Exhibit 4.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made as of
November 7, 2001, between Sales Online Direct, Inc., a corporation organized
under the laws of the State of Delaware, with headquarters located at 0 Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000 (the "Company") and Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
("Holder"). This Agreement is being entered into pursuant to that certain
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof, between the Company
and the Holder (the "Agreement and Plan of Merger").
The Company and the Holder hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings given such terms in the Agreement and Plan of Merger. As used in this
Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
"Advice" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(m).
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that
directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or under common control with
such Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control," when used with
respect to any Person, means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms of "affiliated," "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings
correlative to the foregoing.
"Blackout Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(n).
"Board" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(n).
"Business Day" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day which
shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts generally are authorized or required by law or
other government actions to close.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Common Stock" means the Company's common stock, $.001 value per share.
"Convertible Note" means that certain 6% Convertible Promissory Note of the
Company issued to the Holder pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger.
"Effectiveness Date" means, with respect to the Registration Statement, no
later than 240 days from the Closing Date.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Filing Date" means no later than the 180th day following the Closing Date.
"Holder" or "Holders" means the holder or holders, as the case may be, from
time to time of Registrable Securities.
"Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
"Indemnifying Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
"Losses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
"OTC Bulletin Board" shall mean the over-the-counter electronic bulletin
board market or exchange.
"Person" means an individual or a corporation, partnership, trust,
incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability
company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or political subdivision
thereof) or other entity of any kind.
"Proceeding" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding
(including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as
a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in the Registration Statement
(including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any information
previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration
statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as
amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms
of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by the
Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the
Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated
by reference in such Prospectus.
"Registrable Securities" means (i) the shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of the Convertible Note (the "Conversion Shares"), any shares of
Common Stock issuable as payment of interest on the Convertible Note ("Interest
Payment Shares"), and any shares of Common Stock issuable upon any stock split,
stock dividend, recapitalization or similar event with respect to such
Conversion Shares or Interest Payment Shares and (ii) any other dividend or
other distribution with respect to, conversion or exchange of, or in replacement
of, Registrable Securities; provided, however, that Registrable Securities shall
include (but not be limited to) a number of shares of Common Stock (the
"Required Number") equal to no less than 200% of the maximum number of shares of
Common Stock which would be issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Note and
upon election to receive all interest payable under the Convertible Note until
their maturity dates in the form of Interest Payment Shares, assuming such
conversion and election occurred on the Closing Date or the Filing Date,
whichever date would result in the greater number of Registrable Securities.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if the actual number
of shares of Common Stock issuable as Interest Payment Shares or upon conversion
of the Convertible Note exceeds the Required Number, the term "Registrable
Securities" shall be deemed to include such additional shares of Common Stock as
are necessary to include all of the shares of Common Stock issuable as Interest
Payment Shares or upon conversion of the Convertible Note.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statements and any
additional registration statements contemplated by Section 2(a), including (in
each case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration
statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all
exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference in such
registration statement.
"Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar
rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the
same effect as such Rule.
"Rule 158" means Rule 158 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar
rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the
same effect as such Rule.
"Rule 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar
rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the
same effect as such Rule.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
2. Registration.
(a) Required Registration. On or prior to the Filing Date, the Company
shall prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement covering all
Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant
to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on Form SB-2 or such other
appropriate form. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as
promptly as possible after the filing thereof, and to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until such date as is
the earlier of (x) the date when all Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement have been sold by the Holder or (y) the date on which the
Registrable Securities may be sold without any restriction pursuant to Rule
144(k) as determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion
letter, addressed to the Company's transfer agent to such effect (the
"Effectiveness Period"). If an additional Registration Statement is required to
be filed because the Holder reasonably determines that the actual number of
Interest Payment Shares and the shares of Common Stock into which the
Convertible Note are convertible may exceed the number of shares of Common Stock
initially registered in respect of the Conversion Shares and the Interest
Payment Shares based upon the computation on the Closing Date, the Holder shall
give the Company written notice of such fact, and the Company shall have twenty
(20) Business Days from the date of its receipt of such notice to file such
additional Registration Statement. The Company shall use its best efforts to
cause such additional Registration Statement to be declared effective by the
Commission as soon as possible, but in no event later than ninety (90) days
after filing.
(b) Shelf Registration. If the Company is not on the Filing Date
eligible to file a registration statement on Form S-3, then as soon as possible
but no later than thirty (30) days after becoming eligible to file a
registration statement for a secondary or resale offering of the Registrable
Securities on Form S-3, the Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a
post-effective amendment to Form SB-2 on Form S-3 to continue the registration
of all Registrable Securities pursuant to a "shelf" Registration Statement on
Form S-3 covering all Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a
continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, at no time during the Effectiveness Period shall any of the
Registrable Securities cease being registered.
3. Registration Procedures. In connection with the Company's registration
obligations hereunder, the Company shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the Commission on or prior to the Filing
Date, a Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (or such other appropriate form in
accordance herewith) in accordance with the method or methods of distribution
thereof as specified by the Holder (except if otherwise directed by the Holder),
and cause the Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective as
provided herein; provided, however, that not less than five (5) Business Days
prior to the filing of the Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or
any amendment or supplement thereto (including any document that would be
incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall (i) furnish to the Holder
and its counsel, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which
documents (other than those incorporated by reference) will be subject to the
review of the Holder and its counsel, and (ii) at the request of the Holder
cause its officers and directors, counsel and independent certified public
accountants to respond to such inquiries as shall be necessary, in the
reasonable opinion of counsel to such Holder, to conduct a reasonable
investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Company shall not
file the Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any amendments or
supplements thereto to which the Holder shall reasonably object in writing
within three (3) Business Days of their receipt thereof.
(b) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including
post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement as may be necessary to
keep the Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable
Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period and prepare and file with
the Commission such additional Registration Statements in order to register for
resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities; (ii) cause
the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus
supplement, and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424
(or any similar provisions then in force) promulgated under the Securities Act;
(iii) respond as promptly as possible to any comments received from the
Commission with respect to the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto
and as promptly as possible provide the Holder true and complete copies of all
correspondence from and to the Commission relating to the
Registration Statement; and (iv) comply in all material respects with the
provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the
disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement
during the applicable period in accordance with the intended methods of
disposition by the Holder thereof set forth in the Registration Statement as so
amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) Notify the Holder of Registrable Securities to be sold as promptly
as possible (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than five (5) Business
Days prior to such filing) and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such
notice in writing no later than one (1) Business Day following the day: (i)(A)
when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to
the Registration Statement is proposed to be filed; (B) when the Commission
notifies the Company whether there will be a "review" of such Registration
Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on such Registration
Statement and (C) with respect to the Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any
request by the Commission or any other Federal or state governmental authority
for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for
additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement covering any or
all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that
purpose; (iv) any of the representations and warranties of the Company contained
in any agreement contemplated hereby ceases to be true and correct in all
material respects; (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification
of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the
initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such purpose; and (vi) of the
occurrence of any event that makes any statement made in the Registration
Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that
requires any revisions to the Registration Statement, Prospectus or other
documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
(d) Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued,
obtain the withdrawal of, (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or exemption
from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.
(e) If requested by the Holder, (i) promptly incorporate in a
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement
such information as the Company reasonably agrees should be included therein and
(ii) make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such
post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company has
received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment.
(f) Furnish to the Holder and its counsel, without charge, at least
one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and each amendment thereto,
including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and all exhibits to the extent
requested by such Person (including those previously furnished or incorporated
by reference) promptly after the filing of such documents with the Commission.
(g) Promptly deliver to the Holder and its counsel, without charge, as
many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of
prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may
reasonably request; and the Company hereby consents to the use of such
Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Holder in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities
covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its
best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holder in
connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such
registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale
under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United
States as any Holder reasonably requests in writing, to keep each such
registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the
Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or things reasonably
necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the
Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be
required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not
then so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to general service
of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or subject
the Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so
subject.
(i) Cooperate with the Holder to facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant
to a Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free of all restrictive
legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations
and registered in such names as any Holder may request within at least two (2)
Business Days after notice thereof.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(c)(vi),
as promptly as possible, prepare a supplement or amendment, including a
post-effective amendment, to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the
related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
therein by reference, and file any other required document so that, as
thereafter delivered, neither the Registration Statement nor such Prospectus
will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(k) Use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities relating
to such Registration Statement to be listed on the OTC Bulletin Board and any
other securities exchange, quotation system, market or over-the-counter bulletin
board, if any, on which similar securities issued by the Company are then
listed.
(l) Comply in all material respects with all applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission and make generally available to its security
holders earning statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act and Rule 158 not later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month
period (or 90 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a
fiscal year) commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the
Company after the effective date of the Registration Statement, which statement
shall conform to the requirements of Rule 158.
(m) Require each selling Holder to furnish to the Company information
regarding such Holder and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as is
required by law to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, and the Company
may exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of any such Holder
who fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time prior to the
filing of each Registration Statement, supplemented Prospectus and/or amended
Registration Statement. If the Registration Statement refers to any Holder by
name or otherwise as the holder of any securities of the Company, then such
Holder shall have the right to require (if such reference to such Holder by name
or otherwise is not required by the Securities Act or any similar federal
statute then in force) the deletion of the reference to such Holder in any
amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement filed or prepared
subsequent to the time that such reference ceases to be required. Each Holder
covenants and agrees that (i) it will not sell any Registrable Securities under
the Registration Statement until it has received copies of the Prospectus as
then amended or supplemented as contemplated in Section 3(g) and notice from the
Company that such Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments
thereto have become effective as contemplated by Section 3(c) and (ii) it and
its officers, directors or Affiliates, if any, will comply with the prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to them in connection
with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.
Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable Securities that, upon
receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind
described in Section 3(c)(ii), 3(c)(iii), 3(c)(iv), 3(c)(v) or 3(c)(vi), such
Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities
under the Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of
the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement contemplated
by Section 3(j), or until it is advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company
that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case,
has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or
Registration Statement.
(n) If (i) there is material non-public information regarding the
Company which the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") reasonably
determines not to be in the Company's best interest to disclose and which the
Company is not otherwise required to disclose, or (ii) there is a significant
business opportunity (including, but not limited to, the acquisition or
disposition of assets (other than in the ordinary course of business) or any
merger, consolidation, tender offer or other similar transaction) available to
the Company which the Board reasonably
determines not to be in the Company's best interest to disclose and which the
Company would be required to disclose under the Registration Statement, then the
Company may postpone or suspend filing or effectiveness of a registration
statement for a period not to exceed 20 consecutive days, provided that the
Company may not postpone or suspend its obligation under this Section 3(n) for
more than 45 days in the aggregate during any 12-month period (each, a "Blackout
Period"); provided, however, that no such postponement or suspension shall be
permitted for consecutive 20-day periods, arising out of the same set of facts,
circumstances or transactions.
4. Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the performance
of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the
Company whether or not the Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective
and whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to the
Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing
sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees
(including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings
required to be made with the OTC Bulletin Board and each other securities
exchange or market on which Registrable Securities are required hereunder to be
listed, (B) with respect to filings required to be made with the Commission, (C)
with respect to filings required to be made under the OTC Bulletin Board and (D)
in compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without
limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Holder in connection with
Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities and determination of the
eligibility of the Registrable Securities for investment under the laws of such
jurisdictions as the Holder of a majority of Registrable Securities may
designate)), (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of
printing certificates for Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses if
the printing of prospectuses is requested by the holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement), (iii) messenger,
telephone and delivery expenses incurred by the Company, (iv) Securities Act
liability insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance, and (v) fees and
expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including,
without limitation, the Company's independent public accountants (including the
expenses of any comfort letters or costs associated with the delivery by
independent public accountants of a comfort letter or comfort letters). In
addition, the Company shall be responsible for all of its internal expenses
incurred in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its
officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of
any annual audit, the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing
of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange as required hereunder.
5. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall, notwithstanding
any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder and
each Holder's agents and brokers (including brokers who offer and sell
Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or any failure to
perform under a margin call of Common Stock), investment advisors and employees
of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the
officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling Person, to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation,
costs of preparation and attorneys' fees) and expenses (collectively, "Losses"),
as incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any
Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission
or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form
of prospectus or supplement thereto, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made) not misleading, except to the extent, but only to the
extent, that such untrue statements or omissions are based solely or in material
part upon information regarding such Holder furnished to the Company by such
Holder, which information was reasonably relied on by the Company for use
therein or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such
Holder's proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was
reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in
the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto. The Company shall notify the Holder promptly of
the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding of which the Company is
aware in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Such
indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of an Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of
the Registrable Securities by the Holder.
(b) Indemnification by Holder. The Holder shall, severally and not
jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the directors, officers,
agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the
directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as
incurred, arising solely or in material part out of or based solely or in
material part upon any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or arising
solely or in material part out of or based solely or in material part upon any
omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or
supplement thereto, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made) not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement or omission is contained in or omitted from any information so
furnished by such Holder to the Company and that such information was reasonably
relied upon by the Company for use in the Registration Statement, such
Prospectus or such form of prospectus or to the extent that such information
relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of distribution of
Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by
such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or
such form of prospectus. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, the Holder shall be liable under this Section 5(b) for only that amount
as does not exceed the net proceeds to such Holder as a result of the sale of
Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall be
brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an
"Indemnified Party"), such Indemnified Party promptly shall notify the Person
from whom indemnity is sought (the "Indemnifying Party) in writing, and the
Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all
fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof; provided, that
the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the
Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement,
except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally determined by a court
of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or
further review) that such failure shall have proximately and materially
adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party. An Indemnified Party shall have the
right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in
the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the
expense of such Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party
has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying
Party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to
employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such
Proceeding; or (3) the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any
impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying
Party, and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that a
conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent
such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such
Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to
employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the
Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and
such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party). The
Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding
effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the
Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of
which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such Proceeding. All fees and expenses of the
Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred
in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a
manner not inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified
Party, as incurred, within ten (10) Business Days of written notice thereof to
the Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that
an Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder; provided,
that the Indemnifying Party may require such Indemnified Party to undertake to
reimburse all such fees and expenses to the extent it is finally judicially
determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification
hereunder).
(d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under Section 5(a) or
5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party because of a failure or refusal of a
governmental authority to enforce such indemnification in accordance with its
terms (by reason of public policy or otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party,
in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount
paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying
Party and Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or
omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and
Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact, has been
taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by, such Indemnifying,
Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access
to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action, statement or
omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall
be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 5(c), any
reasonable attorneys' or other reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such
party in connection with any Proceeding to the extent such party would have been
indemnified for such fees or expenses if the indemnification provided for in
Sections 5(a) and 5(b) was available to such party in accordance with its terms.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Holder shall be
liable or required to contribute under this Section 5(d) for only that amount as
does not exceed the net proceeds to such Holder as a result of the sale of
Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. The parties
hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to
this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method
of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations
referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. No Person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The indemnity and contribution
agreements contained in this Section are in addition to any liability that the
Indemnifying Parties may have to the Indemnified Parties.
6. Rule 144. As long as any Holder holds a Convertible Note or owns
Conversion Shares or Interest Payment Shares, the Company covenants to timely
file (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable
grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date
hereof pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and to promptly
furnish the Holder with true and complete copies of all such filings. As long as
any Holder holds a Convertible Note or owns Conversion Shares or Interest
Payment Shares, if the Company is not required to file reports pursuant to
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, it will prepare and furnish to the
Holder and make publicly available in accordance with Rule 144(c) promulgated
under the Securities Act annual and quarterly financial statements, together
with a discussion and analysis of such financial statements in form and
substance substantially similar to those that would otherwise be required to be
included in reports required by Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as
well as any other information required thereby, in the time period that such
filings would have been required to have been made under the Exchange Act. The
Company further covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder
may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable
such Person to sell Conversion Shares and Interest Payment Shares without
registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions
provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, including providing
any legal opinions of counsel to the Company referred to in the Agreement and
Plan of Merger. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to
such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether
it has complied with such requirements.
7. Miscellaneous.
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a Holder,
of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the Company, as
the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by
law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to
specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company and each
Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for
any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this
Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for
specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that
a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has, as of the date hereof entered into and currently in effect,
nor shall the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on or after the date of this
Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is
inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holder in this Agreement or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof except for registration rights
previously granted to the Holder.
(c) Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time when there is not an
effective Registration Statement covering any issued or issuable Conversion
Shares or Interest Payment Shares, and the Company shall determine to prepare
and file with the Commission a registration statement relating to an offering
for its own account or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of
its equity securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated
under the Securities Act) or its then equivalents relating to equity 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 send to each Holder of Registrable Securities
written notice of such determination and, if within thirty (30) days after
receipt of such notice, any such Holder shall so request in writing (which
request shall specify the Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by
such Holder), the Company will cause the registration under the Securities Act
of all Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to
register by the Holder, to the extent requisite to permit the disposition of the
Registrable Securities so to be registered, provided that if at any time after
giving written notice of its intention to register any securities and prior to
the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection with such
registration, the Company shall determine for any reason not to register or to
delay registration of such securities, the Company may, at its election, give
written notice of such determination to such Holder and, thereupon, (i) in the
case of a determination not to register, shall be relieved of its obligation to
register any Registrable Securities in connection with such registration (but
not from its obligation to pay expenses in accordance with Section 4 hereof),
and (ii) in the case of a determination to delay registering, shall be permitted
to delay registering any Registrable Securities being registered pursuant to
this Section 7(c) for the same period as the delay in registering such other
securities. The Company shall include in such registration statement all or any
part of such Registrable Securities such Holder requests to be registered;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to register any
Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 7(d) that are eligible for sale
pursuant to Rule 144(k) of the Securities Act. In the case of an underwritten
public offering, if the managing underwriter(s) or underwriter(s) should
reasonably object to the inclusion of the Registrable Securities in such
registration statement, then if the Company after consultation with the managing
underwriter should reasonably determine that the inclusion of such Registrable
Securities, would materially adversely affect the offering contemplated in such
registration statement, and based on such determination recommends inclusion in
such registration statement of fewer or none of the Registrable Securities of
the Holder, then (x) the number of Registrable Securities of the Holder included
in such registration statement shall be reduced pro-rata among such Holder
(based upon the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in the
registration), if the Company after consultation with the underwriter(s)
recommends the inclusion of fewer Registrable Securities, or (y) none of the
Registrable Securities of the Holder shall be included in such registration
statement, if the Company after consultation with the underwriter(s) recommends
the inclusion of none of such Registrable Securities; provided, however, that if
securities are being offered for the account of other persons or entities as
well as the Company, such reduction shall not represent a greater fraction of
the number of Registrable Securities intended to be offered by the Holder than
the fraction of similar reductions imposed on such other persons or entities
(other than the Company).
(d) Specific Enforcement, Consent to Jurisdiction. The Company and the
Holder acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event
that any of the provisions of this Registration Rights Agreement, the Agreement
and Plan of Merger or the Convertible Note were not performed in accordance with
their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that
the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent or cure
breaches of the provisions of this Registration Rights Agreement, the Agreement
and Plan of Merger or the Convertible Note and to enforce specifically the terms
and provisions hereof or thereof, this being in addition to any other remedy to
which any of them may be entitled by law or equity. Each of the Company and the
Holder (i) hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the United States
District Court sitting in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the purposes of
any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or
the Agreement and Plan of Merger and (ii) hereby waives, and agrees not to
assert in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not
personally subject to the jurisdiction of such court, that the suit, action or
proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of the suit,
action or proceeding is improper. Each of the Company and the Holder consents to
process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy
thereof to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this
Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient
service of process and notice thereof. Nothing in this Section 7(d) shall affect
or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
(e) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company
and the Holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart
from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to
the rights of a Holder and that does not directly or indirectly affect the
rights of other Holder may be given by the Holder to which such waiver or
consent relates; provided, however, that the provisions of this sentence may not
be amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions
of the immediately preceding sentence.
(f) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries
required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
deemed given and effective in accordance with the notice provision set forth in
the Agreement and Plan of Merger. The addresses for such communications with
respect to each party shall be the address(es) for such party that are set forth
in the Agreement and Plan of Merger (as the same may be modified from time to
time by such party in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and Plan of
Merger), or to such other address or addresses or facsimile number or numbers as
any such party may most recently have designated in writing to the other parties
hereto by such notice.
(g) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted assigns
and shall inure to the benefit of the Holder and their respective successors and
assigns. The Company may not assign this Agreement or any of its rights or
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Holder.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no Holder shall
assign its rights under this Agreement or otherwise transfer all or a portion of
the Convertible Note or the Registrable Securities to any competitor of the
Company, and in no event shall there be greater than three (3) Holder which are
not affiliates of the initial Holder during the term of this Agreement.
(h) Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights of each Holder
hereunder, including the right to have the Company register for resale
Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, shall be
automatically assignable by each Holder to any transferee of such Holder of all
or a portion of the Convertible Note or the Registrable Securities if: (i) the
Holder agrees in writing with the transferee or assignee to assign such rights,
and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company within a reasonable
time after such assignment, (ii) the Company is, within a reasonable time after
such transfer or assignment, furnished with written notice of (a) the name and
address of such transferee or assignee, and (b) the securities with respect to
which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned, (iii)
following such transfer or assignment the further disposition of such securities
by the transferee or assignees is restricted under the Securities Act and
applicable state securities laws, (iv) at or before the time the Company
receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this Section, the
transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of
the provisions of this Agreement, and (v) such transfer shall have been made in
accordance with the applicable requirements of the Agreement and Plan of Merger.
The rights to assignment shall apply to the Holder (and to subsequent)
successors and assigns.
(i) Lock-Up. Holder agrees not to sell, dispose of or otherwise
transfer Registrable Securities for the earlier of (i) 45 days after the
Effectiveness Date, or (ii) the conversion by Augustine Fund, L.P. of all of its
Convertible Note issued by the Company on March 23, 2000.
(j) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original
and, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. In
the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission, such
signature shall create a valid binding obligation of the party executing (or on
whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with the same force and effect
as if such facsimile signature were the original thereof.
(k) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard
to principles of conflicts of law thereof.
(l) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative
and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(m) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable in any
respect, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set
forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be
affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their
reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same
or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision,
covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the
intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be
hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(n) Headings. The headings herein are for convenience only, do not
constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect
any of the provisions hereof.
(o) Shares Held by the Company and its Affiliates. Whenever the
consent or approval of Holder of a specified percentage of Registrable
Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or
its Affiliates (other than any Holder or transferees or successors or assigns
thereof if such Holder is deemed to be an Affiliate solely by reason of its
holdings of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in determining
whether such consent or approval was given by the Holder of such required
percentage and shall not be counted as outstanding.
(p) Notice of Effectiveness. Within two (2) business days after the
Registration Statement which includes the Registrable Securities is ordered
effective by the Commission, the Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal
counsel for the Company to deliver, to the transfer agent for such Registrable
Securities and to the Holder confirmation that the Registration Statement has
been declared effective by the Commission in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
A.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized persons as
of the date first indicated above.
SALES ONLINE DIRECT, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
---------------------------------
Its: President
HOLDER:
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
----------------------------------------
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
[NAME AND ADDRESS OF TRANSFER AGENT]
Attn:
---------------------
[NAME OF INVESTOR]
[ADDRESS]
[ADDRESS]
Attn:
---------------------
Re: SALES ONLINE DIRECT, INC.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are counsel to Sales Online Direct, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"COMPANY"), and have represented the Company in connection with that certain
Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Agreement and Plan of Merger"), dated as of
___________, 2001, between the Company and the Holder named therein (the
"HOLDER") pursuant to which the Company issued to the Holder a Convertible
Promissory Note convertible into shares of the Company's common stock, $.001 par
value per share (the "COMMON STOCK"). Pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of
Merger, the Company has also entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with
the Holder (the "REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT"), dated of even date with the
Agreement and Plan of Merger, 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 Convertible Note, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933
ACT"). In connection with the Company's obligations under the Registration
Rights Agreement, on ____________________________ , 200__, 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 resale of the Registrable Securities which names each Holder 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]
