REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
10.2
EXECUTION
COPY
This
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
(this
"Agreement")
is
dated as of March 9, 2007, by and between Telkonet, Inc., a Utah corporation,
with headquarters located at 00000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
(the "Company"),
and
Smart Systems International, a Nevada corporation ("Buyer").
WHEREAS:
A. In
connection with the Asset Purchase Agreement by and between the parties hereto
of even date herewith (the "Asset
Purchase Agreement")
the
Company has agreed to issue to Buyer shares of the Company’s common stock, par
value $0.001 per share (the “Common
Stock”),
as
partial consideration for the acquisition by the Company of the Purchased Assets
(as defined in the Asset Purchase Agreement).
B. To
induce
Buyer to execute and deliver the Asset Purchase Agreement, the Company has
agreed to provide the registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933,
as
amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor
statute (collectively, the "1933
Act"),
and
applicable state securities laws set forth in this Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE,
in
consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants contained herein and
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are
hereby acknowledged, the Company and Buyer hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
Capitalized
terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective
meanings set forth in the Asset Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement,
the following terms shall have the following meanings:
a. "Business
Day"
means
any day other than Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks
in the State of Maryland are authorized or required by law to remain
closed.
b. "Closing
Date"
shall
have the meaning set forth in the Asset Purchase Agreement.
c. "Effective
Date"
means
the date the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the
SEC.
d. "Effectiveness
Deadline"
means
the date that is 60 days after the Filing Deadline, or if there is a full review
of the Registration Statement by the SEC, 90 days after the Filing
Deadline.
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e. "Filing
Deadline"
means
the earlier to occur of (i) 120 days from the Closing Date, or (ii) May 15,
2007.
f. "Investor"
means
Buyer or any transferee or assignee thereof to whom Buyer assigns its rights
under this Agreement and who agrees to become bound by the provisions of this
Agreement in accordance with Section 9 and any transferee or assignee thereof
to
whom a transferee or assignee assigns its rights under this Agreement and who
agrees to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with
Section 9.
g. "Person"
means
an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture,
a
corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization and a government or any
department or agency thereof.
h. "register,"
"registered,"
and
"registration"
refer
to a registration effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement
(as
defined below) in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule 415 and
the
declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement by
the
SEC.
i. "Registrable
Securities"
means
the Common Stock issued to Buyer pursuant to the Asset Purchase
Agreement.
j. "Registration
Statement"
means a
registration statement of the Company filed under the 1933 Act covering the
Registrable Securities.
k. "Rule
415"
means
Rule 415 under the 1933 Act or any successor rule providing for the offering
of
securities on a continuous or delayed basis.
l. "SEC"
means
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
2. Registration.
a. Registration.
The
Company shall prepare, and, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than
the Filing Deadline, file with the SEC the Registration Statement on Form S-3
covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities. In the event that
Form
S-3 is unavailable for such a registration, the Company shall use such other
form as is available for such a registration on another appropriate form
reasonably acceptable to Buyer, subject to the provisions of Section 2(c).
The
Registration Statement prepared pursuant hereto shall register for resale at
least the number of shares of Common Stock issued to Buyer on the Closing Date
pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement, provided that the Company further
agrees to amend or supplement the Registration Statement, or to file a second
Registration Statement (to which all provisions hereof will apply to the same
extent as they apply to the initial Registration Statement), to the extent
necessary to register any additional Registrable Securities issued or issuable
to Buyer or its designees after Closing Date pursuant to the adjustment
provisions of Sections 3.3 or 3.4 of the Asset Purchase Agreement. The
Registration Statement shall contain (except if otherwise directed by Buyer)
the
"Selling
Shareholder"
and
"Plan
of Distribution"
sections in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit
B
subject
to any changes necessary to make such sections complete, accurate and not
misleading in all material respects. The Company shall use its best efforts
to
have the Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC as soon as
practicable, but in no event later than the Effectiveness Deadline.
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b. Legal
Counsel.
Subject
to Section 5 hereof, the Investors shall have the right to select one legal
counsel to review and oversee any registration pursuant to this Section 2
("Legal
Counsel").
The
Company and Legal Counsel shall reasonably cooperate with each other in
performing the Company's obligations under this Agreement.
c. Ineligibility
for Form S-3.
In the
event that Form S-3 is not available for the registration of the resale of
Registrable Securities hereunder, the Company shall (i) register the resale
of
the Registrable Securities on another appropriate form reasonably acceptable
to
Buyer, and (ii) undertake to register the Registrable Securities on Form S-3
as
soon as either such form is available, provided that the Company shall maintain
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement then in effect until such time
as a Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the Registrable Securities
has
been declared effective by the SEC or the Company is no longer obligated to
maintain a registration statement for the Registrable Securities pursuant to
the
terms hereof.
3. Related
Obligations.
At
such
time as the Company is obligated to file a Registration Statement with the
SEC
pursuant to Section 2, the Company will use its best efforts to effect the
registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended
method of disposition thereof and, pursuant thereto, the Company shall have
the
following obligations:
a. The
Company shall submit to the SEC, within two (2) Business Days after the Company
learns that no review of the Registration Statement will be made by the staff
of
the SEC or that the staff has no further comments on the Registration Statement,
as the case may be, a request for acceleration of effectiveness of such
Registration Statement to a time and date not later than 48 hours after the
submission of such request. The Company shall keep each Registration Statement
effective pursuant to Rule 415 at all times until the earlier of (i) the date
as
of which all Investors may sell all of the Registrable Securities covered by
such Registration Statement without restriction pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or
any
successor thereto) promulgated under the 1933 Act, or (ii) the date on which
Investors shall have sold all of the Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement (the "Registration
Period").
The
Company shall ensure that the Registration Statement (including any amendments
or supplements thereto and prospectuses contained therein) shall not contain
any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
to
be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case
of
prospectuses, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made) not
misleading.
b. The
Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including
post-effective amendments) and supplements to the Registration Statement and
the
prospectus used in connection with such Registration Statement, which prospectus
is to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated under the 1933 Act, as may
be
necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective at all times during
the
Registration Period, and, during such period, comply with the provisions of
the
1933 Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities of the
Company covered by such Registration Statement until such time as all of such
Registrable Securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with the
intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth
in
such Registration Statement. In the case of amendments and supplements to the
Registration Statement which are required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement
(including pursuant to this Section 3(b)) by reason of the Company filing a
report on Form 10-Q, Form 10-K or any analogous report under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934
Act"),
the
Company shall have incorporated such report by reference into such Registration
Statement, if applicable, or shall file such amendments or supplements with
the
SEC on the same day on which the 1934 Act report is filed which created the
requirement for the Company to amend or supplement such Registration
Statement.
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c. The
Company shall (A) permit Legal Counsel to review and comment upon (i) the
Registration Statement at least five (5) Business Days prior to its filing
with
the SEC and (ii) all amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement
(except for Annual Reports on Form 10-K, and Reports on Form 10-Q and any
similar or successor reports) within a reasonable number of days prior to their
filing with the SEC, and (B) not file any Registration Statement or amendment
or
supplement thereto in a form to which Legal Counsel reasonably objects. The
Company shall not submit a request for acceleration of the effectiveness of
a
Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto without the prior
approval of Legal Counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld,
conditioned or delayed. The Company shall furnish to Legal Counsel, without
charge, (i) copies of any correspondence from the SEC or the staff of the SEC
to
the Company or its representatives relating to the Registration Statement,
(ii)
promptly after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC, one copy of the
Registration Statement and any amendment(s) thereto, including financial
statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference,
if
requested by Buyer, and all exhibits, and (iii) upon the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, one copy of the prospectus included in such Registration
Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto. The Company shall
reasonably cooperate with Legal Counsel in performing the Company's obligations
pursuant to this Section 3.
d. The
Company shall furnish to each Investor, without charge, upon request (i) at
least one copy of the Registration Statement and any amendment(s) thereto,
including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein
by reference, if requested by such Investor, all exhibits and each preliminary
prospectus, (ii) upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, up to
ten
(10) copies of the prospectus included in such Registration Statement and all
amendments and supplements thereto (or such other number of copies as such
Investor may reasonably request) and (iii) such other documents, including
copies of any preliminary or final prospectus, as such Investor may reasonably
request from time to time in order to facilitate the disposition of the
Registrable Securities owned by such Investor.
e. The
Company shall use its best efforts to (i) register and qualify, unless an
exemption from registration and qualification applies, the resale by Investors
of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement under such
other securities or "blue sky" laws of all applicable jurisdictions in the
United States, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions, such amendments
(including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registrations
and
qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the effectiveness thereof during
the Registration Period, (iii) take such other actions as may be necessary
to
maintain such registrations and qualifications in effect at all times during
the
Registration Period, and (iv) take all other actions reasonably necessary or
advisable to qualify the Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection
therewith or as a condition thereto to (x) qualify to do business in any
jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this
Section 3(e), (y) subject itself to general taxation in any such jurisdiction,
or (z) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction.
The Company shall promptly notify Legal Counsel and each Investor of the receipt
by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
registration or qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale
under the securities or "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction in the United States
or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threatening of any
proceeding for such purpose.
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f. The
Company shall notify Legal Counsel and each Investor in writing of the happening
of any event, as promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event,
as
a result of which the prospectus included in the Registration Statement, as
then
in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omission to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading (provided that in no event shall such notice contain any
material, nonpublic information), and, subject to Section 3(q), promptly prepare
a supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement to correct such untrue
statement or omission, and deliver ten (10) copies of such supplement or
amendment to Legal Counsel and Buyer (or such other number of copies as Legal
Counsel or Buyer may reasonably request). The Company shall also promptly notify
Legal Counsel and Buyer in writing (i) when a prospectus or any prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and when the Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment has become effective (notification
of
such effectiveness shall be delivered to Legal Counsel and Buyer by facsimile
or
e-mail on the same day of such effectiveness and by overnight mail), (ii) of
any
request by the SEC for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement
or related prospectus or related information, and (iii) of the Company's
reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement would be appropriate.
g. The
Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order
or
other suspension of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or the
suspension of the qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale
in
any jurisdiction and, if such an order or suspension is issued, to obtain the
withdrawal of such order or suspension at the earliest possible moment and
to
notify Legal Counsel and each Investor who holds Registrable Securities being
sold of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof or its receipt
of
actual notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such
purpose.
h. The
Company shall make available for inspection by (i) the Investors, (ii) Legal
Counsel, and (iii) one firm of accountants or other agents retained by the
Investors (collectively, the "Inspectors"),
all
pertinent financial and other records, and pertinent corporate documents and
properties of the Company (collectively, the "Records"),
as
shall be reasonably deemed necessary by each Inspector, and cause the Company's
officers, directors and employees to supply all information which any Inspector
may reasonably request; provided, however, that each Inspector shall agree
to
hold in strict confidence and shall not make any disclosure (except to Buyer)
or
use of any Record or other information which the Company determines in good
faith to be confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors are so
notified, unless (a) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or
correct a misstatement or omission in the Registration Statement or is otherwise
required under the 1933 Act, (b) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant
to a final, non-appealable subpoena or order from a court or governmental body
of competent jurisdiction, or (c) the information in such Records has been
made
generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of
this
or any other agreement of which the Inspector has knowledge. Buyer agrees that
it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in or by
a
court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means,
give prompt notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to
undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective
order for, the Records deemed confidential.
5
i. The
Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure of information
concerning any Investor provided to the Company unless (i) disclosure of such
information is necessary to comply with federal or state securities laws or
applicable rules and regulations of any relevant market or exchange, (ii) the
disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement
or omission in the Registration Statement, (iii) the release of such information
is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other final, non-appealable order from
a
court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, or (iv) such information
has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in
violation of this Agreement or any other agreement. The Company agrees that
it
shall, upon learning that disclosure of such information concerning an Investor
is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or
through other means, give prompt written notice to such Investor and allow
such
Investor, at such Investor’s expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent
disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, such
information.
j. The
Company shall use its best efforts to cause all of the Registrable Securities
covered by a Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange
on
which securities of the same class or series issued by the Company are then
listed, if any.
k. The
Company shall cooperate with Buyer and, to the extent applicable, facilitate
the
timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive
legend) representing the Registrable Securities to be offered and resold
pursuant to the Registration Statement and enable such certificates to be in
such denominations or amounts, as the case may be, as Buyer may reasonably
request and registered in such names as Buyer may request.
l. If
requested by Buyer, the Company shall (i) as soon as practicable incorporate
in
a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as Buyer
reasonably requests to be included therein relating to the sale and distribution
of Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, information with
respect to the number of Registrable Securities being offered or sold, the
purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the
Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; (ii) as soon as practicable
make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such
prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; and (iii) as soon as
practicable, supplement or make amendments to the Registration Statement if
reasonably requested by Buyer.
m. The
Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered
by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other
governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to consummate the
disposition of such Registrable Securities.
n. The
Company shall make generally available to its security holders as soon as
practicable, but not later than ninety (90) days after the close of the period
covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying with, and in the
manner provided by, the provisions of Rule 158 under the 0000 Xxx) covering
a
twelve-month period beginning not later than the first day of the Company's
fiscal quarter next following the effective date of a Registration
Statement.
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o. The
Company shall otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all applicable
rules
and regulations of the SEC in connection with the registration
hereunder.
p. Within
two (2) Business Days after the Registration Statement is declared effective
by
the SEC, the Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal counsel for the
Company to deliver, to the transfer agent for such Registrable Securities
(with
copies to Buyer) confirmation that such Registration Statement has been declared
effective by the SEC in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
A
or such
other form as may be required by the transfer agent to permit the consummation
of sales under such Registration Statement.
4. Obligations
of Investors.
a. At
least
five (5) Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of the
Registration Statement, the Company shall notify the Investors in writing of
the
information the Company requires from the Investors for inclusion of the
Investors’ Registrable Securities in the Registration Statement. It shall be a
condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to each Investor to
complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the
Registrable Securities that such Investor shall furnish to the Company such
information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the
intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it as
shall
be reasonably required to effect the effectiveness of the registration of such
Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection with
such
registration as the Company may reasonably request.
b. Each
Investor, by such Investor’s acceptance of the Registrable Securities, agrees to
cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection
with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement
hereunder.
c. Each
Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the
happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(g) or the first
sentence of 3(f), Buyer will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement until Buyer's receipt of
the
copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(g)
or
the first sentence of 3(f) or receipt of notice that no supplement or amendment
is required.
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d. Each
Investor covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery
requirements of the 1933 Act as applicable to it in connection with sales of
Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.
5. Expenses
of Registration.
All
reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, incurred
in connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Sections
2 and 3, including, without limitation, all registration, listing and
qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, and fees and disbursements
of
counsel for the Company shall be paid by the Company. Any costs and expenses
of
Legal Counsel incurred by the Investors in connection with the registration
shall be the sole responsibility of the Investors.
6. Indemnification.
In
the
event any Registrable Securities are included in a Registration Statement under
this Agreement:
a. To
the
fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will, and hereby does, indemnify,
hold harmless and defend each Investor, its directors, officers, members,
partners, employees, agents, representatives of, and each Person, if any, who
controls such Investor within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (each,
an "Indemnified
Person"),
against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties,
charges, costs, reasonable attorneys' fees, amounts paid in settlement or
expenses, joint or several, (collectively, "Claims")
incurred in investigating, preparing or defending any action, claim, suit,
inquiry, proceeding, investigation or appeal taken from the foregoing by or
before any court or governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency,
body or the SEC, whether pending or threatened, whether or not an indemnified
party is or may be a party thereto ("Indemnified
Damages"),
to
which any of them may become subject insofar as such Claims (or actions or
proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out
of
or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a
material fact in a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment
thereto or in any filing made in connection with the qualification of the
offering under the securities or other "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction
in
which Registrable Securities are offered ("Blue
Sky Filing"),
or
the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
any
preliminary prospectus if used prior to the effective date of the Registration
Statement, or contained in the final prospectus (as amended or supplemented,
if
the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC)
or
the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary
to
make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
the statements therein were made, not misleading, (iii) any violation or alleged
violation by the Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law,
including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or
regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement or (iv) any violation of
this
Agreement (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) being,
collectively, "Violations").
Subject to Section 6(c), the Company shall reimburse the Indemnified Persons,
promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any legal
fees or other reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with
investigating or defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, the indemnification
agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (i) shall not apply to a Claim by
an
Indemnified Person arising out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in
reliance upon
8
and
in
conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such
Indemnified Person for such Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection
with the preparation of the Registration Statement or any such amendment
thereof
or supplement thereto, if such prospectus was timely made available by the
Company pursuant to Section 3(d); (ii) with respect to any preliminary
prospectus, shall not inure to the benefit of any such Person from whom the
Person asserting any such Claim purchased the Registrable Securities that
are
the subject thereof (or to the benefit of any Person controlling such Person)
if
the untrue statement or omission of material fact contained in the preliminary
prospectus was corrected in the prospectus, as then amended or supplemented,
if
such prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section
3(d), and the Indemnified Person was promptly advised in writing not to use
the
incorrect prospectus prior to the use giving rise to a Violation and such
Indemnified Person, notwithstanding such advice, used it or failed to deliver
the correct prospectus as required by the 1933 Act and such correct prospectus
was timely made available pursuant to Section 3(d); (iii) shall not be available
to the extent such Claim is based on a failure of the Investor to deliver
or to
cause to be delivered the prospectus made available by the Company, including
a
corrected prospectus, if such prospectus or corrected prospectus was timely
made
available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(d); and (iv) shall not apply
to
amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without
the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Such indemnity shall remain
in
full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf
of
the Indemnified Person and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable
Securities by Buyer pursuant to Section 9.
b. Each
Investor severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify, hold harmless and
defend, to the same extent and in the same manner as is set forth in Section
6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the
Registration Statement, each other Investor, its directors, officers, members,
partners, employees, agents, representatives of and each Person, if any, who
controls the Company or any such other Investor within the meaning of the 1933
Act or the 1934 Act (each, an "Indemnified
Party"),
against any Claim or Indemnified Damages to which any of them may become
subject, under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim
or
Indemnified Damages arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case
to the extent, and only to the extent, that such Violation occurs in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by
the
indemnifying Investor expressly for use in connection with such Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment thereof or any prospectus contained
therein; and, subject to Section 6(c), the indemnifying Investor will reimburse
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by an Indemnified Party in
connection with investigating or defending any such Claim as promptly as such
expenses are incurred and are due and payable; provided, however, that the
indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6(b) and the agreement with
respect to contribution contained in Section 7 shall not apply to amounts paid
in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior
written consent of the indemnifying Investor, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed. Such indemnity shall remain in full force
and
effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Indemnified
Party and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the
indemnifying Investor pursuant to Section 9. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this
Section 6(b) with respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure to
the
benefit of any Indemnified Party if the untrue statement or omission of material
fact contained in the preliminary prospectus was corrected on a timely basis
in
the prospectus, as then amended or supplemented.
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c. Promptly
after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section
6
of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including any
governmental action or proceeding) involving a Claim, such Indemnified Person
or
Indemnified Party shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against
any
indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party
a
written notice of the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall
have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party
so
desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume
control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually and reasonably satisfactory
to the indemnifying party and the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party,
as the case may be; provided, however, that an Indemnified Person or Indemnified
Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the fees and expenses
of not more than one counsel for such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
to
be paid by the indemnifying party, if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel
retained by the indemnifying party, the representation by such counsel of the
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and the indemnifying party would be
inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any other party represented by
such
counsel in such proceeding. The Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person shall
cooperate fully with the indemnifying party in connection with any negotiation
or defense of any such action or Claim by the indemnifying party and shall
furnish to the indemnifying party all information reasonably available to the
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person which relates to such action or Claim.
The indemnifying party shall keep the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person
reasonably apprised at all times as to the status of the defense or any
settlement negotiations with respect thereto. No indemnifying party shall be
liable for any settlement of any action, claim or proceeding effected without
its prior written consent, provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall
not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition its consent. No indemnifying
party
shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified
Person, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement or other
compromise which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving
by
the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person of
a
release from all liability in respect to such Claim or litigation. Following
indemnification as provided for hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be
subrogated to all rights of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person with
respect to all third parties, firms or corporations relating to the matter
for
which indemnification has been made. The failure to deliver written notice
to
the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any
such
action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6, except to the
extent that the indemnifying party is prejudiced in its ability to defend such
action.
d. The
indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be made by periodic payments
of
the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as and
when bills are received or Indemnified Damages are incurred.
10
e. The
indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in addition to (i) any cause
of
action or similar right of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person against
the indemnifying party or others, and (ii) any liabilities the indemnifying
party may be subject to pursuant to the law.
7. Contribution.
To
the
extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is prohibited or limited
by
law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum contribution with respect
to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable under Section 6 to the
fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that no Person involved
in
the sale of Registrable Securities which Person is guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 0000 Xxx) in
connection with such sale shall be entitled to contribution from any Person
involved in such sale of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation.
8. Reports
Under the 1934 Act.
With
a
view to making available to Buyer the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under
the
1933 Act or any other similar rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any
time
permit Buyer to sell securities of the Company to the public without
registration ("Rule
144"),
the
Company agrees to:
a. make
and
keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined
in
Rule 144;
b. file
with
the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the
Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so long as the Company remains
subject to such requirements and the filing of such reports and other documents
is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
c. furnish
to Buyer so long as Buyer owns Registrable Securities, promptly upon request,
(i) a written statement by the Company, if true, that it has complied with
the
reporting requirements of Rule 144, the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act, (ii) a copy
of the most recent annual report of the Company and such other reports and
documents so filed by the Company, and (iii) such other information as may
be
reasonably requested to permit Buyer to sell such securities pursuant to Rule
144 without registration.
9. Assignment
of Registration Rights.
The
rights under this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by Buyer to any
transferee of all or any portion of Buyer's Registrable Securities if: (i)
Buyer
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)
immediately following such transfer or assignment the further disposition of
such securities by the transferee or assignee is restricted under the 1933
Act
and applicable state securities laws; and (iv) at or before the time the Company
receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this sentence the
transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all
of
the provisions contained herein.
11
10. Amendment
of Registration Rights.
Provisions
of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may be waived
(either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or
prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and Buyer. Any
amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 10 shall be binding
upon Buyer and the Company.
11. Miscellaneous.
a. A
Person
is deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities whenever such Person owns
or
is deemed to own of record such Registrable Securities. If the Company receives
conflicting instructions, notices or elections from two or more Persons with
respect to the same Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the
basis
of instructions, notice or election received from the such record owner of
such
Registrable Securities.
b. Any
notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to
be
given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed
to
have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon
receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is
mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party);
or (iii) one Business Day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight
delivery service, in each case, properly addressed to the party to receive
the
same. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications shall
be:
If
to the
Company:
Telkonet,
Inc.
00000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Telephone:
(000)
000-0000
Facsimile:
(000)
000-0000
Attention:
Chief Financial Officer
with
a
copy to:
Xxxxx
& Xxxxxxxxx LLP
0000
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx,
X.X. 00000
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
e-mail:
xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
12
If
to
Buyer:
Smart
Systems International.
c/o
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
GFI
Energy Venture, LLC
00000
Xxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxx., #000
Xxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
e-mail:
xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
with
a
copy to:
Xxxxx
X.
Xxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxx
Xxxx
0000
Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx,
XX
00000
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
e-mail:
xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
If
to any
other Investor, to the address or numbers provided to the Company in writing
in
connection with any assignment of Registrable Securities to such Investor,
or
such other address or number as may later be set forth in writing to the Company
from such Investor.
Written
confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent,
waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically generated
by
the sender's facsimile machine containing the time, date, recipient facsimile
number and an image of the first page of such transmission or (C) provided
by a
courier or overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal
service, receipt by facsimile or receipt from a nationally recognized overnight
delivery service in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above,
respectively.
c. Failure
of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or otherwise,
or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy, shall not operate as
a
waiver thereof.
d. All
questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation
of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of
Maryland, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law
provision or rule (whether of the State of Maryland or any other jurisdictions)
that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than
the
State of Maryland. If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall
not
affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in
that
jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of any provision of this
Agreement in any other jurisdiction. EACH
PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE, AND AGREES NOT TO
REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN
CONNECTION HEREWITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
13
e. This
Agreement, the Asset Purchase Agreement and the instruments referenced herein
and therein constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with
respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no restrictions,
promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred
to
herein and therein. This Agreement, the Asset Purchase Agreement and the
instruments referenced herein and therein supersede all prior agreements and
understandings among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof and thereof.
f. Subject
to the requirements of Section 9, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of
and be binding upon the permitted successors and assigns of each of the parties
hereto.
g. The
headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall
not
limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
h. This
Agreement may be executed in identical counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.
This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be delivered to the other party
hereto by facsimile transmission of a copy of this Agreement bearing the
signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.
i. Each
party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further
acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements,
certificates, instruments and documents, as any other party may reasonably
request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
j. The
language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by
the
parties to express their mutual intent and no rules of strict construction
will
be applied against any party.
k. This
Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any
provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.
[signatures
on next page]
14
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
Buyer
and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written
above.
COMPANY:
|
|
TELKONET,
INC.
|
|
By:
/s/ Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
Chief
Executive Officer
|
|
BUYER:
|
|
SMART
SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL
|
|
By: __________________________________
Name:
Title:
|
|
15
EXHIBIT A
FORM
OF NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS
OF
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
[Transfer
Agent]
[Address]
Attention:
Re: Telkonet,
Inc.
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
We
are
counsel to Telkonet, Inc., a Utah corporation (the "Company"),
and
have represented the Company in connection with that certain Asset Purchase
Agreement (the "Asset
Purchase Agreement")
entered into by and among the Company and the seller named therein (the
"Holder")
pursuant to which the Company issued to the Holder shares of the Company's
common stock, $0.001 par value (the "Common
Stock").
Pursuant to the Asset Purchase Agreement, the Company also has entered into
a
Registration Rights Agreement with the Holder (the "Registration
Rights Agreement")
pursuant to which the Company agreed, among other things, to register the
Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933
Act").
In
connection with the Company's obligations under the Registration Rights
Agreement, on ____________, 2007, the Company filed a Registration Statement
on
Form S-3 (File No. 333-_____________) (the "Registration
Statement")
with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")
relating to the Registrable Securities which names the Holder as a selling
shareholder thereunder.
In
connection with the foregoing, we advise you that a member of the SEC's staff
has advised us by telephone that the SEC has entered an order declaring the
Registration Statement effective under the 1933 Act at [ENTER
TIME OF EFFECTIVENESS]
on
[ENTER
DATE OF EFFECTIVENESS]
and we
have no knowledge, after telephonic inquiry of a member of the SEC's staff,
that
any stop order suspending its effectiveness has been issued or that any
proceedings for that purpose are pending before, or threatened by, the SEC
and
the Registrable Securities are available for resale under the 1933 Act pursuant
to the Registration Statement.
16
This
letter shall serve as our standing confirmation to you of the Company’s
instruction that the shares of Common Stock are freely transferable by the
Holder pursuant to the Registration Statement. You need not require further
letters from us to effect any future legend free issuance or reissuance of
shares of Common Stock to the Holder as contemplated by the Company’s
Irrevocable Transfer.
Very
truly yours,
[ISSUER'S
COUNSEL]
By:_____________________
|
17
EXHIBIT
B
SELLING
SHAREHOLDERS
[INSERT
SELLING STOCKHOLDER DISCLOSURE]
1
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
We
are
registering the shares of common stock to permit the resale of these shares
of
common stock by the holder thereof from time to time after the date of this
prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the selling
shareholder of the shares of common stock. We will bear all fees and expenses
incident to our obligation to register the shares of common stock.
The
selling shareholder may sell all or a portion of the shares of common stock
beneficially owned by them and offered hereby from time to time directly or
through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. If the shares of
common stock are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the selling
shareholder will be responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions or
agent's commissions. The shares of common stock may be sold in one or more
transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of the
sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices.
These sales may be effected in transactions, which may involve crosses or block
transactions,
· |
on
any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the
securities may be listed or quoted at the time of
sale;
|
· |
in
the over-the-counter market;
|
· |
in
transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the
over-the-counter market;
|
· |
through
the writing of options, whether such options are listed on an options
exchange or otherwise;
|
· |
ordinary
brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer
solicits purchasers;
|
· |
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;
|
· |
purchases
by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for
its
account;
|
· |
an
exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
exchange;
|
· |
privately
negotiated transactions;
|
· |
short
sales;
|
· |
sales
pursuant to Rule 144;
|
· |
broker-dealers
may agree with the selling shareholder to sell a specified number of
such
shares at a stipulated price per share;
|
· |
a
combination of any such methods of sale;
and
|
· |
any
other method permitted pursuant to applicable
law.
|
If
the
selling shareholder effects such transactions by selling shares of common stock
to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, such underwriters,
broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions in the form of discounts,
concessions or commissions from the selling shareholder or commissions from
purchasers of the shares of common stock for whom they may act as agent or
to
whom they may sell as principal (which discounts, concessions or commissions
as
to particular underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may be in excess of those
customary in the types of transactions involved). In connection with sales
of
the shares of common stock or otherwise, the selling shareholder may enter
into
hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short
sales of the shares of common stock in the course of hedging in positions they
assume. The selling shareholder may also sell shares of common stock short
and
deliver shares of common stock covered by this prospectus to close out short
positions and to return borrowed shares in connection with such short sales.
The
selling shareholder may also loan or pledge shares of common stock to
broker-dealers that in turn may sell such shares.
The
selling shareholder may pledge or grant a security interest in some or all
of
the shares of common stock owned by it and, if it defaults in the performance
of
its secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell
the
shares of common stock from time to time pursuant to this prospectus or any
amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, amending, if necessary, the list
of
selling shareholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors
in
interest as selling shareholders under this prospectus. The selling shareholder
also may transfer and donate the shares of common stock in other circumstances,
in which case, the transferees, donees, pledgees or other successors in interest
will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this
prospectus.
Any
broker-dealers participating in the distribution of the shares of common stock
may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act,
and
any commission paid, or any discounts or concessions allowed to, any such
broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under
the Securities Act. At the time a particular offering of the shares of common
stock is made, a prospectus supplement, if required, will be distributed which
will set forth the aggregate amount of shares of common stock being offered
and
the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any broker-dealers
or
agents, any discounts, commissions and other terms constituting compensation
from the selling shareholder and any discounts, commissions or concessions
allowed or reallowed or paid to broker-dealers.
Under
the
securities laws of some states, the shares of common stock may be sold in such
states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition,
in
some states the shares of common stock may not be sold unless such shares have
been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption from
registration or qualification is available and is complied with.
2
There
can
be no assurance that the selling shareholder will sell any or all of the shares
of common stock registered pursuant to the shelf registration statement, of
which this prospectus forms a part.
The
selling shareholder and any other person participating in such distribution
will
be subject to applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as
amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without
limitation, Regulation M of the Exchange Act, which may limit the timing of
purchases and sales of any of the shares of common stock by the selling
shareholder and any other participating person. Regulation M may also restrict
the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the shares of common
stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of common
stock. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the shares of common
stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making
activities with respect to the shares of common stock.
We
will
pay all expenses of the registration of the shares of common stock pursuant
to
the registration rights agreement, estimated to be
$[ ] in total, including, without limitation,
Securities and Exchange Commission filing fees and expenses of compliance with
state securities or "blue sky" laws; provided, however, that the selling
shareholder will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if
any.
We will indemnify the selling shareholder against liabilities, including some
liabilities under the Securities Act, in accordance with the registration rights
agreement, or the selling shareholder will be entitled to contribution. We
may
be indemnified by the selling shareholder against civil liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act, that may arise from any written
information furnished to us by the selling shareholder specifically for use
in
this prospectus, in accordance with the related registration rights agreements,
or we may be entitled to contribution.
Once
sold
under the shelf registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part,
the shares of common stock will be freely tradable in the hands of persons
other
than our affiliates.
3