REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.01
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of
December 1, 2008, and among AmeriResource Technologies, Inc., a Delaware
corporation with its headquarters located at 0000 X. Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000,
Xxx Xxxxx, XX 00000 (the “Company”), and each of the
undersigned (together with their respective affiliates and any assignee or
transferee of all of their respective rights hereunder, the “Initial
Investors”).
WHEREAS:
A. In
connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the parties
hereto of even date herewith (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”), the Company
has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained therein, to
issue and sell to the Initial Investors secured convertible notes in the
aggregate principal amount of up to Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000)
(the “Notes”) that are convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock
(the “Common Stock”), upon the terms and subject to the limitations and
conditions set forth in such Notes and warrants (the “Warrants”) to
acquire an aggregate of 300,000,000 shares of Common Stock, upon the terms and
conditions and subject to the limitations and conditions set forth in the
Warrants; and
B. To
induce the Initial Investors to execute and deliver the Securities Purchase
Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the “1933 Act”), and applicable
state securities laws;
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein and
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the Company and each of the Initial Investors hereby agree
as follows:
1.
DEFINITIONS.
a.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
(i) “Investors” means the Initial
Investors and any transferee or assignee who agrees to become bound by the
provisions of this Agreement in accordance with Section 9 hereof.
(ii) “register,” “registered,” and “registration” refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or
Statements in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule 415 under the
1933 Act or any successor rule providing for offering securities on a continuous
basis (“Rule 415”), and
the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement by
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
(iii) “Registrable Securities” means
the Conversion Shares issued or issuable upon conversion or otherwise pursuant
to the Notes and Additional Notes (as defined in the Securities Purchase
Agreement) including, without limitation, Damages Shares (as defined in the
Notes) issued or issuable pursuant to the Notes, shares of Common Stock issued
or issuable in payment of the Standard Liquidated Damages Amount (as defined in
the Securities Purchase Agreement), shares issued or issuable in respect of
interest or in redemption of the Notes in accordance with the terms thereof) and
Warrant Shares issuable, upon exercise or otherwise pursuant to the Warrants and
Additional Warrants (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), and any
shares of capital stock issued or issuable as a dividend on or in exchange for
or otherwise with respect to any of the foregoing.
(iv) “Registration Statement” means
a registration statement of the Company under the 0000 Xxx.
b. Capitalized
terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective
meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement or the Convertible
Note.
2.
REGISTRATION.
a.
Mandatory
Registration. The Company shall prepare, and, on or prior to
ten days (10) days from the date of receipt of written demand of the Investors
(as defined in the Agreement) (the “Filing Date”), file with the
SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or, if Form S-3 is not then available,
on such form of Registration Statement as is then available to effect a
registration of the Registrable Securities, subject to the consent of the
Initial Investors, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) covering the
resale of the Registrable Securities underlying the Notes and Warrants issued or
issuable pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, which Registration
Statement, to the extent allowable under the 1933 Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder (including Rule 416), shall state that such
Registration Statement also covers such indeterminate number of additional
shares of Common Stock as may become issuable upon conversion of or otherwise
pursuant to the Notes and exercise of the Warrants to prevent dilution resulting
from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions. The
number of shares of Common Stock initially included in such Registration
Statement shall be no less than an amount equal to two (2) times the sum of the
number of Conversion Shares that are then issuable upon conversion of the Notes
and Additional Notes (based on the Variable Conversion Price as would then be in
effect and assuming the Variable Conversion Price is the Conversion Price at
such time), and the number of Warrant Shares that are then issuable upon
exercise of the Warrants, without regard to any limitation on the Investor’s
ability to convert the Notes or exercise the Warrants. The Company
acknowledges that the number of shares initially included in the Registration
Statement represents a good faith estimate of the maximum number of shares
issuable upon conversion of the Notes and upon exercise of the
Warrants.
b. Underwritten
Offering. If any offering pursuant to a Registration Statement
pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof involves an underwritten offering, the Investors
who hold a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities subject to such
underwritten offering, with the consent of a majority-in-interest of the Initial
Investors, shall have the right to select one legal counsel and an investment
banker or bankers and manager or managers to administer the offering, which
investment banker or bankers or manager or managers shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Company.
c.
Payments
by the Company. The Company shall use its best efforts to
obtain effectiveness of the Registration Statement as soon as
practicable. If the Registration Statement(s) covering the
Registrable Securities required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Section
2(a) hereof is not filed by the Filing Date or declared effective by the SEC on
or prior to One hundred and twenty (120) days from the Filing Date, or
after the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC,
sales of all of the Registrable Securities cannot be made pursuant to the
Registration Statement, or the Common Stock is not listed or included for
quotation on the Nasdaq National Market (“Nasdaq”), the Nasdaq SmallCap
Market (“Nasdaq
SmallCap”), the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) or the American Stock
Exchange (the “AMEX”)
after being so listed or included for quotation, or the Common Stock
ceases to be traded on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board (the “OTCBB”) or any equivalent
replacement exchange prior to being listed or included for quotation on one of
the aforementioned markets, then the Company will make payments to the Investors
in such amounts and at such times as shall be determined pursuant to this
Section 2(c) as partial relief for the damages to the Investors by reason of any
such delay in or reduction of their ability to sell the Registrable Securities
(which remedy shall not be exclusive of any other remedies available at law or
in equity). The Company shall pay to each holder of the Notes or
Registrable Securities an amount equal to the then outstanding principal amount
of the Notes (and, in the case of holders of Registrable Securities, the
principal amount of Notes from which such Registrable Securities were converted)
(“Outstanding Principal
Amount”), multiplied by the Applicable Percentage (as defined below)
times the sum of: (i) the number of months (prorated for partial
months) after the Filing Date or the end of the aforementioned one hundred and
twenty (120) day period and prior to the date the Registration Statement is
declared effective by the SEC, provided, however, that there shall be excluded
from such period any delays which are solely attributable to changes required by
the Investors in the Registration Statement with respect to information relating
to the Investors, including, without limitation, changes to the plan of
distribution, or to the failure of the Investors to conduct their review of the
Registration Statement pursuant to Section 3(h) below in a reasonably prompt
manner; (ii) the number of months (prorated for partial months) that sales of
all of the Registrable Securities cannot be made pursuant to the Registration
Statement after the Registration Statement has been declared effective
(including, without limitation, when sales cannot be made by reason of the
Company’s failure to properly supplement or amend the prospectus included
therein in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, but excluding any days
during an Allowed Delay (as defined in Section 3(f)); and (iii) the number of
months (prorated for partial months) that the Common Stock is not listed or
included for quotation on the OTCBB, Nasdaq, Nasdaq SmallCap, NYSE or AMEX or
that trading thereon is halted after the Registration Statement has been
declared effective. The term “Applicable Percentage” means
two hundredths (.02). (For example, if the Registration Statement
becomes effective one (1) month after the end of such one hundred and twenty
(120) day period, the Company would pay $5,000 for each $250,000 of Outstanding
Principal Amount. If thereafter, sales could not be made pursuant to
the Registration Statement for an additional period of one (1) month, the
Company would pay an additional $5,000 for each $250,000 of Outstanding
Principal Amount.) Such amounts shall be paid in cash or, at the
Company’s option, in shares of Common Stock priced at the Conversion Price (as
defined in the Notes) on such payment date.
d. Piggy-Back
Registrations. Subject to the last sentence of this Section
2(d), if at any time prior to the expiration of the Registration Period (as
hereinafter defined) the Company shall determine to file with the SEC a
Registration Statement relating to an offering for its own account or the
account of others under the 1933 Act of any of its equity securities (other than
on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or their then equivalents relating to equity securities
to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business
or equity securities issuable in connection with stock option or other bona fide, employee
benefit plans), the Company shall send to each Investor who is entitled to
registration rights under this Section 2(d) written notice of such determination
and, if within fifteen (15) days after the effective date of such notice, such
Investor shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such
Registration Statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities such
Investor requests to be registered, except that if, in connection with any
underwritten public offering for the account of the Company the managing
underwriter(s) thereof shall impose a limitation on the number of shares of
Common Stock which may be included in the Registration Statement because, in
such underwriter(s)’ judgment, marketing or other factors dictate such
limitation is necessary to facilitate public distribution, then the Company
shall be obligated to include in such Registration Statement only such limited
portion of the Registrable Securities with respect to which such Investor has
requested inclusion hereunder as the underwriter shall permit. Any exclusion of
Registrable Securities shall be made pro rata among the Investors seeking to
include Registrable Securities in proportion to the number of Registrable
Securities sought to be included by such Investors; provided, however, that the
Company shall not exclude any Registrable Securities unless the Company has
first excluded all outstanding securities, the holders of which are not entitled
to inclusion of such securities in such Registration Statement or are not
entitled to pro rata inclusion with the Registrable Securities; and provided, further, however, that, after
giving effect to the immediately preceding proviso, any exclusion of Registrable
Securities shall be made pro rata with holders of other securities having the
right to include such securities in the Registration Statement other than
holders of securities entitled to inclusion of their securities in such
Registration Statement by reason of demand registration rights. No
right to registration of Registrable Securities under this Section 2(d) shall be
construed to limit any registration required under Section 2(a)
hereof. If an offering in connection with which an Investor is
entitled to registration under this Section 2(d) is an underwritten offering,
then each Investor whose Registrable Securities are included in such
Registration Statement shall, unless otherwise agreed by the Company, offer and
sell such Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering using the same
underwriter or underwriters and, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, on
the same terms and conditions as other shares of Common Stock included in such
underwritten offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set
forth herein, the registration rights of the Investors pursuant to this Section
2(d) shall only be available in the event the Company fails to timely file,
obtain effectiveness or maintain effectiveness of any Registration Statement to
be filed pursuant to Section 2(a) in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.
e.
Eligibility
for Form S-3 or S-1; Conversion to Form S-3. If the Company is
not currently eligible to use Form S-3, not later than ten (10) business days
after the Company first meets the registration eligibility and transaction
requirements for the use of Form S-3 (or any successor form) for registration of
the offer and sale by the Initial Investors and any other Investors of
Registrable Securities, the Company shall file a Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (or such successor form) with respect to the Registrable Securities covered
by the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed pursuant to Section 2(a) (and
include in such Registration Statement on Form S-3 the information required by
Rule 429 under the 0000 Xxx) or convert the Registration Statement on Form S-1,
filed pursuant to Section 2(a) to a Form S-3 pursuant to Rule 429 under the 1933
Act and cause such Registration Statement (or such amendment) to be declared
effective no later than one hundred and twenty (120) days after
filing. In the event of a breach by the Company of the provisions of
this Section 2(e), the Company will be required to make payments pursuant to
Section 2(c) hereof.
3.
OBLIGATIONS OF THE
COMPANY.
In
connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities, the Company
shall have the following obligations:
a.
The Company shall prepare promptly, and file with the SEC not later
than the Filing Date, a Registration Statement with respect to the number of
Registrable Securities provided in Section 2(a), and thereafter use its best
efforts to cause such Registration Statement relating to Registrable Securities
to become effective as soon as possible after such filing but in no event later
than one hundred and twenty (120) days from the Filing Date), and keep the
Registration Statement effective pursuant to Rule 415 at all times until such
date as is the earlier of (i) the date on which all of the Registrable
Securities have been sold and (ii) the date on which the Registrable Securities
(in the opinion of counsel to the Initial Investors) may be immediately sold to
the public without registration or restriction (including, without limitation,
as to volume by each holder thereof) under the 1933 Act (the “Registration Period”), which
Registration Statement (including any amendments or supplements thereto and
prospectuses contained therein) shall not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein, or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
b. The
Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including
post-effective amendments) and supplements to the Registration Statements and
the prospectus used in connection with the Registration Statements as may be
necessary to keep the Registration Statements effective at all times during the
Registration Period, and, during such period, comply with the provisions of the
1933 Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities of the
Company covered by the Registration Statements until such time as all of such
Registrable Securities have been disposed of in accordance with the intended
methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth in the
Registration Statements. In the event the number of shares available
under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement is insufficient
to cover all of the Registrable Securities issued or issuable upon conversion of
the Notes and exercise of the Warrants, the Company shall amend the Registration
Statement, or file a new Registration Statement (on the short form available
therefor, if applicable), or both, so as to cover all of the Registrable
Securities, in each case, as soon as practicable, but in any event within
fifteen (15) days after the necessity therefor arises (based on the market price
of the Common Stock and other relevant factors on which the Company reasonably
elects to rely). The Company shall use its best efforts to cause such
amendment and/or new Registration Statement to become effective as soon as
practicable following the filing thereof, but in any event within thirty (30)
days after the date on which the Company reasonably first determines (or
reasonably should have determined) the need therefor. The provisions
of Section 2(c) above shall be applicable with respect to such obligation, with
the one hundred and twenty (120) days running from the day the Company
reasonably first determines (or reasonably should have determined) the need
therefor.
c.
The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose
Registrable Securities are included in a Registration Statement and its legal
counsel promptly (but in no event more than two (2) business days) after
the same is prepared and publicly distributed, filed with the SEC, or received
by the Company, one copy of each Registration Statement and any amendment
thereto, each preliminary prospectus and prospectus and each amendment or
supplement thereto, and, in the case of the Registration Statement referred to
in Section 2(a), each letter written by or on behalf of the Company to the SEC
or the staff of the SEC, and each item of correspondence from the SEC or the
staff of the SEC, in each case relating to such Registration Statement (other
than any portion of any thereof which contains information for which the Company
has sought confidential treatment), and promptly (but in no event more
than two (2) business days) after the Registration Statement is declared
effective by the SEC, such number of copies of a prospectus, including a
preliminary prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto and such
other documents as such Investor may reasonably request in order to facilitate
the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such
Investor. The Company will immediately notify each Investor by
facsimile of the effectiveness of each Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment. The Company will promptly (but in no event
more than five (5) business days) respond to any and all comments received from
the SEC (which comments shall promptly be made available to the Investors upon
request), with a view towards causing each Registration Statement or any
amendment thereto to be declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable,
shall promptly file an acceleration request as soon as practicable (but in no
event more than two (2) business days) following the resolution or clearance of
all SEC comments or, if applicable, following notification by the SEC that any
such Registration Statement or any amendment thereto will not be subject to
review and shall promptly file with the SEC a final prospectus as soon as
practicable (but in no event more than two (2) business days) following receipt
by the Company from the SEC of an order declaring the Registration Statement
effective. In the event of a breach by the Company of the provisions
of this Section 3(c), the Company will be required to make payments pursuant to
Section 2(c) hereof.
d. The
Company shall use reasonable efforts to register and qualify the
Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statements under such other
securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the
Investors who hold a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities being
offered reasonably request, prepare and file in those jurisdictions such
amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such
registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the
effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, take such other
actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and qualifications in
effect at all times during the Registration Period, and take all other
actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the Registrable Securities
for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto
to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise
be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), subject itself to
general taxation in any such jurisdiction, file a general consent to
service of process in any such jurisdiction, provide any undertakings that
cause the Company undue expense or burden, or make any change in its
charter or bylaws, which in each case the Board of Directors of the Company
determines to be contrary to the best interests of the Company and its
shareholders.
e.
In the event Investors who hold a majority-in-interest of the
Registrable Securities being offered in the offering (with the approval of a
majority-in-interest of the Initial Investors) select underwriters for the
offering, the Company shall enter into and perform its obligations under an
underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, including, without
limitation, customary indemnification and contribution obligations, with the
underwriters of such offering.
f.
As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of
such event, the Company shall notify each Investor of the happening of any
event, of which the Company has knowledge, as a result of which the prospectus
included in any Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue
statement of a material fact or omission to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and
use its best efforts promptly to prepare a supplement or amendment to any
Registration Statement to correct such untrue statement or omission, and deliver
such number of copies of such supplement or amendment to each Investor as such
Investor may reasonably request; provided that, for not more than ten (10)
consecutive trading days (or a total of not more than twenty (20) trading days
in any twelve (12) month period), the Company may delay the disclosure of
material non-public information concerning the Company (as well as prospectus or
Registration Statement updating) the disclosure of which at the time is not, in
the good faith opinion of the Company, in the best interests of the Company (an
“Allowed Delay”);
provided, further, that the Company shall promptly notify the Investors in
writing of the existence of (but in no event, without the prior written consent
of an Investor, shall the Company disclose to such investor any of the facts or
circumstances regarding) material non-public information giving rise to an
Allowed Delay and advise the Investors in writing to cease all sales under
such Registration Statement until the end of the Allowed Delay. Upon expiration
of the Allowed Delay, the Company shall again be bound by the first sentence of
this Section 3(f) with respect to the information giving rise
thereto.
g.
The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of
any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of any Registration
Statement, and, if such an order is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such
order at the earliest possible moment and to notify each Investor who holds
Registrable Securities being sold (or, in the event of an underwritten offering,
the managing underwriters) of the issuance of such order and the resolution
thereof.
h. The
Company shall permit a single firm of counsel designated by the Initial
Investors to review such Registration Statement and all amendments and
supplements thereto (as well as all requests for acceleration or effectiveness
thereof) a reasonable period of time prior to their filing with the SEC, and not
file any document in a form to which such counsel reasonably objects and will
not request acceleration of such Registration Statement without prior notice to
such counsel. The sections of such Registration Statement covering
information with respect to the Investors, the Investor’s beneficial ownership
of securities of the Company or the Investors intended method of disposition of
Registrable Securities shall conform to the information provided to the Company
by each of the Investors.
i.
The Company shall make generally available to its security holders as soon
as practicable, but not later than ninety (90) days after the close of the
period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying with the
provisions of Rule 158 under the 0000 Xxx) covering a twelve-month period
beginning not later than the first day of the Company’s fiscal quarter next
following the effective date of the Registration Statement.
j.
At the request of any Investor, the Company shall furnish, on
the date that Registrable Securities are delivered to an underwriter, if any,
for sale in connection with any Registration Statement or, if such securities
are not being sold by an underwriter, on the date of effectiveness thereof
an opinion, dated as of such date, from counsel representing the Company
for purposes of such Registration Statement, in form, scope and substance as is
customarily given in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the
underwriters, if any, and the Investors and a letter, dated such date,
from the Company’s independent certified public accountants in form and
substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to
underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters,
if any, and the Investors.
k. The
Company shall make available for inspection by any Investor, any
underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to a Registration
Statement, one firm of attorneys and one firm of accountants or other
agents retained by the Initial Investors, one firm of attorneys and one
firm of accountants or other agents retained by all other Investors, and
one firm of attorneys retained by all such underwriters (collectively, the
“Inspectors”) all
pertinent financial and other records, and pertinent corporate documents and
properties of the Company, including without limitation, records of conversions
by other holders of convertible securities issued by the Company and the
issuance of stock to such holders pursuant to the conversions (collectively, the
“Records”), as shall be
reasonably deemed necessary by each Inspector to enable each Inspector to
exercise its due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company’s officers,
directors and employees to supply all information which any Inspector may
reasonably request for purposes of such due diligence; provided, however, that each
Inspector shall hold in confidence and shall not make any disclosure (except to
an Investor) of any Record or other information which the Company determines in
good faith to be confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors are so
notified, unless the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or
correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, the
release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a
court or government body of competent jurisdiction, or the information in
such Records has been made generally available to the public other than by
disclosure in violation of this or any other agreement. The Company
shall not be required to disclose any confidential information in such Records
to any Inspector until and unless such Inspector shall have entered into
confidentiality agreements (in form and substance satisfactory to the Company)
with the Company with respect thereto, substantially in the form of this Section
3(k). Each Investor agrees that it shall, upon learning that
disclosure of such Records is sought in or by a court or governmental body of
competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to the Company
and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to
prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, the Records deemed
confidential. Nothing herein (or in any other confidentiality
agreement between the Company and any Investor) shall be deemed to limit the
Investor’s ability to sell Registrable Securities in a manner which is otherwise
consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
l.
The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any
disclosure of information concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless
disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or
state securities laws, the disclosure of such information is necessary to
avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement,
the release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other
order from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, or such
information has been made generally available to the public other than by
disclosure in violation of this or any other agreement. The Company
agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such information
concerning an Investor is sought in or by a court or governmental body of
competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to such
Investor prior to making such disclosure, and allow the Investor, at its
expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain
a protective order for, such information.
m. The
Company shall cause all the Registrable Securities covered by the
Registration Statement to be listed on each national securities exchange on
which securities of the same class or series issued by the Company are then
listed, if any, if the listing of such Registrable Securities is then permitted
under the rules of such exchange, or to the extent the securities of the
same class or series are not then listed on a national securities exchange,
secure the designation and quotation, of all the Registrable Securities covered
by the Registration Statement on Nasdaq or, if not eligible for Nasdaq, on
Nasdaq SmallCap or, if not eligible for Nasdaq or Nasdaq SmallCap, on the OTCBB
and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to arrange for at least
two market makers to register with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
(“FINRA”) as such with
respect to such Registrable Securities.
n. The
Company shall provide a transfer agent and registrar, which may be a single
entity, for the Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of the
Registration Statement.
o.
The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold Registrable Securities
being offered and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any
restrictive legends) representing Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant
to a Registration Statement and enable such certificates to be in such
denominations or amounts, as the case may be, as the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, or the Investors may reasonably request and registered in
such names as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or the Investors
may request, and, within three (3) business days after a Registration Statement
which includes Registrable Securities is ordered effective by the SEC, the
Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal counsel selected by the Company to
deliver, to the transfer agent for the Registrable Securities (with copies to
the Investors whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration
Statement) an instruction in a form reasonably acceptable to the Investors and
an opinion of such counsel in a form reasonably acceptable to the
Investors.
p. At
the request of the holders of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable
Securities, the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments
(including post-effective amendments) and supplements to a Registration
Statement and any prospectus used in connection with the Registration Statement
as may be necessary in order to change the plan of distribution set forth in
such Registration Statement.
q. From
and after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not, and shall not agree
to, allow the holders of any securities of the Company to include any of their
securities in any Registration Statement under Section 2(a) hereof or any
amendment or supplement thereto under Section 3(b) hereof without the consent of
the holders of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable
Securities.
r.
The Company shall take all other reasonable actions necessary
to expedite and facilitate disposition by the Investors of Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.
4.
OBLIGATIONS OF THE
INVESTORS.
In
connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities, the Investors
shall have the following obligations:
a.
It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company
to complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the
Registrable Securities of a particular Investor that such Investor shall furnish
to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities
held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities
held by it as shall be reasonably required to effect the registration of such
Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection with such
registration as the Company may reasonably request. At least three
(3) business days prior to the first anticipated filing date of the Registration
Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor of the information the Company
requires from each such Investor.
b. Each
Investor, by such Investor’s acceptance of the Registrable Securities, agrees to
cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection
with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statements hereunder, unless
such Investor has notified the Company in writing of such Investor’s election to
exclude all of such Investor’s Registrable Securities from the Registration
Statements.
c.
In the event Investors holding a majority-in-interest of
the Registrable Securities being registered (with the approval of the Initial
Investors) determine to engage the services of an underwriter, each Investor
agrees to enter into and perform such Investor’s obligations under an
underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, including, without
limitation, customary indemnification and contribution obligations, with the
managing underwriter of such offering and take such other actions as are
reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the
Registrable Securities, unless such Investor has notified the Company in writing
of such Investor’s election to exclude all of such Investor’s Registrable
Securities from such Registration Statement.
d. Each
Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the
happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(f) or 3(g), such
Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities
until such Investor’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended
prospectus contemplated by Section 3(f) or 3(g) and, if so directed by the
Company, such Investor shall deliver to the Company (at the expense of the
Company) or destroy (and deliver to the Company a certificate of destruction)
all copies in such Investor’s possession, of the prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such
notice.
e.
No Investor may participate in any underwritten registration
hereunder unless such Investor agrees to sell such Investor’s Registrable
Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements in usual and
customary form entered into by the Company, completes and executes all
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and
other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting
arrangements, and agrees to pay its pro rata share of all underwriting
discounts and commissions and any expenses in excess of those payable by the
Company pursuant to Section 5 below.
5.
EXPENSES
OF REGISTRATION.
All
reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, incurred
in connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Sections
2 and 3, including, without limitation, all registration, listing and
qualification fees, printers and accounting fees, the fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of one
counsel selected by the Initial Investors pursuant to Sections 2(b) and 3(h)
hereof shall be borne by the Company.
6.
INDEMNIFICATION.
In the
event any Registrable Securities are included in a Registration Statement under
this Agreement:
a.
To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify, hold
harmless and defend each Investor who holds such Registrable Securities,
the directors, officers, partners, employees, agents and each person who
controls any Investor within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), if any, any
underwriter (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) for the Investors, and the
directors, officers, partners, employees and each person who controls any such
underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, if any (each, an
“Indemnified Person”),
against any joint or several losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses
(collectively, together with actions, proceedings or inquiries by any regulatory
or self-regulatory organization, whether commenced or threatened, in respect
thereof, “Claims”) to
which any of them may become subject insofar as such Claims arise out of or are
based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact in a Registration Statement or the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading; (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus if used
prior to the effective date of such Registration Statement, or contained in the
final prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the Company files any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or the omission or alleged omission
to state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements made
therein, in light of the circumstances under which the statements therein were
made, not misleading; or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company
of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law, including, without limitation, any
state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder relating to the offer
or sale of the Registrable Securities (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i)
through (iii) being, collectively, “Violations”). Subject
to the restrictions set forth in Section 6(c) with respect to the number of
legal counsel, the Company shall reimburse the Indemnified Person, promptly as
such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any reasonable legal
fees or other reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with
investigating or defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in
this Section 6(a): (i) shall not apply to a Claim arising out of or based upon a
Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished in writing to the Company by any Indemnified Person or underwriter for
such Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with the preparation of
such Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto,
if such prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section
3(c) hereof; (ii) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if
such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Company,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; and (iii) with respect to any
preliminary prospectus, shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Person
if the untrue statement or omission of material fact contained in the
preliminary prospectus was corrected on a timely basis in the prospectus, as
then amended or supplemented, such corrected prospectus was timely made
available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(c) hereof, and the Indemnified
Person was promptly advised in writing not to use the incorrect prospectus prior
to the use giving rise to a Violation and such Indemnified Person,
notwithstanding such advice, used it. Such indemnity shall remain in
full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of
the Indemnified Person and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable
Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 9.
b. In
connection with any Registration Statement in which an Investor is
participating, each such Investor agrees severally and not jointly to indemnify,
hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same manner set forth in
Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs
the Registration Statement, each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, any underwriter and any other
shareholder selling securities pursuant to the Registration Statement or any of
its directors or officers or any person who controls such shareholder or
underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (collectively and
together with an Indemnified Person, an “Indemnified Party”), against
any Claim to which any of them may become subject, under the 1933 Act, the 1934
Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim arises out of or is based upon any
Violation by such Investor, in each case to the extent (and only to the extent)
that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such Investor expressly for use in
connection with such Registration Statement; and subject to Section 6(c) such
Investor will reimburse any legal or other expenses (promptly as such expenses
are incurred and are due and payable) reasonably incurred by them in connection
with investigating or defending any such Claim; provided, however, that the
indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6(b) shall not apply to amounts
paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior
written consent of such Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld; provided, further, however, that the
Investor shall be liable under this Agreement (including this Section 6(b) and
Section 7) for only that amount as does not exceed the net proceeds to such
Investor as a result of the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and
effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Indemnified
Party and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the
Investors pursuant to Section 9. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(b)
with respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any
Indemnified Party if the untrue statement or omission of material fact contained
in the preliminary prospectus was corrected on a timely basis in the prospectus,
as then amended or supplemented.
c.
Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any
action (including any governmental action), such Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against any
indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party a
written notice of the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall
have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so
desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume
control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the
indemnifying party and the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party, as the
case may be; provided, however, that an
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own
counsel with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if, in
the reasonable opinion of counsel retained by the indemnifying party, the
representation by such counsel of the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
and the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any
other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The
indemnifying party shall pay for only one separate legal counsel
for the Indemnified Persons or the Indemnified Parties, as
applicable, and such legal counsel shall be selected by Investors holding a
majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities included in the
Registration Statement to which the Claim relates (with the approval of a
majority-in-interest of the Initial Investors), if the Investors are entitled to
indemnification hereunder, or the Company, if the Company is entitled to
indemnification hereunder, as applicable. The failure to deliver
written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the
commencement of any such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any
liability to the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6,
except to the extent that the indemnifying party is actually prejudiced in its
ability to defend such action. The indemnification required by this
Section 6 shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the
course of the investigation or defense, as such expense, loss, damage or
liability is incurred and is due and payable.
7.
CONTRIBUTION.
To the
extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is prohibited or limited by
law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum contribution with respect
to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable under Section 6 to the
fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that
no contribution shall be made under circumstances where the maker would
not have been liable for indemnification under the fault standards set forth in
Section 6, no seller of Registrable Securities guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 0000 Xxx) shall be
entitled to contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation, and contribution (together with any
indemnification or other obligations under this Agreement) by any seller of
Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds
received by such seller from the sale of such Registrable
Securities.
8.
REPORTS UNDER
THE 1934 ACT.
With a
view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated
under the 1933 Act or any other similar rule or regulation of the SEC that may
at any time permit the investors to sell securities of the Company to the public
without registration (“Rule
144”), the Company agrees to:
a.
make and keep public information available, as those terms are
understood and defined in Rule 144;
b. file
with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the
Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so long as the Company remains
subject to such requirements (it being understood that nothing herein shall
limit the Company’s obligations under Section 4(c) of the Securities Purchase
Agreement) and the filing of such reports and other documents is required for
the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
c.
furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns
Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, a written statement by the
Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the
1933 Act and the 1934 Act, a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly
report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the
Company, and such other information as may be reasonably requested to
permit the Investors to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without
registration.
9.
ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION
RIGHTS.
The
rights under this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by the Investors
to any transferee of all or any portion of Registrable Securities if:
(i) the Investor agrees in writing with the transferee or assignee to
assign such rights, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company
within a reasonable time after such assignment, (ii) the Company is, within
a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with written
notice of the name and address of such transferee or assignee, and
the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being
transferred or assigned, (iii) following such transfer or assignment, the
further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is
restricted under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, (iv) at or
before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause
(ii) of this sentence, the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the
Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein, (v) such transfer
shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of the
Securities Purchase Agreement, and (vi) such transferee shall be an “accredited investor” as that
term defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the 1933
Act.
10. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION
RIGHTS.
Provisions
of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may be waived
(either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or
prospectively), only with written consent of the Company, each of the Initial
Investors (to the extent such Initial Investor still owns Registrable
Securities) and Investors who hold a majority interest of the Registrable
Securities. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this
Section 10 shall be binding upon each Investor and the Company.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
a.
A person or entity is deemed to be a holder of Registrable
Securities whenever such person or entity owns of record such Registrable
Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices
or elections from two or more persons or entities with respect to the same
Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions,
notice or election received from the registered owner of such Registrable
Securities.
b. Any
notices required or permitted to be given under the terms hereof shall be sent
by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested) or delivered
personally or by courier (including a recognized overnight delivery service) or
by facsimile and shall be effective five days after being placed in the mail, if
mailed by regular United States mail, or upon receipt, if delivered personally
or by courier (including a recognized overnight delivery service) or by
facsimile, in each case addressed to a party. The addresses for such
communications shall be:
|
If
to the Company:
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|
|
AmeriResource
Technologies, Inc.
|
|
|
0000
X. Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
|
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Xxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
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Attention:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
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Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
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Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
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With
a copy to:
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Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
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Xxxxxx
& Xxxxxx LLP
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000
Xxxxx 0 Xxxxx , Xxx. 000
|
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Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
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Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
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Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
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If to an
Investor: to the address set forth immediately below such Investor’s name on the
signature pages to the Securities Purchase Agreement.
|
With
a copy to:
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Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx & Ingersoll, LLP
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0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
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00xx
Xxxxx
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Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
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Attention: Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
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Telephone: 000-000-0000
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|
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Facsimile: 000-000-0000
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c.
Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement
or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy, shall not
operate as a waiver thereof.
d. THIS
AGREEMENT SHALL BE ENFORCED, GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED
ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF
LAWS. THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION
OF THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED NEW YORK, NEW YORK WITH RESPECT TO
ANY DISPUTE ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, THE AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO IN
CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. BOTH
PARTIES IRREVOCABLY WAIVE THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE
MAINTENANCE OF SUCH SUIT OR PROCEEDING. BOTH PARTIES FURTHER AGREE
THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON A PARTY MAILED BY FIRST CLASS MAIL SHALL BE DEEMED
IN EVERY RESPECT EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON THE PARTY IN ANY SUCH SUIT OR
PROCEEDING. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT EITHER PARTY’S RIGHT TO SERVE
PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW. BOTH PARTIES AGREE THAT
A FINAL NON-APPEALABLE JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH SUIT OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE
CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON SUCH JUDGMENT
OR IN ANY OTHER LAWFUL MANNER. THE PARTY WHICH DOES NOT PREVAIL IN
ANY DISPUTE ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL FEES AND
EXPENSES, INCLUDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES, INCURRED BY THE PREVAILING PARTY IN
CONNECTION WITH SUCH DISPUTE.
e.
In the event that any provision of this Agreement is invalid
or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then such
provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that it may conflict
therewith and shall be deemed modified to conform with such statute or rule of
law. Any provision hereof which may prove invalid or unenforceable
under any law shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision hereof.
f.
This Agreement, the Notes, the Warrants and the
Securities Purchase Agreement (including all schedules and exhibits thereto)
constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the
subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no restrictions,
promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to
herein and therein. This Agreement and the Securities Purchase
Agreement supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
g.
Subject to the requirements of Section 9 hereof, this
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and
their successors and assigns.
h. The
headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not
form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Agreement.
i.
This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and the
same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by
each party and delivered to the other party. This Agreement, once
executed by a party, may be delivered to the other party hereto by facsimile
transmission of a copy of this Agreement bearing the signature of the party so
delivering this Agreement.
j.
Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and
performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all
such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other
party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the
purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
k. Except
as otherwise provided herein, all consents and other determinations to be made
by the Investors pursuant to this Agreement shall be made by Investors holding a
majority of the Registrable Securities, determined as if the all of the Notes
then outstanding have been converted into for Registrable
Securities.
l.
The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations
hereunder will cause irreparable harm to each Investor by vitiating the intent
and purpose of the transactions contemplated hereby. Accordingly, the
Company acknowledges that the remedy at law for breach of its obligations under
this Agreement will be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach or
threatened breach by the Company of any of the provisions under this Agreement,
that each Investor shall be entitled, in addition to all other available
remedies in law or in equity, and in addition to the penalties assessable
herein, to an injunction or injunctions restraining, preventing or
curing any breach of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and
provisions hereof, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without
any bond or other security being required.
m. The
language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the
parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will
be applied against any party.
[REMAINDER
OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
Company and the undersigned Initial Investors have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date first above written.
AMERIRESOURCE
TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
______________________________________
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
President
AJW
PARTNERS, LLC
By: SMS
Group, LLC
______________________________________
Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxx
Manager
AJW
PARTNERS II, LLC
By: SMS
Group, LLC
______________________________________
Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxx
Manager
AJW
MASTER FUND, LTD.
By: First
Street Manager II, LLC
_____________________________________
Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxx
Manager
AJW
MASTER FUND II, LTD.
By: First
Street Manager II, LLC
_____________________________________
Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxx
Manager
NEW MILLENNIUM CAPITAL PARTNERS III,
LLC
By: First
Street Manager II, LLC
____________________________________
Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxx
Manager
