Exhibit 10.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (this
"Agreement") is made and entered into as of December 19, 2006, between New
Century Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and the
purchaser signatory hereto (the "Purchaser").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement,
dated as of the date hereof among the Company and the Purchaser (the "Purchase
Agreement").
The Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are
defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in
the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
"Advice" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d).
"Effectiveness Date" means, subject to Section 6, with respect
to the initial Registration Statement required to be filed hereunder,
the 90th calendar day following the date hereof (120th calendar day if
such Registration Statement is reviewed by the Commission) and, with
respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be required
pursuant to Section 3(c), the 90th calendar day following the date on
which the Company first knows, or reasonably should have known, that
such additional Registration Statement is required hereunder; provided,
however, in the event the Company is notified by the Commission that
one of the above Registration Statements will not be reviewed or is no
longer subject to further review and comments, the Effectiveness Date
as to such Registration Statement shall be the fifth Trading Day
following the date on which the Company is so notified if such date
precedes the dates required above.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2(a).
"Event" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
"Event Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
"Filing Date" means, Subject to Section 6, with respect to the
initial Registration Statement required hereunder, the 30th calendar
day following the date hereof and, with respect to any additional
Registration Statements which may be required pursuant to Section 3(c),
the 30th day following the date on which the Company first knows, or
reasonably should have known that such additional Registration
Statement is required hereunder.
"Holder" or "Holders" means the holder or holders, as the case
may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.
"Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5(c).
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"Indemnifying Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5(c).
"Losses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
"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 a 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 a 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, subject to Section 6, (i) all
of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes or
as interest on the Notes assuming all of the Notes are converted and
all permissible interest payments are made in shares of Common Stock
and the Notes are held until maturity, (ii) all shares issuable as
amortization payments on the Notes assuming all permissible
amortization payments are made in shares of Common Stock and the Notes
are held until maturity, (iii) all Warrant Shares, (iv) any securities
issued or issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution
recapitalization or similar event with respect to the foregoing and (v)
any additional shares issuable in connection with any anti-dilution
provisions in the Notes or the Warrants.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statements
required to be filed hereunder and any additional registration
statements contemplated by Sections 3(c) and 6, 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 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 purpose and effect as such
Rule.
"Rule 424" means Rule 424 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 purpose and effect as such
Rule.
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2. Registration
(a) The Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a
Registration Statement covering the resale of the Registrable Securities for an
offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. The Registration
Statement shall be on Form SB-2 (except if the Company is not then eligible to
register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form SB-2, in which case such
registration shall be on another appropriate form in accordance herewith) and
shall contain (unless otherwise directed by the Holders) substantially the "Plan
of Distribution" attached hereto as Annex A. Subject to the terms of this
Agreement, 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 applicable
Effectiveness Date, and shall use its best efforts to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until 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 and the affected Holders (the
"Effectiveness Period"). The Company shall immediately notify the Holders via
facsimile of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement on the same day
that the Company receives notification of the effectiveness from the Commission.
Failure to so notify the Holder within 1 Trading Day of such notification shall
be deemed an Event under Section 2(b).
(b) If (subject to Section 6): (i) a Registration Statement is not
filed on or prior to its Filing Date (if the Company files a Registration
Statement without affording the Holders the opportunity to review and comment on
the same as required by Section 3(a), the Company shall not be deemed to have
satisfied this clause (i)), or (ii) the Company fails to file with the
Commission a request for acceleration in accordance with Rule 461 promulgated
under the Securities Act, within five Trading Days of the date that the Company
is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that
a Registration Statement will not be "reviewed," or not subject to further
review; or (iii) prior to its Effectiveness Date, the Company fails to file a
pre-effective amendment and otherwise respond in writing to comments made by the
Commission in respect of such Registration Statement within 14 calendar days
after the receipt of comments by or notice from the Commission that such
amendment is required in order for a Registration Statement to be declared
effective; or (iv) a Registration Statement filed or required to be filed
hereunder is not declared effective by the Commission by its Effectiveness Date;
or (v) after the Effectiveness Date, a Registration Statement ceases for any
reason to remain continuously effective as to all Registrable Securities for
which it is required to be effective, or the Holders are not permitted to
utilize the Prospectus therein to resell such Registrable Securities for 10
consecutive calendar days but no more than an aggregate of 15 calendar days
during any 12-month period (which need not be consecutive Trading Days) (any
such failure or breach being referred to as an "Event", and for purposes of
clause (ii) or (iv) the date on which such Event occurs, or for purposes of
clause (ii) the date on which such five Trading Day period is exceeded, or for
purposes of clause (iii) the date which such 14 calendar day period is exceeded,
or for purposes of clause (v) the date on which such 10 or 15 calendar day
period, as applicable, is exceeded being referred to as "Event Date"), then in
addition to any other rights the Holders may have hereunder or under applicable
law, on each such Event Date and on each monthly anniversary of each such Event
Date (if the applicable Event shall not have been cured by such date) until the
applicable Event is cured, the Company shall pay to each Holder an amount in
cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to 1.5% of the
outstanding principal of the Notes for any Registrable Securities then held by
such Holder for the first 30 days (or part thereof) after the Event Date and an
additional 1.5% for any subsequent 30-day period (or part thereof), thereafter.
The maximum aggregate liquidated damages that shall be payable to a Holder under
this Agreement shall be 10% of the remaining balance of aggregate Subscription
Amount paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. If the Company
fails to pay any partial liquidated damages pursuant to this Section in full
within seven days after the date payable, the Company will pay interest thereon
at a rate of 20% per annum (or such lesser maximum amount that is permitted to
be paid by applicable law) to the Holder, accruing daily from the date such
partial liquidated damages are due until such amounts, plus all such interest
thereon, are paid in full. The partial liquidated damages pursuant to the terms
hereof shall apply on a daily pro-rata basis for any portion of a month prior to
the cure of an Event.
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3. Registration Procedures
In connection with the Company's registration obligations hereunder,
the Company shall:
(a) Not less than five Trading Days prior to the filing of each
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 each
Holder 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 (ii) cause its officers and
directors, counsel and independent certified public accountants to respond to
such inquiries as shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of respective
counsel 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 shall reasonably object in good faith,
provided that, the Company is notified of such objection in writing no later
than 5 Trading Days after the Holders have been so furnished copies of such
documents. Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Company a completed
Questionnaire in the form attached to this Agreement as Annex B (a "Selling
Holder Questionnaire") not less than two Trading Days prior to the Filing Date
or by the end of the fourth Trading Day following the date on which such Holder
receives draft materials in accordance with this Section.
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including
post-effective amendments, to a Registration Statement and the Prospectus used
in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep a 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 (subject to the
terms of this Agreement), and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant
to Rule 424; (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably possible to any comments
received from the Commission with respect to a 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 a Registration Statement; and (iv) comply in all material respects
with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to
the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration
Statement during the applicable period in accordance (subject to the terms of
this Agreement) with the intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof
set forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as
so supplemented.
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(c) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold (which
notice shall, pursuant to clauses (ii) through (vi) hereof, be accompanied by an
instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes
have been made) as promptly as reasonably possible (and, in the case of (i)(A)
below, not less than five Trading Days prior to such filing) and (if requested
by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than one Trading Day
following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement is proposed to be filed;
(B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a "review" of
such Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on
such Registration Statement (the Company shall provide true and complete copies
thereof and all written responses thereto to each of the Holders); and (C) with
respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the
same has become effective; (ii) of any request by the Commission or any other
Federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a
Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; (iii) of the
issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority
of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement
covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any
Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption
from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such
purpose; (v) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes the
financial statements included in a Registration Statement ineligible for
inclusion therein or any statement made in a 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 a
Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of a
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; and
(vi) the occurrence or existence of any pending corporate development with
respect to the Company that the Company believes may be material and that, in
the determination of the Company, makes it not in the best interest of the
Company to allow continued availability of the Registration Statement or
Prospectus; provided that any and all of such information shall remain
confidential to each Holder until such information otherwise becomes public,
unless disclosure by a Holder is required by law; provided, further,
notwithstanding each Holder's agreement to keep such information confidential,
the Holders make no acknowledgement that any such information is material,
non-public information.
(d) Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued,
obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or
exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in
any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.
(e) Furnish to each Holder, without charge, at least one conformed copy
of each such Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, including
financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference to the extent requested by such Person, and
all exhibits to the extent requested by such Person (including those previously
furnished or incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such
documents with the Commission.
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(f) Promptly deliver to each Holder, 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 in
connection with resales by the Holder of Registrable Securities. Subject to the
terms of this Agreement, the Company hereby consents to the use of such
Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities
covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, except after
the giving on any notice pursuant to Section 3(d).
(g) Prior to any resale of Registrable Securities by a Holder, use its
commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the
selling Holders in connection with the registration or qualification (or
exemption from the Registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities
for the resale by the Holder under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder reasonably requests in
writing, to keep each registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom)
effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or
things reasonably necessary to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of
the Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement; provided,
that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in
any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, subject the Company to any
material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or file a
general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction.
(h) If requested by the Holders, cooperate with the Holders 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 the Purchase Agreement, of all restrictive legends, and to enable
such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such
names as any such Holders may request.
(i) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by this Section 3, as
promptly as reasonably possible under the circumstances taking into account the
Company's good faith assessment of any adverse consequences to the Company and
its stockholders of the premature disclosure of such event, prepare a supplement
or amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to a 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 a 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. If the Company notifies the Holders in accordance with clauses
(ii) through (v) of Section 3(d) above to suspend the use of any Prospectus
until the requisite changes to such Prospectus have been made, then the Holders
shall suspend use of such Prospectus. The Company will use its best efforts to
ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as is
practicable. The Company shall be entitled to exercise its right under this
Section 3(j) to suspend the availability of a Registration Statement and
Prospectus, subject to the payment of partial liquidated damages pursuant to
Section 2(b), for a period not to exceed 60 days (which need not be consecutive
days) in any 12 month period.
(j) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission.
(k) The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the
Company a certified statement as to the number of shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned by such Holder and, if required by the Commission, the person
thereof that has voting and dispositive control over the Shares. During any
periods that the Company is unable to meet its obligations hereunder with
respect to the registration of the Registrable Securities solely because any
Holder fails to furnish such information within three Trading Days of the
Company's request, any liquidated damages that are accruing at such time as to
such Holder only shall be tolled and any Event that may otherwise occur solely
because of such delay shall be suspended as to such Holder only, until such
information is delivered to the Company.
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4. Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the
performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne
by the Company 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 Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then
listed for trading, and (B) in compliance with applicable state securities or
Blue Sky laws reasonably agreed to by the Company in writing (including, without
limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company 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 requested by the Holders), (ii) printing
expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for
Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses if the printing of
prospectuses is reasonably requested by the holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement), (iii) messenger,
telephone and delivery expenses, (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 and the fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any
securities exchange as required hereunder. In no event shall the Company be
responsible for any broker or similar commissions or, except to the extent
provided for in the Transaction Documents, any legal fees or other costs of the
Holders.
5. Indemnification
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall, notwithstanding
any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the
officers, directors, agents, brokers (including brokers who offer and sell
Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or any failure to
perform under a margin call of Common Stock), investment advisors and employees
of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the
officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling Person, to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation,
reasonable 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 a 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 (i) such
untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding such
Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use
therein, or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such
Holder's proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was
reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in a
Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto (it being understood that the Holder has
approved Annex A hereto for this purpose) or (ii) in the case of an occurrence
of an event of the type specified in Section 3(d)(ii)-(vi), the use by such
Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified
such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to
the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 6(d). The
Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or
assertion of any Proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement of which the Company is aware.
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(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
incurred, to the extent arising out of or based solely upon: (x) such Holder's
failure to comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act or (y) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained
in any 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 not
misleading (i) 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 such Registration Statement
or such Prospectus or (ii) to the extent that (1) such untrue statements or
omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in
writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the
extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed
method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly
approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration
Statement (it being understood that the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for
this purpose), such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or (2) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type
specified in Section 3(d)(ii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an outdated or
defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that
the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder
of the Advice contemplated in Section 6(d). In no event shall the liability of
any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the
net proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities
giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall be
brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an
"Indemnified Party"), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person
from whom indemnity is sought (the "Indemnifying Party") in writing, and the
Indemnifying Party shall have the right to 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 prejudiced
the Indemnifying Party.
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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; (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 reasonably believe that a material 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 the reasonable fees and expenses of one
separate 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 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.
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, all reasonable 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 Trading Days of written notice
thereof to the Indemnifying Party; provided, that the Indemnified Party shall
promptly reimburse the Indemnifying Party for that portion of such fees and
expenses applicable to such actions for which such Indemnified Party is not
entitled to indemnification hereunder, determined based upon the relative faults
of the parties.
(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 this Agreement, 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, except in the case of fraud by
such Holder.
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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. Timing of Registration Statements. Anything to the contrary
notwithstanding, due to Commission's current standpoint on Rule 415, the Company
shall not be subject to any liquidated damages pursuant to Section 2(b), and any
liquidated damages accrued prior to the date hereof shall be waived. Failure to
meet the timetable set below will subject the Company to liquidated damages set
forth in Section 2(b).
Amount of Registrable Securities to be filed Filing Date Effectiveness Date
-------------------------------------------- ----------- ------------------
i) All Common Stock issuable upon 45 days after 105 days after the date
conversion of the Notes up to 33% of the date hereof hereof
the Company's issued and outstanding stock
ii) All Common Stock issuable upon 90 days after 90 days after filing
Conversion of the Notes to extent the effectiveness
not registered above plus all Warrant of the Registration
Shares up to 33% of the Company's Statement referred to
Issued and outstanding stock in i) above
iii) All Common Stock issuable upon 90 days after 90 days after filing
Conversion of the Notes to extent the effectiveness
not registered above plus all Warrant of the Registration
Shares up to 33% of the Company's Statement referred to
Issued and outstanding stock in ii) above
iv) All additional Warrant Shares not
registered above. 90 days after 90 days after filing
the effectiveness
of the Registration
Statement referred to
in iii) above
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 agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for
any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this
Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for
specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that
a remedy at law would be adequate.
10
(b) No Piggyback on Registrations. Except as set forth on Schedule 6(i), 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. Each Purchaser
acknowledges and agrees that the Company may, in its sole discretion, file one
registration statement to fulfill its obligations to the Purchaser hereunder.
The Company shall not file any other registration statements until the initial
Registration Statement required hereunder is declared effective by the
Commission, provided that this Section 6(b) shall not prohibit the Company from
filing amendments to registration statements already filed.
(c) Compliance. Each Holder covenants and agrees that it will comply
with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to
it in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Registration Statement.
(d) Discontinued Disposition. 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), such Holder
will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under a
Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement, 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. The
Company will use its best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may
be resumed as promptly as it practicable. The Company agrees and acknowledges
that any periods during which the Holder is required to discontinue the
disposition of the Registrable Securities hereunder shall be subject to the
provisions of Section 2(b).
(e) 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 the stock option or other employee
benefit plans, then the Company shall send to each Holder a written notice of
such determination and, if within fifteen days after the date of such notice,
any such Holder shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such
registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such
holder requests to be registered; provided, that, the Company shall not be
required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 6(e)
that are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144(k) promulgated under the
Securities Act or that are the subject of a then effective Registration
Statement.
(f) 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 each
Holder of the then outstanding Registrable Securities. 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 all 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.
11
(g) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries
required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be delivered as set forth
in the Purchase Agreement.
(h) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the
parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company may not
assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of
all of the Holders of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities. Each Holder
may assign their respective rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as
permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
(i) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has entered, 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 would have the effect of
impairing the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise
conflicts with the provisions hereof. Except as set forth on Schedule 7(i),
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 that have not been satisfied in full.
(j) Execution and 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.
(k) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity,
enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be determined with the
provisions of the Purchase Agreement.
(l) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative
and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(m) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to find and employ an
alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that
contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby
stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have
executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without
including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or
unenforceable.
(n) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
12
(o) Independent Nature of Holders' Obligations and Rights. The
obligations of each Holder hereunder are several and not joint with the
obligations of any other Holder hereunder, and no Holder shall be responsible in
any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Holder hereunder.
Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or document delivered at any
closing, and no action taken by any Holder pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be
deemed to constitute the Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint
venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Holders
are in any way acting in concert with respect to such obligations or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Holder shall be entitled to
protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation the rights arising
out of this Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Holder to be
joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.
********************
13
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement as of the date first written above.
NEW CENTURY COMPANIES, INC.
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS FOLLOWS]
14
[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS TO NEW CENTURY COMPANIES RRA]
Name of Investing Entity: CAMOFI Master LDC
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity: _________________________
Name of Authorized Signatory: _________________________
Title of Authorized Signatory: __________________________
15
Plan of Distribution
Each Selling Stockholder (the "Selling Stockholders") of the common
stock ("Common Stock") of New Century Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company") and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest
may, from time to time, sell any or all of their shares of Common Stock on the
Trading Market or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which
the shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or
negotiated prices. A Selling Stockholder may use any one or more of the
following methods when selling shares:
o ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the
broker-dealer solicits Purchaser;
o block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell
the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of
the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;
o purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the
broker-dealer for its account;
o an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the
applicable exchange;
o privately negotiated transactions;
o settlement of short sales entered into after the date of this
prospectus;
o broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell
a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per
share;
o a combination of any such methods of sale;
o through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging
transactions, whether through an options exchange or
otherwise; or
o any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
The Selling Stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), if available, rather
than under this prospectus.
Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for
other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive
commissions or discounts from the Selling Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer
acts as agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be
negotiated. Each Selling Stockholder does not expect these commissions and
discounts relating to its sales of shares to exceed what is customary in the
types of transactions involved.
16
In connection with the sale of our common stock or interests therein,
the Selling Stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers
or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the
common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The Selling
Stockholders may also sell shares of our common stock short and deliver these
securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the common
stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The Selling
Stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with
broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more
derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other
financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such
broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this
prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).
The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are
involved in selling the shares may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the
meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any
commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the
resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting
commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Each Selling Stockholder has
informed the Company that it does not have any agreement or understanding,
directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Common Stock.
The Company is required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by
the Company incident to the registration of the shares. The Company has agreed
to indemnify the Selling Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages
and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
Because Selling Stockholders may be deemed to be "underwriters" within
the meaning of the Securities Act, they will be subject to the prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act. In addition, any securities covered
by this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the
Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than under this prospectus.
Each Selling Stockholder has advised us that they have not entered into any
agreements, understandings or arrangements with any underwriter or broker-dealer
regarding the sale of the resale shares. There is no underwriter or coordinating
broker acting in connection with the proposed sale of the resale shares by the
Selling Stockholders.
We agreed to keep this prospectus effective until the earlier of (i)
the date on which the shares may be resold by the Selling Stockholders without
registration and without regard to any volume limitations by reason of Rule
144(e) under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect or (ii) all
of the shares have been sold pursuant to the prospectus or Rule 144 under the
Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect. The resale shares will be
sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under
applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the resale
shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in
the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification
requirement is available and is complied with.
Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any
person engaged in the distribution of the resale shares may not simultaneously
engage in market making activities with respect to our common stock for a period
of two business days prior to the commencement of the distribution. In addition,
the Selling Stockholders will be subject to applicable provisions of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M,
which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of shares of our common stock
by the Selling Stockholders or any other person. We will make copies of this
prospectus available to the Selling Stockholders and have informed them of the
need to deliver a copy of this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the
time of the sale.
17
Annex B
New Century Companies, Inc.
Selling Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire
The undersigned beneficial owner of common stock, par value $0.10 (the
"Common Stock"), of New Century Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), (the "Registrable Securities") understands that the Company has
filed or intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement on Form SB-2 (the "Registration
Statement") for the registration and resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), of the Registrable Securities, in
accordance with the terms of the Amended and Restated Registration Rights
Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2006 (the "Registration Rights Agreement"),
among the Company and the Purchaser named therein. A copy of the Amended and
Restated Registration Rights Agreement is available from the Company upon
request at the address set forth below. All capitalized terms not otherwise
defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Registration
Rights Agreement.
Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling
securityholder in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus.
Accordingly, holders and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised
to consult their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being
named or not being named as a selling securityholder in the Registration
Statement and the related prospectus.
NOTICE
The undersigned beneficial owner (the "Selling Securityholder") of
Registrable Securities hereby elects to include the Registrable Securities owned
by it and listed below in Item 3 (unless otherwise specified under such Item 3)
in the Registration Statement.
The undersigned hereby provides the following information to the
Company and represents and warrants that such information is accurate:
QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Name.
(a) Full Legal Name of Selling Securityholder
--------------------------------------------------------------
(b) Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as (a)
above) through which Registrable Securities Listed in Item 3
below are held:
--------------------------------------------------------------
18
(c) Full Legal Name of Natural Control Person (which means a
natural person who directly you indirectly alone or with
others has power to vote or dispose of the securities covered
by the questionnaire):
--------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
2. Address for Notices to Selling Securityholder:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fax:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact Person:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
3. Beneficial Ownership of Registrable Securities:
(a) Type and Principal Amount of Registrable Securities
beneficially owned:
--------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
4. Broker-Dealer Status:
(a) Are you a broker-dealer?
Yes|_| No |_|
Note: If yes, the Commission's staff has indicated that you should
be identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.
(b) Are you an affiliate of a broker-dealer?
Yes|_| No |_|
(c) If you are an affiliate of a broker-dealer, do you certify
that you bought the Registrable Securities in the ordinary
course of business, and at the time of the purchase of the
Registrable Securities to be resold, you had no agreements or
understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person to
distribute the Registrable Securities?
Yes|_| No |_|
Note: If no, the Commission's staff has indicated that you should be
identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.
19
5. Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company Owned by the Selling
Securityholder.
Except as set forth below in this Item 5, the undersigned is not the
beneficial or registered owner of any securities of the Company other
than the Registrable Securities listed above in Item 3.
(a) Type and Amount of Other Securities beneficially owned by the
Selling Securityholder:
--------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
6. Relationships with the Company:
Except as set forth below, neither the undersigned nor any of its
affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (owners of
5% of more of the equity securities of the undersigned) has held any
position or office or has had any other material relationship with the
Company (or its predecessors or affiliates) during the past three
years.
State any exceptions here:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The undersigned agrees to promptly notify the Company of any
inaccuracies or changes in the information provided herein that may occur
subsequent to the date hereof at any time while the Registration Statement
remains effective.
By signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the
information contained herein in its answers to Items 1 through 6 and the
inclusion of such information in the Registration Statement and the related
prospectus. The undersigned understands that such information will be relied
upon by the Company in connection with the preparation or amendment of the
Registration Statement and the related prospectus.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused
this Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or
by its duly authorized agent.
Dated: Beneficial Owner:
--------------------- --------------------------
By:
---------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
PLEASE FAX A COPY OF THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE, AND
RETURN THE ORIGINAL BY OVERNIGHT MAIL, TO:
20
