Exhibit 99.4
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made
and entered into as of April 27, 2000, among XxxXxxx.xxx, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and the investors signatory hereto (each such
investor is a "Purchaser" and all such investors are, collectively, the
"Purchasers").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Convertible Debenture
Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof among the Company and the
Purchasers (the "Purchase Agreement").
The Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that
are defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms
in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other
Person that directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or under common
control with such Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control," when
used with respect to any Person, means the possession, direct or indirect, of
the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of
such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise; and the terms of "affiliated," "controlling" and "controlled" have
meanings correlative to the foregoing.
"Business Day" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any
day which shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the
State of New York or the Commonwealth of Virginia generally are authorized or
required by law or other government actions to close.
"Closing Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the
Purchase Agreement.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Common Stock" means the Company's common stock, $.001 par
value per share, or such securities that such stock shall hereafter be
reclassified into.
"Debentures" means the Convertible Debentures issued to the
Purchasers in accordance with the Purchase Agreement.
"Effectiveness Date" means (i) with respect to the
Registration Statement to be
filed following the First Closing, the 90th day following the First Closing
Date, (ii) with respect to the Registration Statement to be filed following the
Second Closing, the 90th day following the Second Closing Date, and (iii) with
respect to the Registration Statement to be filed following the Third Closing,
the 90th day following the Third Closing Date.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2(a).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Filing Date" means (i) with respect to the Registration
Statement to be filed following the First Closing, the 30th day following the
First Closing Date, (ii) with respect to the Registration Statement to be filed
following the Second Closing, the 30th day following the Second Closing Date,
and (iii) with respect to the Registration Statement to be filed following the
Third Closing, the 30th day following the Third Closing Date.
"First Closing Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the
Purchase Agreement.
"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).
"Person" means an individual or a corporation, partnership,
trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited
liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or political
subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.
"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 the 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 the 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) with respect to the
Registration Statement to be filed following the First Closing Date, the shares
of Common Stock issuable upon conversion in full of the First Tranche
Debentures, exercise in full of the First Tranche Warrants and exercise
of any warrants issued or issuable to Cardinal Capital Management, Inc. in
connection with the First Closing; (ii) with respect to the Registration
Statement to be filed following the Second Closing Date, the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon conversion in full of the Second Tranche Debentures,
exercise in full of the Second Tranche Warrants and exercise of any warrants
issued or issuable to Cardinal Capital Management, Inc. in connection with the
Second Closing; and (iii) with respect to the Registration Statement to be filed
following the Third Closing Date, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion in full of the Third Tranche Debentures, exercise in full of the
Third Tranche Warrants and exercise of any warrants issued or issuable to
Cardinal Capital Management, Inc. in connection with the Third Closing.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statements and
any additional registration statements contemplated by Section 2(a), including
(in each case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration
statements 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 statements.
"Rule 144" means Rule 144 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 effect as such Rule.
"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 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 effect as such Rule.
"Second Closing Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the
Purchase Agreement.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Special Counsel" means one special counsel to the Holders,
for which the Holders will be reimbursed by the Company pursuant to Section 4.
"Third Closing Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the
Purchase Agreement.
2. Shelf Registration
(a) On or prior to each Filing Date, the Company shall prepare
and file with the Commission a "Shelf" Registration Statement covering the
resale of all Registrable Securities for such Registration Statement for an
offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. The Registration
Statement shall be on Form S-3 (except if the Company is not then
eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-3, in which
case such registration shall be on another appropriate form in accordance
herewith as the Holders may consent) and shall contain (except if otherwise
directed by the Holders) the "Plan of Distribution" attached hereto as Annex A,
and cause the Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective as
provided herein. 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
Effectiveness Date, and shall use its best efforts to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the earlier of
the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date therefor and such time as 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"), provided, that the Company shall not be
deemed to have used its best efforts to keep the Registration Statement
effective during the Effectiveness Period if it voluntarily takes any action
that would result in the Holders not being able to sell the Registrable
Securities covered by such Registration Statement during the Effectiveness
Period, unless such action is required under applicable law or the Company has
filed a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement and the
Commission has not declared it effective.
(b) The initial Registration Statement required to be filed
hereunder following each Closing Date shall include a number of shares of Common
Stock equal to no less than the sum of (i) 200% of the number of shares of
Common Stock issuable upon conversion in full of the principal amount of
Debentures issued on such Closing Date, assuming no interest is paid thereon in
cash and that such Debentures remain outstanding for three years, and (ii) the
number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise in full of the Warrants
issued on such Closing Date, plus the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable
to Cardinal Capital Management, Inc. on such Closing Date.
(c) If (a) an initial Registration Statement is not filed on
or prior to the applicable Filing Date (if the Company files such Registration
Statement without affording the Holder the opportunity to review and comment on
the same as required by Section 3(a) hereof, the Company shall not be deemed to
have satisfied this clause (a)), or (b) the Company fails to file with the
Commission a request for acceleration in accordance with Rule 461 promulgated
under the Securities Act, within five 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 (c) an initial Registration Statement filed hereunder is not declared
effective by the Commission on or prior to the Effectiveness Date therefor, or
(d) after a Registration Statement is filed with and declared effective by the
Commission, such Registration Statement ceases to be effective as to all
Registrable Securities to be covered thereby at any time prior to the expiration
of the Effectiveness Period without being succeeded within ten days by an
amendment to such Registration Statement or by a subsequent Registration
Statement filed with and declared effective by the Commission, or (e) the Common
Stock shall be delisted or suspended from trading on the Nasdaq National Market
("NASDAQ") or on the New York Stock Exchange, or Nasdaq Smallcap Market (each, a
"Subsequent Market")
for more than three days (which need not be consecutive days), or (f) the
conversion rights of the Holders pursuant to the Debentures are suspended for
any reason, or (g) an amendment to a Registration Statement is not filed by the
Company with the Commission within ten days of the Commission's notifying the
Company that such amendment is required in order for such Registration Statement
to be declared effective (any such failure or breach being referred to as an
"Event," and for purposes of clauses (a), (c), (f) the date on which such Event
occurs, or for purposes of clause (b) the date on which such five day period is
exceeded, or for purposes of clauses (d) and (g) the date which such 10
day-period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause (e) the date on which such
three day-period is exceeded, being referred to as "Event Date"), then, on the
Event Date and each monthly anniversary thereof until the applicable Event is
cured, the Company shall pay to each Holder 2.0% of the purchase price paid by
such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, in cash, as liquidated damages
and not as a penalty. If the Company fails to pay any liquidated damages
pursuant to this Section in full within seven days after the date payable, the
Company will pay interest thereon at a rate of 18% per annum (or such lesser
maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable law) to the Holder,
accruing daily from the date such liquidated damages are due until such amounts,
plus all such interest thereon, are paid in full. The liquidated damages
pursuant to the terms hereof shall apply on a pro-rata basis for any portion of
a month prior to the cure of an Event.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may suspend
offers and sales or delay the effectiveness of any Registration Statement, an
aggregate of up to 10 Trading Days in any 12-month period, if the Company's
Board of Directors determines, in good faith, that such delay would be necessary
to avoid premature disclosure of any material acquisition, disposition, business
combination, or other material transaction, and such delay or suspension will
not result in an event hereunder (however, no such delay will provide the basis
for avoidance of an Event of Default under Section 3(c)(viii) of the
Debentures).
3. Registration Procedures
In connection with the Company's registration obligations
hereunder, the Company shall:
(a) Not less than five Business Days prior to the filing of
each Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto (including, prior to filing such Registration Statement, any
document that would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by
reference), the Company shall, (i) furnish to the Holders and their Special
Counsel 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 their Special Counsel, 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 a
Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any amendments or supplements
thereto to which the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be
covered thereby and their Special Counsel shall reasonably object, provided,
however, that such delay will not result in any breach of an Event Date if given
less
than one Business Day from the date such draft of Registration Statement was
received by the Special Counsel and the Holder for its' review.
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statements and the
Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such
Registration Statements continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable
Securities for the Effectiveness Period and prepare and file with the Commission
such additional required 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, and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(iii) respond as promptly as reasonably possible, and in any event within ten
days, to any comments received from the Commission with respect to the
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 the 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 the
Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the
intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in the
Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) File additional Registration Statements if the number of
Registrable Securities to be covered by a Registration Statement at any time
exceeds 85% of the number of shares of Common Stock then registered in such
Registration Statement. The Company shall have twenty days to file such
additional Registration Statements after such requirement notice of which is
given by the Holders (which shall be the Filing Date for such additional
Registration Statements) and the Effectiveness Date for each such additional
Registration Statement shall be the 90th day following the date of such notice.
(d) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold
and their Special Counsel as promptly as reasonably possible (and, in the case
of (i)(A) below, not less than five Business Days prior to such filing) and (if
requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than one
Business Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment to the 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 the 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 the Registration Statement or Prospectus or
for additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement covering any or
all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that
purpose; (iv) if at any time any of the representations and warranties of the
Company contained in any agreement contemplated hereby ceases to be true and
correct in all material respects; (v) 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; and (vi) of the occurrence of
any event or passage of time that makes the financial statements included in the
Registration Statement ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement made in
the 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 the Registration Statement, Prospectus or other
documents so that, in the case of the 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.
(e) Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if
issued, obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of
each 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 and their Special Counsel, without
charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and each
amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, 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 and their Special Counsel,
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. 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.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities,
use its best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling
Holders and their Special Counsel in connection with the registration or
qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such
Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws
of such jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder requests in
writing, to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption
therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other
acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by a 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 or subject the
Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so
subject.
(i) 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 Section
3(d)(vi), as promptly as reasonably possible, 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 such 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.
(k) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission in connection with its obligations hereunder.
(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 requested by the Commission, the
controlling person thereof.
4. Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses (other than
commissions or underwriter fees incurred by the Holder to sell its' Registrable
Securities) 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
NASDAQ and any Subsequent Market on which the Common Stock is then listed for
trading, and (B) in compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws
(including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Holders 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 the Holders of
a majority of Registrable Securities may designate)), (ii) printing expenses
(including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for
Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses if the printing of
prospectuses is requested by the holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities included in the Registration Statement), (iii) reasonable messenger,
telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company and Special Counsel for the Holders, (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.
5. Indemnification
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless
each Holder, the officers, directors, 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, costs of preparation and 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 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 (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 (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 such Registration Statement, 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(e). The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of
the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding of which the Company is
aware in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(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
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment not subject
to appeal or review) arising solely out of or based solely upon any untrue
statement of a material fact contained in such Registration Statement, any
Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement
thereto, or arising solely out of or based solely upon any omission of a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading 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 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 such Registration Statement, such Prospectus or
such form of Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto. 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 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 proximately
and materially adversely 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; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have
failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel
reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3)
the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties)
include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such
Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that a 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 such 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.
All 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 Business Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying
Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified
Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder; provided, that the
Indemnifying Party may require such Indemnified Party to undertake to reimburse
all such fees and expenses to the extent it is finally judicially
determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification
hereunder).
(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 Section 5(c), 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. No Person
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was
not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have
to the Indemnified Parties.
6. Miscellaneous
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a
Holder, of any of their 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 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 is inconsistent with the rights
granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the
provisions hereof. Except as and to the extent specified in Schedule 6(b)
hereto, 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.
(c) No Piggyback on Registrations. Except as and to the extent
specified in Schedule 6(b) hereto, neither the Company nor any of its security
holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto) may include
securities of the Company in the Registration Statement other than the
Registrable Securities, and the Company shall not after the date hereof enter
into any agreement providing any such right to any of its security holders.
(d) 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.
(e) Discontinued Disposition. Each Holder agrees by its
acquisition of such Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from
the Company of suspension under Section 2(d) or of the occurrence of any event
of the kind described in Sections 3(d)(ii), 3(d)(iii), 3(d)(iv), 3(d)(v) or
3(d)(vi), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable
Securities under the Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the
copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement
contemplated by Section 3(j), 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 may provide appropriate stop orders to
enforce the provisions of this paragraph.
(f) 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 stock option or other employee
benefit plans, then the Company shall send to each Holder written notice of such
determination and, if within fifteen days after receipt 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, subject to customary underwriters cutbacks
applicable to all holders of registration rights.
(g) 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 the Holders of at least two-thirds 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 at least a majority 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.
(h) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or
deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified in this Section prior to 6:30 p.m. (New
York City time) on a Business Day, (ii) the Business Day after the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified in the Purchase Agreement later than 6:30
p.m. (New York City time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m. (New York City
time) on such date, (iii) the Business Day following the date of mailing, if
sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual
receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address
for such notices and communications shall be as follows:
If to the Company: XxxXxxx.xxx., Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: General Counsel
With copies to: Xxxxx & Xxxxxxx L.L.P.
0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xx., XX
Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: X. Xxxxx Xxxx, Esq.
If to a Purchaser: To the address set forth under such
Purchaser's name on the signature pages
hereto.
If to any other Person who is then the registered Holder:
To the address of such Holder as it
appears in the stock transfer books of
the Company
or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same
manner, by such Person.
(i) 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
each Holder. Each Holder may assign their respective rights hereunder in the
manner and to the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
(j) 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 governed by
and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of
New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each
party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and
federal courts sitting in the City of New York, borough of Manhattan, for the
adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any
transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably
waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim
that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that
such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably
waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any
such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the
address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such
service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice
thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right
to serve process in any manner permitted by law.
(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 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.
(n) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for
convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(o) Shares Held by the Company and its Affiliates. Whenever
the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable
Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or
its Affiliates (other than any Holder or transferees or successors or assigns
thereof if such Holder is deemed to be an Affiliate solely by reason of its
holdings of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in determining
whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required
percentage.
(p) Independent Nature of Purchasers' Obligations and Rights.
The obligations of each Purchaser hereunder is several and not joint with the
obligations of any other Purchaser hereunder, and neither Purchaser shall be
responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other
Purchaser hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or
document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant
hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a
partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or
create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert with
respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Each Purchaser 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 Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any
proceeding for such purpose.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this
Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
XXXXXXX.XXX, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
-----------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of the Board
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE PAGES OF PURCHASER TO FOLLOW]
STRONG RIVER INVESTMENTS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
---------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Attorney-in-fact
Address for Notice:
Strong River Investments, Inc.
x/x Xxxxxxxx-Xxxx 0 Xxxxxx (XXX) Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Cay I, Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
X.X. Xxx 000
Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, XXX
With copies to:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000 and (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
MONTROSE INVESTMENTS LTD.
By: /s/ Xxxxx X'Xxxx
---------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X'Xxxx
Title: Authorized Signatory
Address for Notice:
Montrose Investments Ltd.
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxx Xxxx and Xxx Xxxxxx
With copies to:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000 and (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq. and Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Annex A
Plan of Distribution
The Selling Stockholders 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 any 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. The Selling Stockholders may use any one or more of the
following methods when selling shares:
o ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the
broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
o 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;
o an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
exchange;
o privately negotiated transactions;
o short sales;
o broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a
specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
o a combination of any such methods of sale; and
o any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
The Selling Stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the
Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.
The Selling Stockholders may also engage in short sales against the
box, puts and calls and other transactions in securities of the Company or
derivatives of Company securities and may sell or deliver shares in connection
with these trades. The Selling Stockholders may pledge their shares to their
brokers under the margin provisions of customer agreements. If a Selling
Stockholder defaults on a margin loan, the broker may, from time to time, offer
and sell the pledged shares.
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. The Selling Stockholders do not expect
these commissions and discounts to exceed what is customary in the types of
transactions involved.
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.
The Company is required to pay all fees and expenses incident to the
registration of the shares, including fees and disbursements of counsel to the
Selling Stockholders. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling
Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act.
