REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
B
This
Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”)
is
made and entered into as of August 30, 2007, among Solomon Technologies, 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:
“Effectiveness
Date”
means,
(a) with respect to the initial Registration Statement required to be filed
hereunder, January 22, 2008 and (b) 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, October
1, 2007 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).
“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
(i) all of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion in full of the
Debentures, (ii) all shares of Common Stock issuable as interest or principal
on
the Debentures assuming all permissible interest and principal payments are
made
in shares of Common Stock and the Debentures are held until maturity, (iii)
all
Warrant Shares, (iv) any additional shares of Common Stock issuable in
connection with any anti-dilution provisions in the Debentures or the Warrants
(in each case, without giving effect to any limitations on conversion set forth
in the Debenture or limitations on exercise set forth in the Warrant) and (v)
any securities 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.
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“Selling
Shareholder Questionnaire”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
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 and
except to the extent the Company determines that modifications thereto are
required under applicable law) substantially the “Plan
of Distribution”
attached hereto as Annex
A.
Subject
to the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause
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
the
date that is three years after the date the Registration Statement is declared
effective by the Commission or such earlier date when 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 telephonically 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, 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 foresaid shall be deemed an Event under
Section 2(b).
(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 an
opportunity to review and comment on the same, the Company shall be deemed
to
have not 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, 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
3
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 20 consecutive calendar days or more than an aggregate of 30 Trading
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 20
or
30 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
2%
of the aggregate purchase price paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement for any Registrable Securities then held by such Holder (calculated
as
if all convertible securities had been fully converted); provided,
however,
if,
notwithstanding the Company’s best efforts to avoid an Event, such Event is
caused solely because the Commission will not allow a Registration Statement
to
be declared effective because of the Commission’s interpretation of Rule
415(a)(1)(i), partial liquidated damages shall accrue at the rate of 1.0% rather
than 2% during the continuation of any such Events. The parties agree that
(1)
the Company shall not be liable for liquidated damages under this Agreement
with
respect to any Warrants or Warrant Shares, (2) in no event shall the Company
be
liable for liquidated damages under this Agreement in excess of 2% 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 twenty-four percent (24%) 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 10 days
after
the date payable, the Company will pay interest thereon at a rate of 15% per
annum (or such lesser maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable
law) to the Holder, accruing daily from the date such 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.
3.
Registration
Procedures.
In
connection with the Company’s registration obligations hereunder, the Company
shall:
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(a) Not
less
than five Trading Days prior to the filing of each Registration Statement and
not less than one 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 each Holder copies of all such documents proposed to be
filed, which documents (other than those incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference) will be subject to the review of such Holders and
(ii) cause its officers and directors, counsel and independent certified public
accountants to respond to such inquiries as shall be necessary, in the
reasonable opinion of respective counsel to 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 as may be required hereunder 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.
(c) If
during
the Effectiveness Period, the number of Registrable Securities at any time
exceeds 100% 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
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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
one Trading Day prior to such filing) and (if requested by any such Person)
confirm such notice in writing no later than two Trading Days following the
day
(i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment to 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,
that
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.
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(f) Furnish
to each Holder, without charge, at least one conformed electronic 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, which documents may be provided to such Holders
electronically.
(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
requested in writing by a Holder and if required of the Holder’s selling
registered broker-dealer by NASD (as defined below) in order to effect the
resale of the Registrable Securities by the Holder, the Company shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to effect a filing with respect to the public
offering contemplated by the Registration Statement (an “Issuer
Filing”)
with
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”)
Corporate Financing Department pursuant to NASD Rule 2710(b)(10)(A)(i) within
five Trading Days of such request and pay the filing fee required by such Issuer
Filing. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to pursue the
Issuer Filing until the NASD issues a letter confirming that it does not object
to the terms of the offering contemplated by the Registration Statement.
(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.
7
(k) Upon
the
occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(d), 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 except that in
the
case of suspension of the availability of the Registration Statement and
Prospectus pursuant to clause (vi) of Section 3(d), the Company shall not be
required to take such action until such time as it shall determine that the
continued availability of the Registration Statement and Prospectus is no longer
not in the best interests of the Company. The Company shall be entitled to
exercise its right under this Section 3(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 90
calendar days (which need not be consecutive days) in any 12 month
period.
(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, such Holder’s Selling Shareholder Questionnaire and, if requested by the
Commission, the natural persons thereof that have voting and dispositive control
over the Shares within three Trading Days of the Company’s request. 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, including the Selling Shareholder
Questionnaire, 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 provided that if such information is not provided at least 3
Trading Days prior to the Effective Date the Company shall have the right to
exclude such Holder from the pending Registration Statement (but not future
registration statements). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
the
Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to include such Holder’
Registrable Securities on a pre-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement or the soonest possible new Registration Statement otherwise required
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
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
8
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.
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
9
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, the 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.
The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or
assertion of any Proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement of which the Company is aware.
(b) Indemnification
by Holders.
Each
Holder shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, its directors, officers, agents and employees, each Person who controls
the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section
20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, agents or employees of
such controlling Persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law,
from and against all Losses, as 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. 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.
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(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 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 such Indemnified Party shall have been advised
by counsel that a material conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same
counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party
(in
which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing
that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying
Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense
thereof and the 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.
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, then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified
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
11
the
Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, 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 Section 5, any reasonable attorneys’ or
other reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with
any
Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees
or
expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section was available
to
such party in accordance with its terms.
The
parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by
any
other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable
considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), no Holder shall be required
to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which
the
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.
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 in the registration rights agreements listed 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 Registration Statements other than the Registrable Securities. The
Company shall not file any other registration statements until all Registrable
Securities are registered
12
pursuant
to a Registration Statement that is declared effective by the Commission,
provided that this Section 6(b) shall not prohibit the Company from filing
(i)
amendments to registration statements filed prior to the date of this Agreement,
(ii) registration statement(s) required to be filed by the Company under that
certain Registration Rights Agreement dated January 17, 2007 among the Company
and the investors signatory thereto, as amended to date, (iii) registration
statement(s) registering securities issued to JMC Venture Partners LLC (“JMC”)
or assigns in connection with and pursuant to the acquisition line of credit
to
be made available to the Company by JMC and that qualify as Exempt Issuances
or
(iv) a registration statement on Form S-8 covering no more than 1,250,000 shares
of Common Stock and Common Stock Equivalents, in the aggregate, issued
to
members of the Company’s senior management that qualify as Exempt
Issuances.
(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) [Intentionally
Deleted]
(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 of at least 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.
13
(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 (except by merger) its rights or obligations
hereunder without the prior written consent of all of the Holders of the
then-outstanding Registrable Securities. Each Holder may assign their respective
rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted under the
Purchase Agreement.
(i) No
Inconsistent Agreements.
Neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, on or after the date of this Agreement,
shall enter into any agreement with respect to its securities, that would have
the effect of impairing the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement
or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. Except as set forth on
Schedule
6(b),
neither
the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has previously entered into any
agreement granting any registration rights with respect to any of its securities
to any Person that have not been satisfied in full.
(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.
All
questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation
of this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of
the
Purchase Agreement.
(l) Cumulative
Remedies.
The
remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any other remedies
provided by law.
(m) 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.
14
(n) Headings.
The
headings in this Agreement are for convenience only, do not constitute a part
of
the Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions
hereof.
(o) 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.
|
SOLOMON
TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
|
|
By:
__________________________________________
Name:
Title:
|
[SIGNATURE
PAGE OF HOLDERS FOLLOWS]
16
[SIGNATURE
PAGE OF HOLDERS TO SOLM 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
OTC Bulletin Board 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
18
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.
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
SOLOMON
TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Selling
Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire
The
undersigned beneficial owner of common stock (the “Registrable
Securities”)
of
Solomon Technologies, 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
|
Note:
|
If
no, the Commission’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as
an underwriter in the Registration
Statement.
|
22
|
(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 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.
|
(a)
|
Type
and Amount of other securities beneficially owned by the Selling
Securityholder:
|
23
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:
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:
24
