EXHIBIT 4.4
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of July 15, 2004, among Genio Group, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and the purchasers' signatory hereto (each such
purchaser is a "Purchaser" and all such purchasers are, collectively, the
"Purchasers").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement,
dated as of the date hereof among the Company and the Purchasers (the "Purchase
Agreement").
The Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
CAPITALIZED TERMS USED AND NOT OTHERWISE DEFINED HEREIN THAT
ARE DEFINED IN THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN
SUCH TERMS IN THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT. As used in this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the following meanings:
"Effectiveness Date" means, with respect to the Registration
Statement registering for resale the Registrable Securities, the
150th calendar day following the Closing Date; provided, however,
in the event that the Company is notified by the Commission that
the above Registration Statement will not be reviewed or is no
longer subject to further review and comments, the Effectiveness
Date as to the Registration Statement shall be the fifth Trading
Day following the date on which the Company is so notified if
such date precedes the dates required above.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2(a).
"Filing Date" means, with respect to the Registration
Statement registering for resale the Registrable Securities, the
30th 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).
"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.
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"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in the
Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a
prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from
a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement
in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act),
as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with
respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the
Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement, and
all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including
post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by
reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such
Prospectus.
"Registrable Securities" means all of the Underlying Shares,
together with any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon
any stock split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization
or similar event with respect to the foregoing.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statements
required to be filed hereunder, including (in each case) the
Prospectus, amendments and supplements to the Registration
Statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective
amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated
by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the
registration statement.
"Rule 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from
time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted
by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and
effect as such Rule.
"Rule 424" means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from
time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted
by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and
effect as such Rule.
"Warrants" shall mean the Common Stock purchase warrants
issued to the Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
2. Registration
(a) On or prior to the Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file
with the Commission the Registration Statement covering the resale of all of the
Registrable Securities (and including, for purposes of this number, any
securities which may be issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other
distribution or recapitalization provision in the Warrants or in connection with
any anti-dilution provisions in the Warrants) for an offering to be made on a
continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on
Form SB-2 or S-1 (or Form S-3, if the Company is then eligible to use such form
for such purpose) and shall contain (unless otherwise directed by the Holders
and except to the extent the Company determines that modifications thereto are
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required under applicable law) substantially the "Plan of Distribution" attached
hereto as Annex A. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall use
its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective
under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing thereof, but
in any event prior to the Effectiveness Date, and shall use its best efforts to
keep the Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act
until the date which is three years after the date that the Registration
Statement is declared effective by the Commission or such earlier date when all
Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement have been sold or
may be sold without volume restrictions pursuant to Rule 144(k) as determined by
the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect,
addressed and acceptable to the Company's transfer agent and the affected
Holders (the "Effectiveness Period"). The Company shall immediately notify the
Holders via facsimile of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement on the
same day that the Company receives notification of the effectiveness from the
Commission.
(b) If: (i) the Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to its
Filing Date (if the Company files the Registration Statement without affording
the Holders the opportunity to review and comment on the same as required by
Section 3(a), the Company shall not be deemed to have satisfied clause (i)), or
(ii) the Company fails to file with the Commission a request for acceleration in
accordance with Rule 461 promulgated under the Securities Act, within five
Trading Days of the date that the Company is notified (orally or in writing,
whichever is earlier) by the Commission that the Registration Statement will not
be "reviewed," or not subject to further review, or (iii) prior to the
Effectiveness Date, the Company fails to file a pre-effective amendment and
otherwise respond in writing to comments made by the Commission in respect of
the Registration Statement within 10 Trading Days after the receipt of comments
by or notice from the Commission that such amendment is required in order for
the Registration Statement to be declared effective, or (iv) the Registration
Statement filed or required to be filed hereunder is not declared effective by
the Commission by the Effectiveness Date, or (v) after the Effectiveness Date,
the Registration Statement ceases for any reason to remain continuously
effective as to all Registrable Securities for which it is required to be
effective, or the Holders are not permitted to utilize the Prospectus therein to
resell such Registrable Securities for 20 consecutive Trading Days or in any
individual case an aggregate of 30 Trading Days during any 12 month period
(which need not be consecutive Trading Days) (any such failure or breach being
referred to as an "Event", and for purposes of clause (i) or (iv) the date on
which such Event occurs, or for purposes of clause (ii) the date on which such
five Trading Day period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause (iii) the date
which such 10 Trading Day period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause (v) the
date on which such 20 or 30 Trading Day period, as applicable, is exceeded being
referred to as "Event Date"), then, (x) on each such Event Date the Company
shall pay to each Holder an amount in cash, as partial liquidated damages and
not as a penalty, equal to 2.0% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such
Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for any Registrable Securities then
held by such Holder; and (y) on each monthly anniversary of each such Event Date
(if the applicable Event shall not have been cured by such date) until the
applicable Event is cured, the Company shall pay to each Holder an amount in
cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, 1.5%
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of the aggregate purchase price paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement for any Registrable Securities then held by such Holder. For the
purposes of calculating the amount due, each month will be deemed to be 30 days
in length. If the Company fails to pay any liquidated damages pursuant to this
Section in full within seven days after the date payable, the Company will pay
interest thereon at a rate of 15% per annum (or such lesser maximum amount that
is permitted to be paid by applicable law) to the Holder, accruing daily from
the date such liquidated damages are due until such amounts, plus all such
interest thereon, are paid in full. The liquidated damages pursuant to the terms
hereof shall apply on a pro-rata basis for any portion of a month prior to the
cure of an Event.
3. Registration Procedures
In connection with the Company's registration obligations hereunder,
the Company shall:
(a) Not less than five Trading Days prior to the filing of the
Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto (including any document that would be incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall, (i) furnish to each
Holder copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents (other
than those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference) will be
subject to the review of such Holders, and (ii) cause its officers and
directors, counsel and independent certified public accountants to respond to
such inquiries as shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of respective
counsel to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the
Securities Act. The Company shall not file the Registration Statement or any
such Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto to which the Holders of
a majority of the Registrable Securities shall reasonably and in good faith
object, provided, the Company is notified of such objection in writing no later
than 2 Trading Days after the Holders have been so furnished copies of such
documents.
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including
post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus used
in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement
continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable Securities for the
Effectiveness Period; (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or
supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement (subject to the terms of this
Agreement), and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(iii) respond as promptly as reasonably possible, and in any event within 10
Trading Days, to any comments received from the Commission with respect to the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and as promptly as reasonably
possible provide the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from
and to the Commission relating to the Registration Statement; and (iv) comply in
all material respects with the provisions of the 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 (subject to
the terms of
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this Agreement) with the intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof
set forth in the Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as
so supplemented.
(c) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold (which
notice shall, pursuant to clauses (ii) through (vi) hereof, shall be accompanied
by an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the requisite
changes have been made) as promptly as reasonably possible and (if requested by
any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than two Trading Days
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
the Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on
the Registration Statement (the Company shall provide true and complete copies
thereof and all written responses thereto to each of the Holders); and (C) with
respect to 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) of the receipt by the
Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification
or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in
any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such
purpose; (v) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes the
financial statements included in the Registration Statement ineligible for
inclusion therein or any statement made in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by
reference untrue in any material respect or that requires any revisions to the
Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and
(vi) the occurrence or existence of any pending corporate development with
respect to the Company that the Company believes may be material and that, in
the determination of the Company, makes it not in the best interest of the
Company to allow continued availability or the Registration Statement or
Prospectus; provided that the Company shall not disclose the nature of such
information to the Holder.
(d) Promptly deliver to each Holder, without charge, as many copies of
the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each
amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request. Subject
to the terms of this Agreement, the Company hereby consents to the use of such
Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities
covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.
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(e) Use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the
resale of such Registrable Securities as required under applicable securities or
Blue Sky laws of each State within the United States as any Holder reasonably
requests in writing, to keep each the Registration or qualification (or
exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period; provided, that
the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any
jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or subject the Company to any
material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(f) Cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to
a transferee pursuant to the Registration Statement, which certificates shall be
free, to the extent permitted by the Purchase Agreement, of all restrictive
legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations
and registered in such names as any such Holders may request.
(g) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(c), as
promptly as reasonably possible under the circumstances prepare a supplement or
amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to the Registration Statement
or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so
that, as thereafter delivered, neither the Registration Statement nor such
Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading. If the Company notifies the Holders in accordance with clauses
(ii) through (vi) of Section 3(c) above to suspend the use of the use of any
Prospectus until the requisite changes to such Prospectus have been made, or the
Company otherwise notifies the Holders of its election to suspend the
availability of the Registration Statement and Prospectus pursuant to clause
(vi) of Section 3(c), then the Holders shall suspend use of such Prospectus. The
Company will use its best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may
be resumed as promptly as is practicable, except that in the case of suspension
of the availability of the Registration Statement and Prospectus pursuant to
clause (vi) of Section 3(c), the Company shall not be required to take such
action until such time as it shall determine that the continued availability of
the Registration Statement and Prospectus is no longer not in the best interests
of the Company. The Company shall be entitled to exercise its right under this
Section 3(g) to suspend the availability of the Registration Statement and
Prospectus, subject to the payment of liquidated damages pursuant to Section
2(b), for a period not to exceed 60 consecutive days or for multiple periods not
to exceed 90 days in any 12 month period.
(h) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission.
(i) 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.
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(j) The Company may require, at any time prior to the third Trading Day
prior to the Filing Date, each Holder to furnish to the Company a statement
substantially in the form of Annex B hereto. During any periods that the Company
is unable to meet its obligations hereunder with respect to the registration of
the Registrable Securities solely because any Holder fails to furnish such
information within three Trading Days of the Company's request, any liquidated
damages that are accruing at such time shall be tolled, until such information
is delivered to the Company.
4. Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the
performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne
by the Company whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to
the Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing
sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees
(including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings
required to be made with the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then
listed for trading, and (B) in compliance with applicable state securities or
Blue Sky laws reasonably agreed to by the Company in writing (including, without
limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company in connection with
Blue Sky qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities and
determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Securities for investment
under the laws of such jurisdictions as requested by the Holders)), (ii)
printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing
certificates for Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses requested
by the Holders), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company, 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. In addition, the Company shall be
responsible for all of its internal expenses incurred in connection with the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including,
without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees
performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit and the
fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable
Securities on any securities exchange as required hereunder. In no event shall
the Company be responsible for any broker or similar commissions or, except to
the extent provided for in the Purchase Agreement, any legal fees or other costs
of the Holders.
5. Indemnification
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall, notwithstanding
any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the
officers, directors, agents, brokers (including brokers who offer and sell
Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or any failure to
perform under a margin call of Common Stock), investment advisors and employees
of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the
officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling Person, to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation,
costs of preparation and reasonable attorneys' fees) and expenses (collectively,
"Losses"), as
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incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Prospectus or
any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any
preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged
omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or
supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made)
not misleading, except to the extent, but only to the extent, that (1) such
untrue statements or omissions or alleged untrue statements or omissions are
based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the
Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such
information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of
distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved
in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such
Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or (2) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section
3(c)(ii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus
after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is
outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice
contemplated in Section 6(e). The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of
the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding arising from or in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement of which the
Company is aware.
(b) Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall, severally and not
jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers,
agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the
directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses (as
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment not subject
to appeal or review) arising out of or based upon any untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or any
form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or arising solely
out of or based solely upon: (i) such Holder's failure to comply with the
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act or (ii) any omission of a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading to the extent, but only to the extent, such untrue
statement or omission is contained in any information so furnished in writing by
such Holder to the Company specifically for inclusion in the Registration
Statement or such Prospectus or to the extent that (1) such untrue statements or
omissions are based upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing
to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent such
information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of
distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved
in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such
Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or (2) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section
3(c)(ii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus
after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is
outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice
contemplated in Section 6(e). In no event shall the liability of any selling
Holder
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hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds
received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise
to such indemnification obligation.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall be
brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an
"Indemnified Party"), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person
from whom indemnity is sought (the "Indemnifying Party") in writing, and the
Indemnifying Party shall 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 such failure shall have prejudiced the
Indemnifying Party.
An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in
any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and
expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party or
Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such
fees and expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to
assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named
parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both
such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party
shall have been advised by counsel that a material conflict of interest is
likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and
the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the
Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the
expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the
right to assume the defense thereof and the expense of one such counsel for each
Holder shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying
Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected
without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the
Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of
which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, all fees and expenses of the
Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred
in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a
manner not inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified
Party, as incurred, within ten Trading Days of written notice thereof to the
Indemnifying Party (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).
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(d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under Section 5(a) or
5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party (by reason of public policy or
otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such
Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and
Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that
resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question,
including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission
or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to
information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or
payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject
to the limitations set forth in Section 5(c), any reasonable attorneys' or other
reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any
Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or
expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section was available to
such party in accordance with its terms.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account
the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), no Holder shall be required
to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the
proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable
Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that such
Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
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. Miscellaneous
(a) 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 all of
the Holders of the then outstanding Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect
to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders and that does not
directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by
Holders of all of the Registrable Securities to which such waiver or consent
relates; provided, however, that the provisions of this sentence may not be
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amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of
the immediately preceding sentence.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has entered, as of the date hereof, nor shall the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any
agreement with respect to its securities, that would have the effect of
impairing the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise
conflicts with the provisions hereof. Except as set forth on Schedule 6(b),
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has previously entered into any
agreement granting any registration rights with respect to any of its securities
to any Person that have not been satisfied in full.
(c) No Piggyback on Registrations. Except as and to the extent
specified in Schedule 6(c) hereto, neither the Company nor any of its security
holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto) may include
securities of the Company in the Registration Statement other than the
Registrable Securities, and the Company shall not after the date hereof enter
into any agreement providing any such right to any of its security holders.
(d) Compliance. Each Holder covenants and agrees that it will comply
with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to
it in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Registration Statement.
(e) Discontinued Disposition. Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of
such Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of
the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Sections 3(c)(ii), (iii) or
(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(g), or until it is advised in writing (the "Advice")
by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in
either case, has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that
are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or
Registration Statement. The Company may provide appropriate stop orders to
enforce the provisions of this paragraph. The Company agrees and acknowledges
that any periods during which the Holder is required to discontinue the
disposition of the Registrable Securities hereunder shall be subject to the
provisions of Section 2(b).
(f) Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time during the Effectiveness
Period there is not an effective Registration Statement covering all of the
Registrable Securities and the Company shall determine to prepare and file with
the Commission the Registration Statement relating to an offering for its own
account or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity
securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the
Securities Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to be
issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or
equity securities issuable in connection with stock option or other employee
benefit plans, then the Company shall send to each Holder written notice of such
determination
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and, if within fifteen days after receipt of such notice, any such Holder shall
so request in writing, the Company shall include in the Registration statement
all or any part of such Registrable Securities such holder requests to be
registered; provided, that, the Company shall not be required to register any
Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 6(f) that are eligible for
resale pursuant to Rule 144(k) promulgated under the Securities Act or that are
the subject of a then effective Registration Statement..
(g) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries
required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be delivered as set forth
in the Purchase Agreement.
(h) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the
parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company may not
assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of
all of the Holders of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities. Each Holder
may assign their respective rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as
permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
(i) 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.
(j) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity,
enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by and
construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New
York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party
hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and
federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, 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 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 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 contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right
to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Each party hereto hereby
irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and
all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. If either party shall
commence a Proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, then the
prevailing party in such Proceeding shall be
12
reimbursed by the other party for its attorneys fees and other costs and
expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such
Proceeding.
(k) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative
and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(l) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their 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.
(m) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(n) 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.
(o) Independent Nature of Purchasers' Obligations and Rights. The
obligations of each Purchaser hereunder is several and not joint with the
obligations of any other Purchaser hereunder, and no Purchaser shall be
responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other
Purchaser hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or
document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant
hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a
partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or
create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert with
respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Each Purchaser shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights, including
without limitation the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be
necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any
proceeding for such purpose.
********************
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement as of the date first written above.
GENIO GROUP, INC.
By: _________________________________
Name:
Title:
[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS FOLLOWS]
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[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS TO RRA -GNOI]
CRESTVIEW CAPITAL MASTER, LLC
By: ___________________________________
Name:
Title:
15
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
--------------------
The selling stockholders and any of their pledgees, assignees and
successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their shares
of common stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the
shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or
negotiated prices. The selling stockholders may use any one or more of the
following methods when selling shares:
o ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the
broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
o block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the
shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as
principal to facilitate the transaction;
o purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the
broker-dealer for its account;
o an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the
applicable exchange;
o privately negotiated transactions;
o settlement of short sales crated after the date of this Prospectus;
o broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholders to sell a
specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
o a combination of any such methods of sale; and
o any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
The selling stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the
Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus. Broker-dealers
engaged by the selling stockholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to
participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from
the selling stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the
purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated. The
selling stockholders do not expect these commissions and discounts to exceed
what is customary in the types of transactions involved.
We have advised the selling stockholders that during such time as they
may be engaged in a distribution of the shares, they are required to comply with
Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act. With certain exceptions,
Regulation M prohibits any selling security holder, any affiliated purchasers
and any broker-dealer or other person who participates in such distribution from
bidding for or purchasing, or attempting to induce any person to bid for or
purchase, any security which is the subject of the distribution until the entire
distribution is complete. Regulation M also prohibits any bids
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or purchases made in order to stabilize the price of a security in connection
with the distribution of that security. The foregoing restrictions may affect
the marketability of the shares.
The selling stockholder may from time to time pledge or grant a
security interest in or transfer some or all of the Shares or common stock or
Warrant owned by them and, (if they default in the performance of their secured
obligations), the pledgees or secured parties or transferees may offer and sell
the shares of common stock from time to time under this prospectus, or under an
amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision
of the Securities Act of 1933 amending the list of selling stockholders to
include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling
stockholders under this prospectus.
The selling stockholders also may transfer the shares of common stock
in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other
successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of
this prospectus.
The selling stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are
involved in selling the shares may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the
meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any
commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the
resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting
commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. The selling stockholders have
informed the Company that none of them have any agreement or understanding,
directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the common stock.
Xxxxx Stock Rules
Our common stock is subject to the "xxxxx stock" rules that impose
additional sales practice requirements should because our shares presently do
not trade in any market and can be expected to trade below $5.00 per share. For
transactions covered by these rules, the broker-dealer must make a special
suitability determination for the purchase of the common shares and must have
received the purchaser's written consent to the transaction prior to the
purchase. The "xxxxx stock" rules also require the delivery, prior to the
transaction, of a risk disclosure document mandated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission relating to the xxxxx stock market. The broker-dealer must
also disclose:
o the commission payable to both the broker-dealer and the registered
representative,
o current quotations for the securities, and
o if the broker-dealer is the sole market maker, the broker-dealer must
disclose this fact and the broker-dealer's presumed control over the
market.
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Finally, monthly statements must be sent disclosing recent price
information for the xxxxx stock held in the account and information on the
limited market in xxxxx stocks.
These rules apply to sales by broker-dealers to persons other than
established customers and accredited investors (generally those with assets in
excess of $1,000,000 or annual income exceeding $200,000, or $300,000 together
with their spouse), unless our common shares trade above $5.00 per share.
Consequently, the "xxxxx stock" rules may restrict the ability of broker-dealers
to sell shares of our common stock, and may affect the ability to sell the
shares in the secondary market as well as the price at which such sales can be
made. Also, some brokerage firms will decide not to effect transactions in
"xxxxx stocks" and it is unlikely that any bank or financial institution will
accept "xxxxx stock" as collateral.]
The Company is required to pay all fees and expenses incurred by the
Company incident to the registration of the shares. The Company has agreed to
indemnify the selling stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
ANNEX B
GENIO GROUP, INC.
SELLING SECURITYHOLDER NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE
The undersigned beneficial owner of common stock, $.0001 par value per
share (the "Common Stock"), of Genio Group, Inc. (the "Company"), (the
"Registrable Securities") understands that the Company has filed or intends to
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a
registration statement (the "Registration Statement") for the registration and
resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), of the Registrable Securities, in accordance with the terms of the
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 15, 2004 (the "Registration
Rights Agreement"), among the Company and the Purchasers named therein. A copy
of the Registration Rights Agreement is available from the Company upon request
at the address set forth below. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Registration Rights
Agreement.
Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling
securityholder in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus.
Accordingly, holders and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised
to consult their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being
named or not being named as a selling securityholder in the Registration
Statement and the related prospectus.
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NOTICE
The undersigned beneficial owner (the "Selling Securityholder") of
Registrable Securities hereby elects to include the Registrable Securities owned
by it and listed below in Item 3 (unless otherwise specified under such Item 3)
in the Registration Statement.
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The undersigned hereby provides the following information to the Company and
represents and warrants that such information is accurate:
QUESTIONNAIRE
1. NAME.
(a) Full Legal Name of Selling Securityholder
--------------------------------------------------------------
(b) Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as (a)
above) through which Registrable Securities Listed in Item 3
below are held:
--------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Full Legal Name of Natural Control Person (which means a
natural person who directly you indirectly alone or with
others has power to vote or dispose of the securities covered
by the questionnaire):
--------------------------------------------------------------
2. ADDRESS FOR NOTICES TO SELLING SECURITYHOLDER:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fax:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact Person:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
3. BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF REGISTRABLE SECURITIES:
(a) Type and Principal Amount of Registrable Securities beneficially
owned:
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
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4. BROKER-DEALER STATUS:
(a) Are you a broker-dealer?
Yes [ ] No [ ]
Note: If yes, the Commission's staff has indicated that you should
be identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.
(b) Are you an affiliate of a broker-dealer?
Yes [ ] No [ ]
(c) If you are an affiliate of a broker-dealer, do you certify that
you bought the Registrable Securities in the ordinary course of
business, and at the time of the purchase of the Registrable
Securities to be resold, you had no agreements or understandings,
directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the
Registrable Securities?
Yes [ ] No [ ]
Note: If no, the Commission's staff has indicated that you should
be identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.
5. BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF OTHER SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY OWNED BY THE
SELLING SECURITYHOLDER.
Except as set forth below in this Item 5, the undersigned is not the
beneficial or registered owner of any securities of the Company other
than the Registrable Securities listed above in Item 3.
(a) Type and Amount of Other Securities beneficially owned by the
Selling Securityholder:
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
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6. RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMPANY:
Except as set forth below, neither the undersigned nor any of its
affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (owners of
5% of more of the equity securities of the undersigned) has held any
position or office or has had any other material relationship with the
Company (or its predecessors or affiliates) during the past three
years.
State any exceptions here:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The undersigned agrees to promptly notify the Company of any
inaccuracies or changes in the information provided herein that may occur
subsequent to the date hereof at any time while the Registration Statement
remains effective.
By signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the
information contained herein in its answers to Items 1 through 6 and the
inclusion of such information in the Registration Statement and the related
prospectus. The undersigned understands that such information will be relied
upon by the Company in connection with the preparation or amendment of the
Registration Statement and the related prospectus.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused
this Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or
by its duly authorized agent.
Dated: Beneficial Owner:
------------------- ----------------------------
By:
-----------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
PLEASE FAX A COPY OF THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE, AND
RETURN THE ORIGINAL BY OVERNIGHT MAIL, TO:
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