EXHIBIT 10.2
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of August
11, 1998, by and among Visual Data Corporation, a Florida corporation, with
headquarters located at 0000 XX 00 Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
(the"Company"), and the undersigned buyers (each, a "Buyer" and collectively,
the"Buyers").
WHEREAS:
A. In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement by and among
the parties of even date herewith (the "Securities Purchase Agreement"), the
Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the
Securities Purchase Agreement, to issue and sell to the Buyers (i) shares of the
Company's Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Shares"), which
will be convertible into shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.0001
per share (the "Common Stock") (as converted, the "Conversion Shares"), in
accordance with the terms of the Company's Articles of Amendment to Articles of
incorporation (the "Articles of Amendment") and (ii) a warrant (the "Warrant")
to purchase 20,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock in accordance with the
terms of the Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (the "Warrant to Purchase Common
Stock"); and
B. To induce the Buyers 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
Buyers hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
a. "Investor" means a Buyer and any transferee or assignee thereof to
whom a Buyer 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 corporation, a limited liability company, an
association, a partnership, an organization, a business, an individual, a
governmental or political subdivision thereof or a governmental agency.
-1-
c. "Register," "registered," and "registration" refer to a registration
effected by preparing and filing one or more Registration Statements in
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 (i) the Conversion Shares issued or
issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Shares, any shares of capital stock
issued or issuable with respect to the Conversion Shares or the Preferred Shares
as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, exchange or
similar event or otherwise, regardless of any limitation on conversions of
Preferred Shares and (ii) the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise
of the Warrant to Purchase Common Stock, including any shares issuable as a
result of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or similar event.
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 the Filing Deadline (as defined below),
file with the SEC a Registration Statement or Registration Statements (as is
necessary) on Form S-3 (or, if such form is unavailable for such a registration,
on such other form as is available for such a registration, subject to the
consent of the Investors holding a majority of the Registrable Securities and
the provisions of Section 2(c), which consent will not be unreasonably
withheld), covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities, which
Registration Statement(s) shall state that, in accordance with Rule 416
promulgated under the 1933 Act, such Registration Statement(s) also covers such
indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock as may become issuable
upon conversion of the Preferred Shares (i) to prevent dilution resulting from
stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions and (ii) by reason of
changes in the Conversion Price or Conversion Rate of the Preferred Shares in
accordance with the terms thereof. Such Registration Statement shall initially
register for resale 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 3(b). Such registered shares of Common Stock shall be
allocated among the Investors pro rata based on the total number of Registrable
Securities issued or issuable as of each date that a Registration Statement, as
amended, relating to the resale of the Registrable Securities is declared
effective by the SEC. The Company shall use its best efforts to have the
Registration Statement(s) declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable,
but in no event later than the Effectiveness Deadline (as defined below). Except
for a Registration Statement filed by the Company in accordance with this
Section 2a, and the Company's Post-Effective Registration Statement filed in
accordance with the Company's initial public offering, during the period of time
beginning on the date hereof through
-2-
the date which is ninety (90) days after a Registration Statement filed by the
Company in accordance with this Section 2a has been filed and is continuously
effective, the Company shall not file any other Registration Statements.
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 of such establishment or increase, as the case may be.
In the event an Investor shall sell or otherwise transfer any of such holder'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 or entity
which does not 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. For the avoidance of doubt, the number of Registrable
Securities held by any Investor shall be determined as if all Preferred Shares
then outstanding were converted into or exercised for Registrable Securities.
c. Counsel and Investment Bankers. Subject to Section 5 hereof, in
connection with any offering pursuant to Section 2, the Investors shall have the
right to select one legal counsel and, in the event that the holders of
Registrable Securities are exercising their rights pursuant to Section 2(d), an
investment banker or bankers and manager or managers to administer their
interest in the offering, which investment banker or bankers or manager or
managers shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company. The Company shall
reasonably cooperate with any such counsel and investment bankers.
d. Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time prior to the expiration of
the Registration Period (as hereinafter defined) the number of shares of Common
Stock available for sale under the Registration Statement is insufficient to
cover all of the Registrable Securities (as defined in Section 3(b)) and the
Company proposes to file with the SEC a Registration Statement relating to an
offering for its own account or the account of others under the 1933 Act of any
of its securities (other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or their then equivalents
relating to securities to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of
any entity or business or equity securities issuable in connection with stock
option or other employee benefit plans) the Company shall promptly send to each
Investor who is entitled to registration rights under this Section 2(d) written
notice of the Company's intention to file a Registration Statement and of such
Investor's rights under this Section 2(d) and, if within twenty (20) days after
receipt of such notice, such Investor shall so request in writing, the Company
shall include in such Registration Statement all or any part of the Registrable
Securities such Investor requests to be registered, subject to the priorities
set forth in Section 2(e) below. No right to registration of Registrable
Securities under this Section 2(d) shall be construed to limit any registration
required under Section 2(a). The obligations of the Company under this Section
2(d) may be waived by Investors holding a majority of the Registrable
Securities. If an offering in connection with which an Investor is entitled to
registration under this Section 2(d) is an underwritten offering, then each
Investor whose Registrable Securities are included in such
-3-
Registration Statement shall, unless otherwise agreed by the Company, offer and
sell such Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering using the same
underwriter or underwriters and, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, on
the same terms and conditions as other shares of Common Stock included in such
underwritten offering.
e. Priority in Piggy-Back Registration Rights in Connection with
Registrations for Company Account. If the registration referred to in Section
2(d) is to be an underwritten public offering and the managing underwriter(s)
advise the Company in writing, that in their reasonable good faith opinion,
marketing or other factors dictate that a limitation on the number of shares of
Common Stock which may be included in the Registration Statement is necessary to
facilitate and not adversely affect the proposed offering, then the Company
shall include in such registration: (1) first, all securities the Company
proposes to sell for its own account, (2) second, up to the full number of
securities proposed to be registered for the account of the holders of
securities entitled to inclusion of their securities in the Registration
Statement by reason of demand registration rights, (3) third, the securities
held by the Series A Holders (as defined below), and (4) fourth, the securities
requested to be registered by the Investors and other holders of securities
entitled to participate in the registration, as of the date hereof, drawn from
them pro rata based on the number each has requested to be included in such
registration.
f. Eligibility for Form SB-2 and Form S-3. The Company represents,
warrants and covenants that on and after the date hereof it meets the
requirements for the use of Form S-3 for registration of the sale by the
Investors of the Registrable Securities and the Company has filed and shall file
all reports required to be filed by the Company with the SEC in a timely manner
so as to obtain and maintain such eligibility for the use of Form SB-2 or Form
S-3. In the event that Form S-3 is not available for sale by the Investors of
the Registrable Securities, then the Company shall undertake to 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.
g. Rule 416. The Company and the Investors each acknowledge that an
indeterminate number of Registrable Securities shall be registered pursuant to
Rule 416 under the 1933 Act so as to include in such Registration Statement any
and all Registrable Securities which may become issuable (i) to prevent dilution
resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions and (ii) if
permitted by law, by reason of reductions in the Conversion Price (as defined in
the Articles of Amendment) of the Preferred Shares in accordance with the terms
thereof, including, without limitation, the terms which cause the Floating
Conversion Price (as defined in the Articles of Amendment) to decrease as the
bid price of the Common Stock decreases (collectively, the "Rule 416
Securities"). In this regard, the Company agrees to use all reasonable efforts
to ensure that the maximum number of Registrable Securities which may be
registered pursuant to Rule 416 under the 1933 Act are covered by the
Registration Statement and, absent guidance from the SEC or other definitive
authority to the contrary, the Company shall use all reasonable efforts to
affirmatively support and to not take any position adverse to the position that
the Registration Statement filed
-4-
hereunder covers all of the Rule 416 Securities. If the Company reasonably
determines that the Registration Statement filed hereunder does not cover all of
the Rule 416 Securities, the Company shall immediately provide to each Investor
written notice setting forth the basis for the Company's position and the
authority therefor.
h. Registration Statement Election; Filing Deadline; Effectiveness
Deadline. For purposes of this Agreement, the "Filing Deadline" shall mean
August 15, 1998. For purposes of this Agreement "Effectiveness Deadline" shall
mean September 30, 1998 (provided, that, if the SEC reviews the Registration
Statement on Form S-3 and, in connection with such review, requests the audited
financial statements of the Company for the year ended September 30, 1998 before
it will declare such Registration Statement effective, then the Effectiveness
Deadline shall mean October 30, 1998).
3. RELATED OBLIGATIONS.
Whenever an Investor has requested that any Registrable Securities be
registered pursuant to Section 2(d) or at such time as the Company is obligated
to file a Registration Statement with the SEC pursuant to Section 2(a), 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 Filing Deadline 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 the Effectiveness Deadline for the
registration of Registrable Securities), 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 Preferred Shares 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.
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
-5-
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 event the
number of shares available under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this
Agreement is insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities, the
Company shall amend such Registration Statement, or file a new Registration
Statement (on the short form available therefor, if applicable), or both, so as
to cover all of the Registrable Securities, in each case, as soon as
practicable, but in any event within fifteen (15) days after the necessity
therefor arises (based on the market price of the Common Stock and other
relevant factors on which the Company reasonably elects to rely). 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 Preferred Shares 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) 1.5. For purposes
of the calculation set forth in the foregoing sentence, any restrictions on the
convertibility of the Preferred Shares shall be disregarded and such calculation
shall assume that the Preferred Shares are then convertible and exercisable,
respectively, into shares of Common Stock at the then prevailing Conversion Rate
(as defined in the Company's Articles of Amendment).
c. The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose Registrable
Securities are included in any Registration Statement and its legal counsel
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, the prospectus included in such Registration
Statement (including each preliminary prospectus) and, with regards to such
Registration Statement(s), any correspondence by or on behalf of the Company to
the SEC or the staff of the SEC and any correspondence from the SEC or the staff
of the SEC to the Company or its representatives, (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.
d. 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 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 reasonably 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
-6-
be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (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 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.
e. In the event that the holders of Registrable Securities are
exercising their rights pursuant to Section 2(d) and Investors who hold a
majority of the Registrable Securities being offered in the offering select
underwriters for the offering, the Company shall enter into and perform its
obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form,
including, without limitation, customary indemnification and contribution
obligations, with the underwriters of such offering.
f. As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event, the
Company shall notify 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
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 ten (10)
copies of such supplement or amendment to each Investor (or such other number of
copies as such Investor may reasonably request). The Company shall also promptly
notify 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 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 each Investor who holds Registrable Securities being sold
(and, in the event of an underwritten offering, the managing underwriters) 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 permit each Investor and a single firm of counsel,
initially Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLP or such other counsel as thereafter
designated as selling stockholders' counsel by the Investors who hold a majority
of the Registrable Securities being sold, to review and comment upon a
Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto
-7-
at least four (4) business days prior to their filing with the SEC, and not file
any document in a form to which such 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 such counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
i. At the request of any Investor, the Company shall use its best
efforts to 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) in the event that the holders of Registrable
Securities are exercising their rights pursuant to Section 2(d), if required by
an underwriter, 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 underwriters, 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 underwriters and the Investors.
j. The Company shall make available for inspection by (i) any Investor,
(ii) any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to a Registration
Statement, (iii) one firm of attorneys and one firm of accountants or other
agents retained by the Investors, and (iv) one firm of attorneys retained by all
such underwriters (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 Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action
to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, the Records
deemed confidential.
k. 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
-8-
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.
l. The Company shall use its best efforts either to cause all the
Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be listed on the
NASDAQ SmallCap Market, NASDAQ National Market, the New York Stock Exchange or
the American Stock Exchange, Inc. or 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. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in
connection with satisfying its obligation under this Section 3(l).
m. The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold Registrable
Securities being offered and, to the extent applicable, any managing underwriter
or underwriters, 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 maybe, as the
managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or, if there is no managing
underwriter or underwriters, the Investors may reasonably request and registered
in such names as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or the
Investors may request.
n. 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.
o. The Company shall provide a transfer agent and registrar for all
such Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of such
Registration Statement.
p. If requested by the managing underwriters or an Investor, the
Company shall (i) immediately incorporate in a prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment such information as the managing underwriters and the
Investors agree should 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 sold to such underwriters,
the purchase price being paid therefor by such underwriters and any other terms
of the underwritten (or best efforts underwritten) offering of the Registrable
Securities to be sold in such offering; (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 shareholder or any underwriter of such Registrable Securities.
-9-
q. 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.
r. 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.
s. 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.
t. Within two (2) business days after the Registration Statement which
includes the Registrable Securities is ordered 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.
u. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 3(f), at any
time after the Registration Statement has been declared effective, the Company
may delay the disclosure of material, non-public information concerning the
Company the disclosure of which at the time is not, in the good faith opinion of
the Board of Directors of the Company and its counsel, in the best interest of
the Company and, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, otherwise required (a
"Grace Period"); provided, that the Company shall promptly (i) notify the
Investors in writing of the existence of material, non-public information giving
rise to a Grace Period and the date on which the Grace Period will begin, and
(ii) notify the Investors in writing of the date on which the Grace Period ends;
and, provided further, that during any consecutive 365 day period, there shall
be only one Grace Period, such Grace Period not to exceed 20 days (an "Allowable
Grace Period"). For purposes of determining the length of a Grace Period above,
the Grace Period shall begin on and include the date the Investors receive the
notice referred to in clause (i) above and shall end on and include the date
which is the earlier of (1) 20 days after the beginning of such Grace Period or
(2) the date the Investors receive the notice referred to in clause (ii) above.
The provisions of Section 2(c) of the Articles of Amendment shall not be
applicable during the period of any Allowable Grace Period. Upon expiration of
the Allowable Grace Period, the Company shall again be bound by the first
sentence of Section 3(f) with respect to the information giving rise thereto. In
the event of any Grace Period, the Mandatory Conversion Date (as defined in the
Articles of Amendment) shall be delayed one day for each day in the Grace Period
as provided in Section 2(h) of the Articles of Amendment.
-10-
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTORS.
a. At least seven (7) days prior to the first anticipated filing date
of a 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. In the event any Investor elects to participate in an underwritten
public offering pursuant to Section 2, each such Investor agrees to enter into
and perform such Investor's obligations under an underwriting agreement, in
usual and customary form, including, without limitation, customary
indemnification and contribution obligations and, if requested by the
underwriters, customary lock-up arrangements (on terms no more restrictive than
the lock-up arrangements applicable to the management of the Company), with the
managing underwriter of such offering and take such other actions as are
reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the
Registrable Securities, unless such Investor notifies the Company in writing of
such Investor's election to exclude all of such Investor's Registrable
Securities from such Registration Statement.
d. 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), such Investor will immediately discontinue
disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to 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 3(f).
e. No Investor may participate in any underwritten registration
hereunder unless such Investor (i) agrees to sell such Investor's Registrable
Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by
the Investors entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements, (ii) completes
and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting
agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such
-11-
underwriting arrangements, and (iii) agrees to pay its pro rata share of all
underwriting discounts and commissions.
5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.
All reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and
commissions and transfer taxes, 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 and fees
and disbursements of one counsel for the Investors, which fees shall not exceed
$3,000, 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 of,
and each Person, if any, who controls, any Investor within the meaning of the
1933 Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the"1934 Act"), and
any underwriter (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) for the Investors, and the
directors and officers of, and each Person, if any, who controls, any such
underwriter 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, in light of the circumstances under which the statements therein were
made, 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, or (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
-12-
or regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement (the matters in the foregoing
clauses (i) through (iii) being, collectively, "Violations"). Subject to the
restrictions set forth in Section 6(d) with respect to the number of legal
counsel, the Company shall reimburse the Investors and each such underwriter or
controlling person, promptly as such expenses are incurred, subject to
documentation, if requested by the Company, 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 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 any Indemnified Person or underwriter 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(c); (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(c), 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; (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; 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. 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
-13-
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
preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Party
if the Investor brings such untrue statement or omission of material fact
contained in the preliminary prospectus to the attention of the Company on a
timely basis.
c. The Company shall be entitled to receive indemnities from
underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers and similar securities industry
professionals participating in any distribution, to the same extent as provided
above, with respect to information such persons so furnished in writing
expressly for inclusion in the Registration Statement.
d. 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
another party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The indemnifying
party shall pay for only one separate legal counsel for the Indemnified Persons
or the Indemnified Parties, as applicable, and such counsel shall be selected by
Investors holding a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities included
in the Registration Statement to which the Claim relates, if the Investors are
entitled to indemnification hereunder, or the Company, if the Company is
entitled to indemnification hereunder, as applicable. 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
-14-
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.
e. 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.
f. 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:
(i) no contribution shall be made under circumstances where the maker would not
have been liable for indemnification under the fault standards set forth in
Section 6; (ii) 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 (iii) 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.
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. For a period of two years from the last Closing Date make and keep
public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule
144;
-15-
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(c) 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.
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: (i) the Investor 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 will be subject to any
restrictions under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws; (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; and (v) such
transfer shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of
the Securities Purchase Agreement.
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 hold two-thirds (2/3) 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.
-16-
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
a. A person or entity is deemed to be a holder of Registrable
Securities whenever such person or entity owns of record such Registrable
Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or
elections from two or more persons or entities 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.
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 a confirmation
of transmission is mechanically generated and kept on file by the sending
party); (iii) one (1) 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: Visual Data Corporation
0000 XX 00 Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
With a copy to: Atlas Xxxxxxxx Trop & Borkson, P.A.
000 Xxxx Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
If to a Buyer: To its address and facsimile number
on the Schedule of Buyers attached
hereto, with copies to such Buyer's
counsel as set forth on the Schedule
of Buyers.
Each party shall provide five (5) days prior notice to the other party of any
change in address, phone number or facsimile number.
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.
-17-
d. The corporate laws of the State of Florida shall govern all issues
concerning the relative rights of the Company and its stockholders. All other
questions regarding the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation
of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New
York without regard to the principles of conflict of laws. Each party hereby
irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal
courts sitting the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication
of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction
contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and
agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not
personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action
or proceeding is 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.
e. This Agreement and the Securities Purchase 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 and
other than those set forth in the Articles of Amendment. This Agreement and the
Securities Purchase 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.
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 two or more 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.
-18-
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 all of the Preferred Shares then outstanding have been
converted into Registrable Securities.
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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration Rights
Agreement to be duly executed as of day and year first above written.
COMPANY: BUYERS:
VISUAL DATA CORPORATION WEC INVESTORS IV LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
----------------------- By:________________________
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx Name:______________________
Its: President Its:_______________________
-19-
SCHEDULE OF BUYERS
Number of Number of
Investor Name and Address Preferred Shares Warrants
------------------------- ---------------- ---------
WEC Investors IV LLC 150 20,000
c/o West End Capital LLC
a Delaware limited liability company
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
With a copy to:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLP
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxx
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS
OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
[TRANSFER AGENT]
Attn:
Re: VISUAL DATA CORPORATION
-----------------------
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are counsel to VISUAL DATA CORPORATION, a Florida 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 Buyers named therein (collectively, the "Holders")
pursuant to which the Company issued to the Holders shares of its Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, (the "Preferred
Shares") and warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company (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 the Common Stock of the Company, par value
$0.0001 per share (the "Common Stock") issuable upon conversion of the Preferred
Shares 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 ____________ ___, 1998, 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,
[Company Counsel]
By:________________________
cc: [LIST NAMES OF HOLDERS]