REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of May 27, 2005, by and between Fonix Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and Queen LLC, referred to herein as "Investor."
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Seventh Private Equity Line
Agreement, dated as of the date hereof among the Company and the Investor (the
"Equity Line Agreement").
The Company and the Investors hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein
shall have the meanings given such terms in the Equity Line Agreement. As used
in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
"Advice" shall have meaning set forth in Section 3(p).
"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 of "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
Delaware generally are authorized or required by law or other government actions
to close.
"Class A Common Stock" means the Company's Class A Common Stock, par
value $.0001 per share.
"Commission" means the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission.
"Effectiveness Date" means one hundred twenty (120) days following the
date on which the Company files the Registration Statement.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(a).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Filing Date" means 30th day following the Subscription Date.
"Holder" or "Holders" means the holder or holders, as the case may be,
from time to time of Registrable Securities.
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"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.
"Registrable Securities" means the shares of Class A Common Stock
issuable upon exercise by the Company of its right to put shares of its Class A
Common Stock to the Investor under the Equity Line Agreement; provided, however
that in order to account for the fact that the number of shares of Class A
Common Stock that are issuable under the Equity Line Agreement is determined in
part upon the market price of the Class A Common Stock at the time of
conversion, Registrable Securities shall include (but not be limited to) up to
fifty million (50,000,000) shares of Class A Common Stock.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statement contemplated
by Section 2(a) (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 144" means Rule 144 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.
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"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.
"Subscription Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the Seventh
Equity Line 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-2 (if the Company is
not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-2,
such registration shall be on another appropriate form in accordance herewith as
the Holders of a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities may
consent). 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 shall use its best efforts to keep such Registration Statement
continuously effective under the Securities Act until the date which is two
years after the last Put Date 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) as determined by the counsel
to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed
and acceptable 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 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) Reserved.
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(c) If any of the Registrable Securities are to be sold in an
Underwritten Offering, the investment banker in interest that will administer
the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities included in such offering upon consultation with the Company. 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 obliga tions hereunder, the Company shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the Commission on or prior to the
Filing Date, a Registration Statement on Form S-2 (or if the Company is not then
eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-2 such
registration shall be on another appropriate form in accordance herewith, or, in
connection with an Underwritten Offering hereunder, such other form available to
the Company and acceptable to the Holders), 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 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 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 to which the Holders of
a majority of the Registrable Securities, their Special Counsel, or any managing
underwriters, shall reasonably object on a timely basis.
(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 the
applicable 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 reasonably possible to any comments
received from the Commission with respect to the Registration Statement or any
amendment thereto and as promptly as reasonably possible provide the Holders
true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission
relating to the Registration Statement; and (iv) comply in all material respects
with the provisions of the
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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) File additional Registration Statements if the number of
Registrable Securities at such time exceeds the number of shares of Class A
Common Stock then registered in a Registration Statement. In such event, the
Registration Statement required to be filed by the Company shall include no less
than a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to no less than sixty
million (60,000,000) shares of Class A Common Stock issuable in connection with
any funds under the Maximum Commitment Amount which remain undrawn (assuming
such drawdown occurred on the Filing Date or the date of the filing of the final
acceleration request therefor, whichever date yields a lower Purchase Price) and
any other Registrable Securities not then registered in a Registration
Statement.
(d) Permit a single firm of counsel designated by the Investor
to review the Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto
a reasonable period of time (but not less than three (3) business days) prior to
their filing with the SEC, and not file any document in a form to which such
counsel reasonably objects.
(e) Notify the Investor, such Investor's legal counsel
identified to the Company (which, until further notice, shall be deemed to be
Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, LLP, ATTN: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Esq.; each, an "Investor's
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 including changes in the
provisions relating to the Investor, the Registrable Securities, or the
transactions reflected in the Transaction Agreements (collectively, "Investor
Matters") is proposed to be filed; (B) whenever the SEC notifies the Company
whether there will be a "review" of such Registration Statement; (C) whenever
the Company receives (or a representative of the Company receives on its behalf)
any oral or written comments from the SEC 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 Investors); 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 SEC 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 SEC 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
or 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
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any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such
purpose; and (vi) of the occurrence of any event that to the best knowledge of
the Company 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 to the Investor's Counsel copies of all
intended written responses to the comments contemplated in clause (C) of this
Section 3(e) to the extent such responses relate to Investor Matters not later
than one (1) business day in advance of the filing of such responses with the
SEC so that the Investors shall have the opportunity to comment thereon.
(f) Furnish to the Investor and the Investor's Counsel (i)
promptly after the same is prepared and publicly distributed, filed with the
SEC, or received by the Company, one (1) copy of the Registration Statement,
each preliminary prospectus and prospectus, and each amendment or supplement
thereto, and (ii) such number of copies of a prospectus, and all amendments and
supplements thereto and such other documents, as such Investor may reasonably
request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities
owned by such Investor.
(g) 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.
(h) 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) (subject to a permitted Blackout Period)
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(f) that would, in the opinion of counsel for
the Company, violate applicable law or be materially detrimental to the business
prospects of the Company.
(i) Furnish to each Holder 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
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previously furnished or incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of
such documents with the Commission.
(j) Promptly deliver to each Holder 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.
(k) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities,
use its best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling
Holders and any underwriters 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 within the United States as any Holder or underwriter
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.
(l) Cooperate with the Holders and any managing underwriters
to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing
Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee pursuant to a
Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, 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 three (3)
Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities.
(m) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section
3(d)(vi), as promptly as reasonably possible, 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.
(n) Use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities
relating to such Registration Statement to be listed on the OTC Bulletin Board,
Nasdaq SmallCap Market and any other subsequent market (or qualified for trading
on the OTC Bulletin Board, if applicable),
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if any, on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed as and
when required pursuant to the Equity Line Agreement.
(o) 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 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 Holder and each such underwriter, in form, scope and
substance reasonably satisfactory to any such managing underwriters and 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 underwriters; (iii) immediately prior to the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, and, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, at the
time of delivery of any Registrable Securities sold pursuant thereto, use its
best reasonable efforts to 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 the Company in 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 5 (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 and any managing
underwriters to evidence the continued validity of the representations and
warranties made pursuant to clause 3(m)(i) above and to evidence compliance with
any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other
agreement entered into by the Company.
(p) 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 reasonably requested by any such Holder,
representative, underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the
Registration Statement; provided, however, that any
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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) such information becomes generally
available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to
safeguard by such Person; or (iii) 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.
(q) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission.
(r) The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to
the Company such information regarding the distribution of such Registrable
Securities and the beneficial ownership of Class A Common Stock held by such
Holder as is required by law to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, and
the Company may exclude from such registration, without any penalty otherwise
provided by this Agreement, 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 is not to be construed as a rec
ommendation by such Holder of the investment quality of the Company's securities
covered thereby and that such ownership does not imply 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 covenants and agrees that (i) it will not 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(h) and notice from the Company that such Registration Statement and
any post-effective amendments thereto have become effective as contemplated by
Section 3(d) and (ii) it and its officers, directors or Affiliates, if any, 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(d)(ii), 3(d)(iii), 3(d)(iv),
3(d)(v) or 3(d)(vi), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such
Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until such Holder's
receipt of the copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration
Statement
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contemplated by Section 3(k), 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, except as and to the extent
specified in Section 4(b), shall 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 OTC Bulletin Board and
any subsequent market on which the Class A Common Stock is then listed for
trading, and (B) in compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws
(including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of its counsel or, if its
counsel fails to timely make such determinations, counsel for the Holders (which
will not be subject to the restrictions set forth below) in connection with Blue
Sky qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities and determination
of the eligibility of the Registrable Securities for investment under the laws
of such jurisdictions as the managing underwriters, if any, or the Holders of a
majority of Registrable Securities may 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 of the Company,
(iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (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 Company shall be responsible for all costs, fees and
expenses in connection therewith, except for the fees and disbursements of the
Underwriters (including any underwriting commissions and discounts) and their
legal counsel and accountants, which shall be borne by the Holders. By way of
illustration which is not intended to diminish from the provisions of Section
4(a), the Holders shall not be responsible for, and the Company shall be
required to pay the fees or disbursements incurred by the Company (including by
its legal counsel and accountants) in connection with, the preparation and
filing of a Registration Statement and related Prospectus for
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such offering, the maintenance of such Registration Statement in accordance with
the terms hereof, the listing of the Registrable Securities in accordance with
the requirements hereof, and printing expenses incurred to comply with the
requirements hereof.
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 Class A 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 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 pro posed
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 contained in the Registration Statement, any
Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement
thereto, or arising solely out of or based solely upon any omission of a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not
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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, such
Prospectus or such form of prospectus and that such information was reasonably
relied upon by the Company for use in the Registration Statement, such
Prospectus of 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, or in any amendment or supplement thereto. 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. The
breach, default or other action by or claim against one Holder will not be
deemed a breach, default or action of or claim against any other Holder or in
any way adversely affect the rights of each of the other Holders.
(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 shall promptly 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 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. 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
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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 ten (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 (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), no Holder shall
be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount
by which the proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the
Registrable Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any
damages that such Holder 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.
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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. Other Company Registration Obligations; Piggy-Back Registration.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. Except as and to the extent
specifically set forth in Schedule 6(a) attached 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 and to the extent specifically set forth in
Schedule 6(a) attached 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, 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.
(b) No Piggyback on Registrations. Except as and to the extent
specifically set forth in Schedule 6(a) attached 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 security holders.
(c) Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time during the
Effectiveness Period there is not an effective Registration Statement covering
all of the Registrable Securities 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 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. No right to registration of Registrable Securities
under this Section shall be construed to limit any registration otherwise
required hereunder.
6A. Reports under Securities Act and Exchange Act. With a view to
making available to Investor the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the
Securities Act or any other similar rule or regulation of the SEC that may at
any time permit Investor to sell securities of the Company to the public without
Registration ("Rule 144"), until such time as all of the
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Registrable Securities may be sold without volume limitation pursuant to
subsection (k) of Rule 144, 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 Securities Act and the Exchange Act;
and
(c) furnish to Investor promptly upon request, (i) a written
statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of
the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual
or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed
by the Company and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested
to permit Investor to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without
Registration.
(d) at the request of any Holder of Registrable Securities,
upon receipt from such Holder of a certificate certifying (i) that such Holder
has held such Registrable Securities for a period of not less than two (2)
years, (ii) that such Holder has not been an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144)
of the company for more than the ninety (90) preceding days, and (iii) as to
such other matters as may be appropriate in accordance with such Rule, remove
from the stock certificate representing such Registrable Securities that portion
of any restrictive legend which relates to the registration provisions of the
Securities Act, provided, however, counsel to Investor may provide such
instructions and opinion to the transfer agent regarding the removal of the
restrictive legend.
7. 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 agrees 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) 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 all of the then outstanding Registrable Securities; provided,
however, that, for the purposes of this sentence, Registrable Securities that
-15-
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.
(c) 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 5:00 p.m. (Salt
Lake City 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 Equity Line Agreement later than
5:00 p.m. (Salt Lake City time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m. (Salt
Lake City 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: Fonix Corporation
0000 Xxxxx 000 Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx,
Executive Vice President
With copies to: Durham Xxxxx & Xxxxxxx, P.C.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
If to the Investor, at the address indicated on the signature page to
this Agreement.
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, in each instance, to any party at such other address as may be designated in
writing hereafter, in the same manner, by such Person.
(d) 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
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the prior written consent of each Holder. The Investors may assign its rights
hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted under the Equity Line
Agreement.
(e) 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.
(f) 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. The parties hereby consent to the
jurisdiction of the courts of such state and agree that any litigation commenced
or arising under this Agreement may be brought in the courts in Wilmington,
Delaware.
(g) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are
cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(h) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agree ment 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 restric tion. 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.
(i) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning hereof.
(j) Shares Held by The Company and its Affiliates. Whenever
the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable
Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or
its Affiliates (other than the Investors or transferees or successors or assigns
thereof if such Persons are deemed to be Affiliates solely by reason of their
holdings of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in determining
whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required
percentage.
(k) Counsel Fees. Except as set forth below, each of the
Company and the Investor agrees to pay its own expenses incident to the
performance of its obligations hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company agrees to pay reasonable legal fees of the Investor
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in connection with the review and execution of this Agreement and all documents
contemplated herein, upon receipt by the Company of a xxxx from the Investor's
counsel for such services.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.
SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement as of the date first written above.
QUEEN LLC
By: /s/ Address:
Its: _______________________________
With copies to:
Xxxxxxx & Prager
00 Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Attn. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Fonix Corporation
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Its: Executive Vice Prsident
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SCHEDULE 6(a)
Other Registration Rights
1. Series I Preferred Stock. The Company granted registration rights to
the Breckenridge Fund, LLC ("Breckenridge"), in connection with the
resale of shares of the Company's common stock issuable upon
conversion of the Company's Series I 8% Convertible Preferred Stock.
Also included in the transaction were an aggregate of 2,414,596
additional shares granted to Breckenridge or its designees, and
warrants to purchase up to 965,839 shares of the Company's common
stock. The Company filed a registration statement (SEC File No.
333-113290) on March 4, 2004, which was declared effective by the
Commission on November 12, 2004. That registration statement
registered the resale of up to 23,500,000 shares by Breckenridge. The
Company filed another registration statement on May 19, 2005. That
registration statement registered the resale of up to 30,000,000
shares by Breckenridge.
2. LTEL Shareholders. The Company also granted registration rights to the
holders of the capital stock of LTEL Holdings Corporation who received
shares of Fonix Corporation Class A common stock in connection with
Fonix's acquisition of LTEL Holdings Corporation in February 2004. The
Company filed a registration statement (SEC File No. 333-115367) on
May 11, 2004, which was declared effective by the Commission on
November 3, 2004. That registration statement registers the resale by
the former LTEL shareholders of up to 7,036,801 shares of Fonix
Corporation Class A common stock. It also registers the resale by
XxXxxxxxx Avenue, Ltd. ("XxXxxxxxx"), of up to 6,000,000 shares of
Class A common stock which the Company may issue as payment of
interest on a note issued in connection with Fonix's acquisition of
LTEL Holdings Corporation, and the resale of up to 6,000,000 shares of
Class A common stock which the Company may issue as dividends on its
Series H Preferred Stock to XxXxxxxxx and Kenzie Financial Management,
both in the discretion of the Company.
Permissible Piggyback Securities
None.
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