EXHIBIT 10.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made
and entered into as of August 27, 2004, by and among Newport International
Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and the purchaser listed on
Schedule I hereto (the "Purchaser").
This Agreement is being entered into pursuant to the Common
Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of the date hereof between the
Company and the Purchaser (the "Purchase Agreement").
The Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein 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 meaning set forth in Section 3(m).
"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.
"Board" shall have meaning set forth in Section 3(n).
"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 generally are authorized or required by law or other
government actions to close.
"Closing Date" means the date of the final closing of the
purchase and sale of the Shares and Warrants pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Common Stock" means the Company's Common Stock, par value
$.001 per share.
"Effectiveness Date" means with respect to the Registration
Statement the earlier of the 90th day following the Filing Date or the date
which is within three (3) Business Days of the date on which the Commission
informs the Company that the Commission (i) will not review the Registration
Statement or (ii) that the Company may request the acceleration of the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement and the Company makes such request.
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"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.
"Event" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(d).
"Event Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(d).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Filing Date" means the 45th day following the Closing Date.
"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 in such Prospectus.
"Registrable Securities" means (i) the shares of Common Stock
issued to the Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and (ii) the shares
of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statements and
any additional registration statements contemplated by Section 2, 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 in such
registration statement.
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"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 158" means Rule 158 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.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Special Counsel" means Jenkens & Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx LLP,
for which the Holders will be reimbursed by the Company pursuant to Section 4.
"Warrants" means the warrants to purchase shares of Common
Stock issued to the Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
2. Resale Registration.
On or prior to the Filing Date the Company shall prepare and
file with the Commission a "resale" Registration Statement providing for the
resale of all Registrable 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 with the Securities Act and the rules promulgated
thereunder). The Company shall (i) not permit any securities other than the
Registrable Securities and the securities to be listed on Schedule II hereto to
be included in the Registration Statement and (ii) use its reasonable 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 to keep such Registration Statement
continuously effective under the Securities Act until such date as is the
earlier of (x) the date when all Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement have been sold or (y) the date on which the Registrable
Securities may be sold without any restriction pursuant to Rule 144(k) as
determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter,
addressed to the Company's transfer agent to such effect (the "Effectiveness
Period").
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3. Registration Procedures.
In connection with the Company's registration obligations
hereunder, the Company shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the Commission on or prior to the
Filing Date, a Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (or if the Company is not
then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form SB-2
such registration shall be on another appropriate form in accordance with the
Securities Act and the rules promulgated thereunder) in accordance with the
method or methods of distribution thereof as specified by the Holders (except if
otherwise directed by the Holders), and use its reasonable best efforts to cause
the Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective as provided
herein; provided, however, that not less than five (5) Business Days prior to
the filing of the Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto (including any document that would be
incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall (i) furnish to the Holders
and any Special Counsel, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed,
which documents (other than those incorporated by reference) will be subject to
the review of such Holders and such 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 Special
Counsel, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the
Securities Act. Unless otherwise advised by outside counsel to the Company, 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 or any Special Counsel shall reasonably object in writing
within three (3) Business Days of their receipt thereof.
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep the Registration Statement continuously effective as to the
applicable Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period and prepare and
file with the Commission such additional Registration Statements as necessary 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 (or any similar provisions then in force) promulgated
under the Securities Act; (iii) respond as promptly as possible, but in no event
later than ten (10) Business Days, to any comments received from the Commission
with respect to the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and as
promptly as 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) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold
and any Special Counsel as promptly as possible (and, in the case of (i)(A)
below, not less than five (5) days prior to such filing) and (if requested by
any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than one (1) Business
Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is filed; (B) when the
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Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a "review" of such
Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on such
Registration Statement and (C) with respect to 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 that makes 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 the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
(d) Use its reasonable best efforts to avoid the issuance of,
or, if issued, obtain the withdrawal of, (i) any order suspending the
effectiveness of the 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.
(e) If requested by the Holders of a majority in interest of
the Registrable Securities, (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement
or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement such information as
the Company reasonably agrees should be included therein and (ii) make all
required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment
as soon as practicable after the Company has received notification of the
matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment.
(f) Furnish to each Holder and any 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 any 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; and 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.
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(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities,
use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the
selling Holders and any 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, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally
to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take
any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject 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 sold pursuant to a Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free
of all restrictive legends (provided that the issuance of such unlegended
certificates is in compliance with applicable securities laws), and to enable
such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such
names as any Holder may request in writing at least two (2) Business Days prior
to any sale of Registrable Securities.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section
3(c)(vi), as promptly as possible, prepare a supplement or amendment, including
a post-effective amendment, to the 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 the 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 the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(k) Use its reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable
Securities relating to the Registration Statement to be listed on the OTC
Bulletin Board or any other securities exchange, quotation system or market, if
any, on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed or traded
as and when required pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
(l) Comply in all material respects with all applicable rules
and regulations of the Commission and make generally available to its security
holders earning statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act and Rule 158 not later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month
period (or 90 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a
fiscal year) commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the
Company after the effective date of the Registration Statement, which statement
shall conform to the requirements of Rule 158.
(m) The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to
the Company information regarding such Holder and the distribution of such
Registrable Securities as is required by law to be disclosed in the Registration
Statement, and the Company may exclude
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from such registration the Registrable Securities of any such Holder who
unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after
receiving such request.
If the Registration Statement refers to any Holder by name or
otherwise as the holder of any securities of the Company, then such Holder shall
have the right to require (if such reference to such Holder by name or otherwise
is not required by the Securities Act or any similar federal statute then in
force) the deletion of the reference to such Holder in any amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement filed or prepared subsequent to the
time that such reference ceases to be required.
Each Holder covenants and agrees that (i) it will not sell any
Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until it has received
copies of the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented as contemplated in
Section 3(g) and notice from the Company that such Registration Statement and
any post-effective amendments thereto have become effective as contemplated by
Section 3(c) and (ii) it and its officers, directors or Affiliates, if any, will
comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as
applicable to them in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant
to the Registration Statement.
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(c)(ii), 3(c)(iii), 3(c)(iv),
3(c)(v), 3(c)(vi) or 3(n), 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.
(n) If (i) there is material non-public information regarding
the Company which the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") reasonably
determines not to be in the Company's best interest to disclose and which the
Company is not otherwise required to disclose, or (ii) there is a significant
business opportunity (including, but not limited to, the acquisition or
disposition of assets (other than in the ordinary course of business) or any
merger, consolidation, tender offer or other similar transaction) available to
the Company which the Board reasonably determines not to be in the Company's
best interest to disclose, then the Company may (x) postpone or suspend filing
of a registration statement for a period not to exceed 30 consecutive days or
(y) postpone or suspend effectiveness of a registration statement for a period
not to exceed 20 consecutive days; provided that the Company may not postpone or
suspend effectiveness of a registration statement under this Section 3(n) for
more than 45 days in the aggregate during any 360 day period; provided, however,
that no such postponement or suspension shall be permitted for consecutive 20
day periods arising out of the same set of facts, circumstances or transactions.
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4. Registration Expenses.
All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or
compliance with this Agreement by the Company, except as and to the extent
specified in this Section 4, shall be borne by the Company whether or not the
Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective and 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 OTC
Bulletin Board and each other securities exchange or market on which Registrable
Securities are required hereunder to be listed, (B) with respect to filing fees
required to be paid to the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and
the NASD Regulation, Inc. and (C) 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 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) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company and Special Counsel for the Holders, in
the case of the Special Counsel, up to a maximum amount of $5,000, (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, including, without limitation, the Company's independent public
accountants (including the expenses of any comfort letters or costs associated
with the delivery by independent public accountants of a comfort letter or
comfort letters). 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, 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 the 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
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Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in the 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 or such other Indemnified Party
furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein and
(ii) that the foregoing indemnity agreement is subject to the condition that,
insofar as it relates to any untrue statement, allegedly untrue statement,
omission or alleged omission made in any preliminary prospectus but eliminated
or remedied in the final prospectus (filed pursuant to Rule 424 of the
Securities Act), such indemnity agreement shall not inure to the benefit of any
Holder, underwriter, broker or other Person acting on behalf of holders of the
Registrable Securities, from whom the Person asserting any loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense purchased the Registrable Securities which are the subject
thereof, if a copy of such final prospectus had been made available to such
Person and such Holder, underwriter, broker or other Person acting on behalf of
holders of the Registrable Securities and such final prospectus was not
delivered to such Person with or prior to the written confirmation of the sale
of such Registrable Securities to such Person. 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 and 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), as incurred, arising solely out of or based solely
upon any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, any Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, 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 (in the case of any
Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made) 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 or other Indemnifying Party
to the Company specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or such
Prospectus. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, each
Holder shall be liable under this Section 5(b) for only that amount as does not
exceed the net proceeds to such Holder as a result of the sale of Registrable
Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(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 promptly shall 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
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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 (which shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Indemnifying Party) 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 or delayed. No Indemnifying Party
shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any
settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party
is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such
Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of
such Proceeding.
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 (10) 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 because of a failure or
refusal of a governmental authority to enforce such indemnification in
accordance with its terms (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
benefits received by the Indemnifying Party on the one hand and the Indemnified
Party on the other from the offering of the Shares and Warrants. If, but only
if, the allocation provided by the foregoing sentence is not permitted by
applicable law, the allocation of contribution shall be made in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in the
foregoing sentence but also the relative fault, as applicable, 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,
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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. 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. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, the Holders shall be liable under this Section 5(d) for only that amount
as does not exceed the net proceeds to such Holder as a result of the sale of
Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.
6. Rule 144.
As long as any Holder owns any Registrable Securities, the
Company covenants to timely file (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and
file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the
Company after the date hereof pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act and to promptly furnish the Holders with true and complete copies of all
such filings. As long as any Holder owns any Registrable Securities, if the
Company is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act, it will prepare and furnish to the Holders and make publicly
available in accordance with Rule 144(c) promulgated under the Securities Act
annual and quarterly financial statements, together with a discussion and
analysis of such financial statements in form and substance substantially
similar to those that would otherwise be required to be included in reports
required by Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as well as any other
information required thereby, in the time period that such filings would have
been required to have been made under the Exchange Act. The Company further
covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder may reasonably
request in writing, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such
Person to sell the Shares without registration under the Securities Act within
the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the
Securities Act, including providing any legal opinions relating to such sale
pursuant to Rule 144.
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7. 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, as of the date hereof entered into and currently in
effect, 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 disclosed in Schedule
2.1(c) of the Purchase Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has previously entered into any agreement currently in effect
granting any registration rights with respect to any of its securities to any
Person. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, without the written
consent of the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable
Securities, the Company shall not grant to any Person the right to request the
Company to register any securities of the Company, under the Securities Act
unless the rights so granted are subject in all respects to the prior rights in
full of the Holders set forth herein, and are not otherwise in conflict with the
provisions of this Agreement.
(c) No Piggyback on Registrations. Neither the Company nor any
of its security holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto
or as disclosed on Schedule 2.1(c) of the Purchase Agreement or Schedule II
hereto) may include securities of the Company in the Registration Statement, and
the Company shall not after the date hereof enter into any agreement providing
such right to any of its securityholders, unless the right so granted is subject
in all respects to the prior rights in full of the Holders set forth herein, and
is not otherwise in conflict with the provisions of this Agreement.
(d) Failure to File Registration Statement and Other Events.
The Company and the Purchaser agree that the Holders will suffer damages if the
Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to the Filing Date and not
declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the Effectiveness Date and
maintained in the manner contemplated herein during the Effectiveness Period or
if certain other events occur. The Company and the Holders further agree that it
would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages with precision.
Accordingly, if (A) the Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to the
Filing Date, or (B) the Registration Statement is not declared effective by the
Commission on or prior to the Effectiveness Date, or (C) the Company fails to
file with the Commission a request for acceleration in accordance with Rule 461
promulgated under the Securities Act within three (3) Business 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
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to further review, or (D) the Registration Statement is filed with and declared
effective by the Commission but thereafter ceases to be effective as to all
Registrable Securities at any time prior to the expiration of the Effectiveness
Period, without being succeeded promptly by a subsequent Registration Statement
filed with and declared effective by the Commission, or (E) the Company has
breached Section 3(n), or (F) trading in the Common Stock shall be suspended or
if the Common Stock is delisted from the OTC Bulletin (or other principal
exchange on which the Common Stock is traded) for any reason for more than three
(3) Business Days in the aggregate (any such failure or breach being referred to
as an "Event," and for purposes of clauses (A) and (B) the date on which such
Event occurs, or for purposes of clause (C) the date on which such five Business
Day period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause (D) after more than fifteen
Business Days, or for purposes of clause (F) the date on which such three
Business Day period is exceeded, being referred to as "Event Date"), the Company
shall pay as liquidated damages to each Holder a number of shares of Common
Stock equal to one percent (1%) of the number of Shares purchased by such Holder
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for each calendar month or portion thereof
from the Event Date until the applicable Event is cured. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this paragraph (e), if (i) any of the Events
described in clauses (A), (B) or (C) shall have occurred, (II) on or prior to
the applicable Event Date, the Company shall have exercised its rights under
Section 3(n) hereof and (III) the postponement or suspension permitted pursuant
to such Section 3(n) shall remain effective as of such applicable Event Date,
then the applicable Event Date shall be deemed instead to occur on the second
Business Day following the termination of such postponement or suspension.
(e) 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 a majority of the Registrable Securities outstanding.
(f) 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 earlier of (i) the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified for notice prior to 5:00 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 for notice later than 5:00 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) actual receipt by the
party to whom such notice is required to be given. The addresses for such
communications shall be with respect to each Holder at its address set forth
under its name on Schedule I attached hereto, or with respect to the Company,
addressed to:
Newport International Group, Inc.
00000 Xx Xxxxx Xxxxx 000
Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: President and CEO
Tel. No.: (000) 000-0000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
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with copies (which copies
shall not constitute notice
to the Company) to: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx. X.X.
Xxxxx 000
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Tel. No.: (000) 000-0000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
or to such other address or addresses or facsimile number or numbers as any such
party may most recently have designated in writing to the other parties hereto
by such notice.
(g) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted
assigns and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder and its successors and
assigns. The Company may not assign this Agreement or any of its rights or
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Holder. Each
Purchaser may assign its rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as
permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
(h) Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights of each
Holder hereunder, including the right to have the Company register for resale
Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, shall be
assignable by each Holder to any Affiliate of such Holder or any other Holder or
Affiliate of any other Holder of all or a portion of the Registrable Securities
if: (i) the Holder agrees in writing with the transferee or assignee to assign
such rights, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company within a
reasonable time after such assignment, (ii) the Company is, within a reasonable
time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with written notice of (a) the
name and address of such transferee or assignee, and (b) the securities with
respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned,
(iii) following such transfer or assignment the further disposition of such
securities by the transferee or assignees is restricted under the Securities Act
and applicable state securities laws, (iv) at or before the time the Company
receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this Section, the
transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of
the provisions of this Agreement, and (v) such transfer shall have been made in
accordance with the applicable requirements of the Purchase Agreement. In
addition, each Holder shall have the right to assign its rights hereunder to any
other Person with the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld. The rights to assignment shall apply to the
Holders (and to subsequent) successors and assigns.
(i) 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
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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.
(j) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without
giving effect to any of the conflicts of law principles which would result in
the application of the substantive law of another jurisdiction. This Agreement
shall not be interpreted or construed with any presumption against the party
causing this Agreement to be drafted.
(k) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are
cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(l) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal, void or
unenforceable in any respect, 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.
(m) Headings. The headings herein are for convenience only, do
not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or
affect any of the provisions hereof.
(n) 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.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized persons as
of the date first indicated above.
NEWPORT INTERNATIONAL GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ Cery Perle
--------------
Name:
Title:
PURCHASER:
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Inc.
----------------------
Name:
Title:
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Schedule I
Purchaser
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Inc.
European Administration:
4 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
X.X. Xxx 00000 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx + 357 2533 9274
Kontaktperson: Xxxxxxxx Magistrate
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Schedule II
Securities Allowed to be Included on Registration Statement
1. Warrants issuable to the placement agent in connection with the transactions
contemplated by the Purchase Agreement.
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