REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into as of
June 24, 2005 by and among ICOA, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the "Company"), and
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xx. (the "Investor").
R E C I T A L S
WHEREAS, the Investor has, pursuant to the terms of that certain Settlement
Agreement, dated as of June 24, 2005, by and among the Company, and the Investor
(the "Settlement Agreement"), agreed to receive rights to acquire shares of
common stock of the Company , the "Stock");
WHEREAS, the Company has agreed to grant the Investor certain registration
rights; and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Investor desire to provide for the
registration rights of the Investor on the terms and subject to the conditions
herein set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and for other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in the Settlement Agreement. As used in this
Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:
"Commission": means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other
federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act;
"Exchange Act": means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;
"Holder": means any holder of Registrable Securities;
"Permitted Transferee" means (a) an Affiliate of an Investor, (b) any
spouse, ancestor, descendant or other member of an Investor's immediate family,
and any trust for the benefit of such Investor.
Person": means an individual, partnership, joint-stock company,
corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, and a government or agency or
political subdivision thereof;
"register", "registered" and "registration": means a registration effected
by preparing and filing a registration statement in compliance with the
Securities Act (and any post-effective amendments filed or required to be filed)
and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such registration statement;
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"Registrable Securities": means those shares of Common Stock issued or
issuable pursuant to the Settlement Agreement;
"Registration Expenses": means all expenses incurred by the Company in
connection with a registration of Registrable Securities as described in Section
2 hereof, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees,
printing expenses, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, blue sky
fees and expenses and the expense of any special audits incident to or required
by any such registration (but excluding the compensation of regular employees of
the Company, which shall be paid in any event by the Company);
"Security" and "Securities": shall have the meanings set forth in Section
2(1) of the Securities Act;
"Securities Act": means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; and
"Selling Expenses": means all underwriting discounts and selling
commissions applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities.
SECTION 2. REGISTRATION RIGHTS
(a) Company Registration.
(i) Inclusion in Registration. If the Company shall determine to
register any of its equity securities either for its own account or for the
account of any Persons other than the Investor who, by virtue of agreements with
the Company or otherwise, are entitled to include securities of the Company held
by them in any such registration, other than a registration relating solely to
employee benefit plans, or a registration relating solely to a Commission Rule
145 transaction, or a registration on any registration form which does not
permit secondary sales or does not include substantially the same information as
would be required to be included in a registration statement covering the sale
of Registrable Securities, the Company will:
(A) promptly give to each of the Holders written notice thereof
(which shall include a list of the jurisdictions in which the Company intends to
attempt to qualify such securities under the applicable blue sky or other state
securities laws); and
(B) include in such registration (and any related qualification
under blue sky laws or other compliance), and in any underwriting involved
therein, all the Registrable Securities.
(ii) Exception. This Section 2 shall not apply where the Company
initially files for such registration with the SEC within thirty days of the
Effective Date of the Settlement Agreement.
(b) Expenses of Registration. All Registration Expenses incurred in
connection with any registration, qualification or compliance pursuant to this
Section 2 shall be borne by the Company, except that all Selling Expenses shall
be borne by the Holders of the securities so registered pro rata on the basis of
the number of their shares so registered.
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(c) Registration Procedures. In the case of each registration effected by
the Company pursuant to this Section 2, the Company will keep the Holders, as
applicable, advised in writing as to the initiation of each registration and as
to the completion thereof. At its expense, the Company will:
(i) keep such registration effective for a period of 120 days or until
the Holders, as applicable, have completed the distribution described in the
registration statement relating thereto, whichever first occurs;
(ii) furnish such number of prospectuses and other documents incident
thereto as each of the Holders, as applicable, from time to time may reasonably
request;
(iii) use all commercially reasonable efforts to register and qualify
the securities covered by such registration statement under such other
securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably
requested by the Holders, provided that the Company shall not be required in
connection therewith or as a condition thereto to qualify to do business or to
file a general consent to service of process in any such states or
jurisdictions;
(iv) cause all such Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this
Section 2 to be listed on each securities exchange and trading system on which
similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;
(v) provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable
Securities registered pursuant hereunder and a CUSIP number for all such
Registrable Securities, in each case not later than the effective date of such
registration;
(vi) notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such
registration at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be
delivered under the Securities Act of the happening of any event as a result of
which the prospectus included in such registration statement, as then in effect,
includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing.
(d) Indemnification.
(i) The Company will indemnify each of the Holders, as applicable, each
of its officers, directors, members and partners (whether retired or currently
serving), and each person controlling each of the Holders, with respect to each
registration which has been effected pursuant to this Section 2, against all
claims, losses, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arising
out of or based on (A) any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a
material fact contained in any prospectus, offering circular or other document
(including any related registration statement, notification or the like)
incident to any such registration, qualification or compliance, or based on any
omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or
(B) any violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any
applicable state securities laws, or any rule or regulation thereunder
applicable to the Company, and will reimburse each of the Holders, each of such
Holder's officers, directors, members and partners (whether retired or currently
serving), and each person controlling each of the Holders, each such underwriter
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and each person who controls any such underwriter, for any legal and any other
expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating and defending any
such claim, loss, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the
Company will not be liable in any such case to any Holder, to the extent that
any such claim, loss, damage, liability or expense arises out of or is based on
any untrue statement or omission based upon written information furnished to the
Company by such Holder, for use therein. Any amounts to be paid by the Company
to any Holder pursuant to this Section 2(f) shall be so paid by the Company
within 30 days after receipt by the Company from such Holder of appropriate
documentation evidencing the incurrence by such Holder of any amounts to which
it is entitled under this Section 2(f).
(ii) Each of the Holders will, if Registrable Securities held by it are
included in the securities as to which such registration, qualification or
compliance is being effected, indemnify the Company, each of its directors and
officers and each person who controls the Company against all claims, losses,
damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arising out of or based
on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact
contained in any such registration statement, prospectus, offering circular or
other document made by such Holder in writing, or any omission (or alleged
omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements by such Holder therein not misleading, and will
reimburse the Company and such directors, officers, partners, persons or control
persons for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection
with investigating or defending any such claim, loss, damage, liability or
action, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or alleged omission) is
made in such registration statement, prospectus, offering circular or other
document in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished
to the Company by such Holder and stated to be specifically for use therein;
provided, however, that the obligations of each of the Holders hereunder shall
be limited to an amount equal to the net proceeds to such Holder of securities
sold as contemplated herein.
(iii) Each party entitled to indemnification under this Section 2(f)
(the "Indemnified Party") shall give notice to the party required to provide
indemnification (the "Indemnifying Party") promptly after such Indemnified Party
has actual knowledge of any claim as to which indemnity may be sought, and shall
permit the Indemnifying Party to assume the defense of any such claim or any
litigation resulting therefrom; provided that counsel for the Indemnifying
Party, who shall conduct the defense of such claim or any litigation resulting
therefrom, shall be approved by the Indemnified Party (whose approval shall not
unreasonably be withheld) and the Indemnified Party may participate in such
defense at such party's expense (unless the Indemnified Party shall have
reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the
Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party in such action, in which case the
fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party),
and provided further that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give notice as
provided herein shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations
under this Section 2 unless the Indemnifying Party is materially prejudiced
thereby. No Indemnifying Party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation
shall, except with the consent of each Indemnified Party, consent to entry of
any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as an
unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such
Indemnified Party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or
litigation. Each Indemnified Party shall furnish such information regarding
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itself or the claim in question as an Indemnifying Party may reasonably request
in writing and as shall be reasonably required in connection with the defense of
such claim and litigation resulting therefrom.
(iv) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 2(f) is held by
a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an Indemnified Party with
respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense referred to herein,
then the Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party
hereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified
Party as a result of such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense in such
proportion (not to exceed an amount equal to the net proceeds to such
Indemnifying Party of any securities sold as contemplated herein) as is
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party on the one
hand and of the Indemnified Party on the other in connection with the statements
or omissions which resulted in such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense,
as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of
the Indemnifying Party and of the Indemnified Party shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue (or alleged untrue)
statement of a material fact or the omission (or alleged omission) to state a
material fact relates to information supplied by the Indemnifying Party or by
the Indemnified Party and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(v) The foregoing indemnity agreement of the Company and Holders is
subject to the condition that, insofar as they relate to any loss, claim,
liability or damage made in a preliminary prospectus but eliminated or remedied
in the amended prospectus on file with the Commission at the time the
registration statement in question becomes effective or the amended prospectus
filed with the Commission pursuant to Commission Rule 424(b) (the "Final
Prospectus"), such indemnity or contribution agreement shall not inure to the
benefit of any underwriter or Holder if a copy of the Final Prospectus was
furnished to the underwriter and was not furnished to the person asserting the
loss, liability, claim or damage at or prior to the time such action is required
by the Securities Act.
(e) Delay of Registration. No Holder shall have any right to obtain or seek
an injunction restraining or otherwise delaying any such registration as the
result of any controversy that might arise with respect to the interpretation or
implementation of this Section 2.
(f) Information by the Holders.
(i) Each of the Holders holding securities included in any registration
shall furnish to the Company such information regarding such Holder and the
distribution proposed by such Holder as the Company may reasonably request in
writing and as shall be reasonably required in connection with any registration,
qualification or compliance referred to in this Section 2.
(ii) In the event that, either immediately prior to or subsequent to the
effectiveness of any registration statement, any Holder shall distribute
Registrable Securities to its partners or members (or retired partners or
members) or other Affiliates thereof, such Holder shall so advise the Company
and provide such information as shall be necessary to permit an amendment to
such registration statement to provide information with respect to such
partners, members and/or Affiliates, as selling security holders. Promptly
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following receipt of such information, the Company shall file an appropriate
amendment to such registration statement reflecting the information so provided.
Any incremental expense to the Company resulting from such amendment shall be
borne by the Company.
(g) Rule 144 Reporting.
With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and
regulations of the Commission which may permit the sale of restricted securities
to the public without registration, the Company agrees to:
(i) make and keep public information available as those terms are
understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act ("Rule 144");
(ii) use its best efforts to file with the Commission in a timely manner
all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act; and
(iii) so long as any Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish to
such Holder upon request, a written statement by the Company as to its
compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, and of the Securities
Act and the Exchange Act, a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report
of the Company, and such other reports and documents so filed as such Holder may
reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the
Commission allowing such Holder to sell any such securities without
registration.
(h) Assignment. The registration rights set forth in this Section 2 may be
assigned, in whole or in part, only to Permitted Transferees; provided, however,
that such Permitted Transferee shall, as a condition to the effectiveness of
such assignment, be required to execute a counterpart to this Agreement agreeing
to be treated as an Investor hereunder whereupon such Permitted Transferee shall
have the benefits of, and shall be subject to the restrictions contained in,
this Agreement as if such Permitted Transferee was originally included in the
definition of an Investor herein and had originally been a party hereto.
(i) Termination.
(i) The registration rights set forth in this Section 2 shall not be
available to any Holder if, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, all of the
Registrable Securities then owned by such Holder could be sold in any 90-day
period pursuant to Rule 144 (without giving effect to the provisions of Rule
144(k)).
(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, this
Agreement shall terminate, and its provisions shall have no force or effect, on
the second anniversary of the date hereof.
(j) Discontinuance. The Investor agree that upon receipt of any notice from
the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section
2(c)(vi), the Investor will, to the extent appropriate, discontinue their
disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement
relating to such Registrable Securities until their receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended prospectus that shall not include an untrue statement of
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material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances under which they were made and, if so directed by the Company,
will deliver to the Company all copies, other than permanent file copies, then
in their possession, of the prospectus relating to such Registrable Securities
current at the time of receipt of such notice.
SECTION 3. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Nevada (without giving effect to the
choice of law principles thereof) which are applicable to contracts made and to
be performed entirely within such State.
(b) Section Headings. The headings of the sections and subsections of this
Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to
constitute a part hereof.
(c) Notices.
(i) All communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be delivered by hand or facsimile or mailed by a nationally recognized
overnight courier or by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid:
(A) if to an Investor, at the address or facsimile number of
such Investor set forth on Schedule I attached hereto, or at such other address
or facsimile number as the Investor may have furnished the Company in writing;
and
(B) if to the Company, at ICOA, Inc., 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000 (Fax: 000-000-0000), marked for the attention of the CEO, with a copy
by email to xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx, or at such other address, facsimile number
or email address as the Company may have furnished the Investor in writing, with
a copy to Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, 0000 Xxxxxxx Xx., Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 (Fax:
000-000-0000), with a copy by email to xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.
(ii) Any notice so addressed shall be deemed to be given: if delivered
by hand or facsimile, with written confirmation of receipt, on the date of such
delivery; if mailed by courier, on the first business day following the date of
such mailing; and if mailed by registered or certified mail, on the third
business day after the date of such mailing.
(d) Successors and Assigns. Subject to Section 2 hereof, this Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of
each of the parties.
(e) Entire Agreement; Amendment and Waiver. This Agreement constitutes the
entire understanding of the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof
and supersedes all prior agreements or understandings with respect to the
subject matter hereof among such parties. This Agreement may be amended, and the
observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived, with (and only with,
unless otherwise set forth herein) the written consent of the Company and the
Investor. Notwithstanding the terms of the immediately preceding sentence or any
other provision herein, no such amendment or waiver may: (i) adversely effect
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the rights or preferences of any Investor in a manner materially different from
the other Investor without the prior written consent of such Investor; (ii)
increase the potential liabilities or obligations of any Investor without the
prior written consent of such Investor; or (iii) increase the indemnity
obligations of such Investor or decrease the indemnity protections for such
Investor.
(f) Severability. In the event that any part or parts of this Agreement
shall be held illegal or unenforceable by any court or administrative body of
competent jurisdiction, such determination shall not affect the remaining
provisions of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which
together shall be considered one and the same agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the
date first set forth above.
ICOA, INC.
By:
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Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
President
XXXXX XXXXXXXX, XX.
By:
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