EXHIBIT 4.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is made as
of October 17, 2000, by and between Electric City Corp., a corporation organized
under the laws of the State of Delaware, with headquarters located at 0000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000 (the "Company") and Augustine Fund,
L.P. (the "PURCHASER").
This Agreement is being entered into pursuant to that Securities
Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between the Company and
the Purchaser (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT").
The Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein 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 3(m).
"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.
"BLACKOUT PERIOD" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(n).
"BOARD" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(n).
"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 Illinois generally are authorized or required by law or other
government actions to close.
"CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS" means the Certificate of
Designation of the Relative Rights and Preferences of the Series B Convertible
Preferred Stock of the Company, the form of which is attached as Exhibit A to
the Purchase Agreement, with respect to the Preferred Stock (defined below)
filed by the Company on or before the date of this Agreement with the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware.
"COMMISSION" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"COMMON STOCK" means the Company's common stock, $0.0001 value
per share.
"EFFECTIVENESS DATE" means with respect to the Registration
Statement the 180th day following the Closing Date.
"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 the 90th day following the Closing Date.
"HOLDER" or "HOLDERS" means the holder or holders, as the case
may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.
"INDEMNIFIED PARTY" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5(c).
"INDEMNIFYING PARTY" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5(c).
"LOSSES" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
"OTC BULLETIN BOARD" shall mean the over-the-counter electronic
bulletin board market or exchange.
"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.
"PREFERRED STOCK" means the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock,
par value $0.01 per share and stated value $1,000 per share, of the Company
issued to the Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
"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 in such Prospectus.
"REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means (i) the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock (the "Conversion Shares"), in
payment of dividends in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Stock
("Dividend Shares") and upon exercise of the Warrants (the "Warrant Shares"),
and upon any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or similar event with
respect to such Conversion Shares, Dividend Shares, Warrant Shares or any
Preferred Stock and (ii) any other dividend or other distribution with respect
to, conversion or exchange of, or in replacement of, Registrable Securities;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Registrable Securities shall include (but not be limited
to) a number of shares of Common Stock (the "Required Number") equal to no less
than 200% of the maximum number of shares of Common Stock which would be
issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock and upon exercise of the
Warrants, assuming such conversion and exercise occurred on the Closing Date or
the Filing Date, whichever date would result in the greater number of
Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the
contrary, if the actual number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of the Preferred Stock and upon exercise of the Warrants exceeds the
Required Number, the term "Registrable Securities" shall be deemed to include
such additional shares of Common Stock as are necessary to include all of the
shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock (and in
payment of dividends, if applicable) and upon exercise of the Warrants.
"REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means the registration statements and
any additional registration statements contemplated by Section 2(a), 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 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.
"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.
2. REGISTRATION.
(a) REQUIRED REGISTRATION. On or prior to the Filing Date, the
Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a 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 SB-1,
Form SB-2 or Form S-3 (except if the Company is not then eligible to register
for resale the Registrable Securities on Form SB-1, Form SB-2 or Form S-3, in
which case such registration shall be on another appropriate form in accordance
herewith). The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as
promptly as possible after the filing thereof, but in any event prior to the
Effectiveness Date, and to keep such Registration Statement continuously
effective under the Securities Act until such date as is the earlier of (x) the
date
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when all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have
been sold by the Purchaser or (y) the date on which the Registrable Securities
may be sold without any restriction pursuant to Rule 144(k) as determined by the
counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter, addressed to the
Company's transfer agent to such effect (the "EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD"). If an
additional Registration Statement is required to be filed because a majority of
the holders of Series B Preferred Stock reasonably determine that the actual
number of shares of Common Stock into which the Preferred Stock is convertible
and the Warrants are exercisable may exceed the number of shares of Common Stock
initially registered in respect of the Conversion Shares, the Dividend Shares
and the Warrant Shares based upon the computation on the Closing Date, the
holder[s] shall give the Company written notice of such fact, and the Company
shall have twenty (20) Business Days from the date of its receipt of such notice
to file such additional Registration Statement. The Company shall use its best
efforts to cause such additional Registration Statement to be declared effective
by the Commission as soon as possible, but in no event later than ninety (90)
days after filing.
(b) SHELF REGISTRATION. If the Company is not on the Filing Date
eligible to file a registration statement on Form S-3, then as soon as possible
but no later than thirty (30) days after becoming eligible to file a
registration statement for a secondary or resale offering of the Registrable
Securities on Form S-3, the Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a
post-effective amendment to Form SB-1 or Form SB-2 (or such other applicable
form filed in accordance with Section 2(a) above) on Form S-3 to continue the
registration of all Registrable Securities pursuant to a "shelf" Registration
Statement on Form S-3 covering all Registrable Securities for an offering to be
made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, at no time during the Effectiveness Period shall any
of the Registrable Securities cease being registered.
3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.
In connection with the Company's registration obligations
hereunder, the Company shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the Commission on or prior to the
Filing Date, a Registration Statement on Form SB-1 or Form SB-2 (or if the
Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities
on Form SB-1 or Form SB-2 such registration shall be on another appropriate form
in accordance herewith) in accordance with the method or methods of distribution
thereof as specified by the Holder (except if otherwise directed by the Holder),
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 therein by reference), the Company shall (i) furnish to the Holder,
copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents (other than
those incorporated by reference) will be subject to the review of the Holder and
(ii) at the request of the Holder 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 counsel to such Holder, to conduct a
reasonable investigation within the meaning of the
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Securities Act. The Company shall not file the Registration Statement or any
such Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto to which the Holder
shall reasonably object in writing solely for the purpose of correcting possible
inaccuracies in such filing within three (3) Business Days of their receipt
thereof.
(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 possible to any comments received
from the Commission with respect to the Registration Statement or any amendment
thereto and as promptly as possible provide the Holder 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
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
Holder thereof set forth in the Registration Statement as so amended or in such
Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) Notify the Holder of Registrable Securities to be sold as
promptly as possible (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than five (5)
Business Days prior to such filing) and (if requested by Holder) confirm such
notice in writing no later than one (1) Business Day following the day (i)(A)
when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to
the Registration Statement is proposed to be filed; (B) 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 and (C) with respect to the Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any
request by the Commission or any other Federal or state governmental authority
for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for
additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement covering any or
all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that
purpose; (iv) if at any time any of the representations and warranties of the
Company contained in any agreement contemplated hereby ceases to be true and
correct in all material respects; (v) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption
from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such
purpose; and (vi) of the occurrence of any event that makes any statement made
in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or
that requires any revisions to the Registration Statement, Prospectus or other
documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
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therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(d) Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if
issued, obtain the withdrawal of, (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or
exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in
any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.
(e) If requested by the Holders of a majority in interest of the
Registrable Securities, (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement such information as the
Company reasonably agrees should be included therein and (ii) make all required
filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon
as reasonably practicable after the Company has received notification of the
matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment.
(f) Furnish to the Holder, without charge, at least one
conformed copy of each Registration Statement and each amendment thereto,
including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and all exhibits to the extent
requested by such Person (including those previously furnished or incorporated
by reference) promptly after the filing of such documents with the Commission.
(g) Promptly deliver to the 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; and
the Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or
supplement thereto by the Holder in connection with the offering and sale of the
Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use
its best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the Holder 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 the Holder reasonably requests in writing, to keep each such
registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the
Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or things reasonably
necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the
Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in
any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action that
would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it
is not then so subject or subject the Company to any material tax in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(i) Cooperate with the Holder to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to
be sold pursuant to a Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free
of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities
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to be in such denominations and registered in such names as any Holder may
request within at least two (2) Business Days after notice thereof.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section
3(c)(vi), as promptly as 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 the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(k) Use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities
relating to such Registration Statement to be listed on the OTC Bulletin Board
and any other securities exchange, quotation system, market or over-the-counter
bulletin board, if any, on which similar securities issued by the Company are
then listed as and when required pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
(l) Comply in all material respects with all applicable rules
and regulations of the Commission and make generally available to its security
holders earning statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act and Rule 158 not later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month
period (or 90 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a
fiscal year) commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the
Company after the effective date of the Registration Statement, which statement
shall conform to the requirements of Rule 158.
(m) Require the Holder to furnish to the Company information
regarding such Holder and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as is
required by law to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, and the Company
may exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of the Holder if
it fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time prior to the
filing of each Registration Statement, supplemented Prospectus and/or amended
Registration Statement.
If the Registration Statement refers to the Holder by name or
otherwise as the holder of any securities of the Company, then such Holder shall
have the right to require (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(g) and notice from the Company that such Registration Statement and
any post-effective amendments thereto have become effective as contemplated by
Section 3(c) and (ii) it and its officers, directors or Affiliates, if any, will
comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as
applicable to them in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant
to the Registration Statement.
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Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable
Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of
any event of the kind described in Section 3(c)(ii), 3(c)(iii), 3(c)(iv),
3(c)(v) or 3(c)(vi), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such
Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until such Holder's
receipt of the copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration
Statement contemplated by Section 3(j), or until it is advised in writing (the
"ADVICE") by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be
resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any additional or
supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement.
(n) If (i) there is material non-public information regarding
the Company which the Company's Board of Directors (the "BOARD") reasonably
determines not to be in the Company's best interest to disclose and which the
Company is not otherwise required to disclose, or (ii) there is a significant
business opportunity (including, but not limited to, the acquisition or
disposition of assets (other than in the ordinary course of business) or any
merger, consolidation, tender offer or other similar transaction) available to
the Company which the Board reasonably determines not to be in the Company's
best interest to disclose and which the Company would be required to disclose
under the Registration Statement, then the Company may postpone or suspend
filing or effectiveness of a registration statement for a period not to exceed
45 consecutive days, provided that the Company may not postpone or suspend its
obligation under this Section 3(n) for more than 60 days in the aggregate during
any 12 month period (each, a "BLACKOUT PERIOD"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such
postponement or suspension shall be permitted for consecutive 45 day periods,
arising out of the same set of facts, circumstances or transactions.
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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 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 each other securities exchange or market on
which Registrable Securities are required hereunder to be listed, (B) with
respect to filings required to be made with the Commission, (C) with respect to
filings required to be made under the OTC Bulletin Board and (D) in compliance
with state securities or Blue Sky laws, including, without limitation, fees and
disbursements in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable
Securities, (ii) printing expenses, (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery
expenses incurred by the Company, (iv) Securities Act liability insurance, if
the Company so desires such insurance and (v) fees and expenses of all other
Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the
Company's independent public accountants (including the expenses of any comfort
letters or costs associated with the delivery by independent public accountants
of a comfort letter or comfort letters). 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.
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, 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 the 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 or in material part upon information regarding such Holder furnished to
the Company by such Holder, 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
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proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and
expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto. The Company shall notify the Holder 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. Such
indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of an Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of
the Registrable Securities by the Holder.
(b) INDEMNIFICATION BY HOLDER. The Holders shall, severally and
not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the 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, arising solely or in material part out of or based solely or in
material part upon any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or arising
solely or in material part out of or based solely or in material part upon any
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 the light of the circumstances under which they were
made) not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement or omission is contained in or omitted from any information so
furnished by such Holder to the Company and that such information was reasonably
relied upon by the Company for use in the Registration Statement, such
Prospectus or such form of prospectus or to the extent that such information
relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of distribution of
Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by
such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or
such form of prospectus. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, the Holder shall be liable under this Section 5(b) for only that amount
as does not exceed the net proceeds to such Holder as a result of the sale of
Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(c) CONDUCT OF INDEMNIFICATION PROCEEDINGS. If any Proceeding
shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder
(an "INDEMNIFIED PARTY"), such Indemnified Party promptly shall notify the
Person from whom indemnity is sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PARTY) in writing, and
the Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including the
employment of 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
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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 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 because of a failure or
refusal of a governmental authority to enforce such indemnification in
accordance with its terms (by reason of public policy or otherwise), then each
Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result
of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party in connection with the
actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any
other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such Indemnifying
Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact,
has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by, such
Indemnifying, Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result
of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth
in Section 5(c), any reasonable attorneys' or other reasonable fees or expenses
incurred by such party in connection with any Proceeding to the extent such
party would have been indemnified for such fees or expenses if the
indemnification provided for in Sections 5(a) and 5(b) was available to such
party in accordance with its terms. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, the Holder shall be liable or required to contribute under
this Section 5(d) for only that amount as
11
does not exceed the net proceeds to such Holder as a result of the sale of
Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.
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.
No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have
to the Indemnified Parties.
6. RULE 144.
As long as any Holder owns Preferred Stock, Dividend Shares,
Conversion Shares, Warrants or Warrant Shares, the Company covenants to timely
file (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable
grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date
hereof pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and to promptly
furnish the Holder with true and complete copies of all such filings. As long as
any Holder owns Preferred Stock, Dividend Shares, Conversion Shares, Warrants or
Warrant Shares, if the Company is not required to file reports pursuant to
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, it will prepare and furnish to the
Holder and make publicly available in accordance with Rule 144(c) promulgated
under the Securities Act annual and quarterly financial statements, together
with a discussion and analysis of such financial statements in form and
substance substantially similar to those that would otherwise be required to be
included in reports required by Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as
well as any other information required thereby, in the time period that such
filings would have been required to have been made under the Exchange Act. The
Company further covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder
may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable
such Person to sell Dividend Shares, Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares
without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the
exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, including
providing any legal opinions of counsel to the Company referred to in the
Purchase Agreement. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to
such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether
it has complied with such requirements.
12
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.
(b) NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. Neither the Company nor any of
its subsidiaries has, as of the date hereof entered into and currently in
effect, 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 Holder in this Agreement or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof except for registration rights
provisions disclosed in the Company's Schedule to the Purchase Agreement. Except
for registration rights provisions disclosed in the Company's Schedule to the
Purchase Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
previously entered into any agreement currently in effect granting any
registration rights with respect to any of its securities to any Person. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, without the written consent of the
Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities, the
Company shall not grant to any Person the right to request the Company to
register any securities of the Company under the Securities Act unless the
rights so granted are subject in all respects to the prior rights in full of the
Holder set forth herein, and are not otherwise in conflict with the provisions
of this Agreement. This Section 7(b) shall not prohibit the Company from
entering into any agreements concerning the registration of securities on Form
S-8 or Form S-4.
(c) [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED.]
(d) PIGGY-BACK REGISTRATIONS. If at any time when there is not
an effective Registration Statement covering any issued or issuable Conversion
Shares, Dividend Shares or Warrant Shares, 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 its then equivalents relating to equity
securities to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity
or business or equity securities issuable in connection with stock option or
other employee benefit plans, the Company shall send to each holder of
Registrable Securities written notice of such determination and, if within
thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice, any such holder shall so request
in writing (which request shall specify the Registrable Securities intended to
be disposed of by the Purchaser), the Company will cause the registration under
the Securities Act of all Registrable Securities which the Company has been so
requested to register by the holder, to the extent requisite to permit the
disposition of the Registrable Securities so to be registered, provided that if
at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any
securities and prior to the effective date of the
13
registration statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company
shall determine for any reason not to register or to delay registration of such
securities, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such
determination to such holder and, thereupon, (i) in the case of a determination
not to register, shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable
Securities in connection with such registration (but not from its obligation to
pay expenses in accordance with Section 4 hereof), and (ii) in the case of a
determination to delay registering, shall be permitted to delay registering any
Registrable Securities being registered pursuant to this Section 7(d) for the
same period as the delay in registering such other securities. The Company shall
include in such registration statement all or any part of such Registrable
Securities such holder requests to be registered; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
Company shall not be required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to
this Section 7(d) that are eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144(k) of the
Securities Act. In the case of an underwritten public offering, if the managing
underwriter(s) or underwriter(s) should reasonably object to the inclusion of
the Registrable Securities in such registration statement, then if the Company
after consultation with the managing underwriter should reasonably determine
that the inclusion of such Registrable Securities, would materially adversely
affect the offering contemplated in such registration statement, and based on
such determination recommends inclusion in such registration statement of fewer
or none of the Registrable Securities of the Holder, then (x) the number of
Registrable Securities of the Holders included in such registration statement
shall be reduced pro-rata among such Holders (based upon the number of
Registrable Securities requested to be included in the registration), if the
Company after consultation with the underwriter(s) recommends the inclusion of
fewer Registrable Securities, or (y) none of the Registrable Securities of the
Holder shall be included in such registration statement, if the Company after
consultation with the underwriter(s) recommends the inclusion of none of such
Registrable Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if securities are being offered
for the account of other persons or entities as well as the Company, such
reduction shall not represent a greater fraction of the number of Registrable
Securities intended to be offered by the Holder than the fraction of similar
reductions imposed on such other persons or entities (other than the Company).
(e) [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED.]
(f) SPECIFIC ENFORCEMENT, CONSENT TO JURISDICTION.
(i) The Company and the Purchaser acknowledge and agree
that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of
this Registration Rights Agreement or the Purchase Agreement were not performed
in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is
accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent or cure breaches of the provisions of this Registration
Rights Agreement or the Purchase Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms
and provisions hereof or thereof, this being in addition to any other remedy to
which any of them may be entitled by law or equity.
(ii) Each of the Company and the Purchaser (i) hereby
irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court
sitting in the City of Chicago, State of Illinois for the purposes of any suit,
action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
14
Agreement or the Purchase Agreement and (ii) hereby waives, and agrees not to
assert in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not
personally subject to the jurisdiction of such court, that the suit, action or
proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of the suit,
action or proceeding is improper. Each of the Company and the Purchaser consents
to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy
thereof to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this
Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient
service of process and notice thereof. Nothing in this Section 7(f) shall affect
or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
(g) 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 Holder. 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 a Holder 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.
(h) 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 earlier of (i) the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified for notice prior to 5:00 p.m., Central
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 for notice later than 5:00 p.m., Central time, on any
date and earlier than 11:59 p.m., Central time, on such date, (iii) the Business
Day following the date of mailing, if sent by nationally recognized overnight
courier service or (iv) actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is
required to be given. The addresses for such communications with respect to each
party shall be the address(es) for such party that are set forth in the Purchase
Agreement (as the same may be modified from time to time by such party in
accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement), or to such other address
or addresses or facsimile number or numbers as any such party may most recently
have designated in writing to the other parties hereto by such notice.
(i) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted
assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the Holder and its successors and
assigns. The Company may not assign this Agreement or any of its rights or
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Holder. The
Purchaser may assign its rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as
permitted under the Purchase Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in this Agreement, no Holder shall assign its rights under this Agreement or
otherwise transfer all or a portion of the Preferred Stock or the Registrable
Securities to any competitor of the Company, and in no event shall there be
greater than three (3) Holders which are not affiliates of the initial Holder
during the term of this Agreement.
15
(j) ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS. The rights of each Holder
hereunder, including the right to have the Company register for resale
Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, shall be
automatically assignable by each Holder to any transferee of such Holder of all
or a portion of the Preferred Stock or the Registrable Securities if: (i) the
Holder agrees in writing with the transferee or assignee to assign such rights,
and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company within a reasonable
time after such assignment, (ii) the Company is, within a reasonable time after
such transfer or assignment, furnished with written notice of (a) the name and
address of such transferee or assignee, and (b) the securities with respect to
which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned, (iii)
following such transfer or assignment the further disposition of such securities
by the transferee or assignees is restricted under the Securities Act and
applicable state securities laws, (iv) at or before the time the Company
receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this Section, the
transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of
the provisions of this Agreement, and (v) such transfer shall have been made in
accordance with the applicable requirements of the Purchase Agreement. In
addition, each Holder shall have the right to assign its rights hereunder to any
other Person with the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld. The rights to assignment shall apply to the
Holders (and to subsequent) successors and assigns.
(k) 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.
(l) GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement will be governed by and
construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois
without giving effect to any conflicts of laws provisions that might cause this
Agreement to be governed by or construed or enforced in accordance with the laws
of any other jurisdiction. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement
shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited
by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall (a) be reformed by the
Parties to reflect the intent of the Parties, or (b) if reformation is not
possible, be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity,
without invalidating the remainder of this Agreement.
In the event of any and all disagreements and controversies
arising from this Agreement or any other written agreements between the Company
and the Buyer, such disagreements and controversies shall be subject to binding
arbitration as arbitrated in accordance with the then current Commercial
Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association in Chicago, Illinois
before one neutral arbitrator. Either party may apply to the arbitrator seeking
injunctive relief until the arbitration award is rendered or the controversy is
otherwise resolved. Without waiving any remedy under this Agreement, either
party may also seek from any court having jurisdiction any interim or
provisional relief that is necessary to protect the rights or property of that
party, pending the establishment of the arbitral tribunal (or pending the
arbitral tribunal's determination of the merits of the controversy). In the
event of any
16
such disagreement or controversy, neither party shall directly or indirectly
reveal, report, publish or disclose any information relating to such
disagreement or controversy to any person, firm or corporation not expressly
authorized by the other party to receive such information or use such
information or assist any other person in doing so, except to comply with actual
legal obligations of such party, or unless such disclosure is directly related
to an arbitration proceeding as provided herein, including, but not limited to,
the prosecution or defense of any claim in such arbitration. The costs and
expenses of the arbitration (excluding attorneys' fees) shall be paid by the
non-prevailing party or as determined by the arbitrator.
(m) CUMULATIVE REMEDIES. The remedies provided herein are
cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(n) SEVERABILITY. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal, void or
unenforceable in any respect, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants
and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and
shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto
shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to
achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such
term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared
to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that
may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(o) HEADINGS. The headings herein are for convenience only, do
not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or
affect any of the provisions hereof.
(p) 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 any Holder or transferees or successors or assigns
thereof if such Holder is deemed to be an Affiliate solely by reason of its
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 and shall not be counted as outstanding.
(q) NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS. Within two (2) business days after
the Registration Statement which includes the Registrable Securities is ordered
effective by the Commission, the Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal
counsel for the Company to deliver, to the transfer agent for such Registrable
Securities and to the Purchaser (with copies to the Holders whose Registrable
Securities are included in such Registration Statement, if other than the
Purchaser) confirmation that the Registration Statement has been declared
effective by the Commission.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized persons as
of the date first indicated above.
17
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
18
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF
OCTOBER 17, 2000]
ELECTRIC CITY CORP.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
AUGUSTINE FUND, L.P.
By: Augustine Capital Management, L.L.C.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
------------------------------------------
(Duly Authorized Member)
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