REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") dated as of April 28, 2005
by and between THE CERTO GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
and CORNELL CAPITAL PARTNERS, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the
"Investor").
WHEREAS:
A. In connection with the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement by and
between the parties hereto of even date herewith (the "Standby Equity
Distribution Agreement"), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to
the conditions of the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, to issue and sell
to the Investor that number of shares of the Company's common stock, no par
value per share (the "Common Stock"), which can be purchased pursuant to the
terms of the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement for an aggregate purchase
price of up to Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000). Capitalized terms not
defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Standby Equity
Distribution Agreement.
B. To induce the Investor to execute and deliver the Standby Equity
Distribution Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration
rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the
"Securities Act"), and applicable state securities laws.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the
Investor hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
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As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
a. "Person" means a corporation, a limited liability company, an
association, a partnership, an organization, a business, an individual, a
governmental or political subdivision thereof or a governmental agency.
b. "Register," "registered," and "registration" refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing one or more Registration
Statements (as defined below) in compliance with the Securities Act and pursuant
to Rule 415 under the Securities Act or any successor rule providing for
offering securities on a continuous or delayed basis ("Rule 415"), and the
declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement(s) by
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
c. "Registrable Securities" means the shares of Common Stock issuable
to Investor pursuant to the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, including,
without limitation, the Investor's Shares (as defined in Section 12.4 of the
Standby Equity Distribution Agreement).
d. "Registration Statement" means a registration statement under the
Securities Act which covers the Registrable Securities.
2. REGISTRATION.
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a. Mandatory Registration. The Company shall prepare and file with the
SEC, no later than forty five (45) days from the date of the Company closes an
acquisition of at least 85% of the outstanding shares of a publicly traded
company (the "Scheduled Filing Deadline"), a Registration Statement on Form X-0,
XX-0 or on such other form as is available. The Company shall cause such
Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC prior to the first
sale to the Investor of the Company's Common Stock pursuant to the Standby
Equity Distribution Agreement and no later than one hundred twenty (120) days
from the date filed (the "Scheduled Effective Deadline").
b. Sufficient Number of Shares Registered. In the event the number of
shares available under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a)
is insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities which the Investor
has purchased pursuant to the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, the Company
shall amend the Registration Statement, or file a new Registration Statement (on
the short form available therefore, if applicable), or both, so as to cover all
of such Registrable Securities which the Investor has purchased pursuant to the
Standby Equity Distribution Agreement as soon as practicable, but in any event
not later than fifteen (15) days after the necessity therefore arises. The
Company shall use it best efforts to cause such amendment and/or new
Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable following the
filing thereof. For purposes of the foregoing provision, the number of shares
available under a Registration Statement shall be deemed "insufficient to cover
all of the Registrable Securities" if at any time the number of Registrable
Securities issuable on an Advance Notice Date is greater than the number of
shares available for resale under such Registration Statement.
c. Failure to File or Obtain Effectiveness of the Registration
Statement. In the event the Registration Statement is not filed by the Scheduled
Filing Deadline or is not declared effective by the SEC by the Scheduled
Effective Date, or if after the Registration Statement has been declared
effective by the SEC, sales cannot be made pursuant to the Registration
Statement (whether because of a failure to keep the Registration Statement
effective, failure to disclose such information as is necessary for sales to be
made pursuant to the Registration Statement, failure to register sufficient
shares of Common Stock or otherwise) then as partial relief for the damages to
any holder of Registrable Securities by reason of any such delay in or reduction
of its ability to sell the underlying shares of Common Stock (which remedy shall
not be exclusive of any other remedies at law or in equity), the Company will
pay as liquidated damages (the "Liquidated Damages") to the holder a cash amount
within three (3) business days, after demand therefore, equal to $5,000 as
Liquidated Damages for each thirty (30) day period after the Scheduled Filing
Deadline or the Scheduled Effective Date as the case may be.
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3. RELATED OBLIGATIONS.
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a. The Company shall keep the Registration Statement effective
pursuant to Rule 415 at all times until the date on which the Investor shall
have sold all the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement
(the "Registration Period"), which Registration Statement (including any
amendments or supplements thereto and prospectuses contained therein) shall not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
b. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments
(including post-effective amendments) and supplements to a Registration
Statement and the prospectus used in connection with such Registration
Statement, which prospectus is to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated
under the Securities Act, as may be necessary to keep such Registration
Statement effective at all times during the Registration Period, and, during
such period, comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to
the disposition of all Registrable Securities of the Company covered by such
Registration Statement until such time as all of such Registrable Securities
shall have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of
disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth in such Registration
Statement. In the case of amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement
which are required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement (including pursuant to
this Section 3(b)) by reason of the Company's filing a report on Form 10-KSB,
Form 10-QSB or Form 8-K or any analogous report under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), the Company shall have
incorporated such report by reference into the Registration Statement, if
applicable, or shall file such amendments or supplements with the SEC on the
same day on which the Exchange Act report is filed which created the requirement
for the Company to amend or supplement the Registration Statement.
c. The Company shall furnish to the Investor without charge, (i) at
least one copy of such Registration Statement as declared effective by the SEC
and any amendment(s) thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all
documents incorporated therein by reference, all exhibits and each preliminary
prospectus, (ii) ten (10) copies of the final prospectus included in such
Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto (or such other
number of copies as such Investor may reasonably request) and (iii) such other
documents as such Investor may reasonably request from time to time in order to
facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor.
d. The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) register and qualify
the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement under such other
securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the
Investor reasonably requests, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions, such
amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such
registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the
effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii) take such other
actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and qualifications in
effect at all times during the Registration Period, and (iv) take all other
actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the Registrable Securities
for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (w) make any
change to its articles of incorporation or by-laws, (x) qualify to do business
in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for
this Section 3(d), (y) subject itself to general taxation in any such
jurisdiction, or (z) file a general consent to service of process in any such
jurisdiction. The Company shall promptly notify the Investor of the receipt by
the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
registration or qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale
under the securities or "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction in the United States
or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding
for such purpose.
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e. As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event or
development, the Company shall notify the Investor in writing of the happening
of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in a Registration
Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or
omission 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 (provided that in no event shall such notice contain any
material, nonpublic information), and promptly prepare a supplement or amendment
to such Registration Statement to correct such untrue statement or omission, and
deliver ten (10) copies of such supplement or amendment to each Investor. The
Company shall also promptly notify the Investor in writing (i) when a prospectus
or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and
when a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment has become
effective (notification of such effectiveness shall be delivered to the Investor
by facsimile on the same day of such effectiveness), (ii) of any request by the
SEC for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related
prospectus or related information, and (iii) of the Company's reasonable
determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would
be appropriate.
f. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of
any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of a Registration Statement,
or the suspension of the qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for
sale in any jurisdiction within the United States of America and, if such an
order or suspension is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such order or
suspension at the earliest possible moment and to notify the Investor of the
issuance of such order and the resolution thereof or its receipt of actual
notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose.
g. At the reasonable request of the Investor, the Company shall
furnish to the Investor, on the date of the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement and thereafter from time to time on such dates as the Investor may
reasonably request (i) a letter, dated such date, from the Company's independent
certified public accountants in form and substance as is customarily given by
independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten
public offering, and (ii) an opinion, dated as of such date, of counsel
representing the Company for purposes of such Registration Statement, in form,
scope and substance as is customarily given in an underwritten public offering,
addressed to the Investor.
h. The Company shall make available for inspection by (i) the Investor
and (ii) one firm of accountants or other agents retained by the Investor
(collectively, the "Inspectors") all pertinent financial and other records, and
pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the
"Records"), as shall be reasonably deemed necessary by each Inspector, and cause
the Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all information which
any Inspector may reasonably request; provided, however, that each Inspector
shall agree, and the Investor hereby agrees, to hold in strict confidence and
shall not make any disclosure (except to an Investor) or use of any Record or
other information which the Company determines in good faith to be confidential,
and of which determination the Inspectors are so notified, unless (a) the
disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or
omission in any Registration Statement or is otherwise required under the
Securities Act, (b) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a final,
non-appealable subpoena or order from a court or government body of competent
jurisdiction, or (c) the information in such Records has been made generally
available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this or any
other agreement of which the Inspector and the Investor has knowledge. The
Investor agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is
sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or
through other means, give prompt notice to the Company and allow the Company, at
its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to
obtain a protective order for, the Records deemed confidential.
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i. The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure of
information concerning the Investor provided to the Company unless (i)
disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state
securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid
or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii) the
release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other final,
non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of competent
jurisdiction, or (iv) such information has been made generally available to the
public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement or any other
agreement. The Company agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of
such information concerning the Investor is sought in or by a court or
governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt
written notice to the Investor and allow the Investor, at the Investor's
expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain
a protective order for, such information.
j. The Company shall use its best efforts either to cause all the
Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement (i) to be listed on
each securities exchange on which securities of the same class or series issued
by the Company are then listed, if any, if the listing of such Registrable
Securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange or (ii) to secure
the inclusion for quotation on the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. OTC Bulletin Board for such Registrable Securities. The Company shall pay
all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligation under this
Section 3(j).
k. The Company shall cooperate with the Investor to the extent
applicable, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates
(not bearing any restrictive legend) representing the Registrable Securities to
be offered pursuant to a Registration Statement and enable such certificates to
be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may be, as the Investor may
reasonably request and registered in such names as the Investor may request.
l. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registrable
Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement to be registered
with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be
necessary to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities.
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m. The Company shall make generally available to its security holders
as soon as practical, but not later than ninety (90) days after the close of the
period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying with the
provisions of Rule 158 under the Securities Act) covering a twelve-month period
beginning not later than the first day of the Company's fiscal quarter next
following the effective date of the Registration Statement.
n. The Company shall otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the SEC in connection with any registration
hereunder.
o. Within two (2) business days after a Registration Statement which
covers Registrable Securities is ordered effective by the SEC, the Company shall
deliver, and shall cause legal counsel for the Company to deliver, to the
transfer agent for such Registrable Securities (with copies to the Investor)
confirmation that such Registration Statement has been declared effective by the
SEC in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
p. The Company shall take all other reasonable actions necessary to
expedite and facilitate disposition by the Investor of Registrable Securities
pursuant to a Registration Statement.
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTOR.
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The Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company
of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(f) or the first
sentence of 3(e), the Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of
Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement(s) covering such
Registrable Securities until the Investor's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(e) or receipt of
notice that no supplement or amendment is required. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary, the Company shall cause its transfer agent to deliver unlegended
certificates for shares of Common Stock to a transferee of the Investor in
accordance with the terms of the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement in
connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which the
Investor has entered into a contract for sale prior to the Investor's receipt of
a notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in
Section 3(f) or the first sentence of 3(e) and for which the Investor has not
yet settled.
5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.
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All expenses incurred in connection with registrations, filings or
qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, including, without limitation, all
registration, listing and qualifications fees, printers, legal and accounting
fees shall be paid by the Company.
6. INDEMNIFICATION.
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With respect to Registrable Securities which are included in a Registration
Statement under this Agreement:
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a. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will, and
hereby does, indemnify, hold harmless and defend the Investor, the directors,
officers, partners, attorneys, employees, agents, representatives of, and each
Person, if any, who controls the Investor within the meaning of the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act (each, an "Indemnified Person"), against any losses,
claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, costs,
reasonable attorneys' fees, amounts paid in settlement or expenses, joint or
several (collectively, "Claims") incurred in investigating, preparing or
defending any action, claim, suit, inquiry, proceeding, investigation or appeal
taken from the foregoing by or before any court or governmental, administrative
or other regulatory agency, body or the SEC, whether pending or threatened,
whether or not an indemnified party is or may be a party thereto ("Indemnified
Damages"), to which any of them may become subject insofar as such Claims (or
actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact in a Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment thereto or in any filing made in connection with the qualification of
the offering under the securities or other "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction
in which Registrable Securities are offered ("Blue Sky Filing"), or the omission
or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any final
prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the Company files any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or the omission or alleged omission
to state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements made
therein, in light of the circumstances under which the statements therein were
made, not misleading; or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company
of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any other law, including, without
limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation there under
relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii)
being, collectively, "Violations"). The Company shall reimburse each Indemnified
Person and each such controlling person promptly as such expenses are incurred
and are due and payable, for any legal fees or disbursements or other reasonable
expenses incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such
Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (x) shall not apply to
a Claim by an Indemnified Person arising out of or based upon a Violation which
occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing
to the Company by such Indemnified Person solely as it relates to such
Indemnified person if expressly for use in connection with the preparation of
the Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto;
(y) shall not be available to the extent such Claim is based on a failure of the
Investor to deliver or to cause to be delivered the prospectus made available by
the Company, if such prospectus was timely made available by the Company
pursuant to Section 3(e); and (z) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement
of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of
the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein or in any other agreement entered into between
the Company and the Investor, the Company acknowledges and agrees that it is
solely responsible and shall indemnify each Indemnified Person for the contents
of any registration statement, prospectus or other filing made with the SEC or
otherwise used in the offering of the Company's securities (except as such
disclosure relates solely to the Investor and then only to the extent that such
disclosure conforms with information furnished in writing by the Investor to the
Company), even if the Investor or its agents as an accommodation to the Company
participate or assist in the preparation of such registration statement,
prospectus or other SEC filing. The Company shall retain its own legal counsel
to review, edit, confirm and do all things such counsel deems necessary or
desirable to such registration statement, prospectus or other SEC filing to
ensure that it does not contain an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of material fact or omit or alleged to omit a material fact necessary to make
the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which the
statements were made, not misleading. Such indemnity shall remain in full force
and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the
Indemnified Person.
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b. In connection with a Registration Statement, the Investor agrees to
indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same manner
as is set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of its
officers who signs the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange
Act (each an "Indemnified Party"), against any Claim or Indemnified Damages to
which any of them may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act
or otherwise, insofar as such Claim or Indemnified Damages arise out of or is
based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent, and only to the extent,
that such Violation solely relates to the Investor and occurs in reliance upon
and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the
Investor expressly for use in connection with such Registration Statement; and,
subject to Section 6(d), the Investor will reimburse any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any
such Claim; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this
Section 6(b) and the agreement with respect to contribution contained in Section
7 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement
is effected without the prior written consent of the Investor, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, further, however, that the
Investor shall be liable under this Section 6(b) for only that amount of a Claim
or Indemnified Damages as does not exceed the net proceeds to the Investor as a
result of the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration
Statement. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of
any investigation made by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification
agreement contained in this Section 6(b) with respect to any prospectus shall
not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Party if the untrue statement or
omission of material fact contained in the prospectus was corrected and such new
prospectus was delivered to the Investor prior to the Investor's use of the
prospectus to which the Claim relates.
c. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified
Party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action or
proceeding (including any governmental action or proceeding) involving a Claim,
such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall, if a Claim in respect
thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 6,
deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof,
and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the
extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying
party similarly noticed, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel
mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party and the Indemnified Person or
the Indemnified Party, as the case may be; provided, however, that an
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own
counsel with the fees and expenses of not more than one counsel for such
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party to be paid by the indemnifying party,
if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel retained by the indemnifying party, the
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representation by such counsel of the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
and the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any
other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The Indemnified
Party or Indemnified Person shall cooperate fully with the indemnifying party in
connection with any negotiation or defense of any such action or claim by the
indemnifying party and shall furnish to the indemnifying party all information
reasonably available to the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person which
relates to such action or claim. The indemnifying party shall keep the
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person fully apprised at all times as to the
status of the defense or any settlement negotiations with respect thereto. No
indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any action, claim or
proceeding effected without its prior written consent, provided, however, that
the indemnifying party shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition its
consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person, consent to entry of any judgment or
enter into any settlement or other compromise which does not include as an
unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person of a release from all liability in
respect to such claim or litigation. Following indemnification as provided for
hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be subrogated to all rights of the
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person with respect to all third parties, firms
or corporations relating to the matter for which indemnification has been made.
The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a
reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not relieve such
indemnifying party of any liability to the Indemnified Person or Indemnified
Party under this Section 6, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is
prejudiced in its ability to defend such action.
d. The indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be made by
periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation
or defense, as and when bills are received or Indemnified Damages are incurred.
e. The indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in addition to
(i) any cause of action or similar right of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified
Person against the indemnifying party or others, and (ii) any liabilities the
indemnifying party may be subject to pursuant to the law.
7. CONTRIBUTION.
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To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is prohibited or
limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum contribution
with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable under Section
6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that: (i) no seller
of Registrable Securities guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation; and (ii) contribution by any seller of Registrable
Securities shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds received by
such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities.
8. REPORTS UNDER THE EXCHANGE ACT.
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With a view to making available to the Investor the benefits of Rule 144
promulgated under the Securities Act or any similar rule or regulation of the
SEC that may at any time permit the Investors to sell securities of the Company
to the public without registration ("Rule 144") the Company agrees to:
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a. make and keep public information available, as those terms are
understood and defined in Rule 144;
b. file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other
documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act
so long as the Company remains subject to such requirements (it being understood
that nothing herein shall limit the Company's obligations under Section 6.3 of
the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement) and the filing of such reports and
other documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
c. furnish to the Investor so long as the Investor owns Registrable
Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company that
it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report
of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company, and
(iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested to permit the
Investor to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.
9. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
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Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may
be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively
or prospectively), only by a written agreement between the Company and the
Investor. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 9
shall be binding upon the Investor and the Company. No consideration shall be
offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of
any provision of any of this Agreement unless the same consideration also is
offered to all of the parties to this Agreement
10. MISCELLANEOUS.
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a. A Person is deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities
whenever such Person owns or is deemed to own of record such Registrable
Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or
elections from two or more Persons with respect to the same Registrable
Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions, notice or
election received from the registered owner of such Registrable Securities.
b. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or
permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and
will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered
personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of
transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the
sending party); or (iii) one business day after deposit with a nationally
recognized overnight delivery service, in each case properly addressed to the
party to receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such
communications shall be:
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If to the Company, to: The Certo Group, Inc.
Building 112
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
With a copy to: Sichenzia Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxx, Esq.
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
If to the Investor, to: Cornell Capital Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx - Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxx
Portfolio Manager
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
With a copy to: Cornell Capital Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx - Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Any party may change its address by providing written notice to the other
parties hereto at least five days prior to the effectiveness of such change.
Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice,
consent, waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically
generated by the sender's facsimile machine containing the time, date, recipient
facsimile number and an image of the first page of such transmission or (C)
provided by a courier or overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence
of personal service, receipt by facsimile or receipt from a nationally
recognized overnight delivery service in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or
(iii) above, respectively.
c. Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this
Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy,
shall not operate as a waiver thereof.
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d. The corporate laws of the State of New Jersey shall govern all
issues concerning the relative rights of the Company and the Investor. All other
questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation
of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New
Jersey, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision
or rule (whether of the State of New Jersey or any other jurisdiction) that
would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State
of New Jersey. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the Superior Courts of the State of New Jersey, sitting in
Xxxxxx County, New Jersey and the Federal District Court for the District of New
Jersey sitting in Newark, New Jersey, for the adjudication of any dispute
hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby
or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in
any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to
the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is
brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or
proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of
process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or
proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such
notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute
good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained
herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any
manner permitted by law. If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that
jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of any provision of this
Agreement in any other jurisdiction. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY
RIGHT IT MAY HAVE, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION
OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS
AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
e. This Agreement, the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, the
Escrow Agreement, and the Placement Agent Agreement constitute the entire
agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and
thereof. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other
than those set forth or referred to herein and therein. This Agreement, the
Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, and the Placement
Agent Agreement supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
f. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the permitted successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto.
g. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference
only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
h. This Agreement may be executed in identical counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and the
same agreement. This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be delivered to
the other party hereto by facsimile transmission of a copy of this Agreement
bearing the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.
i. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed,
all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other
agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other party may
reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes
of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
j. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the
language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent and no rules of
strict construction will be applied against any party.
k. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the
benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration Rights
Agreement to be duly executed as of day and year first above written.
COMPANY:
THE CERTO GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
-----------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Chief Executive Officer
INVESTOR:
CORNELL CAPITAL PARTNERS, LP
By: Yorkville Advisors, LLC
Its: General Partner
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx
----------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Portfolio Manager
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EXHIBIT A
FORM OF NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS
OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
INSERT
Attention:
Re: THE CERTO GROUP, INC.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are counsel to The Certo Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and have represented the Company in connection with that certain
Standby Equity Distribution Agreement (the "Standby Equity Distribution
Agreement") entered into by and between the Company and Cornell Capital
Partners, LP (the "Investor") pursuant to which the Company issued to the
Investor shares of its Common Stock, no par value per share (the "Common
Stock"). Pursuant to the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, the Company also
has entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Investor (the
"Registration Rights Agreement") pursuant to which the Company agreed, among
other things, to register the Registrable Securities (as defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"). In connection with the Company's obligations under the
Registration Rights Agreement, on ____________ ____, the Company filed a
Registration Statement on Form ________ (File No. 333-_____________) (the
"Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC") relating to the Registrable Securities which names the Investor as a
selling stockholder thereunder.
In connection with the foregoing, we advise you that a member of the
SEC's staff has advised us by telephone that the SEC has entered an order
declaring the Registration Statement effective under the Securities Act at
[ENTER TIME OF EFFECTIVENESS] on [ENTER DATE OF EFFECTIVENESS] and we have no
knowledge, after telephonic inquiry of a member of the SEC's staff, that any
stop order suspending its effectiveness has been issued or that any proceedings
for that purpose are pending before, or threatened by, the SEC and the
Registrable Securities are available for resale under the Securities Act
pursuant to the Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
By:
---------------------------
cc: Cornell Capital Partners, LP
