Exhibit 10.4
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of September
28, 2000, by and among Atlantic Technology Ventures, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, with headquarters located at 000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000 (the "Company"), and the undersigned buyers (each, a "Buyer" and
collectively, the "Buyers").
WHEREAS:
A. In connection with the Convertible Preferred Stock and Warrants
Purchase Agreement by and among the parties hereto of even date herewith (the
"Purchase Agreement"), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of the Purchase Agreement, to issue and sell to the Buyers (i) Series
B preferred stock (the "Preferred Stock") convertible into shares of the
Company's common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the "Common Stock") (as
issued upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, the "Conversion Shares") and (ii)
warrants ("Warrants") to purchase shares of Common Stock (as issued upon
exercise of the Warrants, the "Warrant Shares");
B. To induce the Buyers to execute and deliver the Purchase Agreement,
the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or
any similar successor statute (collectively, the "1933 Act"), and applicable
state securities laws.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the
Buyers hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
a. "Investor" means a Buyer, any transferee or assignee
thereof to whom a Buyer assigns its rights under this Agreement and who agrees
to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with Section 9
and any transferee or assignee thereof to whom a transferee or assignee assigns
its rights under this Agreement and who agrees to become bound by the provisions
of this Agreement in accordance with Section 9.
b. "Person" means a corporation, a limited liability company,
an association, a partnership, an organization, a business, an individual, a
governmental or political subdivision thereof or a governmental agency.
c. "Register," "registered," and "registration" refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing one or more Registration
Statements (as defined below) 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(s) by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC").
d. "Registrable Securities" means (i) the Common Stock issued
or issuable pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, including the Conversion Shares
and the Warrant Shares, whether issued or issuable and (ii) any shares of
capital stock issued or issuable with respect to the foregoing as a result of
any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, anti-dilution adjustment,
exchange or similar event or otherwise, without regard to any limitation on
conversion of Preferred Stock or exercise of Warrants. In calculating the number
of shares of Common Stock to include as Registrable Securities in the
Registration Statement, the calculation shall include 200% of the number of
shares of Common Stock initially issuable upon conversion of the Preferred
Stock..
e. "Registration Statement" means a registration statement or
registration statements of the Company filed under the 1933 Act.
2. REGISTRATION.
a. Mandatory Registration. The Company shall prepare, and, as soon as
practicable, but in no event later than the earlier of (i) thirty (30) days
after each applicable Closing Date (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) or
(ii) the filing of another Registration Statement (other than a Registration
Statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (or their equivalents at such time) relating
to securities to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any
entity or business or equity securities issuable in connection with stock option
or other employee benefit plans) (the "Scheduled Filing Date"), file with the
SEC a separate Registration Statement or Registration Statements (as is
necessary) on Form S-3 covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities
issued or issuable in connection with each such Closing. In the event that Form
S-3 is unavailable for such registrations, the Company shall use such other form
as is available for such registrations, subject to the provisions of Section
2.e. Any Registration Statement prepared pursuant hereto shall register for
resale at least that number of shares of Common Stock equal to 200% of the
number of shares of Common Stock initially issuable upon conversion of the
Preferred Stock.. The Company shall use its best efforts to have each
Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable, but
in no event later than ninety (90) days after the applicable Closing Date (the
"Scheduled Effective Date"). The Company represents and covenants that no Person
other than an Investor has or will have the right to include any securities of
the Company in the Registration Statement to be filed in accordance with this
Section 2.a. The Company will not include any selling stockholder other than the
Buyer in any Registration Statement it files pursuant to this Section 2.a
without the Buyer's written consent.
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In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock so
registered and not yet issued to the Investors as Conversion Shares or Warrant
Shares shall be less than 150% of the number of shares which would be issuable
at any time upon the conversion of the remaining unconverted principal amount of
the Preferred Stock and exercise of the Warrants, then the Company shall be
obligated to file, within fifteen (15) days on notice from any Investor of such
occurrence, a further Registration Statement registering such remaining shares
and shall use diligent best efforts to have such additional Registration
Statement declared effective within sixty (60) days of such notice.
b. Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time prior to the
expiration of the Registration Period (as hereinafter defined) the Company
proposes to file with the SEC a Registration Statement relating to an offering
for its own account or the account of others under the 1933 Act of any of its
securities (other than a Registration Statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (or
their equivalents at such time) relating to securities to be issued solely in
connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities
issuable in connection with stock option or other employee benefit plans) the
Company shall promptly send to each Investor written notice of the Company's
intention to file a Registration Statement and of such Investor's rights under
this Section 2.b and, if within twenty (20) days after receipt of such notice,
such Investor shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such
Registration Statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities such
Investor requests to be registered, subject to the priorities set forth in this
Section 2.b below. No right to registration of Registrable Securities under this
Section 2.b shall be construed to limit any registration required under Section
2.a. The obligations of the Company under this Section 2.b may be waived by
Investors holding a majority of the Registrable Securities. If an offering in
connection with which an Investor is entitled to registration under this Section
2.b is an underwritten offering, then each Investor whose Registrable Securities
are included in such Registration Statement shall, unless otherwise agreed to 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. If a registration
pursuant to this Section 2.b is to be an underwritten public offering and the
managing underwriter(s) advise the Company in writing, that in their reasonable
good faith opinion, marketing or other factors dictate that a limitation on the
number of shares of Common Stock which may be included in the Registration
Statement is necessary to facilitate and not adversely affect the proposed
offering, then the Company shall include in such registration:
(1) first, all securities the Company proposes to sell for its
own account;
(2) second, up to the full number of securities proposed to be
registered for the account of the holders of securities entitled to inclusion of
their securities in the Registration Statement by reason of demand registration
rights; and
(3) third, the securities requested to be registered by the
Investors and other holders of securities entitled to participate in the
registration, as of the date hereof, drawn from them pro rata based on the
number each has requested to be included in such registration.
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c. Allocation of Registrable Securities. The initial number of
Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement and each increase
in the number of Registrable Securities included therein shall be allocated pro
rata among the Investors based on the number of Registrable Securities held by
each Investor at the time the Registration Statement covering such initial
number of Registrable Securities or increase thereof is declared effective by
the SEC. In the event that an Investor sells or otherwise transfers any of such
Investor's Registrable Securities, each transferee shall be allocated a pro rata
portion of the then remaining number of Registrable Securities included in such
Registration Statement for such transferor. Any shares of Common Stock included
in a Registration Statement and which remain allocated to any Person which
ceases to hold any Registrable Securities shall be allocated to the remaining
Investors, pro rata based on the number of Registrable Securities then held by
such Investors.
d. Legal Counsel. Subject to Section 5 hereof, the Buyers
holding a majority of the Registrable Securities shall have the right to select
one legal counsel to review and oversee as their counsel any offering pursuant
to this Section 2 ("Legal Counsel"), which shall be Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx &
Xxxxxx LLP or such other counsel as thereafter designated by the holders of a
majority of Registrable Securities. The Company shall reasonably cooperate with
Legal Counsel in performing the Company's obligations under this Agreement.
e. Ineligibility for Form S-3. In the event that Form S-3 is
unavailable for any registration of Registrable Securities hereunder, the
Company shall (i) register the sale of the Registrable Securities on another
appropriate form and (ii) undertake to register the Registrable Securities on
Form S-3 as soon as such form is available, provided that the Company shall
maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement then in effect until
such time as a Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the Registrable
Securities has been declared effective by the SEC.
f. Sufficient Number of Shares Registered. If the number of
shares available under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2.a at
any time is insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities which such
Registration Statement is required to cover, the Company shall amend the
Registration Statement, or file a new Registration Statement (on the short form
available therefor, if applicable), or both, as soon as practicable, but in any
event not later than twenty (20) days after the necessity therefor arises (each
such date, an "Additional Scheduled Filing Date") so as to cover all Registrable
Securities then issuable on the Additional Scheduled Filing Date. The Company
shall use it best efforts to cause such amendment or new Registration Statement
to become effective as soon as practicable following the filing thereof, but in
no event later than sixty (60) days after the Additional Scheduled Filing Date
(each such date, an "Additional Scheduled Effective Date"). For purposes of the
foregoing provision, the number of shares available under a Registration
Statement shall be deemed "insufficient to cover all of the Registrable
Securities" if at any time the Conversion Price (as defined in the Certificate
of Designations, Preferences and Rights governing the Preferred Stock) has
declined 66.7% or more from the Purchase Price (as defined in the Purchase
Agreement) on the applicable Closing Date. For purposes of the calculation set
forth in the foregoing sentence, any restrictions on the
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exercisability of the Preferred Stock or the Warrants shall be disregarded and
such calculation shall assume that the Preferred Stock is exercisable at the
then prevailing Conversion Price (as defined in the Certificate of Designations,
Preferences and Rights governing the Preferred Stock) and the Warrants are
exercisable at the then prevailing Exercise Price (as defined in the Warrant).
3. RELATED OBLIGATIONS.
Whenever an Investor has requested that any Registrable Securities be
registered pursuant to Section 2.b or at such time as the Company is obligated
to file a Registration Statement with the SEC pursuant to Section 2.a or 2.f,
the Company will use its best efforts to effect the registration of the
Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition
thereof and, pursuant thereto, the Company shall have the following obligations:
a. The Company shall not file any other Registration Statement
with respect to any of its securities between the date hereof and ninety (90)
days after the effective date of any such Registration Statement (other than a
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (or its equivalent at such time)). The
Company shall keep each of the Registration Statements required to be filed
hereunder effective pursuant to Rule 415 at all times until the earlier of (i)
the date as of which the Investors may sell all of the Registrable Securities
covered by such Registration Statement without restriction pursuant to Rule
144(k) promulgated under the 1933 Act (or successor thereto) or (ii) the date on
which (A) the Investors shall have sold all the Registrable Securities covered
by such Registration Statement and (B) none of the Preferred Stock or Warrants
is outstanding (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, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not
misleading. The term "best efforts" shall mean, among other things, that the
Company shall submit to the SEC, within two (2) business days after the Company
learns that no review of a particular Registration Statement will be made by the
staff of the SEC or that the staff has no further comments on the Registration
Statement, as the case may be, a request for acceleration of effectiveness of
such Registration Statement to a time and date not later than forty-eight (48)
hours after the submission of such request.
b. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such
amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to a
Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection with such
Registration Statement, which prospectus is to be filed pursuant to Rule 424
promulgated under the 1933 Act, as may be necessary to keep such Registration
Statement 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 such
Registration Statement until such time as all of such Registrable Securities
shall have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of
disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth in such Registration
Statement. In the case of amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement
which are required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement (including pursuant to
this Section 3.b by reason of the
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Company filing a report on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K or any analogous
report under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"),
the Company shall file such amendments or supplements with the SEC on the same
day on which the 1934 Act report is filed which created the requirement for the
Company to amend or supplement the Registration Statement.
c. The Company shall (a) permit Legal Counsel to review and
comment upon (i) the Registration Statement at least seven (7) days prior to its
filing with the SEC and (ii) all other Registration Statements and all
amendments and supplements to all Registration Statements within a reasonable
number of days prior to their filing with the SEC and (b) not file any document
in a form to which Legal Counsel reasonably objects. The Company shall not
submit a request for acceleration of the effectiveness of a Registration
Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto without the prior approval of
Legal Counsel, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company
shall furnish to Legal Counsel, without charge, (i) any correspondence from the
SEC or the staff of the SEC to the Company or its representatives relating to
any Registration Statement, (ii) promptly after the same is prepared and filed
with the SEC, one copy of any Registration Statement and any amendment(s)
thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents
incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits and (iii) upon the
effectiveness of any Registration Statement, one copy of the prospectus included
in such Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto.
d. The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose
Registrable Securities are included in any Registration Statement, without
charge, (i) promptly after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC, at least
one copy of such Registration Statement and any amendment(s) thereto, including
financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by
reference, all exhibits and each preliminary prospectus, (ii) upon the
effectiveness of any Registration Statement, ten (10) copies of the prospectus
included in such Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements
thereto (or such other number of copies as such Investor may reasonably request)
and (iii) such other documents, including copies of any preliminary or final
prospectus, as such Investor may reasonably request from time to time in order
to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such
Investor.
e. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to (i) register
and qualify the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement under
such other securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions in the United
States as Legal Counsel or any Investor reasonably requests, (ii) prepare and
file in those jurisdictions, such amendments (including post-effective
amendments) and supplements to such registrations and qualifications as may be
necessary to maintain the effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period,
(iii) take such other actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations
and qualifications in effect 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 (x) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not
otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3.e, (y) subject itself to
general taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (z) file a general
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consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction. The Company shall
promptly notify Legal Counsel and each Investor who holds Registrable Securities
of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension
of the registration or qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for
sale under the securities or "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction in the United
States or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat of any
proceeding for such purpose.
f. In the event Investors who hold a majority of the
Registrable Securities being offered in the offering select underwriters for the
offering, the Company shall enter into and perform its obligations under an
underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, including, without
limitation, customary indemnification and contribution obligations, with the
underwriters of such offering; provided, however, that the Company shall have
the right to consent to the selection of such underwriter, which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld.
g. As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such
event, the Company shall notify Legal Counsel and each Investor in writing of
the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in a
Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a
material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, and promptly prepare a supplement or
amendment to such Registration Statement to correct such untrue statement or
omission, and deliver ten (10) copies of such supplement or amendment to Legal
Counsel and each Investor (or such other number of copies as Legal Counsel or
such Investor may reasonably request). The Company shall also promptly notify
Legal Counsel and each Investor in writing (i) when a prospectus or any
prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and when a
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment has become effective
(notification of such effectiveness shall be delivered to Legal Counsel and each
Investor by facsimile on the same day of such effectiveness and by overnight
mail), (ii) of any request by the SEC for amendments or supplements to a
Registration Statement or related prospectus or related information, and (iii)
of the Company's reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to a
Registration Statement would be appropriate.
h. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the
issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of a
Registration Statement, or the suspension of the qualification of any of the
Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction and, if such an order or
suspension is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such order or suspension at
the earliest possible moment and to notify Legal Counsel and each Investor who
holds Registrable Securities being sold (and, in the event of an underwritten
offering, the managing underwriters) of the issuance of such order and the
resolution thereof or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat
of any proceeding for such purpose.
i. At the request of any Investor, the Company shall furnish
to such Investor, on the date of the effectiveness of any Registration Statement
and thereafter from time to time on such dates as an Investor may reasonably
request (i) if required by an underwriter, a letter,
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dated such date, from the Company's independent certified public accountants in
form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public
accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the
underwriters, and (ii) an opinion, dated as of such date, of counsel
representing the Company for purposes of such Registration Statement, in form,
scope and substance as is customarily given in an underwritten public offering,
addressed to the underwriters and the Investors.
j. The Company shall make available for inspection by (i) any
Investor, (ii) Legal Counsel, (iii) any underwriter participating in any
disposition pursuant to a Registration Statement, (iv) one firm of accountants
or other agents retained by the Investors and (v) one firm of attorneys retained
by such underwriters (collectively, the "Inspectors") all pertinent financial
and other records, and pertinent corporate documents and properties of the
Company (collectively, the "Records"), as shall be reasonably deemed necessary
by each Inspector, and cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to
supply all information which any Inspector may reasonably request; provided,
however, that each Inspector shall hold in strict confidence and shall not make
any disclosure (except to an Investor) or use of any Records or other
information which the Company determines in good faith to be confidential, and
of which determination the Inspectors are so notified, unless (a) the disclosure
of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in
any Registration Statement or is otherwise required under the 1933 Act, (b) the
release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a final, non-appealable subpoena
or order from a court or government body of competent jurisdiction, or (c) the
information in such Records has been made generally available to the public
other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement or any other agreement
of which the Inspector has knowledge. Each Investor agrees that it shall, upon
learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in or by a court or
governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt
notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake
appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order
for, the Records deemed confidential.
k. The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any
disclosure of information concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless
(i) disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state
securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid
or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii) the
release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other final,
non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of competent
jurisdiction, or (iv) such information has been made generally available to the
public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement or any other
agreement. The Company agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of
such information concerning an Investor is sought in or by a court or
governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt
written notice to such Investor and allow such Investor, at the Investor's
expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain
a protective order for, such information.
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l. The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold
Registrable Securities being offered and, to the extent applicable, any managing
underwriter or underwriters, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery
of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legend) representing the
Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to a Registration Statement and
enable such certificates to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may
be, as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or, if there is no
managing underwriter or underwriters, the Investors may reasonably request and
registered in such names as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or
the Investors may request.
m. The Company shall maintain a transfer agent and registrar
of all such Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of such
Registration Statement.
n. If requested by the managing underwriters or an Investor,
the Company shall: (i) immediately incorporate in a prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment such information as the managing underwriters and the
Investors agree should be included therein relating to the sale and distribution
of Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, information with
respect to the number of Registrable Securities being sold to such underwriters,
the purchase price being paid therefor by such underwriters and any other terms
of the underwritten (or best efforts underwritten) offering of the Registrable
Securities to be sold in such offering; (ii) make all required filings of such
prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as notified of the
matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment; and (iii) supplement or make amendments to any Registration Statement
if requested by an Investor or any underwriter of such Registrable Securities.
o. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the
Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement to be
registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities
as may be necessary to consummate the disposition of such Registrable
Securities.
p. The Company shall make generally available to its security
holders as soon as practical, but not later than ninety (90) days after the
close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying
with the provisions of Rule 158 under the 0000 Xxx) covering a 12-month period
beginning not later than the first day of the Company's fiscal quarter next
following the effective date of the Registration Statement.
q. The Company shall otherwise use its best efforts to comply
with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC in connection with any
registration hereunder.
r. Within two (2) business days after a Registration Statement
is ordered effective by the SEC, the Company shall deliver, and shall cause
legal counsel for the Company to deliver, to the transfer agent for the
Registrable Securities covered thereby (with copies to the Investors whose
Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement)
confirmation, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, that such Registration
Statement has been declared effective by the SEC.
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s. 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.
t. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 3.g, at
any time after the Registration Statement has been declared effective, the
Company may delay the disclosure of material, non-public information concerning
the Company the disclosure of which at the time is not, in the good faith
opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company and its counsel, in the best
interest of the Company and, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, otherwise
required (a "Grace Period"); provided, that the Company shall promptly (i)
notify the Investors in writing of the existence of material, non-public
information giving rise to a Grace Period and the date on which the Grace Period
will begin, and (ii) notify the Investors in writing of the date on which the
Grace Period ends; and, provided further, that during any consecutive 365-day
period, there shall be only one Grace Period, such Grace Period not to exceed
twenty (20) days in the aggregate (an "Allowable Grace Period"). For purposes of
determining the length of a Grace Period above, the Grace Period shall begin on
and include the date the Investors receive the notice referred to in clause (i)
above and shall end on and include the date the Investors receive the notice
referred to in clause (ii) above. Upon expiration of the Allowable Grace Period,
the Company shall again be bound by the first sentence of Section 3.g with
respect to the information giving rise thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, the Investors may convert Preferred Stock and
exercise Warrants during a Grace Period.
u. Each of the following events shall constitute a
"Registration Default" for purposes of this Agreement:
(i) the Company's failure to file a Registration Statement by the
applicable Scheduled Filing Date or Additional Scheduled Filing Date thereof, as
appropriate;
(ii) the SEC's failure to declare a Registration Statement effective
on or before the applicable Scheduled Effective Date or Additional Scheduled
Effective Date thereof, as appropriate, except where the failure to meet such
deadline is the result primarily of actions by the holders of Registrable
Securities or Legal Counsel;
(iii) the Company's failure to request acceleration of the
effectiveness of a Registration Statement within two (2) business days after the
SEC has notified the Company that it may file such an acceleration request as
required by Section 3.a hereof, except where the failure to meet such deadline
is a result solely of actions by the holders of Registrable Securities or Legal
Counsel;
(iv) the Investors' inability to sell all Registrable Securities
pursuant to an effective Registration Statement (whether because of a failure to
keep the Registration Statement effective, to disclose such information as is
necessary for sales to be made pursuant to the Registration Statement, to
register sufficient shares of Common Stock or otherwise); or
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(v) the aggregate days of Grace Period exceed the Allowable Grace
Period.
Upon the occurrence of a Registration Default, the Company shall pay each
Investor an amount determined in accordance with the following formula for each
30-day period of such Registration Default:
2% x P x N for the first thirty (30) days of the first Registration
Default, and 3% x P x N for all continuing subsequent Registration
Defaults
where
P = the average Closing Price (as defined in the Purchase
Agreement) of the Common Stock for the applicable thirty (30)
days; and
N = the number of Registrable Securities that such Investor holds
or may acquire pursuant of conversion to Preferred Stock and
exercise of Warrants on the last day of the applicable 30-day
period (without giving effect to any limitations on exercise).
If a Registration Default is cured before the end of a 30-day period, the
applicable formula shall be pro-rated. The Company shall pay such amount in cash
on demand by an Investor made at any time during the continuance or after
termination of such Registration Default. If the Company does not remit payment
of the amount due to such Investor, the Company will pay the Investor's
reasonable costs of collection, including attorneys' fees. An Investor's right
to demand such payment shall be in addition to any other rights it may have
under this Agreement, the Purchase Agreement or otherwise.
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3.u to the contrary, no
payment shall be made to Investor as a result of a Registration Default under
subsection (ii) above for the first thirty (30) days of such Registration
Default in the event the SEC conducts a full review of a Registration Statement.
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTORS.
a. At least seven (7) business days prior to the first
anticipated filing date of a Registration Statement, the Company shall notify
each Investor in writing of the information the Company requires from each such
Investor if such Investor elects to have any of such Investor's Registrable
Securities included in such Registration Statement. It shall be a condition
precedent to the obligations of the Company to complete the registration
pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities of a
particular Investor that such Investor shall furnish to the Company such
information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the
intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it as shall
be reasonably required to effect the registration of such Registrable Securities
and shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the
Company may reasonably request.
11
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 any
Registration Statement hereunder, unless such Investor has notified the Company
in writing of such Investor's election to exclude all of such Investor's
Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement.
c. In the event any Investor elects to participate in an
underwritten public offering pursuant to Section 2.b, each such Investor agrees
to enter into and perform such Investor's obligations under an underwriting
agreement, in usual and customary form, including, without limitation, customary
indemnification and contribution obligations, with the managing underwriter of
such offering and take such other actions as are reasonably required in order to
expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities.
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.h
or the first sentence of Section 3.g, such Investor will immediately discontinue
disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement(s)
covering such Registrable Securities until such Investor's receipt of the copies
of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3.h or the
first sentence of Section 3.g.
e. No Investor may participate in any underwritten
registration hereunder unless such Investor (i) agrees to sell such Investor's
Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements
approved by the Investors entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements, (ii)
completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms
of such underwriting arrangements, and (iii) agrees to pay its pro rata share of
all underwriting discounts and commissions.
f. Each Investor agrees not to take any action to cause such
Investor to become a registered broker-dealer as defined under the 1934 Act or
to effect any change to such Investor's status that would preclude the Company
from using Form S-3 for the Registration Statement.
5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.
All reasonable expenses, other than expenses incurred pursuant
to Section 3.j(iv) and (v) and underwriting discounts and commissions, incurred
in connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Sections
2 and 3, including, without limitation, all registration, listing and
qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, and fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company and reasonable fees and disbursements of Legal Counsel,
shall be paid by the Company.
12
6. INDEMNIFICATION.
In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a
Registration Statement under this Agreement:
a. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will,
and hereby does, indemnify, hold harmless and defend each Investor who holds
such Registrable Securities, the directors, officers, partners, employees,
agents, representatives of, and each Person, if any, who controls any Investor
within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, and any underwriter (as
defined in the 0000 Xxx) for the Investors, and the directors and officers of,
and each Person, if any, who controls, any such underwriter within the meaning
of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (each, an "Indemnified Person"), against any
losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties, charges,
costs, attorneys' fees, amounts paid in settlement or expenses, joint or
several, (collectively, "Claims") incurred in investigating, preparing or
defending any action, claim, suit, inquiry, proceeding, investigation or appeal
taken from the foregoing by or before any court or governmental, administrative
or other regulatory agency or body or the SEC, whether pending or threatened,
whether or not an indemnified party is or may be a party thereto ("Indemnified
Damages"), to which any of them may become subject insofar as such Claims (or
actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact in a Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment thereto or in any filing made in connection with the qualification of
the offering under the securities or other "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction
in which Registrable Securities are offered ("Blue Sky Filing"), or the omission
or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein 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, (iii) any violation or alleged
violation by the Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law,
including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or
regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement or (iv) any material violation
of this Agreement (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) being,
collectively, "Violations").
The Company shall reimburse the Investors and each such
underwriter or controlling person, promptly as such expenses are incurred and
are due and payable, for any legal fees or reasonable other 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 by an Indemnified Person arising out of or based upon a Violation which
occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with
13
information furnished in writing to the Company by such Indemnified Person or
underwriter for such Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with the
preparation of the Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof or
supplement thereto, if such prospectus was timely made available by the Company
pursuant to Section 3.d; (ii) with respect to any preliminary prospectus, shall
not inure to the benefit of any such person from whom the person asserting any
such Claim purchased the Registrable Securities that are the subject thereof (or
to the benefit of any person controlling such person) if the untrue statement or
omission of material fact contained in the preliminary prospectus was corrected
in the prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, if such prospectus was
timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3.d, and the
Indemnified Person was promptly advised in writing not to use the incorrect
prospectus prior to the use giving rise to a violation and such Indemnified
Person, notwithstanding such advice, used it; (iii) shall not be available to
the extent such Claim is based on a failure of the Investor to deliver or to
cause to be delivered the prospectus made available by the Company, if such
prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3.d; and
(iv) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such
settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Company, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Such indemnity shall remain in full
force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the
Indemnified Person and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities
by the Investors pursuant to Section 9.
b. In connection with any Registration Statement in which an
Investor is participating, each such Investor agrees to severally and not
jointly indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same
manner as is set forth in Section 6.a, the Company, each of its directors, each
of its officers who signs the Registration Statement, each Person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act
(collectively and together with an Indemnified Person, an "Indemnified Party"),
against any Claim or Indemnified Damages to which any of them may become
subject, under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim or
Indemnified Damages arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case
to the extent, and only to the extent, that such Violation occurs in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such
Investor expressly for use in connection with such Registration Statement; and,
subject to Section 6.d, such Investor will reimburse any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any
such Claim; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this
Section 6.b and the agreement with respect to contribution contained in Section
7 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement
is effected without the prior written consent of such Investor, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, further, however, that the
Investor shall be liable under this Section 6.b for only that amount of a Claim
or Indemnified Damages 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
14
untrue statement or omission of material fact contained in the preliminary
prospectus was corrected on a timely basis in the prospectus and such prospectus
was provided to Investors as required, as then amended or supplemented.
c. The Company shall be entitled to receive indemnities from
underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers and similar securities industry
professionals participating in any distribution, to the same extent as provided
above, with respect to information such persons so furnished in writing
expressly for inclusion in the Registration Statement.
d. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any
action or proceeding (including any governmental action or proceeding) involving
a Claim, such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall, if a Claim in
respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section
6, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement
thereof, and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and,
to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other
indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume control of the defense thereof
with counsel mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party and the Indemnified
Person or the Indemnified Party, as the case may be; provided, however, that an
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own
counsel with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if, in
the reasonable opinion of counsel retained by the indemnifying party, the
representation by such counsel of the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
and the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any
other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The Company shall
pay reasonable fees for only one separate legal counsel for the Investors, and
such legal counsel shall be selected by the Investors holding a majority of the
issued or issuable Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement
to which the Claim relates. The Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person shall
cooperate fully with the indemnifying party in connection with any negotiation
or defense of any such action or claim by the indemnifying party and shall
furnish to the indemnifying party all information reasonably available to the
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person which relates to such action or claim.
The indemnifying party shall keep the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person
fully apprised at all times as to the status of the defense or any settlement
negotiations with respect thereto. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any
settlement of any action, claim or proceeding effected without its written
consent; provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall not unreasonably
withhold, delay or condition its consent. No indemnifying party shall, without
the consent of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person, consent to entry of
any judgment or enter into any settlement or other compromise which does not
include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff
to such Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person of a release from all liability
in respect to such claim or litigation. Following indemnification as provided
for hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be subrogated to all rights of the
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person with respect to all third parties, firms
or corporations relating to the matter for which indemnification has been made.
The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a
reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not relieve such
indemnifying party of any liability to the
15
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6, except to the
extent that the indemnifying party is prejudiced in its ability to defend such
action.
e. The indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in
addition to (i) any cause of action or similar right of the Indemnified Party or
Indemnified Person against the indemnifying party or others, and (ii) any
liabilities the indemnifying party may be subject to pursuant to the law.
7. CONTRIBUTION.
To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is
prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum
contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable
under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that:
(i) no seller of Registrable Securities guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 0000 Xxx) shall be entitled to
contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation; and (ii) contribution by any seller of Registrable
Securities shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds received by
such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities.
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"),
during the Registration Period, the Company agrees to:
a. make and keep public information available, as those terms
are understood and defined in Rule 144;
b. file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other
documents required of the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so long as
the Company remains subject to such requirements 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.
16
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 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) immediately 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; and (v)
such transfer shall have been made in accordance with the applicable
requirements of the Purchase Agreement. No transferee in any transfer made in
reliance on Rule 144 will have any rights as an Investor under this Agreement.
10. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance
thereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either
retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company
and Investors who then hold or have the right to acquire two-thirds of the
Registrable Securities. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this
Section 10 shall be binding upon each Investor and the Company. No such
amendment shall be effective to the extent that it applies to less than all of
the holders of the Registrable Securities. No consideration shall be offered or
paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any
provision of any of this Agreement unless the same consideration also is offered
to all of the parties to this Agreement.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
a. A Person is deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities
whenever such Person owns or is deemed to own of record such Registrable
Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or
elections from two (2) or more Persons 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.
17
b. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications
required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in
writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when
delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided
confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and
kept on file by the sending party); or (iii) one business day after deposit with
a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, in each case properly
addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers
for such communications shall be:
If to the Company:
Atlantic Technology Ventures, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxx
With a copy to:
Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention:
If to a Buyer, to its address and facsimile number on the Schedule of Buyers
attached hereto, with copies to such Buyer's representatives as set forth on the
Schedule of Buyers or to such other address and/or facsimile number and/or to
the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by
written notice given to each other party five days prior to the effectiveness of
such change. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such
notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically generated by
the sender's facsimile machine containing the time, date, recipient facsimile
number and an image of such transmission or (C) provided by a courier or
overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service,
overnight or courier delivery or transmission by facsimile in accordance with
clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.
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 Delaware applicable to contracts made
in Delaware by persons domiciled
18
in Delaware and without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws. Any
dispute under this Agreement shall be governed and resolved pursuant to Section
10.2 of the Purchase Agreement
e. Subject to the requirements of Section 9, this Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the permitted successors and
assigns of each of the parties hereto.
f. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
g. This Agreement may be executed in identical counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one
and the same agreement. This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be
delivered to the other party hereto by facsimile transmission of a copy of this
Agreement bearing the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.
h. 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. 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.
k. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the
benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.
* * * * * *
19
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration Rights
Agreement to be duly executed as of day and year first above written.
COMPANY: BUYERS:
Atlantic Technology Ventures, INC. BH Capital Investments, L.P.
By: HB and Co., Inc. its General
Partner
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
--------------------------- ----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Its: President Its: Authorized Signatory
Excalibur Limited Partnership
By: Excalibur Capital
Management, Inc.
Its General Partner
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx,
President
20
Exhibit A
FORM OF NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS
OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
--------------------------
--------------------------
Attn:
----------------------------
Re: Atlantic Technology Ventures, Inc.
---------------------------------
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are counsel to Atlantic Technology Ventures, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), which has entered into that certain Convertible
Preferred Stock and Warrants Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") by
and among the Company and the buyers named therein (collectively, the "Holders")
pursuant to which the Company issued to the Holders Preferred Stock convertible
into shares of its common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the "Common Stock")
and warrants to purchase Common Stock. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the
Company also has entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Holders
(the "Registration Rights Agreement") pursuant to which the Company agreed,
among other things, to register the Registrable Securities (as defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"1933 Act"). In connection with the Company's obligations under the Registration
Rights Agreement, on ____________ ___, 2000, the Company filed a Registration
Statement on Form S-___ (File No. 333-_____________) (the "Registration
Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") relating to
the Registrable Securities which names each of the Holders as a selling
stockholder thereunder.
In connection with the foregoing, we advise you that a member of the
SEC's staff has advised us by telephone that the SEC has entered an order
declaring the Registration Statement effective under the 1933 Act at [ENTER TIME
OF EFFECTIVENESS] on [ENTER DATE OF EFFECTIVENESS] and we have no knowledge,
after telephonic inquiry of a member of the SEC's staff, that any stop order
suspending its effectiveness has been issued or that any proceedings for that
purpose are pending before, or threatened by, the SEC and the Registrable
Securities are available for resale under the 1933 Act pursuant to the
Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
[ISSUER'S COUNSEL]
By:
----------------------------------
cc: [LIST NAMES OF HOLDERS]
