REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This
Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”)
is
made and entered into as of March 8, 2007, among Akeena Solar, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”),
and
the several purchasers signatory hereto (each such purchaser, a “Purchaser”
and
collectively, the “Purchasers”).
This
Agreement is made pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of
the
date hereof, between the Company and each Purchaser (the “Purchase
Agreement”).
The
Company and each Purchaser hereby agrees 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:
“Advice”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d).
“Effectiveness
Date”
means,
with respect to the initial Registration Statement required to be filed
hereunder, the 90th
calendar
day following the date hereof and, with respect to any additional Registration
Statements which may be required pursuant to Section 3(c), the 60th
calendar
day following the date on which the Company first knows, or reasonably should
have known, that such additional Registration Statement is required hereunder;
provided,
however,
that in
the event the Company is notified by the Commission that one of the above
Registration Statements will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further
review and comments, the Effectiveness Date as to such 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).
“Event”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
“Event
Date”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
“Filing
Date”
means,
with respect to the initial Registration Statement required hereunder, the
30th
calendar
day following the date hereof and, with respect to any additional Registration
Statements which may be required pursuant to Section 3(c), the 30th
calendar
day following the date on which the Company first knows, or reasonably should
have known, that such additional Registration Statement is required
hereunder.
“Holder”
or
“Holders”
means
the holder or holders, as the case may be, from time to time of Registrable
Securities.
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“Indemnified
Party”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
“Indemnifying
Party”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
“Losses”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
“Placement
Agent” means Empire Financial Group, Inc.
“Plan
of Distribution”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
“Prospectus”
means
the prospectus included in a 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 a 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 (i) the Shares issuable, (ii) the Warrant Shares issuable, (iii) shares
of Common Stock issuable to the Placement Agent to the transactions contemplated
under the Purchase Agreement upon the exercise of warrants; (iv) any additional
shares issuable in connection with any anti-dilution provisions in the Warrants
(without giving effect to any limitations on exercise set forth in the Warrant)
and (v) 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 and any additional
registration statements contemplated by Section 3(c), including (in each case)
the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement or
Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto,
and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by
reference in such 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.
“Selling
Shareholder Questionnaire”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
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2. Shelf
Registration.
(a) On
or
prior to each Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file with the
Commission a “Shelf” Registration Statement covering the resale of 100% of the
Registrable Securities on such Filing Date for an offering to be made on a
continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be
on
Form SB-2 (except if the Company is not then eligible to register for resale
the
Registrable Securities on Form SB-2, in which case such registration shall
be on
another appropriate form in accordance herewith) and shall contain (unless
otherwise directed by at least an 85% majority in interest of the Holders)
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
a 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
applicable Effectiveness Date, and shall use its best efforts to keep such
Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until
all
Registrable Securities covered by such 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 request effectiveness of a Registration Statement as of 5:00
p.m.
New York City time on a Trading Day. The Company shall immediately notify the
Holders via facsimile of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement on the
same Trading Day that the Company telephonically confirms effectiveness with
the
Commission, which shall be the date requested for effectiveness of a
Registration Statement. The Company shall, by 9:30 a.m. New York City time
on
the Trading Day after the Effective Date (as defined in the Purchase Agreement),
file a final Prospectus with the Commission as required by Rule 424. Failure
to
so notify the Holder within 1 Trading Day of such notification of effectiveness
or failure to file a final Prospectus as aforesaid shall be deemed an Event
under Section 2(b).
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(b) If:
(i) a
Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to its Filing Date (if the
Company files a Registration Statement without affording the Holders the
opportunity to review and comment on the same as required by Section 3(a)
herein, the Company shall not be deemed to have satisfied this 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 a Registration Statement will
not
be “reviewed,” or not subject to further review (unless the failure to make such
request for acceleration is the result of the Company’s determination that
events affecting the Company will require the filing of an amendment to the
Registration Statement, which the Company hereby undertakes to file within
five
Trading Days after such determination has been made), or (iii) prior to its
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
such Registration Statement within 15 calendar days after the receipt of
comments by or notice from the Commission that such amendment is required in
order for a Registration Statement to be declared effective, or (iv) a
Registration Statement filed or required to be filed hereunder is not declared
effective by the Commission by its Effectiveness Date, or (v) after the
Effectiveness Date, a 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 otherwise not permitted to utilize the
Prospectus therein to resell such Registrable Securities for more than 15
consecutive calendar days or more than an aggregate of 20 calendar days during
any 12-month period (which need not be consecutive calendar 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 15 calendar day
period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause (v) the date on which such 10
or
15 calendar day period, as applicable, is exceeded being referred to as
“Event
Date”),
then
in addition to any other rights the Holders may have hereunder or under
applicable law, on each such Event Date and 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, equal to
1%
of the aggregate purchase price paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement for any Registrable Securities then held by such Holder. The parties
agree that (1) the Company will not be liable for liquidated damages under
this
Agreement with respect to any Warrants or Warrant Shares, (2) in no event will
the Company be liable for liquidated damages under this Agreement in excess
of
1% of the aggregate Subscription Amount of the Holders in any 30-day period
and
(3) the maximum aggregate liquidated damages payable to a Holder under this
Agreement shall be nine percent (9%) of the aggregate Subscription Amount paid
by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. If the Company fails to
pay
any partial 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
18% 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 partial
liquidated damages are due until such amounts, plus all such interest thereon,
are paid in full. The partial liquidated damages pursuant to the terms hereof
shall apply on a daily pro-rata basis for any portion of a month prior to the
cure of an Event. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent
that the registration of any or all of the Shares by the Company on the
Registration Statement is prohibited (the “Non-Registered
Shares”)
under
Rule 415 in the opinion of the Commission, the liquidated damages described
in
this Section 2(b) shall not be applicable to such Non-Registered Shares, in
which case the
Company will file additional Registration Statements (each, a “Subsequent
Registration Statement”)
each
registering the Non-Registered Shares until all of the Registrable Securities
have been registered. The Filing Date and Effective Date of each such Subsequent
Registration Statement shall be, respectively, fourteen (14) and forty-five
(45)
days after the first day such Subsequent Registration Statement may be filed
without objection by the Commission under Rule 415. The Company’s failure to
meet the Filing Date and Effective Date as they relate to the Subsequent
Registration Statements shall subject it to all liquidated damage provisions
set
forth in this Section 2(b).
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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 each Registration Statement and
not less than 1 Trading Day prior to the filing of 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 Holders drafts 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 the 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 each Holder to conduct a reasonable investigation within
the meaning of the Securities Act. The Company shall not file a 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
object in good faith, provided that, the Company is notified of such objection
in writing no later than 5 Trading Days after the Holders have been so furnished
copies of a Registration Statement or 1 Trading Day after the Holders have
been
so furnished copies of any related Prospectus or amendments or supplements
thereto. Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Company a completed questionnaire
in the form attached to this Agreement as Annex B (a “Selling
Shareholder Questionnaire”)
not
less than two Trading Days prior to the Filing Date or by the end of the fourth
Trading Day following the date on which such Holder receives draft materials
in
accordance with this Section.
(b) (i)
Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective
amendments, to a Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection
therewith as may be necessary to keep a Registration Statement continuously
effective as to the applicable Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness
Period and prepare and file with the Commission such additional Registration
Statements in order to register for resale under the Securities Act all of
the
Registrable Securities; (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or
supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement (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 to any comments received from
the Commission with respect to a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto
and provide as promptly as reasonably possible to the Holders true and complete
copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to a
Registration Statement (provided that the Company may excise any information
contained therein which would constitute material non-public information as
to
any Holder which has not executed a confidentiality agreement with the Company);
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 a Registration Statement during the applicable period
in
accordance (subject to the terms of this Agreement) with the intended methods
of
disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in such Registration Statement
as
so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.
5
(c) If
during
the Effectiveness Period, the number of Registrable Securities at any time
exceeds 90% of the number of shares of Common Stock then registered in a
Registration Statement, then the Company shall file as soon as reasonably
practicable but in any case prior to the applicable Filing Date, an additional
Registration Statement covering the resale by the Holders of not less than
100%
of the number of such Registrable Securities.
(d) Notify
the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold (which notice shall, pursuant
to clauses (iii) through (vi) hereof, 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, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less
than
1 Trading Day prior to such filing) and (if requested by any such Person)
confirm such notice in writing no later than one Trading Day following the
day
(i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment to a Registration Statement is proposed to be filed; (B) when the
Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a “review” of such
Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on such
Registration Statement; and (C) with respect to a 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 a Registration Statement or Prospectus or
for
additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission or any other
federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of a 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 a Registration Statement
ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement made in a 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 a Registration Statement, Prospectus or other
documents so that, in the case of a 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 of a Registration
Statement or Prospectus, provided that any and all of such information shall
remain confidential to each Holder until such information otherwise becomes
public, unless disclosure by a Holder is required by law; provided,
further,
notwithstanding each Holder’s agreement to keep such information confidential,
the Holders make no acknowledgement that any such information is material,
non-public information.
(e) Use
its
best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued, obtain the withdrawal
of
(i) any order suspending the effectiveness of a 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.
6
(f) Furnish
to each Holder, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each such
Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, including financial
statements and schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference to the extent requested by such Person, and
all exhibits to the extent requested by such Person (including those previously
furnished or incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such
documents with the Commission.
(g) 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, except
after
the giving of any notice pursuant to Section 3(d).
(h) If
NASDR
Rule 2710 requires any broker-dealer to make a filing prior to executing a
sale
by a Holder, upon notification, the Company shall (i) make an Issuer Filing
with
the NASDR, Inc. Corporate Financing Department pursuant to proposed NASDR Rule
2710(b)(10)(A)(i), (ii) respond within five Trading Days to any comments
received from NASDR in connection therewith, and (iii) pay the filing fee
required in connection therewith.
(i) Prior
to
any resale of Registrable Securities by a Holder, use its commercially
reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders
in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from the
Registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for the resale
by
the Holder under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within
the United States as any Holder reasonably requests in writing, to keep each
registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the
Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or things reasonably
necessary to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable
Securities covered by each Registration Statement; provided, that the Company
shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction
where it is not then so qualified, subject the Company to any material tax
in
any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or file a general consent
to service of process in any such jurisdiction.
(j) If
requested by the Holders, cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities
to
be delivered to a transferee pursuant to a 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.
(k) Upon
the
occurrence of any event contemplated by this Section 3, as promptly as
reasonably possible under the circumstances taking into account the Company’s
good faith assessment of any adverse consequences to the Company and its
stockholders of the premature disclosure of such event, prepare a supplement
or
amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to a 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 a 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
(iii) through (vi) of Section 3(d) above to suspend the use of any Prospectus
until the requisite changes to such Prospectus have been made, 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. The Company shall be entitled to exercise its right under this
Section 3(k) to suspend the availability of a Registration Statement and
Prospectus, subject to the payment of partial liquidated damages pursuant to
Section 2(b), for a period not to exceed 60 calendar days (which need not be
consecutive days) in any 12 month period.
7
(l) Comply
with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission.
(m) The
Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the Company a certified
statement as to the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by
such
Holder and, if required by the Commission, the natural persons thereof that
have
voting and dispositive control over the Shares. 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 as to such Holder only shall
be tolled and any Event that may otherwise occur solely because of such delay
shall be suspended as to such Holder only, 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 a 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 any
Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed for trading, (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 (C) if not
previously paid by the Company in connection with an Issuer Filing, with respect
to any filing that may be required to be made by any broker through which a
Holder intends to make sales of Registrable Securities with NASD Regulation,
Inc. pursuant to the NASD Rule 2710, so long as the broker is receiving no
more
than a customary brokerage commission in connection with such sale, (ii)
printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing
certificates for Registrable Securities), (iii) messenger, telephone and
delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company,
(v)
Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance,
and (vi) 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 of any Holder or, except to the extent provided for
in
the Transaction Documents, any legal fees or other costs of the
Holders.
8
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, members, partners, 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 (and any other Persons
with
a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles, notwithstanding
a lack of such title or any other title) 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, members,
shareholders, partners, agents and employees (and any other Persons with a
functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles, notwithstanding
a
lack of such title or any other title) 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, reasonable
attorneys’ fees) and expenses (collectively, “Losses”),
as
incurred, arising out of or relating to (1) any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a 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, or (2) any violation or alleged violation by
the
Company of the Securities Act, Exchange Act or any state securities law, or
any
rule or regulation thereunder, in connection with the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement, except to the extent, but only to the extent,
that (i) such 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 a Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form
of
Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (it being understood that
the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose) or (ii) in the case
of
an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(d)(iii)-(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(d).
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.
9
(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 incurred, to the extent arising out of or based
solely upon: (x) such Holder’s failure to comply with the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act or (y) any untrue or alleged 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 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 not misleading (i) to the extent, but only to the extent,
that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information so
furnished in writing by such Holder to the Company specifically for inclusion
in
such Registration Statement or such Prospectus or (ii) to the extent that such
information relates to 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 a Registration Statement (it being understood
that the Holder has approved Annex
A
hereto
for this purpose), such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or (iii) in the case of an occurrence of an
event of the type specified in Section 3(d)(iii)-(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(d). In no event shall
the
liability of any selling Holder 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 have the right to assume the defense
thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Party and the payment of all fees and expenses incurred in
connection with defense thereof; provided, that the failure of any Indemnified
Party to give such notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its
obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement, except (and only) to
the
extent that it shall be finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction
(which determination is not subject to appeal or further review) that such
failure shall have 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; (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 counsel to the Indemnified Party shall
reasonably believe 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 reasonable fees and expenses of no more than one
separate counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party). The
Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding
effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed. 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.
10
Subject
to the terms of this Agreement, all reasonable 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, provided that the Indemnified Party shall promptly reimburse
the Indemnifying Party for that portion of such fees and expenses applicable
to
such actions for which such Indemnified Party is judicially determined to be
not
entitled to indemnification hereunder.
(d) Contribution.
If the
indemnification under Section 5(a) or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified
Party or insufficient to hold an Indemnified Party harmless for any Losses,
then
each Indemnifying Party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
Indemnified Party, 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 this Agreement, any reasonable attorneys’ or other 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
net 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, except in the case of fraud
by
such Holder.
11
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) Remedies.
In the
event of a breach by the Company or by a Holder of any of their respective
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, shall 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 not assert or shall
waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No
Piggyback on Registrations.
Except
as set forth on Schedule
6(b)
attached
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 initial Registration Statement other than the Registrable Securities.
The
Company shall not file any other registration statements until the initial
Registration Statement required hereunder is declared effective by the
Commission, provided that this Section 6(b) shall not prohibit the Company
from
filing amendments to registration statements filed prior to the date of this
Agreement.
(c) 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 a Registration Statement.
(d) Discontinued
Disposition.
By its
acquisition of Registrable Securities, each Holder agrees that, upon receipt
of
a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described
in Section 3(d), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such
Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement until it is advised in
writing (the “Advice”)
by the
Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus (as it may have been
supplemented or amended) may be resumed. The Company will use its best efforts
to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as is
practicable. 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).
12
(e) 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 a registration statement
relating to an offering for its own account or the account of others under
the
Securities Act of any of its equity securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form
S-8 (each as promulgated under the Securities Act) or 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 the stock option or other employee benefit plans, then the
Company shall send to each Holder a written notice of such determination and,
if
within fifteen days after the date of such notice, any such Holder shall so
request in writing, the Company shall include in such registration statement
all
or any part of such Registrable Securities such Holder requests to be
registered; provided,
however,
that,
the Company shall not be required to register any Registrable Securities
pursuant to this Section 6(e) 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.
(f) 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 Holders holding 67% 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 amended, modified, or supplemented
except in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding
sentence.
(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 (except by merger) 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) 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(i),
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.
13
(j) Execution
and Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken
together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become
effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to
the
other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same
counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile
transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature
shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose
behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such
facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.
(k) Governing
Law.
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the
State of New York without giving effect (to the extent permitted by law) to
any
choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York
or
any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the State of New York
(l) Construction.
All
questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation
of this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of
the
Purchase Agreement.
(m) Cumulative
Remedies.
The
remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any other remedies
provided by law.
(n) 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 commercially reasonable
efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or
substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision,
covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the
intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may
be
hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(o) Headings.
The
headings in this Agreement are for convenience only, do not constitute a part
of
this Agreement, and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions
hereof.
14
(p) Independent
Nature of Holders’ Obligations and Rights.
The
obligations of each Holder hereunder are several and not joint with the
obligations of any other Holder hereunder, and no Holder shall be responsible
in
any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Holder hereunder.
Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or document delivered at
any
closing, and no action taken by any Holder pursuant hereto or thereto, shall
be
deemed to constitute the Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint
venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Holders
are in any way acting in concert with respect to such obligations or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Holder 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 Holder to
be
joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.
*************************
15
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement
as
of the date first written above.
| |
|
|
| By: | ||
|
Name: |
||
| Title: | ||
[SIGNATURE
PAGE OF HOLDERS FOLLOWS]
16
[SIGNATURE
PAGE OF HOLDERS TO AKNS RRA]
Name
of
Holder: __________________________
Signature
of Authorized Signatory of Holder:
__________________________
Name
of
Authorized Signatory: _________________________
Title
of
Authorized Signatory: __________________________
[SIGNATURE
PAGES CONTINUE]
17
ANNEX
A
Plan
of Distribution
Each
Selling Stockholder (the “Selling
Stockholders”)
of the
common stock 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
the
[principal Trading Market] or any other 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. A Selling Stockholder may use any one
or
more of the following methods when selling shares:
|
·
|
ordinary
brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer
solicits purchasers;
|
|
·
|
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;
|
|
·
|
purchases
by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer
for its
account;
|
|
·
|
an
exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
exchange;
|
|
·
|
privately
negotiated transactions;
|
|
·
|
settlement
of short sales entered into after the effective date of the registration
statement of which this prospectus is a
part;
|
|
·
|
broker-dealers
may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a specified number
of such
shares at a stipulated price per
share;
|
|
·
|
through
the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions,
whether through an options exchange or otherwise;
|
|
·
|
a
combination of any such methods of sale;
or
|
|
·
|
any
other method permitted pursuant to applicable
law.
|
The
Selling Stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (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, but,
except as set forth in a supplement to this Prospectus, in the case of an agency
transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance
with
NASDR Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown
in compliance with NASDR IM-2440.
18
In
connection with the sale of the Common Stock or interests therein, the Selling
Stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other
financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the Common
Stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The Selling
Stockholders may also sell shares of the Common Stock short and deliver these
securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the Common
Stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The Selling
Stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with
broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more
derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other
financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such
broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this
prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such
transaction).
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. Each Selling Stockholder has informed the
Company that it does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding,
directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Common Stock. In
no
event shall any broker-dealer receive fees, commissions and markups which,
in
the aggregate, would exceed eight percent (8%).
The
Company is required to pay certain 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.
Because
Selling Stockholders may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of
the Securities Act, they will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements
of the Securities Act including Rule 172 thereunder. In addition, any securities
covered by this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under
the
Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than under this prospectus.
There is no underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with the
proposed sale of the resale shares by the Selling Stockholders.
We
agreed
to keep this prospectus effective until the earlier of (i) the date on which
the
shares may be resold by the Selling Stockholders without registration and
without regard to any volume limitations by reason of Rule 144(k) under the
Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect or (ii) all of the shares
have been sold pursuant to this prospectus or Rule 144 under the Securities
Act
or any other rule of similar effect. The resale shares will be sold only through
registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under applicable state
securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the resale shares may not
be
sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable
state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is
available and is complied with.
19
Under
applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged
in
the distribution of the resale shares may not simultaneously engage in market
making activities with respect to the Common Stock for the applicable restricted
period, as defined in Regulation M, prior to the commencement of the
distribution. In addition, the Selling Stockholders will be subject to
applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases
and
sales of shares of the common stock by the Selling Stockholders or any other
person. We will make copies of this prospectus available to the Selling
Stockholders and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of this
prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including
by
compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).
20
Annex
B
Selling
Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire
The
undersigned beneficial owner of common stock (the “Registrable
Securities”)
of
Akeena
Solar, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
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 (the “Registration
Rights Agreement”)
to
which this document is annexed. 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.
NOTICE
The
undersigned beneficial owner (the “Selling
Securityholder”)
of
Registrable Securities hereby elects to include the Registrable Securities
owned
by it in the Registration Statement.
21
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 are
held:
|
|
(c)
|
Full
Legal Name of Natural Control Person (which means a natural person
who
directly or 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.
Broker-Dealer Status:
|
(a)
|
Are
you a broker-dealer?
|
Yes
o
No
o
|
(b)
|
If
“yes” to Section 3(a), did you receive your Registrable Securities as
compensation for investment banking services to the
Company.
|
Yes
o
No
o
22
|
Note:
|
If
no, the Commission’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as
an underwriter in the Registration
Statement.
|
|
(c)
|
Are
you an affiliate of a
broker-dealer?
|
Yes
o
No
o
|
(d)
|
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
o
No
o
|
Note:
|
If
no, the Commission’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as
an underwriter in the Registration
Statement.
|
4.
Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company Owned by the Selling
Securityholder.
Except
as set forth below in this Item 4, the undersigned is not the beneficial or
registered owner of any securities of the Company other than the securities
issuable pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
|
Type
and Amount of other securities beneficially owned by the Selling
Securityholder:
|
5.
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:
23
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 5 and the inclusion of such
information in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus and any
amendments or supplements thereto. 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:
Xxxxx
“Lad” Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Solar, Inc.
000
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
24
