REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
C
This
Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of
October 27, 2005, between Global Axcess Corp., a Nevada corporation (the
"Company"), and the purchaser signatory hereto (the "Purchaser").
This
Agreement is made pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of the
date hereof among the Company and the Purchaser (the "Purchase
Agreement").
The
Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:
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1.
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Definitions
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Capitalized
terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined in the Purchase
Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in the Purchase Agreement. As
used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
"Advice"
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d).
"Effectiveness
Date" means, with respect to the initial Registration Statement required to be
filed hereunder, the 135th calendar day following the date hereof and, with
respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be required pursuant
to Section 3(c), the 135th 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, in the event the Company is
notified by the Commission that one of the above Registration Statements will
not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further review and comments, the
Effectiveness Date as to such Registration Statement shall be the fifth Trading
Day following the date on which the Company is so notified if such date precedes
the dates required above.
"Effectiveness
Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
"Event"
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
"Event
Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
"Filing
Date" means, with respect to the initial Registration Statement required
hereunder, the 75th calendar day following the date hereof and, with respect to
any additional Registration Statements which may be required pursuant to Section
3(c), the 75th 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.
"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).
"Proceeding"
means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without
limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition),
whether commenced or threatened.
"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
of the Notes, (ii) all Warrant Shares, (iii) any securities issued or issuable
upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution recapitalization or similar
event with respect to the foregoing and (iv) any additional shares issuable in
connection with any anti-dilution provisions in the Notes or the
Warrants.
"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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2.
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Registration
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(a) The
Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement
covering the resale of 125% of the Registrable Securities 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 the Holders) substantially the "Plan
of Distribution" attached hereto as Annex A. Subject to the terms of this
Agreement, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registration
Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as
possible after the filing thereof, but in any event prior to the applicable
Effectiveness Date, and shall use its best efforts to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until all Registrable
Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold or may be sold
without volume restrictions pursuant to Rule 144(k) as determined by the counsel
to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed
and acceptable to the Company's transfer agent and the affected Holders (the
"Effectiveness Period"). The Company shall immediately notify the Holders via
facsimile of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement on the same day
that the Company receives notification of the effectiveness from the Commission.
Failure to so notify the Holder within 1 Trading Day of such notification shall
be deemed an Event under Section 2(b).
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(b) If:
(i) a Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to its Filing Date (if the
Company files a Registration Statement without affording the Holders the
opportunity to review and comment on the same as required by Section 3(a), the
Company shall not be deemed to have satisfied this clause (i)), or (ii) the
Company fails to file with the Commission a request for acceleration in
accordance with Rule 461 promulgated under the Securities Act, within five
Trading Days of the date that the Company is notified (orally or in writing,
whichever is earlier) by the Commission that a Registration Statement will not
be "reviewed," or not subject to further review; 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 14 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 not permitted to utilize the Prospectus
therein to resell such Registrable Securities for 10 consecutive calendar days
but no more than an aggregate of 15 calendar days during any 12-month period
(which need not be consecutive Trading Days) (any such failure or breach being
referred to as an "Event", and for purposes of clause (ii) 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 14 calendar day period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause (v) the
date on which such 10 or 15 calendar day period, as applicable, is exceeded
being referred to as "Event Date"), then in addition to any other rights the
Holders may have hereunder or under applicable law, on each such Event Date and
on each monthly anniversary of each such Event Date (if the applicable Event
shall not have been cured by such date) until the applicable Event is cured, the
Company shall pay to each Holder an amount in cash, as partial liquidated
damages and not as a penalty, equal to 1.5% of the outstanding principal of the
Notes for any Registrable Securities then held by such Holder for the first 30
days (pro-rated for partial months) after the Event Date and an additional 1.5%
for any subsequent 30-day period (pro-rated for partial months), thereafter. If
the Company fails to pay any partial liquidated damages pursuant to this Section
in full within seven days after the date payable, the Company will pay interest
thereon at a rate of 20% 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.
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3.
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Registration
Procedures
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In
connection with the Company's registration obligations hereunder, the Company
shall:
(a) Not
less than five Trading Days prior to the filing of each Registration Statement
or any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (including any
document that would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by
reference), the Company shall, (i) furnish to each Holder copies of all such
documents proposed to be filed, which documents (other than those incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated by reference) will be subject to the review of such
Holders, and (ii) cause its officers and directors, counsel and independent
certified public accountants to respond to such inquiries as shall be necessary,
in the reasonable opinion of respective counsel to conduct a reasonable
investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Company shall not
file the Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any amendments or
supplements thereto to which the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities shall reasonably 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 such documents. Each Holder agrees to
furnish to the Company a completed Questionnaire in the form attached to this
Agreement as Annex B (a "Selling Holder Questionnaire") not less than two
Trading Days prior to the Filing Date or by the end of the fourth Trading Day
following the date on which such Holder receives draft materials in accordance
with this Section.
(b) (i)
Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective
amendments, to a Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection
therewith as may be necessary to keep a Registration Statement continuously
effective as to the applicable Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness
Period and prepare and file with the Commission such additional Registration
Statements in order to register for resale under the Securities Act all of the
Registrable Securities; (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or
supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement (subject to the terms of this
Agreement), and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(iii) respond as promptly as reasonably possible to any comments received from
the Commission with respect to a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto
and as promptly as reasonably possible provide the Holders true and complete
copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to a
Registration Statement; and (iv) comply in all material respects with the
provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the
disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by 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 90% of the number of shares of Common Stock then registered in a
Registration Statement, then the Company shall file as soon as reasonably
practicable but in any case prior to the applicable Filing Date, an additional
Registration Statement covering the resale by the Holders of not less than 125%
of the number of such Registrable Securities.
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(d)
Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold (which notice shall,
pursuant to clauses (ii) 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 five Trading Days prior to such filing) and (if requested by any such
Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than one Trading Day following
the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment to a Registration Statement is proposed to be filed; (B) when the
Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a "review" of such
Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on such
Registration Statement (the Company shall provide true and complete copies
thereof and all written responses thereto to each of the Holders); 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 the Registration Statement or
Prospectus; provided that any and all of such information shall remain
confidential to each Holder until such information otherwise becomes public,
unless disclosure by a Holder is required by law; provided, further,
notwithstanding each Holder's agreement to keep such information confidential,
the Holders make no acknowledgement that any such information is material,
non-public information.
(e) Use
its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued, obtain the withdrawal
of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or
(ii) any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of
any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, at the earliest
practicable moment.
(f)
Furnish to each Holder, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each such
Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, including financial
statements and schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference to the extent requested by such Person, and
all exhibits to the extent requested by such Person (including those previously
furnished or incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such
documents with the Commission.
(g)
Promptly deliver to each Holder, without charge, as many copies of the
Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each
amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request in
connection with resales by the Holder of Registrable Securities. 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 on any notice pursuant to Section 3(d).
(h) 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.
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(i) 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.
(j) Upon
the occurrence of any event contemplated by this Section 3, as promptly as
reasonably possible under the circumstances taking into account the Company's
good faith assessment of any adverse consequences to the Company and its
stockholders of the premature disclosure of such event, prepare a supplement or
amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to a Registration Statement or
a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so
that, as thereafter delivered, neither a Registration Statement nor such
Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading. If the Company notifies the Holders in accordance with clauses
(ii) through (v) of Section 3(d) above to suspend the use of any Prospectus
until the requisite changes to such Prospectus have been made, then the Holders
shall suspend use of such Prospectus. The Company will use its best efforts to
ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as is
practicable. The Company shall be entitled to exercise its right under this
Section 3(j) to suspend the availability of a Registration Statement and
Prospectus, subject to the payment of partial liquidated damages pursuant to
Section 2(b), for a period not to exceed 60 days (which need not be consecutive
days) in any 12 month period.
(k)
Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission.
(l) The
Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the Company a certified
statement as to the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such
Holder and, if required by the Commission, the person thereof that has voting
and dispositive control over the Shares. During any periods that the Company is
unable to meet its obligations hereunder with respect to the registration of the
Registrable Securities solely because any Holder fails to furnish such
information within three Trading Days of the Company's request, any liquidated
damages that are accruing at such time as to such Holder only shall be tolled
and any Event that may otherwise occur solely because of such delay shall be
suspended as to such Holder only, until such information is delivered to the
Company.
4.
Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or
compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the Company
whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to the Registration
Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing sentence shall
include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including,
without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings required to be
made with the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed for
trading, and (B) in compliance with applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws
reasonably agreed to by the Company in writing (including, without limitation,
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company in connection with Blue Sky
qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities and determination of
the eligibility of the Registrable Securities for investment under the laws of
such jurisdictions as requested by the Holders), (ii) printing expenses
(including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for
Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses if the printing of
prospectuses is reasonably requested by the holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement), (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 or, except to the extent
provided for in the Transaction Documents, any legal fees or other costs of the
Holders.
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5.
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Indemnification
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(a)
Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall, notwithstanding any
termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the
officers, directors, agents, brokers (including brokers who offer and sell
Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or any failure to
perform under a margin call of Common Stock), investment advisors and employees
of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the
officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling Person, to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation,
reasonable attorneys' fees) and expenses (collectively, "Losses"), as incurred,
arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in a Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any form
of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary
prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or
supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made)
not misleading, 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)(ii)-(vi), the use by such
Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified
such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to
the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 6(d). The
Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or
assertion of any Proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement of which the Company is aware.
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(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 (1) 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 the 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 (2) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in
Section 3(d)(ii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective
Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the
Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of
the Advice contemplated in Section 6(d). In no event shall the liability of any
selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net
proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities
giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
(c) Conduct
of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall be brought or asserted
against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an "Indemnified Party"),
such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person from whom indemnity is
sought (the "Indemnifying Party") in writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall
have the right to assume the defense thereof, including the employment of
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all
fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof; provided, that
the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the
Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement,
except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally determined by a court
of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or
further review) that such failure shall have prejudiced the Indemnifying
Party.
An
Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such
Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses
of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party or Parties
unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and
expenses; (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to assume the
defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such
Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named parties to any such
Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party
and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party shall reasonably believe
that a material conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were
to represent such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case,
if such Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing that it
elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the
Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and
the reasonable fees and expenses of 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. 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.
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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 not entitled to
indemnification hereunder, determined based upon the relative faults of the
parties.
(d)
Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under Section 5(a) or 5(b) is
unavailable to an Indemnified Party (by reason of public policy or otherwise),
then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party,
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a
result of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party in connection
with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such
Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to,
among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a
material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by,
such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result
of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth
in this Agreement, any reasonable attorneys' or other reasonable fees or
expenses incurred by such party in connection with any Proceeding to the extent
such party would have been indemnified for such fees or expenses if the
indemnification provided for in this Section was available to such party in
accordance with its terms.
The
parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any
other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable
considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), no Holder shall be required
to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the
proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable
Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that such
Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission, except in the case of fraud by
such Holder.
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.
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6.
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Miscellaneous
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(a) Remedies.
In the event of a breach by the Company or by a Holder, of any of their
obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the Company, as the case may
be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law and
under this Agreement, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to
specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company and each
Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for
any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this
Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for
specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that
a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No
Piggyback on Registrations. Except as set forth on Schedule 6(i), neither the
Company nor any of its security holders (other than the Holders in such capacity
pursuant hereto) may include securities of the Company in the Registration
Statement other than the Registrable Securities. Each Purchaser acknowledges and
agrees that the Company may, in its sole discretion, file one registration
statement to fulfill its obligations to the Purchaser hereunder. The Company
shall not file any other registration statements until the initial Registration
Statement required hereunder is declared effective by the Commission, provided
that this Section 6(b) shall not prohibit the Company from filing amendments to
registration statements already filed.
(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 the Registration
Statement.
(d) Discontinued
Disposition. Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable
Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of
any event of the kind described in Section 3(d), such Holder will forthwith
discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under a Registration
Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented
Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement, or until it is advised in
writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus
may be resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any additional or
supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement. The Company will use its
best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly
as it practicable. The Company agrees and acknowledges that any periods during
which the Holder is required to discontinue the disposition of the Registrable
Securities hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of Section
2(b).
(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, 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.
10
(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 each Holder of the then outstanding
Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to
depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates
exclusively to the rights of Holders and that does not directly or indirectly
affect the rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of all of the
Registrable Securities to which such waiver or consent relates; provided,
however, that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or
supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the immediately
preceding sentence.
(g) Notices.
Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted
to be provided hereunder shall be delivered as set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
(h) Successors
and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties and shall inure to
the benefit of each Holder. The Company may not assign its rights or obligations
hereunder without the prior written consent of all of the Holders of the
then-outstanding Registrable Securities. Each Holder may assign their respective
rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted under the
Purchase Agreement.
(i) No
Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
entered, as of the date hereof, nor shall the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement
with respect to its securities, that would have the effect of impairing the
rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the
provisions hereof. Except as set forth on Schedule 6(i), neither the Company nor
any of its subsidiaries has previously entered into any agreement granting any
registration rights with respect to any of its securities to any Person that
have not been satisfied in full.
(j) Execution
and Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and, all of
which taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. In the event
that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission, such signature shall
create a valid binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf
such signature is executed) the same with the same force and effect as if such
facsimile signature were the original thereof.
(k) Governing
Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and
interpretation of this Agreement shall be determined with the provisions of the
Purchase Agreement.
(l) Cumulative
Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any
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.
11
(n) Headings.
The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall
not limit or otherwise affect the meaning 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.
********************
12
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as
of the date first written above.
/s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
|
Name:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
|
Title:
Chief
Executive
Officer
|
[SIGNATURE
PAGE OF HOLDERS FOLLOWS]
13
[SIGNATURE
PAGE OF HOLDERS TO GLOBAL AXCESS RRA]
Name of
Investing Entity: __________________________
Signature
of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity:
_________________________
Name of
Authorized Signatory: _________________________
Title of
Authorized Signatory: __________________________
[SIGNATURE
PAGES CONTINUE]
14
Plan of
Distribution
Each
Selling Stockholder (the "Selling Stockholders") of the common stock ("Common
Stock") of Global Axcess Corp., a Nevada corporation (the "Company") 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 Trading Market or any
other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded
or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. A
Selling Stockholder may use any one or more of the following methods when
selling shares:
|
o
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ordinary
brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer
solicits Purchaser;
|
|
o
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block
trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent
but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to
facilitate the transaction;
|
|
o
|
purchases
by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its
account;
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|
o
|
an
exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
exchange;
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|
o
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privately
negotiated transactions;
|
|
o
|
settlement
of short sales entered into after the date of this
prospectus;
|
|
o
|
broker-dealers
may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a specified number of such
shares at a stipulated price per
share;
|
|
o
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a
combination of any such methods of
sale;
|
|
o
|
through
the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions,
whether through an options exchange or otherwise;
or
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|
o
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any
other method permitted pursuant to applicable
law.
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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. Each
Selling Stockholder does not expect these commissions and discounts relating to
its sales of shares to exceed what is customary in the types of transactions
involved.
In
connection with the sale of our 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 our 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).
15
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 agreement or understanding, directly or
indirectly, with any person to distribute the Common Stock.
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. 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. Each Selling Stockholder has
advised us that they have not entered into any agreements, understandings or
arrangements with any underwriter or broker-dealer regarding the sale of the
resale shares. 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(e) under the
Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect or (ii) all of the shares
have been sold pursuant to the 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.
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 our common stock for a period of two business
days 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 our 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.
16
Annex
B
Selling
Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire
The
undersigned beneficial owner of common stock, par value $0.001 (the "Common
Stock"), of Global Axcess Corp., a Nevada corporation (the "Company"), (the
"Registrable Securities") understands that the Company has filed or intends to
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a
registration statement on Form SB-2 (the "Registration Statement") for the
registration and resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act"), of the Registrable Securities, in accordance with the
terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 27, 2005 (the
"Registration Rights Agreement"), among the Company and the Purchaser named
therein. A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement is available from the
Company upon request at the address set forth below. All capitalized terms not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the
Registration Rights Agreement.
Certain
legal consequences arise from being named as a selling securityholder in the
Registration Statement and the related prospectus. Accordingly, holders and
beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised to consult their own
securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being
named as a selling securityholder in the Registration Statement and the related
prospectus.
NOTICE
The
undersigned beneficial owner (the "Selling Securityholder") of Registrable
Securities hereby elects to include the Registrable Securities owned by it and
listed below in Item 3 (unless otherwise specified under such Item 3) in the
Registration Statement.
The
undersigned hereby provides the following information to the Company and
represents and warrants that such information is accurate:
QUESTIONNAIRE
1.
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Name.
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(a)
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Full
Legal Name of Selling Securityholder
|
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(b)
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Full
Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as (a) above) through
which Registrable Securities Listed in Item 3 below are
held:
|
17
(c)
|
Full
Legal Name of Natural Control Person (which means a natural person who
directly you indirectly alone or with others has power to vote or dispose
of the securities covered by the questionnaire):
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|
2.
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Address
for Notices to Selling Securityholder:
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Telephone:
|
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Fax:
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Contact Person:
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3.
|
Beneficial
Ownership of Registrable
Securities:
|
(a) Type
and Principal Amount of Registrable Securities beneficially owned:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.
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Broker-Dealer
Status:
|
|
(a)
|
Are
you a broker-dealer?
|
Yes ¨ No ¨
Note:
|
If
yes, the Commission's staff has indicated that you should be identified as
an underwriter in the Registration
Statement.
|
|
(b)
|
Are
you an affiliate of a
broker-dealer?
|
Yes ¨ No ¨
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(c)
|
If
you are an affiliate of a broker-dealer, do you certify that you bought
the Registrable Securities in the ordinary course of business, and at the
time of the purchase of the Registrable Securities to be resold, you had
no agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person
to distribute the Registrable
Securities?
|
Yes ¨ No ¨
Note:
|
If
no, the Commission's staff has indicated that you should be identified as
an underwriter in the Registration
Statement.
|
18
5.
|
Beneficial
Ownership of Other Securities of the Company Owned by the Selling
Securityholder.
|
Except as
set forth below in this Item 5, the undersigned is not the beneficial or
registered owner of any securities of the Company other than the Registrable
Securities listed above in Item 3.
|
(a)
|
Type
and Amount of Other Securities beneficially owned by the Selling
Securityholder:
|
6.
|
Relationships
with the Company:
|
Except as
set forth below, neither the undersigned nor any of its affiliates, officers,
directors or principal equity holders (owners of 5% of more of the equity
securities of the undersigned) has held any position or office or has had any
other material relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or affiliates)
during the past three years.
State any
exceptions here:
|
|
The
undersigned agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies or changes
in the information provided herein that may occur subsequent to the date hereof
at any time while the Registration Statement remains effective.
By
signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the information
contained herein in its answers to Items 1 through 6 and the inclusion of such
information in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus. The
undersigned understands that such information will be relied upon by the Company
in connection with the preparation or amendment of the Registration Statement
and the related prospectus.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Notice
and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its duly
authorized agent.
Dated:_________
|
Beneficial
Owner:_________________________
|
|
By:
|
|
|
Name:
|
||
Title:
|
PLEASE
FAX A COPY OF THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE, AND RETURN
THE ORIGINAL BY OVERNIGHT MAIL, TO:
19