EXHIBIT 2.2
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of March 27, 2000, between
Sugarplum Investments Limited ("Purchaser"), and Xxxxxxxx.xxx, Inc. (the
"Company").
WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, pursuant to a Common Stock Purchase Agreement dated the date hereof
(the "Purchase Agreement") the Purchaser has committed to purchase up to
$40,000,000 worth of the Company's Common Stock (terms not defined herein shall
have the meanings ascribed to them in the Purchase Agreement); and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to grant to the Purchaser the registration
rights set forth herein with respect to the Shares and the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants issued to Purchaser (hereinafter
referred to collectively as the "Stock" or "Securities" of the Company).
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto mutually agree as follows:
Section 1. Registrable Securities. As used herein the term "Registrable
Security" means the Securities until (i) all Securities have been disposed of
pursuant to the Registration Statement, (ii) all Securities have been sold under
circumstances under which all of the applicable conditions of Rule 144 (or any
similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act ("Rule 144") are met,
(iii) all Securities have been otherwise transferred to persons who may trade
such Securities without restriction under the Securities Act, and the Company
has delivered a new certificate or other evidence of ownership for such
Securities not bearing a restrictive legend or (iv) such time as, in the opinion
of counsel to the Company, which counsel shall be reasonably acceptable to the
Purchaser, all Securities may be sold without any time, volume or manner
limitations pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar provision then in effect)
under the Securities Act. The term "Registrable Securities" means any and/or all
of the securities falling within the foregoing definition of a "Registrable
Security." In the event of any merger, reorganization, consolidation,
recapitalization or other change in corporate structure affecting the Common
Stock, such adjustment shall be deemed to be made in the definition of
"Registrable Security" as is appropriate in order to prevent any dilution or
enlargement of the rights granted pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 2. Restrictions on Transfer. The Purchaser acknowledges and
understands that in the absence of an effective Registration Statement
authorizing the resale of the Securities as provided herein, the Securities are
"restricted securities" as defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the Act. The
Purchaser understands that no disposition or transfer of the Securities may be
made by Purchaser in the absence of (i) an opinion of counsel to the Purchaser,
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
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Company, that such transfer may be made without registration under the
Securities Act or (ii) such registration.
With a view to making available to the Purchaser the benefits of Rule
144 under the Securities Act or any other similar rule or regulation of the
Commission that may at any time permit the Purchaser to sell securities of the
Company to the public without registration ("Rule 144"), the Company agrees to:
(a) comply with the provisions of paragraph (c)(1) of Rule 144; and
(b) file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other
documents required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
under the Exchange Act; and, if at any time it is not required to file such
reports but in the past had been required to or did file such reports, it will,
upon the request of any Purchaser, make available other information as required
by, and so long as necessary to permit sales of, its Registrable Securities
pursuant to Rule 144.
Section 3. Registration Rights With Respect to the Securities.
(a) The Company agrees that it will prepare and file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission"), within forty-five (45) days
after the date hereof, a registration statement (on Form S-3 and/or S-1, or
other appropriate form of registration statement) under the Securities Act (the
"Registration Statement"), at the sole expense of the Company (except as
provided in Section 3(c) hereof), in respect of Purchaser, so as to permit a
public offering and resale of the Securities under the Act by Purchaser.
The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registration
Statement to become effective within five (5) days of SEC clearance to request
acceleration of effectiveness. If the Registration Statement is not declared
effective by August 31, 2000 this Agreement and the Purchase Agreement shall
terminate. The Company will notify Purchaser of the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement within one Trading Day of such event.
(b) The Company will maintain the Registration Statement or post-
effective amendment filed under this Section 3 hereof effective under the
Securities Act until the earlier of (i) the date the Securities are no longer
Registrable Securities; (ii) the date that none of the Securities are or may
become issued and outstanding, or (iii) the date the holders thereof receive an
opinion of counsel to the Company, which counsel shall be reasonably acceptable
to the Purchaser, that the Securities may be sold under the provisions of Rule
144 irrespective of any applicable volume limitation.
(c) All fees, disbursements and out-of-pocket expenses and costs
incurred by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of the
Registration Statement under subparagraph 3(a) and in complying with applicable
securities and Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation, all attorneys' fees
of the Company) shall be borne by the Company. The Purchaser shall bear the cost
of underwriting and/or brokerage discounts, fees and commissions, if any,
applicable to the Securities being registered and the fees and expenses of its
counsel. The Purchaser and its counsel shall have a reasonable period,
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not to exceed ten (10) Trading Days, to review the proposed Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto, prior to filing with the Commission, and the
Company shall provide each Purchaser with copies of any comment letters received
from the Commission with respect thereto within two (2) Trading Days of receipt
thereof. The Company shall make reasonably available for inspection by
Purchaser, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to the
Registration Statement, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by
such Purchaser or any such underwriter all relevant financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its
subsidiaries, and cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to
supply all information reasonably requested by such Purchaser or any such
underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with the Registration
Statement, in each case, as is customary for similar due diligence examinations;
provided, however, that all records, information and documents that are
designated in writing by the Company, in good faith, as confidential,
proprietary or containing any material non-public information shall be kept
confidential by such Purchaser and any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or
agent (pursuant to an appropriate confidentiality agreement in the case of any
such Purchaser or agent), unless such disclosure is made pursuant to judicial
process in a court proceeding (after first giving the Company an opportunity
promptly to seek a protective order or otherwise limit the scope of the
information sought to be disclosed) or is required by law, or such records,
information or documents become available to the public generally or through a
third party not in violation of an accompanying obligation of confidentiality;
and provided further that, if the foregoing inspection and information gathering
would otherwise disrupt the Company's conduct of its business, such inspection
and information gathering shall, to the maximum extent possible, be coordinated
on behalf of the Purchaser and the other parties entitled thereto by one firm of
counsel designated by and on behalf of the majority in interest of Purchaser and
other parties. The Company shall qualify any of the securities for sale in such
states as such Purchaser reasonably designates and shall furnish indemnification
in the manner provided in Section 6 hereof. However, the Company shall not be
required to qualify in any state which will require an escrow or other
restriction relating to the Company and/or the sellers, or which will require
the Company to qualify to do business in such state or require the Company to
file therein any general consent to service of process. The Company at its
expense will supply the Purchaser with copies of the Registration Statement and
the prospectus included therein and other related documents in such quantities
as may be reasonably requested by the Purchaser.
(d) The Company shall not be required by this Section 3 to include a
Purchaser's Securities in any Registration Statement which is to be filed if, in
the opinion of counsel for both the Purchaser and the Company (or, should they
not agree, in the opinion of another counsel experienced in securities law
matters acceptable to counsel for the Purchaser and the Company) the proposed
offering or other transfer as to which such registration is requested is exempt
from applicable federal and state securities laws and would result in all
purchasers or transferees obtaining securities which are not "restricted
securities", as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
(e) If at any time or from time to time after the effective date of
the Registration Statement, the Company notifies the Purchaser in writing of the
existence of
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a Potential Material Event (as defined in Section 3(f) below), the Purchaser
shall not offer or sell any Securities or engage in any other transaction
involving or relating to Securities, from the time of the giving of notice with
respect to a Potential Material Event until such Purchaser receives written
notice from the Company that such Potential Material Event either has been
disclosed to the public or no longer constitutes a Potential Material Event;
provided, however, that if the Company so suspends the right to such holders of
Securities for more than thirty (30) days in the aggregate during any twelve
month period, during the periods the Registration Statement is required to be in
effect then the Company must compensate the Purchaser for any decline in market
value of the Securities held by Purchaser at the beginning of such suspension
through the end of such suspension. If a Potential Material Event shall occur
prior to the date the Registration Statement is filed, then the Company's
obligation to file the Registration Statement shall be delayed without penalty
for not more than thirty (30) days. The Company must give Purchaser notice in
writing at least two (2) Trading Days prior to the first day of the blackout
period, if lawful and practicable to do so.
(f) "Potential Material Event" means any of the following: (a) the
possession by the Company of material information that is not ripe for
disclosure in a registration statement, as determined in good faith by the Chief
Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of the Company or that disclosure of
such information in the Registration Statement would be detrimental to the
business and affairs of the Company; or (b) any material engagement or activity
by the Company which would, in the good faith determination of the Chief
Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of the Company, be adversely
affected by disclosure in a registration statement at such time, which
determination shall be accompanied by a good faith determination by the Chief
Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of the Company that the Registration
Statement would be materially misleading absent the inclusion of such
information.
Section 4. Cooperation with Company. Purchaser will cooperate with the
Company in all respects in connection with this Agreement, including timely
supplying all information reasonably requested by the Company (which shall
include all information regarding the Purchaser and proposed manner of sale of
the Registrable Securities required to be disclosed in the Registration
Statement) and executing and returning all documents reasonably requested in
connection with the registration and sale of the Registrable Securities and
entering into and performing its obligations under any underwriting agreement,
if the offering is an underwritten offering, in usual and customary form, with
the managing underwriter or underwriters of such underwritten offering. The
Purchaser shall consent to be named as an underwriter in the Registration
Statement. Purchaser acknowledges that in accordance with current Commission
policy, the Purchaser will be named as the underwriter of the Securities in the
Registration Statement.
Section 5. Registration Procedures. If and whenever the Company is
required by any of the provisions of this Agreement to effect the registration
of any of the Registrable Securities under the Act, the Company shall (except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement), as expeditiously as possible, subject to
the Purchaser's assistance and cooperation as reasonably required:
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(a) (i) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
supplements to the Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection
therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective and
to comply with the provisions of the Act with respect to the sale or other
disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement whenever
the Purchaser of such Registrable Securities shall desire to sell or otherwise
dispose of the same (including prospectus supplements with respect to the sales
of securities from time to time in connection with a registration statement
pursuant to Rule 415 promulgated under the Act) and (ii) take all lawful action
such that each of (A) the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does
not, when it becomes effective, 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, not misleading and (B) the Prospectus forming part
of the Registration Statement, and any amendment or supplement thereto, does not
at any time during the Registration Period include 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.
(b) (i) prior to the filing with the Commission of any Registration
Statement (including any amendments thereto) and the distribution or delivery of
any prospectus (including any supplements thereto), provide draft copies thereof
to the Purchasers and reflect in such documents all such comments as the
Purchasers (and their counsel) reasonably may propose and (ii) furnish to each
Purchaser such numbers of copies of a prospectus including a preliminary
prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any prospectus, as applicable, in
conformity with the requirements of the Act, and such other documents, as such
Purchaser may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other
disposition of the securities owned by such Purchaser;
(c) register and qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the
Registration Statement under such other securities or blue sky laws of such
jurisdictions as the Purchaser shall reasonably request (subject to the
limitations set forth in Section 3(d) above), and do any and all other acts and
things which may be necessary or advisable to enable each Purchaser to
consummate the public sale or other disposition in such jurisdiction of the
securities owned by such Purchaser, except that the Company shall not for any
such purpose be required to qualify to do business as a foreign corporation in
any jurisdiction wherein it is not so qualified or to file therein any general
consent to service of process;
(d) list such Registrable Securities on the Principal Market, and any
other exchange on which the Common Stock of the Company is then listed, if the
listing of such Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules of such
exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market;
(e) notify each Purchaser at any time when a prospectus relating
thereto covered by the Registration Statement is required to be delivered under
the Act, of the happening of any event of which it has knowledge as a result of
which the prospectus included in the Registration Statement, as then in effect,
includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
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make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances
then existing, and the Company shall prepare and file a curative amendment under
Section 5(a) as quickly as commercially possible;
(f) as promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event,
notify each Purchaser who holds Registrable Securities being sold (or, in the
event of an underwritten offering, the managing underwriters) of the issuance by
the Commission or any state authority of any stop order or other suspension of
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement at the earliest possible time
and take all lawful action to effect the withdrawal, recession or removal of
such stop order or other suspension;
(g) cooperate with the Purchasers to facilitate the timely preparation
and delivery of certificates for the Registrable Securities to be offered
pursuant to the Registration Statement and enable such certificates for the
Registrable Securities to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may
be, as the Purchasers reasonably may request and registered in such names as the
Purchaser may request; and, within three (3) Trading Days after a Registration
Statement which includes Registrable Securities is declared effective by the
Commission, deliver and cause legal counsel selected by the Company to deliver
to the transfer agent for the Registrable Securities (with copies to the
Purchasers whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration
Statement) an appropriate instruction and, to the extent necessary, an opinion
of such counsel;
(h) take all such other lawful actions reasonably necessary to
expedite and facilitate the disposition by the Purchasers of their Registrable
Securities in accordance with the intended methods therefor provided in the
prospectus which are customary for issuers to perform under the circumstances;
(i) in the event of an underwritten offering, promptly include or
incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement such information as the managers reasonably agree should
be included therein and to which the Company does not reasonably object and make
all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment
as soon as practicable after it is notified of the matters to be included or
incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; and
(j) maintain a transfer agent and registrar for its Common Stock.
Section 6. Indemnification.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser
and each person, if any, who controls the Purchaser within the meaning of the
Securities Act ("Distributing Purchaser") against any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, joint or several (which shall, for all purposes of this Agreement,
include, but not be limited to, all reasonable costs of defense and
investigation and all reasonable attorneys' fees), to which the Distributing
Purchaser may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of any material
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fact contained in the Registration Statement, or any related preliminary
prospectus, final prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of
or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any
such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises
out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, preliminary
prospectus, final prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto in reliance
upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by
the Distributing Purchaser, specifically for use in the preparation thereof.
This Section 6(a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Distributing Purchaser
with respect to any person asserting such loss, claim, damage or liability who
purchased the Registrable Securities which are the subject thereof if the
Distributing Purchaser failed to send or give (in violation of the Securities
Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) a copy of the
prospectus contained in such Registration Statement to such person at or
prior to the written confirmation to such person of the sale of such Registrable
Securities, where the Distributing Purchaser was obligated to do so under the
Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may
otherwise have.
(b) Each Distributing Purchaser agrees that it will indemnify and hold
harmless the Company, and each officer, director of the Company or person, if
any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, against
any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (which shall, for all purposes of
this Agreement, include, but not be limited to, all reasonable costs of defense
and investigation and all reasonable attorneys' fees) to which the Company or
any such officer, director or controlling person may become subject under the
Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in
the Registration Statement, or any related preliminary prospectus, final
prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon
the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
but in each case only to the extent that such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration
Statement, preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or amendment or supplement
thereto in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished
to the Company by such Distributing Purchaser, specifically for use in the
preparation thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any
liability which the Distributing Purchaser may otherwise have. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, the Distributing Investor shall not be liable
under this Section 6(b) for any amount in excess of the net proceeds to such
Distributing Investor as a result of the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant
to the Registration Statement.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section
6 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this
Section 6, notify
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the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to
notify the indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying party from any
liability which it may have to any indemnified party except to the extent of
actual prejudice demonstrated by the indemnifying party. In case any such action
is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying party
of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to
participate in, and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other
indemnifying party similarly notified, assume the defense thereof, subject to
the provisions herein stated and after notice from the indemnifying party to
such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the
indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this
Section 6 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable
costs of investigation, unless the indemnifying party shall not pursue the
action to its final conclusion. The indemnified party shall have the right to
employ separate counsel in any such action and to participate in the defense
thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall not be at the expense
of the indemnifying party if the indemnifying party has assumed the defense of
the action with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party;
provided that if the indemnified party is the Distributing Purchaser, the
fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying
party if (i) the employment of such counsel has been specifically authorized in
writing by the indemnifying party, or (ii) the named parties to any such action
(including any impleaded parties) include both the Distributing Purchaser and
the indemnifying party and the Distributing Purchaser shall have been advised by
such counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to the
indemnifying party different from or in conflict with any legal defenses which
may be available to the Distributing Purchaser (in which case the indemnifying
party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of
the Distributing Purchaser, it being understood, however, that the indemnifying
party shall, in connection with any one such action or separate but
substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of
the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable only for the reasonable
fees and expenses of one separate firm of attorneys for the Distributing
Purchaser, which firm shall be designated in writing by the Distributing
Purchaser). No settlement of any action against an indemnified party shall be
made without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld.
All fees and expenses of the indemnified party (including reasonable
costs of defense and investigation in a manner not inconsistent with this
Section and all reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) shall be paid to the
indemnified party, as incurred, within ten (10) Trading 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).
Section 7. Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable
contribution under the Securities Act in any case in which (i) the indemnified
party makes a claim for
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indemnification pursuant to Section 6 hereof but is judicially determined (by
the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction
and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal)
that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the
fact that the express provisions of Section 6 hereof provide for indemnification
in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Securities Act may be required on
the part of any indemnified party, then the Company and the applicable
Distributing Purchaser shall contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages
or liabilities to which they may be subject (which shall, for all purposes of
this Agreement, include, but not be limited to, all reasonable costs of defense
and investigation and all reasonable attorneys' fees), in either such case
(after contribution from others) on the basis of relative fault as well as any
other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault shall be determined
by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand
or the applicable Distributing Purchaser on the other hand, and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Distributing Purchaser
agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this
Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of
allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred
to in this Section 7. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof) referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. 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.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 7, in no event
shall any (i) Purchaser be required to undertake liability to any person under
this Section 7 for any amounts in excess of the dollar amount of the net
proceeds to be received by such Purchaser from the sale of such Purchaser's
Registrable Securities (after deducting any fees, discounts and commissions
applicable thereto) pursuant to any Registration Statement under which such
Registrable Securities are to be registered under the Securities Act and (ii)
underwriter be required to undertake liability to any person hereunder for any
amounts in excess of the aggregate discount, commission or other compensation
payable to such underwriter with respect to the Registrable Securities
underwritten by it and distributed pursuant to the Registration Statement.
Section 8. Notices. All notices, demands, requests, consents,
approvals, and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in
writing and, unless otherwise specified herein, shall be delivered as set forth
in the Purchase Agreement.
Section 9. Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any rights of the
Purchaser or the Company hereunder may be assigned by either party to any other
person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) the provisions of this Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, any transferee of any of
the Common Stock purchased
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by the Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase Agreement other than through open-
market sales, and (b) upon the prior written consent of the Company, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed in the case of an
assignment to an affiliate of the Purchaser, the Purchaser's interest in this
Agreement may be assigned at any time, in whole or in part, to any other person
or entity (including any affiliate of the Purchaser) who agrees to be bound
hereby.
Section 10. Counterparts/Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in
two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of
which, when together shall constitute but one and the same instrument, and shall
become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each party
hereto and delivered to the other party. In lieu of the original, a facsimile
transmission or copy of the original shall be as effective and enforceable as
the original.
Section 11. Remedies. The remedies provided in this Agreement are
cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law. 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 best 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.
Section 12. Conflicting Agreements. The Company shall not enter into
any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the
rights granted to the holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or
otherwise prevents the Company from complying with all of its obligations
hereunder.
Section 13. Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for reference
purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement.
Section 14. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to
contracts made in New York by persons domiciled in New York City and without
regard to its principles of conflicts of laws. Any action may be brought as set
forth in the Purchase Agreement. Any party shall have the right to seek
injunctive relief from any court of competent jurisdiction in any case where
such relief is available. Any dispute under this Agreement shall be submitted to
arbitration under the American Arbitration Association (the "AAA") in New York
City, New York, and shall be finally and conclusively determined by the decision
of a board of arbitration consisting of three (3) members (hereinafter referred
to as the "Board of Arbitration") selected as according to the rules governing
the AAA. The Board of Arbitration shall meet on consecutive business days in New
York City, New York, and shall reach and render a decision in writing (concurred
in by a majority of the members of the Board of Arbitration) with respect to the
amount, if any, which the losing party is
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required to pay to the other party in respect of a claim filed. In connection
with rendering its decisions, the Board of Arbitration shall adopt and follow
the laws of the State of New York. To the extent practical, decisions of the
Board of Arbitration shall be rendered no more than thirty (30) calendar days
following commencement of proceedings with respect thereto. The Board of
Arbitration shall cause its written decision to be delivered to all parties
involved in the dispute. The Board of Arbitration shall be authorized and is
directed to enter a default judgment against any party refusing to participate
in the arbitration proceeding with thirty days of any deadline for such
participation. Any decision made by the Board of Arbitration (either prior to or
after the expiration of such thirty (30) calendar day period) shall be final,
binding and conclusive on the parties to the dispute, and entitled to be
enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law and entered in any court of
competent jurisdiction. The prevailing party shall be awarded its costs,
including attorneys' fees, from the non-prevailing party as part of the
arbitration award. Any party shall have the right to seek injunctive relief
from any court of competent jurisdiction in any case where such relief is
available. The prevailing party in such injunctive action shall be awarded its
costs, including attorney's fees, from the non-prevailing party.
Section 15. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall for
any reason be held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceablity
shall not affect any other provision hereof and this Agreement shall be
construed as if such invalid or unenforceable provision had never been contained
herein. Terms not otherwise defined herein shall be defined in accordance with
the Agreement.
11
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed, on the day and year first above written.
XXXXXXXX.XXX, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx
--------------------------------------
Xxxx Xxxxxx, President and CEO
Sugarplum Investments Limited
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx
--------------------------------------
Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Authorized Signatory
