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Exhibit 10.6
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT"), dated as of August 25,
1999, by and between EBIZ ENTERPRISES, INC., a Nevada corporation, with
headquarters located at 00000 X. 00xx Xxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000 (the
"COMPANY"), and JEM VENTURES EBIZ, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(the "BUYER").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, in connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement by and among
the parties hereto dated as of August 25, 1999 (the "SECURITIES PURCHASE
AGREEMENT"), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of the Securities Purchase Agreement, to (i) issue and sell to the
Buyer a 9.0% Subordinated Convertible Debenture (the "DEBENTURE"), which will be
convertible into shares of the Company's common stock, $.001 par value per share
(the "COMMON STOCK") (as converted, the "CONVERSION SHARES") in accordance with
the terms of such Debenture, and (ii) issue Warrants (the "WARRANTS") which will
be exercisable to purchase shares of Common Stock (the "WARRANT SHARES"); and
WHEREAS, to induce the Buyer to execute and deliver the Securities
Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain 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.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Buyer hereby
agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
a. "INVESTOR" means the Buyer, 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.
b. "PERSON" means a natural person, a partnership, corporation, a
limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a
joint venture, an unincorporated organization or a governmental agency or any
department, agency or political subdivision thereof.
c. "REGISTER," "REGISTERED," and "REGISTRATION" refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing one or more Registration
Statements (as defined below) in
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compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule 415 under the 1933 Act or any
successor rule providing for offering securities on a continuous basis ("RULE
415"), and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration
Statement(s) by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC").
d. "REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means the Conversion Shares and the
Warrant Shares issued or issuable upon conversion of the Debenture and exercise
of the Warrants, respectively, and any shares of capital stock issued or
issuable with respect to the Conversion Shares, the Warrant Shares, the Warrants
or the Debenture as a result of any stock split, stock dividend,
recapitalization, exchange or similar event or otherwise, without regard to any
limitation on conversion of the Debenture or the exercise of the Warrants.
e. "REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means a registration statement of the
Company filed under the 1933 Act.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the
respective meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement.
2. REGISTRATION.
a. Mandatory Registration. The Company shall prepare, and, as soon
as practicable but in no event later than 60 days after the date of issuance of
the Debenture (the "FILING DEADLINE"), file with the SEC a Registration
Statement or Registration Statements (as is necessary) on Form SB-2 covering the
resale of all of the Registrable Securities. The initial Registration Statement
prepared pursuant hereto shall register for resale at least that number of
shares of Common Stock equal to the product of (x) 1.5 and (y) the number of
Registrable Securities as of the date immediately preceding the date the
Registration Statement is initially filed with the SEC, subject to adjustment as
provided in SECTION 3(b). 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 180 days after the Issuance Date (as defined in the
Debenture).
b. Allocation of Registrable Securities. The initial number of
Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement and each increase
in the number of Registrable Securities included therein shall be allocated pro
rata among the Investors based on the number of Registrable Securities held by
each Investor at the time the Registration Statement covering such initial
number of Registrable Securities or increase thereof is declared effective by
the SEC. In the event that an Investor sells or otherwise transfers any of such
Person's Registrable Securities, each transferee shall be allocated a pro rata
portion of the then remaining number of Registrable Securities included in such
Registration Statement for such transferor. Any shares of Common Stock included
in a Registration Statement and which remain allocated to any Person which
ceases to hold any Registrable Securities shall be allocated to the remaining
Investors, pro rata based on the number of Registrable Securities then held by
such Investors.
c. Legal Counsel. Subject to SECTION 5 hereof, the Buyer shall have
the right to select one legal counsel to review any offering pursuant to this
SECTION 2 ("LEGAL COUNSEL"), which shall be Xxxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxx or such other
counsel as thereafter designated by the
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holders of a majority of Registrable Securities. The Company shall reasonably
cooperate with Legal Counsel in performing the Company's obligations under this
Agreement.
d. Form SB-2. The Company shall (i) initially register the sale of
the Registrable Securities on Form SB-2 (or such other form if Form SB-2 is not
available) and (ii) undertake to promptly register the Registrable Securities on
Form S-3 as soon as 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.
e. Sufficient Number of Shares Registered. Following the filing of
the initial Registration Statement pursuant to SECTION 2(a), in the event the
number of shares available under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to
SECTION 2(a) is insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities or an
Investor's allocated portion of the Registrable Securities pursuant to SECTION
2(b), the Company shall amend the Registration Statement, or file a new
Registration Statement (on the short form available therefor, if applicable), or
both, so as to cover at least 130% of such Registrable Securities (based on the
market price of the Common Stock), in each case, as soon as practicable, but in
any event not later than fifteen (15) days after the necessity therefor arises.
The Company shall use it best efforts to cause such amendment and/or new
Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable following the
filing thereof. For purposes of the foregoing provision, the number of shares
available under a Registration Statement shall be deemed "insufficient to cover
all of the Registrable Securities" if at any time the number of Registrable
Securities issued or issuable upon conversion of the Debenture and exercise of
the Warrants is greater than the quotient determined by dividing (i) the number
of shares of Common Stock available for resale under such Registration Statement
by (ii) 1.3. For purposes of the calculation set forth in the foregoing
sentence, any restrictions on the convertibility of the Debenture or
exercisability of the Warrants shall be disregarded and such calculation shall
assume that the Debenture and the Warrants are then convertible and exercisable,
respectively, into shares of Common Stock at the then prevailing Conversion Rate
(as defined in the Debenture) and Warrant Exercise Price (as defined in the
Warrant), respectively, if applicable.
f. Penalty for No Effective Registration Statement. In the event the
initial Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the SEC on the
one hundred sixty fifth (165th) day following the Issuance Date (the
"EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE"), the Company shall pay to the Investor a penalty equal
to two percent (2%) of the outstanding principal amount of the Debenture, and
shall continue to accrue, and pay in cash on each monthly anniversary thereafter
until the earlier of (i) the date the Registration Statement is declared
effective by the SEC and (ii) the one hundred eightieth (180th) day following
the Issuance Date, an additional three percent (3%) per month (prorated for
partial months) of the outstanding principal amount of the Debenture.
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3. RELATED OBLIGATIONS.
At such time as the Company is obligated to file a Registration Statement
with the SEC pursuant to SECTION 2(A) or SECTION 2(E), 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 promptly prepare and file with the SEC a
Registration Statement with respect to the Registrable Securities (on or prior
to the sixtieth (60th) day after the date of issuance of the Debenture for the
registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to SECTION 2(a)) and use its
best efforts to cause such Registration Statement relating to the Registrable
Securities to become effective as soon as possible after such filing (but in no
event later than 180 days after the Issuance Date, and keep such Registration
Statement effective pursuant to Rule 415 at all times until the earlier of (i)
the date as of which the Investors may sell all of the Registrable Securities
without restriction pursuant to Rule 144(k) promulgated under the 1933 Act (or
successor thereto) or (ii) the date on which (A) the Investors shall have sold
all the Registrable Securities and (B) none of the Debenture or Warrants is
outstanding (the "REGISTRATION Period"), which 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 light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading. The term
"best efforts" as used in the first sentence of this SECTION 3(a) shall mean,
among other things, that the Company shall submit to the SEC, within two
business days after the Company learns that no review of a particular
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.
b. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments
(including post-effective amendments) and supplements to a 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 a 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-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K or any
analogous report under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"1934 ACT"), the Company 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 the Registration Statement.
c. The Company shall permit Legal Counsel to review and comment upon
a Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto at least
seven (7) days prior
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to their filing with the SEC, and not file any document 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. The Company shall furnish to Legal Counsel,
without charge, (i) any correspondence from the SEC or the staff of the SEC to
the Company or its representatives relating to any Registration Statement, (ii)
promptly after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC, one copy of any
Registration Statement and any amendment(s) thereto, including financial
statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference and
all exhibits and (iii) upon the effectiveness of any Registration Statement, one
copy of the prospectus included in such Registration Statement and all
amendments and supplements thereto.
d. The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose Registrable
Securities are included in any Registration Statement, without charge, (i)
promptly after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC, at least one copy of
such Registration Statement and any amendment(s) thereto, including financial
statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference and
all exhibits, (ii) upon the effectiveness of any Registration Statement, 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 reasonable efforts to (i) register and
qualify the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement under
such other securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions in the United
States as Legal Counsel or any Investor reasonably requests, (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 who holds Registrable Securities 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.
f. As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event
(but in no event later than one business day thereafter), the Company shall
notify Legal Counsel and each Investor in writing of the happening of any event
as a result of which the prospectus included in a 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
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therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, and promptly prepare a supplement or amendment to such Registration
Statement to correct such untrue statement or omission, and deliver one (1) copy
of such supplement or amendment to Legal Counsel and each Investor (or such
other number of copies as Legal Counsel or such Investor may reasonably
request). The Company shall also promptly notify Legal Counsel and each Investor
in writing (i) when a prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment has been filed, and when a Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment has become effective (notification of such
effectiveness shall be delivered to Legal Counsel and each Investor by facsimile
on the same day of such effectiveness and by overnight mail), (ii) of any
request by the SEC for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or
related prospectus or related information, and (iii) of the Company's reasonable
determination that a post-effective amendment to a 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 a 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. At the request of any Investor, the Company shall furnish to such
Investor, on the date of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and
thereafter from time to time on such dates as an Investor may reasonably request
(i) a letter, dated such date, from the Company's independent certified public
accountants in form and substance as is customarily given by independent
certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering,
addressed to the Investors, and (ii) an opinion, dated as of such date, of
counsel representing the Company for purposes of such Registration Statement, in
form, scope and substance as is customarily given in an underwritten public
offering, addressed to the Investors.
i. The Company shall make available for inspection by (i) any
Investor, (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 hold in strict confidence and shall
not make any disclosure (except to an Investor) 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
any 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 government 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. Each Investor 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
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Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure
of, or to obtain a protective order for, the Records deemed confidential.
j. The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure
of information concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless (i)
disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state
securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid
or correct a misstatement or omission in any 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 the Investor's
expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain
a protective order for, such information.
k. The Company shall use its best efforts either to (i) cause all
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, if the listing of such Registrable
Securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange, or (ii) secure
designation and quotation of all the Registrable Securities covered by the
Registration Statement on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market and, without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, to arrange for at least two market makers to
register with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") as
such with respect to such Registrable Securities. The Company shall pay all fees
and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligation under this SECTION
3(k).
l. The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold
Registrable Securities being offered to facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legend) representing the
Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to a Registration Statement and
enable such certificates to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may
be, as the Investors may reasonably request and registered in such names as the
Investors may request.
m. The Company shall provide a transfer agent and registrar of all
such Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of such
Registration Statement.
n. If requested by an Investor, the Company shall (i) immediately
incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such
information as an Investor 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; (ii) make all required filings of such
prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as notified of the
matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment; and (iii) supplement or make amendments to any Registration Statement
if requested by a holder of such Registrable Securities.
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o. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registrable
Securities covered by the applicable 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.
p. The Company shall make generally available to its security
holders as soon as practical, but not later than 90 days after the close of the
period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying with 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 the Registration Statement.
q. The Company shall otherwise use its best efforts to comply with
all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC in connection with any
registration hereunder.
r. Within two (2) business days after the Registration Statement
which includes the Registrable Securities 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 the
Investors whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration
Statement) confirmation that the Registration Statement has been declared
effective by the SEC in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT A.
s. The Company shall take all other reasonable actions necessary to
expedite and facilitate disposition by the Investors of Registrable Securities
pursuant to a Registration Statement.
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTORS.
a. At least seven (7) business days prior to the first anticipated
filing date of the Registration Statement, the Company shall notify each
Investor in writing of the information the Company requires from each such
Investor if such Investor elects to have any of such Investor's Registrable
Securities included in such Registration Statement. It shall be a condition
precedent to the obligations of the Company to complete the registration
pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities of a
particular Investor 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 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 any Registration
Statement hereunder, unless such Investor has notified the Company in writing of
such Investor's election to exclude all of such Investor's Registrable
Securities from such Registration Statement.
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 SECTION 3(f), such Investor will immediately discontinue
disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to
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any Registration Statement(s) covering such Registrable Securities until such
Investor's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus
contemplated by SECTION 3(g) or the first sentence of SECTION 3(f).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Company shall cause its transfer
agent to deliver unlegended shares of Common Stock to a transferee of an
Investor in accordance with the terms of the Debenture and the Warrants in
connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which an
Investor has entered into a contract for sale prior to the Investor's receipt of
a notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in
SECTION 3(g) or the first sentence of SECTION 3(f) and for which the Investor
has not yet settled.
5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.
All reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and
brokerage commissions, incurred in connection with registrations, filings or
qualifications pursuant to SECTION 2 and SECTION 3, including, without
limitation, all registration, listing and qualifications fees, printers and
accounting fees, and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, and all
fees and disbursements of Legal Counsel, shall be paid by the Company.
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 who holds such
Registrable Securities, the directors, officers, partners, employees, agents,
representatives of, and each Person, if any, who controls any 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, 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 such 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 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,
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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 a Registration Statement or (iv) any material violation
of this Agreement (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) being,
collectively, "VIOLATIONS"). 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 and in conformity
with information furnished in writing to the Company by 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) 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, if such prospectus was timely made available by the
Company pursuant to SECTION 3(d); and (iii) 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. 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 the Investors pursuant to SECTION 9.
b. In connection with any Registration Statement in which an
Investor is participating, each such Investor agrees to severally and not
jointly 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 Person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act
(collectively and together with an Indemnified Person, 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 such
Investor expressly for use in connection with such Registration Statement; and,
subject to SECTION 6(d), such Investor will reimburse any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such Claim; 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 such
Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, further,
however, that the Investor shall be liable under this SECTION 6(b) for only that
amount of a Claim or Indemnified Damages as does not exceed the net proceeds to
such Investor as a result of the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement. 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 Investors
pursuant to SECTION 9. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this SECTION 6(b) with
respect to any prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified
Party if the untrue statement or omission of material fact contained in the
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 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 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 Company shall
pay reasonable fees for only one separate legal counsel for the Investors, and
such legal counsel shall be selected by the Investors holding a majority in
interest of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement to
which the Claim relates. 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
fully 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 written
consent, provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall not unreasonably
withhold, delay or condition its consent. No indemnifying party shall, without
the 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.
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.
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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:
(i) no seller of Registrable Securities guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 0000 Xxx) shall be entitled to
contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation; and (ii) contribution by any seller of Registrable
Securities shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds received by
such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Registration Statement.
8. REPORTS UNDER THE 1934 ACT.
With a view to making available to the Investors 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 the Investors 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 (it being understood that
nothing herein shall limit the Company's obligations under Section 4.3 of the
Securities Purchase Agreement) and the filing of such reports and other
documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
c. furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns
Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the
Company 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 or quarterly
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 the investors to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without
registration.
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9. ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
The rights under this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by
the Investors to any transferee of all or any portion of Registrable Securities
if the Investor agrees in writing with the transferee or assignee to assign such
rights and 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, provided that further
disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee shall be restricted
under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, and the transferee or
assignee shall be bound by all of the provisions contained herein.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rights under this Agreement shall not be
assignable if the amount of Registrable Securities to be assigned is less than
$250,000, based on the Conversion Price or Warrant Exercise Price of such
securities (as applicable) at the time of such assignment.
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 Investors who then hold two-thirds (2/3) (beta) of the Registrable
Securities. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this SECTION 10
shall be binding upon each Investor and the Company. No such amendment shall be
effective to the extent that it applies to less than all of the holders of the
Registrable Securities. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Person
to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of any of this
Agreement unless the same consideration also is offered to all of the parties to
this Agreement.
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 registered owner of such Registrable Securities.
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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:
EBIZ Enterprises, Inc.
00000 X. 00xx Xxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Chief Executive Officer
With a copy to:
Xxxxx and Roca
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000-0000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
If to Legal Counsel:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx & Zavis
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
If to Buyer:
JEM Ventures EBIZ, LLC
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxx
or at such other address and/or facsimile number and/or to the attention of such
other person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to
each other party five days prior to the
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effectiveness of such change. 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 nationally recognized overnight
delivery 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. The corporate laws of the State of Nevada shall govern all issues
concerning the relative rights of the Company and its stockholders. All other
questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation
of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of
Illinois, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law
provision or rule (whether of the State of Illinois or any other jurisdictions)
that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the
State of Illinois. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive
jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting within the City of Chicago,
for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with
any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably
waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim
that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that
such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the
venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby
irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being
served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such
party at the address for such notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that
such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice
thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right
to serve process in any manner permitted by law. 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.
e. This Agreement, the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Warrants,
the Debenture and the Security Agreement 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 Securities Purchase
Agreement, the Warrants, the Debenture, and the Security Agreement 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.
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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 the 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. All consents and other determinations to be made by the Investors
pursuant to this Agreement shall be made, unless otherwise specified in this
Agreement, by Investors holding a majority of the Registrable Securities,
determined as if the principal amount of the Debenture then outstanding and all
of the Warrants issuable, have been converted into or exercised for Registrable
Securities without regard to any limitation on conversion of the Debenture or
the exercise of the Warrants.
k. 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.
l. 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.
* * * * * *
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration Rights
Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of day and year first above
written.
COMPANY:
EBIZ ENTERPRISES, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
____________________________
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Its: Chief Executive Officer
BUYER:
JEM VENTURES EBIZ, LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
____________________________
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Its: President
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EXHIBIT A
FORM OF NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS
OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
[TRANSFER AGENT]
ATTN:____________________________________
RE: EBIZ ENTERPRISES, INC.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are counsel to EBIZ ENTERPRISES, INC., a Nevada corporation (the
"COMPANY"), and have represented the Company in connection with that certain
Securities Purchase Agreement (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT") entered into by and
among the Company and the Buyer named therein (the "HOLDER") pursuant to which
the Company issued to the Holder a Subordinated Convertible Debenture (the
"DEBENTURE") convertible into shares of the Company's common stock, no par value
per share (the "COMMON STOCK"), and warrants to purchase an aggregate of 245,000
shares of the Common Stock, subject to adjustment (the "WARRANTS"). Pursuant to
the Purchase Agreement, the Company also has entered into a Registration Rights
Agreement with the Holders (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), including the
shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Debenture and exercise of
the Warrants, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 ACT"). In
connection with the Company's obligations under the Registration Rights
Agreement, on ____________ ___, 1999, the Company filed a Registration Statement
on Form ___ (File No. 333-_____________) (the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT") with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") relating to the Registrable
Securities which names each of the Holders as a selling stockholder 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.
Very truly yours,
[ISSUER'S COUNSEL]
By:________________________
cc: JEM VENTURES EBIZ, LLC
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