulgated under the Securities
Act, as determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion
letter to such effect, addressed to the Company's transfer agent (the
"Effectiveness Period"); provided, however, that the Company shall not be deemed
to have used its best efforts to keep the Registration Statement effective
during the Effectiveness Period if it voluntarily takes any action that would
result in the Holders not being able to sell all of the Registrable Securities
covered by such Registration Statement during the Effectiveness Period, unless
such action is required under applicable law or the Company has filed a
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement and the Commission has
not declared it effective.
(b) If the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities
so elect, an offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration
Statement may be effected in the form of an Underwritten Offering. In such
event, the investment banker that will administer the offering will be selected
by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be included in
such offering. In connection with any Underwritten Offering, if the managing
underwriters advise the Company and the participating Holders in writing that in
their opinion the amount of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in such
Underwritten Offering exceeds the amount of Registrable Securities which can be
sold in such Underwritten Offering, there shall be included in such Underwritten
Offering the amount of such Registrable Securities which in the opinion of such
managing underwriters can be sold, and such amount shall be allocated pro rata
among the Holders proposing to sell Registrable Securities in such Underwritten
Offering. No Holder may participate in any Underwritten Offering hereunder
unless such Holder (i) agrees to sell its Registrable Securities on the basis
provided in any underwriting agreements approved by the Persons entitled
hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and
other documents required under the terms of such arrangements.
3. Registration Procedures
In connection with the Company's registration obligations
hereunder, the Company shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the Commission on or prior to the
Filing Date, a Registration Statement (and any additional Registration
Statements as may be required hereunder) in accordance with Section 2(a), and
cause the Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective as
provided herein; provided, however, that not less than five (5) Business Days
prior to the filing of the Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or
any amendment or supplement thereto (including any document that would be
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference), the Company
shall (i) furnish to the Holders, their Special Counsel and any managing
underwriters, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents
(other than those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference) will
be subject to the review of such Holders, their Special Counsel and such
managing underwriters, and (ii) cause its officers and directors, counsel and
independent certified public accountants to respond to such inquiries as shall
be necessary, in the opinion of respective counsel to such Holders and such
underwriters, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the
Securities Act. The Company shall not file the Registration Statement or any
such Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto if the Holders of a
majority of the Registrable Securities, their Special Counsel, or any managing
underwriters, shall reasonably object in writing within three (3) Business Days
of their receipt thereof (provided, that any days that shall elapse after the
date the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities, their Special
Counsel, or any managing
underwriters provides the Company such objection and the date such party
approves the filing of the Registration Statement shall not count towards
determining the Filing Date or the Effectiveness Date).
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep the Registration Statement continuously effective as to all
Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period and prepare and file with
the Commission such additional Registration Statements in order to register for
resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities; (ii) cause
the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus
supplement, and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424
(or any similar provisions then in force) promulgated under the Securities Act;
(iii) respond as promptly as practicable to any comments received from the
Commission with respect to the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto
and promptly provide the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence
from and to the Commission relating to the Registration Statement; and (iv)
comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with
respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by the
Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the
intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in the
Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold,
their Special Counsel and any managing underwriters immediately (and, in the
case of (i)(A) below, not less than five (5) days prior to such filing) and (if
requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than one
(1) Business Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is proposed
to be filed; (B) whenever the Commission notifies the Company whether there will
be a "review" of such Registration Statement; (C) whenever the Company receives
(or representatives of the Company receive on its behalf) any oral or written
comments from the Commission in respect of a Registration Statement (copies or,
in the case of oral comments, summaries of such comments shall be promptly
furnished by the Company to the Holders; and (D) with respect to the
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become
effective; (ii) of any request by the Commission or any other Federal or state
governmental authority for amendments or supplements to the Registration
Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; (iii) of the issuance by
the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the
initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) if at any time any of the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in any agreement
(including any underwriting agreement) contemplated hereby ceases to be true and
correct in all material respects; (v) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption
from
qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction,
or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such purpose; and (vi) of
the occurrence of any event that makes any statement made in the Registration
Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that
requires any revisions to the Registration Statement, Prospectus or other
documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. In addition, the Company shall furnish the Holders with
copies of all intended written responses to the comments contemplated in clause
(i)(C) of this Section 3(c) no later than one Business Day in advance of the
filing of such responses with the Commission so that the Holder shall have the
opportunity to comment thereon.
(d) Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if
issued, obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or
exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in
any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.
(e) If requested by any managing underwriter or the Holders of
a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities to be sold in connection
with an Underwritten Offering, (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement such
information as such managing underwriters and such Holders reasonably agree
should be included therein and (ii) make all required filings of such Prospectus
supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the
Company has received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required to take any action pursuant to this Section 3(e)
that would, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, violate applicable law or
be materially detrimental to the business prospects of the Company.
(f) Furnish to each Holder, their Special Counsel and any
managing underwriters, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each
Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, including financial
statements and schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference, and all exhibits to the extent requested by
such Person (including those previously furnished or incorporated by reference)
promptly after the filing of such documents with the Commission.
(g) Promptly deliver to each Holder, their Special Counsel,
and any underwriters, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or
Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each amendment or
supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request; and the Company
hereby consents to the use of such
Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Holders and any underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the
Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities,
use its best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling
Holders, any underwriters and their Special Counsel in connection with the
registration or qualification (or exemption from such registration or
qualification) of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the
securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder or underwriter
reasonably requests in writing, to keep each such registration or qualification
(or exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any
and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in
such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration
Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify
generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified
or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any
such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or subject the Company to any
material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(i) Cooperate with the Holders and any managing underwriters
to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing
Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to a Registration Statement, which
certificates shall be free of all restrictive legends, and to enable such
Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names
as any such managing underwriters or Holders may request at least two Business
Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section
3(c)(vi), as promptly as practicable, prepare a supplement or amendment,
including a post-effective amendment, to the Registration Statement or a
supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so
that, as thereafter delivered, neither the Registration Statement nor such
Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
(k) Use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities
relating to such Registration Statement to be listed on the Nasdaq National
Market and any other securities exchange, quotation system, market or
over-the-counter bulletin board, if any, on which similar securities issued by
the Company are then listed as and when required pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement.
(l) In the case of an Underwritten Offering, enter into such
agreements (including an underwriting agreement in form, scope and substance as
is customary in Underwritten Offerings) and take all such other actions in
connection therewith (including those reasonably requested by any managing
underwriters and the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being
sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable
Securities, and whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered into, (i)
make such representations and warranties to such Holders and such underwriters
as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten public
offerings, and confirm the same if and when requested; (ii) obtain and deliver
copies thereof to each Holder and the managing underwriters, if any, of opinions
of counsel to the Company and updates thereof addressed to each selling Holder
and each such underwriter, in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory
to any such managing underwriters and Special Counsel to the selling Holders
covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in Underwritten
Offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Special
Counsel or such underwriters; (iii) immediately prior to the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement or at the time of delivery of any Registrable
Securities sold pursuant thereto (at the option of the underwriters), obtain and
deliver copies to the Holders and the managing underwriters, if any, of "cold
comfort" letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public
accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified
public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired
by the Company for which financial statements and financial data is, or is
required to be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to each
Person and in such form and substance as are customary in connection with
Underwritten Offerings; (iv) if an underwriting agreement is entered into, the
same shall contain indemnification provisions and procedures no less favorable
to the selling Holders and the underwriters, if any, than those set forth in
Section 6 (or such other provisions and procedures acceptable to the managing
underwriters, if any, and holders of a majority of Registrable Securities
participating in such Underwritten Offering; and (v) deliver such documents and
certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities being sold, their Special Counsel and any managing
underwriters to evidence the continued validity of the representations and
warranties made pursuant to clause 3(l)(i) above and to evidence compliance with
any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other
agreement entered into by the Company.
(m) Make available for inspection by the selling Holders, any
representative of such Holders, any underwriter participating in any disposition
of Registrable Securities, and any attorney or accountant retained by such
selling Holders or underwriters, at the offices where normally kept, during
reasonable business hours, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, and cause the
officers, directors, agents and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to
supply all information in each case requested by any such Holder,
representative, underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the
Registration Statement; provided, however, that any information that is
determined in good faith by the Company in writing to be of a confidential
nature at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by
such Persons, unless (i) disclosure of such information is required by court or
administrative order or is necessary to respond to inquiries of regulatory
authorities; (ii) disclosure of such information, in the opinion of counsel to
such Person, is required by law; (iii) such information becomes generally
available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to
safeguard by such Person; or (iv) such information becomes available to such
Person from a source other than the Company and such source is not known by such
Person to be bound by a confidentiality agreement with the Company.
(n) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission and make generally available to its security holders earning
statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and
Rule 158 not later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month period (or 90 days
after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a fiscal year) (i)
commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Securities are
sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts Underwritten Offering
and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, commencing on the
first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company after the effective date of
the Registration Statement, which statement shall cover said 12-month period, or
end shorter periods as is consistent with the requirements of Rule 158.
(o) The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to
the Company such information regarding the distribution of such Registrable
Securities as is required by law to be disclosed in the Registration Statement
or any amendment thereto or any supplement to the Prospectus and the Company may
exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of any such Holder who
unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after
receiving such request.
If the Registration Statement refers to any Holder by name or
otherwise as the holder of any securities of the Company, then such Holder shall
have the right to require (i) the inclusion therein of language, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to such Holder, to the effect that the
ownership by such Holder of such securities in not to be construed as a
recommendation by such Holder of the investment quality of the Company's
securities covered thereby that such Holder will assist in meeting any future
financial requirements of the Company , or (ii) if such reference to such Holder
by name or otherwise is not required by the Securities Act or any similar
Federal statute then in force, the deletion of the reference to such Holder in
any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement filed or prepared
subsequent to the time that such reference ceases to be required.
Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable
Securities that (i) it will not offer or sell any Registrable Securities under
the Registration Statement until it
has received copies of the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented as
contemplated in Section 3(g) and notice from the Company that such Registration
Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto have become effective as
contemplated by Section 3(c) and (ii) it will comply with the prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to it in connection
with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.
Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable
Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of
any event of the kind described in Section 3(c)(ii), 3(c)(iii), 3(c)(iv),
3(c)(v) or 3(c)(vi), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such
Registrable Securities until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement contemplated by
Section 3(j), or until it is advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company
that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case,
has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or
Registration Statement.
4. Registration Expenses
(a) All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or
compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall, except as and to the extent
specified in Section 4(b), be borne by the Company whether or not pursuant to an
Underwritten Offering and whether or not the Registration Statement is filed or
becomes effective and whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold
pursuant to the Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the
foregoing sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and
filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect
to filings required to be made with The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. and the Nasdaq
National Market and each other securities exchange or market or over-the-counter
bulletin board on which Registrable Securities are required hereunder to be
listed and (B) in compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws (including,
without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the underwriters or
Holders in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities
and determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Securities for
investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Holders of a majority of
Registrable Securities may reasonably designate)), (ii) printing expenses
(including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for
Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses if the printing of
prospectuses is requested by the managing underwriters, if any, or by the
holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration
Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company and Special Counsel for the Holders, in
the case of the Special Counsel, to a maximum amount of $7,500, (v) Securities
Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance, and (vi) fees
and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. In addition, the Company shall be responsible for all of its internal
expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation, all salaries and
expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties),
the expense of any annual audit, the fees and expenses incurred in connection
with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange as
required hereunder.
(b) If the Holders require an Underwritten Offering pursuant
to the terms hereof, the Holders shall be responsible for all costs, fees and
expenses in connection therewith, except for the fees and disbursements of the
Company's legal counsel and accountants, which shall be borne by the Company.
5. Indemnification
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement and without limitation as to
time, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the officers, directors, agents
(including any underwriters retained by such Holder in connection with the offer
and sale of Registrable Securities), brokers (including brokers who offer and
sell Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or any failure
to perform under a margin call of Common Stock), investment advisors and
employees of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act)
and the officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling
Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any
and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without
limitation, costs of preparation and attorneys' fees) and expenses
(collectively, "Losses"), as incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or
relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any
Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except to the extent,
but only to the extent, that such untrue statements or omissions are based
solely upon information regarding such Holder or any such underwriter furnished
in writing to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder expressly for use
therein, which information was reasonably relied on by the Company for use
therein or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such
Holder's proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was
reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in
the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto. The Company shall notify the Holders promptly
of the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding of which the Company
is aware in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall, severally
and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors,
officers, agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act),
and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses (as
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment not subject
to appeal or review) arising solely out of or based solely upon any untrue
statement of a material fact or alleged untrue statement of material fact
contained in the Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or any form of
prospectus, or arising solely out of or based solely upon any omission or
alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading to the extent, but only to the
extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information
so furnished in writing by such Holder to the Company specifically for inclusion
in the Registration Statement or such Prospectus and that such information was
reasonably relied upon by the Company for use in the Registration Statement,
such Prospectus or such form of prospectus or to the extent that such
information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of
distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved
in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such
Prospectus or such form of Prospectus. In no event shall the liability of any
selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net
proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities
giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding
shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder
(an "Indemnified Party"), such Indemnified Party promptly shall notify the
Person from whom indemnity is sought (the "Indemnifying Party") in writing, and
the Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including the
employment of independent outside counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Party and the payment of all fees and expenses incurred in
connection with defense thereof; provided, that the failure of any Indemnified
Party to give such notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its
obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement, except (and only) to the
extent that it shall be finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction
(which determination is not subject to appeal or further review) that such
failure shall have proximately and materially adversely prejudiced the
Indemnifying Party.
An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate
counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but
the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such
Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in
writing to pay such fees and expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have
failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel
reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3)
the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded
parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and
such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of
interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent such
Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified
Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ
separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying
Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and such counsel
shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party), provided, however that the
Indemnifying Party shall only be responsible for the fees and expenses of one
law firm as separate counsel for the Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party
shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without
its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. No
Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified
Party, effect any settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of which any
Indemnified Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional
release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the
subject matter of such Proceeding.
All fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including
reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with
investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not
inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as
incurred, within 10 Business Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying
Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified
Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder; provided, that the
Indemnifying Party may require such Indemnified Party to undertake to reimburse
all such fees and expenses to the extent it is finally judicially determined
that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder).
(d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under Section
5(a) or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party because of a failure or
refusal of a governmental authority to enforce such indemnification in
accordance with its terms (by reason of public policy or otherwise), then each
Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result
of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party in connection with the
actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any
other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such Indemnifying
Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact,
has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by, such
Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result
of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth
in Section 5(c), any reasonable attorneys' or other reasonable fees or expenses
incurred by such party in
connection with any Proceeding to the extent such party would have been
indemnified for such fees or expenses if the indemnification provided for in
this Section was available to such party in accordance with its terms.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro
rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into
account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), the Purchaser
shall not be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of
the amount by which the proceeds actually received by the Purchaser from the
sale of the Registrable Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount
of any damages that the Purchaser has otherwise been required to pay by reason
of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No
Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have
to the Indemnified Parties.
6. Miscellaneous
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a
Holder, of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the
Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all
rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages,
will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The
Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate
compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the
provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any
action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the
defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Except as set forth on
Schedule 6(b) annexed hereto, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
has, as of the date hereof, nor shall the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on
or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to
its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in
this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. Except as set
forth on Schedule 6(b) annexed hereto, neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has previously entered into any agreement granting any registration
rights with respect to any of its securities to any Person. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, without the written consent of the Holders of a
majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities, the Company shall not
grant to any Person
the right to request the Company to register any securities of the Company under
the Securities Act unless the rights so granted are subject in all respects to
the prior rights in full of the Holders set forth herein, and are not otherwise
in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.
(c) No Piggyback on Registrations. Except as set forth on
Schedule 6(c) annexed hereto, neither the Company nor any of its security
holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto) may include
securities of the Company in the Registration Statement other than the
Registrable Securities, and the Company shall not enter into any agreement
providing any such right to any of its securityholders.
(d) Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time during the
Effectiveness Period there is not an effective Registration Statement and the
Company shall determine to prepare and file with the Commission 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 (each as promulgated under the Securities Act) 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, then the Company
shall send to each holder of Registrable Securities written notice of such
determination and, if within twenty (20) days after receipt of such notice, any
such holder shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such
registration statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities such holder
requests to be registered, except that if, in connection with any Underwritten
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, such limitation is necessary to effect an orderly public distribution
of securities covered thereby, then the Company shall be obligated to include in
such registration statement only such limited portion of the Registrable
Securities for to which such holder has requested inclusion hereunder. Any
exclusion of Registrable Securities shall be made pro rata among the holders
seeking to include Registrable Securities, in proportion to the number of
Registrable Securities sought to be included by such holders; 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 right to inclusion of securities in such registration statement; 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 such registration statement. No right to registration of
Registrable Securities under this Section shall be construed to limit any
registration otherwise required hereunder.
(e) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company
and the Holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding Registrable
Securities; provided, however, that, for the purposes of this sentence,
Registrable Securities that are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company,
or an Affiliate of the Company are not deemed outstanding. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect
to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders and that does not
directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by
Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities to which such
waiver or consent relates; provided, however, that the provisions of this
sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance with
the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence.
(f) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or
deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified in this Section prior to 4:30 p.m.
(Minnetonka time) on a Business Day, (ii) the Business Day after the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified in the Purchase Agreement later than 4:30
p.m. (Minnetonka time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m. (Minnetonka time)
on such date, (iii) the Business Day following the date of mailing, if sent by
nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual receipt by
the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such
notices and communications shall be as follows:
If to the Company: Digital Biometrics, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
With copies to: Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx P.A.
0000 XXX Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
If to the Purchaser: KA Investments LDC
c/o Tarmachan Management
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
With copies to: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Aronsohn&
Xxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
If to any other Person who is then the registered Holder:
To the address of such Holder as it appears in
the stock transfer books of the Company
or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same
manner, by such Person.
(g) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of
the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company may not
assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of
each Holder. The Purchaser may assign its rights hereunder in the manner and to
the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
(h) Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights of the
Purchaser hereunder, including the right to have the Company register for resale
Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, shall be
automatically assignable by the Purchaser to any assignee or transferee of all
or a portion of the Debentures, the Purchaser Warrants and other warrants
referenced in the definition of Registrable Securities or the Registrable
Securities without the consent of the Company if: (i) the Purchaser agrees in
writing with the transferee or assignee to assign such rights, and a copy of
such agreement is furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such
assignment, (ii) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or
assignment, furnished with written notice of (a) the name and address of such
transferee or assignee, and (b) the securities with respect to such registration
rights are being transferred or assigned, (iii) at or before the time the
Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this Section,
the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all
of the provisions of this Agreement, and (iv) such transfer shall have been made
in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Purchase Agreement. The
rights to assignment shall apply to the Purchaser's (and to subsequent)
successors and assigns.
(i) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an
original and, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
Agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile
transmission, such signature shall create a valid binding obligation of the
party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with
the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature were the original
thereof.
(j) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard
to principles of conflicts of law.
(k) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are
cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(l) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative
means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated
by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and
declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the
remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of
such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(m) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this
Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
DIGITAL BIOMETRICS, INC.
By:
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Name:
Title:
KA INVESTMENTS LDC
By:
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Name:
Title:
