REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT by and among ARC INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC TAPIRDO ENTERPRISES, LLC SGM CAPITAL, LLC ADAM ROSEMAN STEVEN MAGAMI and PURE BIOFUELS CORP.
by
and
among
ARC
INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC
TAPIRDO
ENTERPRISES, LLC
SGM
CAPITAL, LLC
XXXX
XXXXXXX
XXXXXX
XXXXXX
and
Dated
as
of September 12, 2007
Table
of Contents
Page
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ARTICLE
I Definitions
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2
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1.1
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Defined
Terms.
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2
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1.2
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Other
Definitional Provisions; Interpretation.
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5
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ARTICLE
II Registration Rights
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5 | |
2.1
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Securities
Act Registration on Request.
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5
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2.2
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Piggyback
Registration.
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9
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2.3
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Expenses.
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10
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2.4
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Registration
Procedures.
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10
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2.5
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Underwritten
Offerings.
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14
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2.6
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Preparation:
Reasonable Investigation.
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16
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2.7
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Postponements.
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17
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2.8
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Indemnification
by the Company.
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18
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2.9
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Registration
Rights to Others.
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21
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2.10
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Adjustments
Affecting Registrable Common Stock.
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21
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2.11
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Rule
144 and Rule 144A.
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21
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2.12
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Nominees
for Beneficial Owners.
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21
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2.13
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Calculation
of Percentage or Number of Shares of Registrable Common
Stock.
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21
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2.14
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Termination
of Registration Rights.
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22
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ARTICLE
III Miscellaneous
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22 | |
3.1
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Injunctive
Relief.
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22
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3.2
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Amendments;
Entire Agreement.
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22
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3.3
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Severability.
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22
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3.4
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Successors
and Assigns.
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22
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3.5
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Notices.
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22
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3.6
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Counterparts.
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23
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3.7
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Governing
Law; Consent to Jurisdiction.
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23
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3.8
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Waiver
of July Trial.
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23
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SCHEDULES:
SCHEDULE
A - NOTICES
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of September 12, 2007, by and among PURE BIOFUELS
CORP., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”); ARC
Investment Partners, LLC a Delaware limited liability company, (“ARC”);
Tapirdo Enterprises, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“TAPIRDO”);
SGM
Capital, LLC, a Delaware a limited liability company (“SGM”);
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx (“XXXXXXX”);
and
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx (“MAGAMI”).
WHEREAS,
the Company has agreed to enter into a registration rights agreement with ARC,
TAPIRDO, SGM, XXXXXXX and MAGAMI to register the offer and resale of shares
of
common stock that the Shareholders (as defined below) received pursuant to
that
certain escrow agreement, dated as of July 22, 2007; and
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein
contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Defined
Terms.
As used
in this Agreement, terms defined in the headings and the recitals shall have
their respective assigned meanings, and the following capitalized terms shall
have the meanings ascribed to them below:
“Affiliate”
shall
mean any Person who is an “affiliate” of such Person as defined in
Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange
Act.
“Agreement”
means
this Registration Rights Agreement, as the same may be amended, supplemented
or
otherwise modified from time to time.
“ARC”
has
the
meaning set forth in the Preamble hereto.
“Board”
shall
mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Business
Day”
means
any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in
New
York City and/or Los Angeles are authorized or required by law to be
closed.
“Closing
Price”
means,
with respect to the Registrable Common Stock, as of the date of determination:
(a) if the Registrable Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange,
the closing price per share of the Registrable Common Stock on such date
published in The
Wall Street Journal (National Edition)
or, if
no such closing price on such date is published in The
Wall Street Journal (National Edition),
the
average of the closing bid and asked prices on such date, as officially reported
on the principal national securities exchange on which the Registrable Common
Stock is then listed or admitted to trading; (b) if the Registrable Common
Stock
is not then listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange
but is designated as a national market system security by the NASD, the last
trading price per share of the Registrable Common Stock on such date; (c) if
there shall have been no trading on such date or if the Registrable Common
Stock
is not designated as a national market system security by the NASD, the average
of the reported closing bid and asked prices of the Registrable Common Stock
on
such date as shown by the OTCBB; or (d) if none of (a), (b) or (c) is
applicable, a market price per share determined in good faith by the Board
of
Directors. If trading is conducted on a continuous basis on any exchange, then
the closing price shall be determined at 4:00 p.m., New York City
time.
2
“Commission”
means
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any similar agency then having
jurisdiction to enforce the Securities Act.
“Common
Stock”
means
the shares of common stock, $.001 par value per share, of the Company, as
adjusted to reflect any merger, consolidation, recapitalization,
reclassification, split-up, stock dividend, rights offering or reverse stock
split made, declared or effected with respect to the Common Stock.
“Company”
has
the
meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Company
Indemnitee”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.8(a) hereof.
“Demanding
Shareholder”
means
(a) XXXXXXX or TAPIRDO, as applicable, if XXXXXXX initiates the request to
the
Company for the registration with the Commission of their shares of Registrable
Common Stock pursuant to Section 2.1(a) of the Agreement, (b) MAGAMI or SGM,
as
applicable, if MAGAMI initiates the request to the Company for the registration
with the Commission of their shares of Registrable Common Stock pursuant to
Section 2.1(a) of this Agreement or (c) ARC, if it initiates the request to
the
Company for the registration with the Commission of its shares of Registrable
Common Stock pursuant to Section 2.1(a) of this Agreement.
“Exchange
Act”
means
the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder, or any similar or successor statute.
“Expenses”
means
all expenses incurred by the Company incident to the Company’s performance of or
compliance with its obligations under this Agreement, including, without
limitation, all registration, filing, listing, stock exchange and NASD fees,
all
fees and expenses of complying with state securities or blue sky laws (including
the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel for the
underwriters in connection with blue sky filings), all of the Company’s word
processing, duplicating and printing expenses, messenger, telephone and delivery
expenses, the fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel for the Company
and of its independent registered public accounting firm, including the expenses
incurred in connection with “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to
such performance and compliance, the fees and expenses incurred by the Company
in connection with the listing of the securities to be registered on each
securities exchange or national market system on which similar securities issued
by the Company are then listed, any fees and disbursements of underwriters
customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities, the fees and expenses
of
any special experts retained by the Company in connection with such
registration, and the fees and expenses of other persons retained by the
Company, and any fees and expenses of counsel for any seller of Registrable
Common Stock, which in no event shall exceed $10,000, but excluding underwriting
discounts and commissions and applicable transfer taxes, if any, which
discounts, commissions, transfer taxes, fees and expenses shall be borne by
the
seller or sellers of Registrable Common Stock in all cases.
3
“Governmental
Authority”
means
(a) the government of any nation, state, city, locality or other political
subdivision thereof, (b) any entity exercising executive, legislative,
judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government,
and (c) any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through stock
or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.
“Loss”
and
“Losses”
have
the meanings set forth in Section 2.8(a) hereof.
“MAGAMI”
has
the
meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Market
Price”
means,
on any date of determination, the average of the daily Closing Price of the
Registrable Common Stock during the immediately preceding thirty (30) days
on
which the national securities exchanges are open for trading.
“NASD”
means
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
“Offering
Documents”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.8(a) hereof.
“OTCBB”
means
the OTC Bulleting Board.
“Person”
means
any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, joint venture, association,
joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity.
“Piggyback
Requesting Shareholder”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.2 hereof.
“Public
Offering”
means
a
public offering and sale of Common Stock pursuant to an effective registration
statement filed under the Securities Act.
“Registrable
Common Stock”
means,
with respect to any Shareholder, any of the Common Stock owned by such
Shareholder as of the date hereof and any shares of Common Stock acquired by
such Shareholder or any of its Affiliates after the date hereof if such
Shareholder or Affiliate is an Affiliate of the Company on the date of such
acquisition; provided,
however,
that a
share of Common Stock will cease to be Registrable Common Stock upon the
earliest to occur of the time that (i) such share has been sold under a
registration statement effected pursuant hereto or pursuant to Rule 144
promulgated under the Securities Act or (ii) such share, along with all of
the
other shares held by such Shareholder, may immediately be sold under
Rule 144(k) or any successor rule.
“XXXXXXX”
has
the
meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
4
“Securities
Act”
means
the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder, or any similar or successor statute.
“Selling
Shareholders”
means
the holders of Registrable Common Stock requested to be registered pursuant
hereto.
“SGM”
has
the
meaning set forth in the Preamble hereto.
“Shareholder
Information”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.4 hereof.
“Shareholder
Indemnitee”
has
the
meaning set forth in Section 2.8(b) hereof.
“Shareholders”
means
ARC, TAPIRDO, SGM, XXXXXXX and MAGAMI.
“Subsidiary”
shall
mean with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, association
or
other business entity of which fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting
power of shares of capital stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence
of
any contingency) to vote generally in the election of directors, managers or
trustees thereof, or fifty percent (50%) or more of the equity interest therein,
is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or
one
or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination
thereof.
“TAPIRDO”
has
the
meaning set forth in the Preamble hereto.
1.2 Other
Definitional Provisions; Interpretation. (a) The
words “hereof”, “herein”, and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used
in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any
particular provision of this Agreement, and Section, Subsection and Schedule
references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.
(b) The
headings in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and
shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement.
(c) The
meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both
the
singular and plural forms of such terms.
ARTICLE
II
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS
2.1 Securities
Act Registration on Request. At any time and from time to time after the date hereof, any or
each of XXXXXXX or MAGAMI may make a written request to the Company for the
registration with the Commission under the Securities Act of all or part of
such
Shareholder’s Registrable Common Stock which request shall specify the number of
shares of Registrable Common Stock to be disposed of by each such Shareholder
and the proposed plan of distribution therefor. Upon the receipt of any request
for registration from XXXXXXX or MAGAMI pursuant to this paragraph, the Company
promptly shall notify each of XXXXXXX or MAGAMI of the receipt of such request.
Upon the receipt of any request for registration made in accordance with the
terms of this paragraph, the Company will effect, at the earliest practicable
date, such registration under the Securities Act of:
5
(i) the
Registrable Common Stock which the Company has been so requested to register
by
the Demanding Shareholder, and
(ii) all
other
Registrable Common Stock which the Company has been requested to register by
ARC, TAPIRDO or SGM by written request given to the Company within 15 days
after
the giving of written notice by the Company to such other Shareholders of the
request by the Demanding Shareholder; provided
that
ARC, TAPIRDO or SGM shall acknowledge in their written notice to the Company
whether they will also be a Demanding Shareholder for the requested
registration,
all
to
the extent necessary to permit the disposition (in accordance with Section
2.1(c) hereof) of the Registrable Common Stock so to be registered; provided
that,
(A) the
Company shall not be required to effect more than a total of two demand
registrations pursuant to this Section 2.1(a) for XXXXXXX or TAPIRDO, a total
of
two demand registrations pursuant to this Section 2.1(a) for MAGAMI or SGM
and a
total of two demand registrations pursuant to this Section 2.1(a) for
ARC
(B) if
the
Company has previously effected a registration pursuant to this Section 2.1(a)
or Section 2.1(g) hereof or has previously effected a registration of which
notice has been given to the Shareholders pursuant to Section 2 hereof, the
Company shall not be required to effect any registration pursuant to this
Section 2.1(a) until a period of 180 days shall have elapsed from the date
on
which such previous registration ceased to be effective;
(C) any
Shareholder whose Registrable Common Stock was to be included in any such
registration pursuant to this Section 2.1(a), by written notice to the Company,
may withdraw such request and, on receipt of such notice of the withdrawal
of
such request from Shareholders holding a percentage of Registrable Common Stock,
such that the Shareholders that have not elected to withdraw do not hold, in
the
aggregate, the requisite percentage or amount of the Registrable Common Stock
to
require or initiate a request for a registration under clause (D) of this
Section 2.1(a), the Company shall not be required to effect such registration;
provided
that, if
the Shareholder or Shareholders that have elected to withdraw such registration
agree to pay the Expenses related to such registration, then the request for
registration shall not be counted for purposes of determining the number of
registrations to which such Shareholders are entitled pursuant to this Section
2.1; and
(D) the
Company shall not be required to effect any registration to be effected pursuant
to this Section 2.1(a) unless the shares of Registrable Common Stock proposed
to
be sold in such registration have an aggregate price (calculated based upon
the
Market Price of such Registrable Common Stock as of the date of such request)
of
at least $1,000,000.
6
(b) Registration
of Other Securities.
Whenever the Company shall effect a registration pursuant to Section 2.1(a)
hereof, no securities other than (i) Registrable Common Stock and (ii) subject
to Section 2.1(f), Common Stock to be sold by the Company for its own account
shall be included among the securities covered by such registration unless
the
Selling Shareholders holding not less than a majority of the shares of
Registrable Common Stock to be covered by such registration shall have consented
in writing to the inclusion of such other securities.
(c) Registration
Statement Form.
Registrations under Section 2.1(a) hereof shall be on Form S-1 or SB-2 or,
if
permitted by law, Form S-3 (or, in either case, any successor forms thereto)
and
shall permit the disposition of the Registrable Common Stock pursuant to an
underwritten Public Offering unless the Demanding Shareholder(s) determine
otherwise, in which case pursuant to the method of disposition determined by
such Demanding Shareholder(s). The Company agrees to include in any such
registration statement filed pursuant to Section 2.1(a) hereof all information
which the Demanding Shareholder(s), upon advice of counsel, shall reasonably
request.
(d) Effective
Registration Statement.
A
registration requested pursuant to Section 2.1(a) or Section 2.1(g) hereof
shall
not be deemed to have been effected:
(i) unless
a
registration statement with respect thereto has become effective by the
Commission and remains effective in compliance with the provisions of the
Securities Act and the laws of any state or other jurisdiction applicable to
the
disposition of Registrable Common Stock covered by such registration statement
until such time as all of such Registrable Common Stock have been disposed
of in
accordance with such registration statement or there shall cease to be any
Registrable Common Stock;
(ii) if,
after
it has become effective, such registration is interfered with by any stop order,
injunction or other order or requirement of the Commission or other Governmental
Authority or court for any reason other than a violation of applicable law
solely by any Selling Shareholder and has not thereafter become effective;
or
(iii) if,
in
the case of an underwritten Public Offering, the conditions to closing specified
in an underwriting agreement to which the Company is a party are not satisfied
or waived other than by reason of any breach or failure by any Selling
Shareholder or are not otherwise waived.
The
holders of Registrable Common Stock to be included in a registration statement
may at any time terminate a request for registration made pursuant to Section
2.1(a) in accordance with Section 2.1(C).
(e) Selection
of Underwriters.
The
underwriter or underwriters of each underwritten Public Offering, if any, of
the
Registrable Common Stock to be registered pursuant to Section 2.1(a) or Section
2.2 hereof shall be an investment bank mutually selected by the Selling
Shareholders owning at least a majority of the shares of Registrable Common
Stock to be registered and the Company.
7
(f) Priority
in Requested Registration.
If a
registration under this Section involves an underwritten Public Offering, and
the managing underwriter of such underwritten Public Offering shall advise
the
Company in writing (with a copy to each Selling Shareholder requesting that
Registrable Common Stock be included in such registration statement) that,
in
its opinion, the number of shares of Registrable Common Stock requested to
be
included in such registration exceeds the number of such securities that can
be
sold in such offering within a price range stated to such managing underwriter
by Selling Shareholders owning at least a majority of the shares of Registrable
Common Stock requested to be included in such registration to be acceptable
to
such Selling Shareholders, the Company shall include in such registration,
to
the extent of the number and type of securities which the Company is advised
can
be sold in such offering, all Registrable Common Stock requested to be
registered pursuant to Section 2.1(a) hereof, (i) first, all of the shares
of
Registrable Common Stock being sold for the accounts of the Demanding
Shareholders, pro
rata
among
such Demanding Shareholders based on the number of shares of Registrable Common
Stock requested to be included in such registration by such Demanding
Shareholders, and
(ii)
second, pro
rata among
the
Selling Shareholders (other than the Demanding Shareholders) who request their
shares of Registrable Common Stock to be included in such registration pursuant
to Section 2.1(a) on the basis of the number of shares of Registrable Common
Stock requested to be registered by all such Selling Shareholders, and (iii)
third, to the Company.
(g) Shelf
Registration.
XXXXXXX
or MAGAMI may make a written request that the Company file a shelf registration
statement (a “Shelf
Registration Statement”)
pursuant to Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act (a “Shelf
Registration”)
and
any related qualification or compliance with respect to all or part of the
Registrable Common Stock owned by XXXXXXX or MAGAMI, as the case may be,
provided that XXXXXXX or MAGAMI (together with all other holders of Registrable
Common Stock to be included in such registration) propose to sell shares of
their Registrable Common Stock having an aggregate price (calculated based
upon
the Market Price of such Registrable Common Stock as of the date of such
request) of at least $500,000. The Company shall (i) promptly give written
notice of the proposed registration, and any related qualification or
compliance, to all other holders of Registrable Common Stock; and (ii) as soon
as practicable, file such Shelf Registration Statement under the Securities
Act
at the earliest practicable date, but in any event not later than 60 days after
the Shelf Registration is requested, and use its best efforts to have such
Shelf
Registration Statement thereafter become effective with the Commission at the
earliest practicable date. The Company agrees to keep the Shelf Registration
Statement continuously effective for the period beginning on the date on which
the Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act
until the earlier to occur of (i) twenty-four (24) months thereafter (plus
a
number of Business Days equal to the number of Business Days, if any, that
the
Shelf Registration Statement is not kept effective after the initial date of
its
effectiveness and prior to twenty-four (24) thereafter pursuant to Section
2.7(b) or otherwise), (ii) the day after the date on which all of the
Registrable Common Stock covered by the Shelf Registration Statement has been
sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement or another registration
statement and (iii) the first date on which there shall cease to be any
Registrable Common Stock covered by such Shelf Registration Statement. The
Company further agrees, if necessary, to supplement or amend the Shelf
Registration Statement, if required by the rules, regulations or instructions
applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf
Registration or by the Securities Act or by any other rules and regulations
thereunder for Shelf Registration, and the Company agrees to furnish to XXXXXXX
or MAGAMI whose Registrable Common Stock is included in such Shelf Registration
Statement copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after its being
issued or filed with the Commission. No registration requested by XXXXXXX or
MAGAMI pursuant to this Section 2.1(g) shall be deemed a registration pursuant
to Section 2.1(a); provided
that if
any offering by XXXXXXX or MAGAMI made pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement is an underwritten Public Offering or otherwise includes the
participation by an underwriter which requires legal opinions, comfort letters,
due diligence or other actions or efforts customarily associated with an
underwritten Public Offering including but not limited to a roadshow in which
the Company’s management are requested to participate then such offering shall
constitute a demand registration pursuant to Section 2.1(a). Not more than
one
registration pursuant to this Section 2.1(g) shall be required in a given nine
month period. If at the time a request for a Shelf Registration is made under
this Section 2.1(g), the Company is a “well-known seasoned issuer” (as defined
in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) then the Company’s obligation to file a
registration statement under this Section 2.1(g) shall be deemed satisfied
if
there is a Form S-3 on file pursuant to which the requesting Shareholder shall
be entitled to dispose of all its Registrable Common Stock.
8
2.2 Piggyback
Registration.
If the
Company proposes to register any of its securities under the Securities Act
by
registration on any forms other than Form S-4 or S-8 (or any successor or
similar form(s)), whether or not pursuant to registration rights granted to
other holders of its securities (including pursuant to this Agreement) and
whether or not for sale for its own account, it shall give prompt written notice
to all of the Shareholders of its intention to do so and of such Shareholders’
rights (if any) under this Section 2.2, which notice, in any event, shall be
given at least 30 days prior to such proposed registration. Upon the written
request of any Shareholder receiving notice of such proposed registration that
is a holder of Registrable Common Stock (a “Piggyback
Requesting Shareholder”)
made
within 20 days after the receipt of any such notice with written confirmation
to
follow promptly thereafter, stating that (i) such registration will be on Form
S-3 and (ii) such shorter period of time is required because of a planned filing
date), which request shall specify the Registrable Common Stock intended to
be
disposed of by such Piggyback Requesting Shareholder, the Company shall, subject
to Section 2.5(b) hereof, effect the registration under the Securities Act
of
all Registrable Common Stock which the Company has been so requested to register
by the Piggyback Requesting Shareholders thereof; provided
that,
(a) prior
to
the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection with such
registration, promptly following receipt of notification by the Company from
the
managing underwriter (if an underwritten Public Offering) of the price at which
such securities are to be sold, the Company shall so advise each Piggyback
Requesting Shareholder of such price, and such Piggyback Requesting Shareholder
shall then have the right, exercisable in its sole discretion, irrevocably
to
withdraw its request to have its Registrable Common Stock included in such
registration statement, by delivery of written notice of such withdrawal to
the
Company within five Business Days of its being advised of such price, without
prejudice to the rights of any holder or holders of Registrable Common Stock
to
include Registrable Common Stock in any future registration (or registrations)
pursuant to this Section 2.2 or to cause such registration to be effected as
a
registration under Section 2.1(a) or Section 2.1(g) hereof, as the case may
be;
9
(b) if
at any
time after giving written notice of its intention to register any securities
and
prior to the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection
with such registration, the Company shall determine for any reason not to
register or to delay registration of such securities, the Company may, at its
election, give written notice of such determination to each Piggyback Requesting
Shareholder and (i) in the case of a determination not to register, shall be
relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Common Stock in
connection with such registration (but not from any obligation of the Company
to
pay the Expenses in connection therewith), without prejudice, however, to the
rights of any Shareholder to include Registrable Common Stock in any future
registration (or registrations) pursuant to this Section 2.2 or to cause such
registration to be effected as a registration under Section 2.1(a) or Section
2.1(g) hereof, as the case may be, and (ii) in the case of a determination
to
delay registering, shall be permitted to delay registering any Registrable
Common Stock, for the same period as the delay in registering such other
securities; and
(c) if
such
registration was initiated by the Company for its own account and involves
an
underwritten Public Offering, each Piggyback Requesting Shareholder shall sell
its Registrable Common Stock on the same terms and conditions as those that
apply to the Company, and the underwriters of each such underwritten Public
Offering shall be a nationally recognized underwriter (or underwriters) selected
by the Company.
No
registration effected under this Section 2.2 shall relieve the Company of its
obligation to effect any registration upon request under Section 2.1(a) or
Section 2.1(g) hereof and no registration effected pursuant to this Section
2.2
shall be deemed to have been effected pursuant to Section 2.1(a) or Section
2.1(g) hereof.
2.3 Expenses.
The
Company shall pay all Expenses in connection with any registration initiated
pursuant to Sections 2.1(a), 2.1(g) or 2.2 hereof, whether or not such
registration shall become effective and whether or not all or any portion of
the
Registrable Common Stock originally requested to be included in such
registration are ultimately included in such registration.
2.4 Registration
Procedures.
If and
whenever the Company is required to effect any registration under the Securities
Act as provided in Sections 2.1(a), 2.1(g) and 2.2 hereof, the Company shall,
as
expeditiously as possible:
(a) prepare
and file with the Commission (promptly and, in any event on or before the date
that is (i) 90 days, in the case of any registration pursuant to Section 2.1(a),
after the receipt by the Company of the written request from the relevant
Demanding Shareholder or (ii) 60 days, in the case of any registration pursuant
to Section 2.1(g), after the receipt by the Company of the written request
from
the relevant Shareholder) the requisite registration statement to effect such
registration and thereafter use its reasonable best efforts to cause such
registration statement to become and remain effective; provided,
however,
that
the Company may discontinue any registration of its securities that are not
shares of Registrable Common Stock (and, under the circumstances specified
in
Sections 2.2 and 2.7(b) hereof, its securities that are shares of Registrable
Common Stock) at any time prior to the effective date of the registration
statement relating thereto;
10
(b) prepare
and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such
registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may
be
necessary to keep such registration statement effective and to comply with
the
provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the
disposition of all Registrable Common Stock covered by such registration
statement until such time as all of such Registrable Common Stock has been
disposed of in accordance with the method of disposition set forth in such
registration statement;
(c) furnish
to each seller of Registrable Common Stock covered by such registration
statement and each underwriter, if any, such number of copies of such drafts
and
final conformed versions of such registration statement and of each such
amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits and any
documents incorporated by reference), such number of copies of such drafts
and
final versions of the prospectus contained in such registration statement
(including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus) and any
other
prospectus filed under Rule 424 under the Securities Act, in conformity with
the
requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents, as any Selling
Shareholder or any underwriter may reasonably request in writing;
(d) (i)
register or qualify all Registrable Common Stock and other securities, if any,
covered by such registration statement under such other securities or blue
sky
laws of such states or other jurisdictions of the United States of America
as
the sellers of Registrable Common Stock covered by such registration statement
shall reasonably request in writing, (ii) keep such registration or
qualification in effect for so long as such registration statement remains
in
effect and (iii) take any other action that may be necessary or reasonably
advisable to enable such sellers to consummate the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the securities to be sold by such sellers, except that the
Company shall not for any such purpose be required to qualify generally to
do
business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not
but
for the requirements of this subsection (d) be obligated to be so qualified,
to
subject itself to taxation in such jurisdiction or to consent to general service
of process in any such jurisdiction;
(e) cause
all
Registrable Common Stock and other securities, if any, covered by such
registration statement to be registered with or approved by such other
Governmental Authority as may be necessary in the opinion of counsel to the
Company and counsel to the seller or sellers of Registrable Common Stock to
enable the seller or sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such
Registrable Common Stock;
(f) obtain
and furnish to each seller of Registrable Common Stock, and each such seller’s
underwriters, if any, a signed
11
(i) opinion
of counsel for the Company, dated the effective date of such registration
statement (and, if such registration involves an underwritten Public Offering,
dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement and addressed
to
the underwriters), reasonably satisfactory (based on the customary form and
substance of opinions of issuers’ counsel customarily given in such an offering)
in form and substance to such seller, and
(ii) “cold
comfort” letter, dated the effective date of such registration statement (and,
if such registration involves an underwritten Public Offering, dated the date
of
the closing under the underwriting agreement and addressed to the underwriters)
and signed by the independent registered public accounting firm who have
certified the Company’s financial statements included or incorporated by
reference in such registration statement, reasonably satisfactory (based on
the
customary form and substance of “cold comfort” letters of issuers’ independent
registered public accounting firm customarily given in such an offering) in
form
and substance to such seller,
in
each
case or clauses (i) and (ii) above, covering substantially the same matters
with
respect to such registration statement (and the prospectus included therein)
and, in the case of the independent registered public accounting firm’s comfort
letter, with respect to events subsequent to the date of such financial
statements, as are customarily covered in opinions of issuer’s counsel and in
the independent registered public accounting firm’s comfort letters delivered to
underwriters in underwritten Public Offerings of securities;
(g) notify
each seller of Registrable Common Stock and other securities covered by such
registration statement, if any, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto
is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, upon discovery that,
or
upon the happening of any event as a result of which, the prospectus included
in
such registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement
of
a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, and, at the written request
of
any such seller of Registrable Common Stock, promptly prepare and furnish to
it
a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of such
prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the
purchasers of such securities, such prospectus, as supplemented or amended,
shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made;
(h) use
its
reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the
effectiveness of a registration statement relating to the Registrable Common
Stock at the earliest possible moment;
12
(i) otherwise
comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and any
other
Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the offering, and make available
to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earning statement
covering the period of at least twelve months, but not more than eighteen
months, beginning with the first full calendar month after the effective date
of
such registration statement, which earning statement shall satisfy the
provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 promulgated
thereunder, and furnish to each seller of Registrable Common Stock and to the
managing underwriter, if any, at least ten days prior to the filing thereof
a
copy of any amendment or supplement to such registration statement or
prospectus;
(j) cause
all
Registrable Common Stock covered by a registration statement to be listed on
a
national securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company
are then listed, if the listing of such Registrable Common Stock is then
permitted under the rules of such exchange;
(k) provide
a
transfer agent and registrar for the Registrable Common Stock covered by a
registration statement no later than the effective date thereof;
(l) enter
into such agreements (including an underwriting agreement in customary form)
and, subject to Section 2.7(c), take such other actions as the Shareholders
holding a majority of the shares of Registrable Common Stock covered by such
registration statement shall reasonably request in order to expedite or
facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Common Stock, including customary
indemnification;
(m) if
requested by the managing underwriter(s) or the Shareholders holding a majority
of the shares of Registrable Common Stock being sold in connection with an
underwritten Public Offering, promptly incorporate in a prospectus supplement
or
post-effective amendment such information as the managing underwriter(s) and
the
Shareholders of a majority of the Registrable Common Stock being sold agree
should be included therein relating to the plan of distribution with respect
to
such Registrable Common Stock, including without limitation, information with
respect to the number of shares of Registrable Common Stock being sold to such
underwriters, the purchase price being paid therefore by such underwriters
and
with respect to any other terms of the underwritten Public Offering of the
Registrable Common Stock to be sold in such offering; and make all required
filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as
notified of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment; and
(n) if
requested by the Selling Shareholders holding a majority of the shares of
Registrable Common Stock being sold, cooperate with the Selling Shareholders
of
Registrable Common Stock and the managing underwriter(s), if any, to facilitate
the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable
Common Stock to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and enable
such
Registrable Common Stock to be in such share amounts and registered in such
names as the managing underwriter(s) or, if none, the Selling Shareholders
holding a majority of the shares of Registrable Common Stock being sold, may
request at least three Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Common
Stock to the underwriters.
13
As
a
condition to the obligations of the Company to complete any registration
pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Registrable Common Stock of
a
Shareholder, such Shareholder must furnish to the Company in writing such
information (the “Shareholder
Information”)
regarding itself, the Registrable Common Stock held by it and the intended
methods of disposition of the Registrable Common Stock held by it as is
necessary to effect the registration of such Shareholder’s Registrable Common
Stock and is requested in writing by the Company. At least 30 days prior to
the
first anticipated filing date of a registration statement for any registration
under this Agreement, the Company will notify in writing each Shareholder of
the
Shareholder Information which the Company is requesting from that Shareholder
whether or not such Shareholder has elected to have any of its Registrable
Common Stock included in the registration statement. If, within ten days prior
to the anticipated filing date, the Company has not received the requested
Shareholder Information from a Shareholder, then the Company may file the
registration statement without including Registrable Common Stock of that
Shareholder.
Each
Shareholder agrees that as of the date that a final prospectus is made available
to it for distribution to prospective purchasers of Registrable Common Stock
it
shall cease to distribute copies of any preliminary prospectus prepared in
connection with the offer and sale of such Registrable Common Stock. Each
Shareholder further agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company
of
the happening of any event of the kind described in subsection (g) of this
Section 2.4, such Shareholder shall forthwith discontinue such Shareholder’s
disposition of Registrable Common Stock pursuant to the registration statement
relating to such Registrable Common Stock until such Shareholder’s receipt of
the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by subsection
(g) of this Section 2.4 and, if so directed by the Company, shall deliver to
the
Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies,
then in such Shareholder’s possession of the prospectus relating to such
Registrable Common Stock current at the time of receipt of such notice. If
any
event of the kind described in subsection (g) of this Section 2.4 occurs and
such event is the fault solely of a Shareholder or Shareholders due to the
inaccuracy of the Shareholder Information provided by such Shareholder(s) for
inclusion in the registration statement, such Shareholder (or Shareholders)
shall pay all Expenses attributable to the preparation, filing and delivery
of
any supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by subsection (g) of this
Section 2.4.
2.5 Underwritten
Offerings.
(a) Requested
Underwritten Offerings. If requested by the underwriters in connection with
a request for a registration under Section 2.1 hereof that is a firm commitment
underwritten Public Offering, the Company and the Selling Shareholders shall
enter into a firm commitment underwriting agreement with such underwriters
for
such offering, such agreement to be reasonably satisfactory in substance and
form to the Company and the Selling Shareholders owning at least a majority
of
the Registrable Common Stock that is included in such registration and to
contain such representations and warranties by the Company and the Selling
Shareholders and such other terms as are customary in agreements of that type,
including, without limitation, indemnification and contribution to the effect
and to the extent provided in Section 2.8 hereof.
14
(b) Piggyback
Underwritten Offerings; Priority.
(i) If
the
Company proposes to register any of its securities under the Securities Act
for
its own account as contemplated by Section 2.2 hereof and such securities are
to
be distributed by or through one or more underwriters, and if the managing
underwriter of such underwritten Public Offering shall advise the Company in
writing (with a copy to the Piggyback Requesting Shareholders) that if all
the
Registrable Common Stock requested to be included in such registration were
so
included, in its opinion, the number and type of securities proposed to be
included in such registration would exceed the number and type of securities
which could be sold in such offering within a price range acceptable to the
Company (such writing to state the basis of such opinion and the approximate
number and type of securities which may be included in such offering without
such effect), then the Company shall include in such registration pursuant
to
Section 2.2, to the extent of the number and type of securities which the
Company is so advised can be sold in such offering, (i) first, securities that
the Company proposes to issue and sell for its own account, (ii) second,
Registrable Common Stock requested to be registered by Piggyback Requesting
Shareholders pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof, pro
rata
among
the Piggyback Requesting Shareholders on the basis of the number of shares
of
Registrable Common Stock requested to be registered by all such Piggyback
Requesting Shareholders and (iii) third, other securities, if any.
(ii) In
the
case of any other registration contemplated by Section 2.2 involving an
underwritten Public Offering, if the managing underwriter of such underwritten
Public Offering shall advise the Company in writing (with a copy to the
Piggyback Requesting Shareholders) that if all Registrable Common Stock
requested to be included in such registration were so included, in its opinion,
the number and type of securities proposed to be included in such registration
would exceed the number and type of securities which would be sold in such
offering within a price range stated to such managing underwriter by Selling
Shareholders owning at least a majority of the shares of Registrable Common
Stock requested to be included in such registration to be acceptable to such
Selling Shareholders (such writing to state the basis of such opinion and the
approximate number and type of securities which may be included in such offering
without such effect), then the Company shall include in such registration
pursuant to Section 2.2, to the extent of the number and type of securities
which the Company is so advised can be sold in such offering, (i) first,
Registrable Common Stock requested to be registered by Piggyback Requesting
Shareholders pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof, pro
rata
among
the Piggyback Requesting Shareholders on the basis of the number of shares
of
Registrable Common Stock requested to be registered by all such Piggyback
Requesting Shareholders, (ii) second, securities that the Company proposed
to
issue and sell for its own account and (iii) third, other
securities.
Any
Shareholder may withdraw its request to have all or any portion of its
Registrable Common Stock included in any such offering by notice to the Company
within ten days after receipt of a copy of a notice from the managing
underwriter pursuant to this Section.
(c) Shareholders
to be Parties to Underwriting Agreement.
The
holders of Registrable Common Stock to be distributed by underwriters in an
underwritten Public Offering contemplated by subsections (a) or (b) of this
Section shall be parties to the underwriting agreement between the Company
and
such underwriters and any such Shareholder, at its option, may reasonably
require that any or all of the representations and warranties by, and the other
agreements on the part of, the Company to and for the benefit of such
underwriters shall also be made to and for the benefit of such Shareholders
and
that any or all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of such
underwriters under such underwriting agreement be conditions precedent to the
obligations of such Shareholders. No such Shareholder shall be required to
make
any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the
underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding
such
Shareholder, such Shareholder’s Registrable Common Stock and such Shareholder’s
intended method of distribution.
15
(d) Holdback
Agreements.
Each
Shareholder agrees, unless otherwise agreed to by the managing underwriter
for
any underwritten Public Offering pursuant to this Agreement, not to effect
any
sale or distribution of any equity securities of the Company or securities
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for equity securities of the
Company, including any sale under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, during
the
ten days prior to the date on which an underwritten registration of Registrable
Common Stock pursuant to Section 2.1 or 2.2 hereof has become effective and
until 90 days after the effective date of such underwritten registration, except
as part of such underwritten registration or to the extent that such Shareholder
is prohibited by applicable law from agreeing to withhold securities from sale
or is acting in its capacity as a fiduciary or an investment adviser. Without
limiting the scope of the term “fiduciary,” a holder shall be deemed to be
acting as a fiduciary or an investment adviser if its actions or the securities
proposed to be sold are subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act
of 1974, as amended, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or if such securities are held
in a
separate account under applicable insurance law or regulation.
The
Company agrees (i) not to effect any Public Offering or distribution of any
equity securities of the Company, or securities convertible into or exchangeable
or exercisable for equity securities of the Company, during the ten days prior
to the date on which any underwritten registration pursuant to Section 2.1
or
2.2 hereof (other than Section 2.1(g)) has become effective and until 90 days
after the effective date of such underwritten registration, except as part
of
such underwritten registration, and (ii) to cause each holder of any equity
securities, or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for
equity securities, in each case, acquired from the Company at any time on or
after the date of this Agreement (other than in a Public Offering), to agree
not
to effect any Public Offering or distribution of such securities, during such
period.
2.6 Preparation:
Reasonable Investigation. (a) Registration
Statements. In connection with the preparation and filing of each
registration statement under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement,
the
Company shall (i) give representatives (designated to the Company in writing)
of
each Selling Shareholder, the underwriters, if any, and one firm of counsel,
one
firm of accountants and one firm of other agents retained on behalf of all
underwriters and one firm of counsel, one firm of accountants and one firm
of
other agents retained on behalf of the Selling Shareholders (as a group), the
reasonable opportunity to participate in the preparation of such registration
statement, each prospectus included therein or filed with the Commission, and
each amendment thereof or supplement thereto, (ii) upon reasonable advance
notice to the Company, give each of them such reasonable access to all financial
and other records, corporate documents and properties of the Company and its
subsidiaries, as shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of such
Shareholders’ and such underwriters’ counsel, to conduct a reasonable due
diligence investigation for purposes of the Securities Act, and (iii) upon
reasonable advance notice to the Company, provide such reasonable opportunities
to discuss the business of the Company with its officers, directors, employees
and the independent public accounting firm who have certified its financial
statements as shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of such
Shareholders’ and such underwriters’ counsel, to conduct a reasonable due
diligence investigation for purposes of the Securities Act.
16
(b) Confidentiality.
Each
Shareholder shall maintain the confidentiality of any confidential information
received from or otherwise made available by the Company to such Shareholder.
Information that (i) is or becomes available to a Shareholder from a public
source other than as a result of a disclosure by such Shareholder or any of
its
Affiliates, (ii) is disclosed to a Shareholder by a third-party source who
the
Shareholder reasonably believes is not bound by an obligation of confidentiality
to the Company, (iii) is or becomes required to be disclosed by a Shareholder
by
law, including by court order, or (iv) is independently developed by a
Shareholder, shall not be deemed to be confidential information for purposes
of
this Agreement. The Shareholder shall not grant access, and the Company shall
not be required to grant access, to information under this Section 2.6 to any
Person who will not agree to maintain the confidentiality (to the same extent
a
Shareholder is required to maintain confidentiality) of any confidential
information received from or otherwise made available to it by the Company
or
the Shareholder under this Agreement.
2.7 Postponements. If
the
Company shall fail to file any registration statement to be filed pursuant
to a
request for registration under Section 2.1(a) hereof, the Demanding
Shareholder(s) requesting such registration shall have the right to withdraw
the
request for registration. Any such withdrawal shall be made by giving written
notice to the Company within 20 days after, in the case of a request pursuant
to
Section 2.1(a) hereof, the date on which a registration statement would
otherwise have been required to have been filed with the Commission under clause
(i) of Section 2.4(a) hereof (i.e., 20 days after the date that is 90 days
after
the receipt by the Company of the written request from the Demanding
Shareholder(s)). In the event of such withdrawal, the request for registration
shall not be counted for purposes of determining the number of registrations
to
which Shareholders are entitled pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof. The Company
shall pay all Expenses incurred in connection with a request for registration
withdrawn pursuant to this paragraph.
(b) The
Company shall not be obligated to file any registration statement, or file
any
amendment or supplement to any registration statement, and may suspend any
Selling Shareholder’s rights to make sales pursuant to any effective
registration statement, at any time (but not to exceed one time in any
twelve-month period) when the Company, in the good faith judgment of the Board,
reasonably believes that the filing thereof at the time requested, or the
offering of securities pursuant thereto, would adversely affect a pending or
proposed Public Offering of the Company’s securities, a material financing, or a
material acquisition, merger, recapitalization, consolidation, reorganization
or
similar transaction, or negotiations, discussions or pending proposals with
respect thereto. The filing of a registration statement, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, by the Company cannot be deferred, and the Selling
Shareholders’ rights to make sales pursuant to an effective registration
statement cannot be suspended, pursuant to the provisions of the preceding
sentence for more than ten days after the abandonment or consummation of any
of
the foregoing proposals or transactions or for more than 120 days after the
date
of the Board’s determination referenced in the preceding sentence. If the
Company suspends the Selling Shareholders’ rights to make sales pursuant hereto,
the applicable registration period shall be extended by the number of days
of
such suspension.
17
(c) If
a
Shelf Registration Statement has been filed, becomes effective and remains
effective under Section 2.1(g), then the Company shall be entitled to postpone
any demand registration pursuant to Section 2.1(a) or underwritten Public
Offering requested by the Shareholders for a period not exceeding 90 days from
the date of such request if, in the reasonable opinion of the Company’s
management acting in good faith, the filing of the registration statement or
underwritten Public Offering and all obligations arising out of such actions
are
not in the best interests of the Company at that time. It being understood
that
the Company shall only be entitled to such postponement under this Section
2.7(c) once every 180 days.
2.8 Indemnification
by the Company. (a) In
connection with any registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to
Section 2.1 or 2.2 hereof, to the fullest extent permitted by law the Company
shall, and hereby agrees to, indemnify and hold harmless, each Shareholder
and
seller of any Registrable Common Stock covered by such registration statement
and each other Person who participates as an underwriter in the offering or
sale
of such securities and each other Person, if any, who controls (within the
meaning of the Exchange Act) such Shareholder or seller or any such underwriter,
and their respective shareholders, members, directors, officers, employees,
partners, agents and Affiliates (each, a “Company Indemnitee” for
purposes of this Section 2.8(a)), against any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in
respect thereof and whether or not such indemnified party is a party thereto),
joint or several, and expenses, including, without limitation, the reasonable
fees, disbursements and other charges of legal counsel and reasonable costs
of
investigation, to which such Company Indemnitee may become subject under the
Securities Act or otherwise (collectively, a “Loss” or “Losses”),
insofar as such Losses arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement
or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any registration
statement under which such securities were registered or otherwise offered
or
sold under the Securities Act or otherwise, any preliminary prospectus, final
prospectus or summary prospectus related thereto, or any amendment or supplement
thereto (collectively, “Offering Documents”), or any omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances
in
which they were made not misleading, or any violation by the Company of any
federal or state law, rule or regulation applicable to the Company and relating
to action required of or inaction by the Company in connection with any such
registration; provided that, the Company shall not be liable in any such case
to
the extent that any such Loss arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such
Offering Documents in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished
to the Company in a writing duly executed by such Company Indemnitee
specifically stating that it is expressly for use therein; and provided,
further, that the Company shall not be liable to any Person who participates
as
an underwriter in the offering or sale of Registrable Common Stock or any other
person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of the Exchange Act) such
underwriter, in any such case to the extent that any such Loss arises out of
such Person’s failure to send or give a copy of the final prospectus (including
any documents incorporated by reference therein), as the same may be then
supplemented or amended, to the Person asserting an untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission at or prior to the written
confirmation of the sale of Registrable Common Stock to such Person if such
statement or omission was corrected in such final prospectus. Such indemnity
shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made
by or
on behalf of such Company Indemnitee and shall survive the transfer of such
securities by such Company Indemnitee.
18
(b) Indemnification
by the Shareholders.
In
connection with any registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to
Section 2.1 or 2.2 hereof in which a Shareholder has registered for sale
Registrable Common Stock, each such Shareholder or seller of Registrable Common
Stock shall, and hereby agrees to, indemnify and hold harmless to the fullest
extent permitted by law the Company and each of its directors, officers,
employees, agents, partners, shareholders, Affiliates and each other Person,
if
any, who controls (within the meaning of the Exchange Act) the Company and
each
other seller and such seller’s employees, directors, officers, shareholders,
members, partners, agents and Affiliates (each, a “Shareholder
Indemnitee”
for
purposes of this Section 2.8(b)), against all Losses insofar as such Losses
arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in any Offering Documents (or any document
incorporated by reference therein) or any omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the
statements therein in the light of circumstances in which they were made not
misleading, if such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission
or
alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished to the Company in a writing duly executed by such Shareholder or
seller of Registrable Common Stock specifically stating that it is expressly
for
use therein; provided,
however,
that
the liability of such indemnifying party under this Section shall be limited
to
the amount of the net proceeds (after giving effect to underwriting discounts
and commissions) received by such indemnifying party in the sale of Registrable
Common Stock giving rise to such liability. Such indemnity shall remain in
full
force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the
Shareholder Indemnitee and shall survive the transfer of such securities by
such
indemnifying party.
(c) Notices
of Losses, etc.
Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party of written notice of the
commencement of any action or proceeding involving a Loss referred to in the
preceding subsections of this Section, such indemnified party will, if a claim
in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party, give written
notice to the latter of the commencement of such action; provided,
however,
that
the failure of any indemnified party to give notice as provided herein shall
not
relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations under the preceding
subsections of this Section except to the extent that the indemnifying party
is
materially and actually prejudiced by such failure to give notice. In case
any
such action is brought against an indemnified party, the indemnifying party
shall be entitled to participate in and, unless in such indemnified party’s
reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and
indemnifying parties may exist in respect of such Loss, to assume and control
the defense thereof, in each case at its own expense, jointly with any other
indemnifying party similarly notified, to the extent that it may wish, with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after its
assumption of the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable
to
such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred
by
the latter in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs
of
investigation, unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict
of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties arises in respect
of such claim after the assumption of the defense thereof. No indemnifying
party
shall be liable for any settlement of any such action or proceeding effected
without its written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. No
indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent
to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include
as
an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such
indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect of such Loss or
which requires action on the part of such indemnified party or otherwise
subjects the indemnified party to any obligation or restriction to which it
would not otherwise be subject.
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(d) Contribution.
If the
indemnification provided for in this Section shall for any reason be unavailable
to an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section in respect
of any Loss, then, in lieu of the amount paid or payable under subsection (a)
or
(b) of this Section the indemnified party and the indemnifying party under
subsection (a) or (b) of this Section shall contribute to the aggregate Losses
(including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with
investigating the same) (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the
relative fault of the Company and the prospective sellers of Registrable Common
Stock covered by the registration statement which resulted in such Loss or
action in respect thereof, with respect to the statements, omissions or action
which resulted in such Loss or action in respect thereof, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause
(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as shall be
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the
one
hand, and such prospective sellers, on the other hand, from their sale of
Registrable Common Stock; provided
that,
for purposes of this clause (ii), the relative benefits received by the
prospective sellers shall be deemed not to exceed the amount received by such
sellers. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of
Section 10(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from
any
Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The obligations,
if any, of the selling holders of Registrable Common Stock to contribute as
provided in this subsection (d) are several in proportion to the relative value
of their respective Registrable Common Stock covered by such registration
statement and not joint. In addition, no Person shall be obligated to contribute
hereunder any amounts in payment for any settlement of any action or Loss
effected without such Person’s consent.
(e) Other
Indemnification. The
Company shall, in connection with any registration statement filed by the
Company pursuant to Section 2.1(a), 2.1(g) or 2.2, and each Shareholder who
has
registered for sale Registrable Common Stock shall, with respect to any required
registration or other qualification of securities under any federal or state
law
or regulation of any Governmental Authority other than the Securities Act,
indemnify Shareholder Indemnitees and Company Indemnitees, respectively, against
Losses, or, to the extent that indemnification shall be unavailable to a
Shareholder Indemnitee or Company Indemnitee, contribute to the aggregate Losses
of such Shareholder Indemnitee or Company Indemnitee in a manner similar to
that
specified in the preceding subsections of this Section (with appropriate
modifications).
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(f) Indemnification
Payments. The indemnification and contribution required by this Section 2.8
shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course
of
any investigation or defense, as and when any Loss is incurred and is due and
payable.
2.9 Registration
Rights to Others.
If the
Company shall at any time hereafter provide to any holder of any securities
of
the Company rights with respect to the registration of such securities under
the
Securities Act, such rights shall not be in conflict with or adversely affect
any of the rights provided to the holders of Registrable Common Stock in, or
conflict (in a manner that adversely affects holders of Registrable Common
Stock) with any other provisions included in, this Agreement. To the extent
the
Company provides any right to others that are more favorable than those provided
for herein, the Company shall be required to make appropriate modifications
to
this Agreement to ensure that each Shareholder will have the benefit of terms
that are at least as favorable as those provided to such other
persons.
2.10 Adjustments
Affecting Registrable Common Stock.
Without
the written consent of ARC, TAPIRDO and SGM, the Company shall not effect or
permit to occur any combination, subdivision or reclassification of Registrable
Common Stock that would materially adversely affect the ability of the
Shareholders to include such Registrable Common Stock in any registration of
its
securities under the Securities Act contemplated by this Agreement or the
marketability of such Registrable Common Stock under any such registration
or
other offering.
2.11 Rule
144 and Rule 144A.
The
Company shall take all actions reasonably necessary to enable Shareholders
to
sell Registrable Common Stock without registration under the Securities Act
within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (a) Rule 144 under the
Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, (b) Rule 144A
under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or
(c)
any similar rules or regulations hereafter adopted by the Commission, including,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, filing on a timely basis
all
reports required to be filed under the Exchange Act. Upon the written request
of
any Shareholder, the Company shall deliver to such Shareholder a written
statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
2.12 Nominees
for Beneficial Owners.
In the
event that any Registrable Common Stock is held by a nominee for the beneficial
owner thereof, the beneficial owner thereof may, at its election in writing
delivered to the Company, be treated as the Shareholder of such Registrable
Common Stock for purposes of any request or other action by any Shareholder
or
Shareholders pursuant to this Agreement or any determination of the number
or
percentage of shares of Registrable Common Stock held by any Shareholder or
Shareholders contemplated by this Agreement. If the beneficial owner of any
Registrable Common Stock so elects, the Company may require assurances
reasonably satisfactory to it of such owner’s beneficial ownership of such
Registrable Common Stock.
2.13 Calculation
of Percentage or Number of Shares of Registrable Common Stock.
For
purposes of this Agreement, all references to a percentage or number of shares
of Registrable Common Stock or Common Stock shall be calculated based upon
the
number of shares of Registrable Common Stock or Common Stock, as the case may
be, outstanding at the time such calculation is made and shall exclude any
Registrable Common Stock or Common Stock, as the case may be, owned by the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company. For the purposes of calculating any
percentage or number of shares of Registrable Common Stock or Common Stock
as
contemplated by the previous sentence, the terms “Shareholder,” “ARC,” “,
TAPIRDO,” and “SGM” shall include all Affiliates thereof owning any shares of
Registrable Common Stock or Common Stock.
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2.14 Termination
of Registration Rights.
The
Company’s obligations under Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof to register Common Stock
for sale under the Securities Act with respect to any Shareholder shall
terminate on the first date on which no shares of Registrable Common Stock
are
held by such Shareholder.
ARTICLE
III
MISCELLANEOUS
3.1 Injunctive
Relief.
The
Shareholders and the Company acknowledge and agree that a violation of any
of
the terms of this Agreement will cause the Shareholders irreparable injury
for
which adequate remedy at law is not available. Accordingly, it is agreed that
each of the Company and the Shareholders shall be entitled to an injunction,
restraining order or other equitable relief to prevent breaches of the
provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and
provisions hereof in any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States
or
any state thereof, in addition to any other remedy to which it may be entitled
at law or equity.
3.2 Amendments;
Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement may be amended and the Company may take action herein prohibited,
or
omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, if, but only
if,
the Company has obtained the written consent of XXXXXXX and MAGAMI. This
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior
agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among some or all of
the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.
3.3 Severability.
Whenever
possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner
as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of
this
Agreement shall be held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law,
such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition
or
invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the
remaining provisions of this Agreement.
3.4 Successors
and Assigns.
The
provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors, each of which
successors shall agree in a writing in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Company to become a party hereto and be bound to the same
extent as the parties hereto hereby. This Agreement, and any and all rights,
duties and obligations hereunder, shall not be assigned or transferred by any
Shareholder without the prior written consent of the Company, except for
transfers to the Affiliates, heirs, executors and administrators of such
Shareholder. Any purported assignment in violation of this provision shall
be
null and void ab
initio.
22
3.5 Notices.
All
notices, requests and demands to or upon the respective parties hereto to be
effective shall be in writing (including by telecopy), and, unless otherwise
expressly provided herein, shall be deemed to have been duly given or made
when
delivered by hand, or two Business Days after being delivered to a recognized
courier (whose stated terms of delivery are two Business Days or less to the
destination of such notice), or, in the case of telecopy notice, when received,
addressed as set forth on Schedule A hereto to the parties hereto, or to such
other address as may be hereafter notified by the respective parties
hereto.
3.6 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, and by different parties
on separate counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original, but all
of
which shall constitute one and the same instrument.
3.7 Governing
Law; Consent to Jurisdiction.
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with
the
laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed
therein. The parties hereto irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction
of
any state or federal court sitting in the County of New York, in the State
of
New York over any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Agreement or the transaction contemplated hereby to the fullest extent they
may
effectively do so under applicable law, the parties hereto irrevocably waive
and
agree not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, (a) any claim
that they are not subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, (b) any
objection that they may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of
any
such action or proceeding brought in any such court and (c) any claim that
any
such action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an
inconvenient forum.
3.8 Waiver
of July Trial.
Each
party acknowledges and agrees that any controversy which may arise under this
Agreement is likely to involve complicated and difficult issues and, therefore,
each such party irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right it may have
to
a trail by jury in respect of any action or proceeding arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
[remainder
of this page intentionally left blank; signature pages follow]
23
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement as of the date first above written.
COMPANY:
By:
/s/________________
Name:
Title:
SHAREHOLDERS:
ARC
INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC
By:
/s/
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Name:
Title:
24
SHAREHOLDERS
(CONTINUED)
TAPIRDO
ENTERPRISES, LLC
By:
/s/
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Name:
Title:
SGM
CAPITAL, LLC
By:
/s/
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Name:
Title:
DEMANDING
SHAREHOLDERS:
XXXX
XXXXXXX
By:
/s/
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
XXXXXX
XXXXXX
By:
/s/
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
25