Exhibit 10.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is made and
entered into as of March 11, 1998 between The Network Connection, Inc., a
Georgia corporation (the "COMPANY"), and KA Investments LDC, a Cayman Islands
corporation (the "PURCHASER").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Convertible Debenture
Agreement, dated as of the date hereof between the Company and the Purchaser
(the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT").
The Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are
defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in
the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
"ADVICE" shall have meaning set forth in Section 3(p).
"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.
"BUSINESS DAY" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day which
shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the state of
New York generally are authorized or required by law or other government actions
to close.
"CLOSING DATE" shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
"COMMISSION" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"COMMON STOCK" means the Company's common stock, par value $.001 per
share.
"DEBENTURES" means Company's 4% Convertible Debentures due March 11,
2003 issued to the Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
"EFFECTIVENESS DATE" means the 105th day following 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 the 45th day following the Closing Date.
"HOLDER" or "HOLDERS" means the holder or holders, as the case may be,
from time to time of Registrable Securities.
"INDEMNIFIED PARTY" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
"INDEMNIFYING PARTY" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
"LOSSES" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
"NEW YORK COURTS" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(j).
"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 or deemed to be incorporated by reference in
such Prospectus.
"REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon (a) conversion in full of the Debentures and (b) payment of interest in
respect of the Debentures. The initial Registration Statement shall, up to 20%
of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the Original Issue Date
(as such term is defined in the Purchase Agreement), cover the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon conversion in full of the Debentures and payment of interest
in respect of the Debentures based upon a conversion price of $3.00. The
Company shall be required to file additional Registration Statements to the
extent the actual number of shares of
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Common Stock into which Debentures are convertible (together with interest
thereon) exceeds the number of shares of Common Stock initially registered in
accordance with the immediately prior sentence. The Company shall have 15
Business Days to file such additional Registration Statement after notice to the
Company of the requirement thereof from the Holders. In the event that the
filing of any such additional registration statements requires the preparation
of updated financial statements, (1) the Company shall use its best efforts to
cause such financial statements to be prepared as soon as possible, and (2) the
10 Business Day period specified in the immediately prior sentence shall be
extended to up to 30 Business Days or such lesser number of days as the Company
shall, using its best efforts, require for such preparation and filing.
"REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means the registration statement contemplated
by Section 2(a) (covering such number of Registrable Securities and any
additional Registration Statements contemplated in the definition of Registrable
Securities), 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 or
deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
"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.
"SPECIAL COUNSEL" means one law firm acting as counsel to the Holders,
for which the Holders will be reimbursed by the Company pursuant to Section 4.
"UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATION OR UNDERWRITTEN OFFERING" means a
registration in connection with which securities of the Company are sold to an
underwriter for reoffering to the public pursuant to an effective registration
statement.
2. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) On or prior to the Filing Date the Company shall prepare and file
with the Commission a "Shelf" 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 S-3 (or, if the Company is not
permitted to register the resale of the Registrable Securities on Form S-3, the
Registration Statement shall be on such other appropriate form in accordance
herewith as the Holders of a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities
may consent). The
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Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be
declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the
filing thereof, but in any event prior to the Effectiveness Date, and shall use
its best efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective
under the Securities Act until the date which is three years after the date that
such Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission or such
earlier date when all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration
Statement have been sold or may be sold without volume restrictions pursuant to
Rule 144(k) promulgated under the Securities Act, as determined by the counsel
to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed
and acceptable to the Company's transfer agent (the "EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD");
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not be deemed to have used its best
efforts to keep the Registration Statement effective during the Effectiveness
Period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in the Holders not
being able to sell the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration
Statement during the Effectiveness Period, unless such action is required under
applicable law or the Company has filed a post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement and the Commission has not declared it effective.
(b) If the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities so
elect, an offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration
Statement may be effected in the form of an Underwritten Offering. In such
event, and if the managing underwriters advise the Company and such Holders in
writing that in their opinion the amount of Registrable Securities proposed to
be sold in such Underwritten Offering exceeds the amount of Registrable
Securities which can be sold in such Underwritten Offering, there shall be
included in such Underwritten Offering the amount of such Registrable Securities
which in the opinion of such managing underwriters can be sold, and such amount
shall be allocated PRO RATA among the Holders proposing to sell Registrable
Securities in such Underwritten Offering.
(c) If any of the Registrable Securities are to be sold in an
Underwritten Offering, the investment banker in interest that will administer
the offering will be selected by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities included in such offering upon consultation with the Company. No
Holder may participate in any Underwritten Offering hereunder unless such Person
(i) agrees to sell its Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any
underwriting agreements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve
such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of
attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required
under the terms of such arrangements.
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 (and any additional Registration Statements as
may be required) in accordance with Section 2(a), and cause the Registration
Statement to become effective and remain
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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 or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference), the
Company shall (i) furnish to the Holders, their Special Counsel and any managing
underwriters, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents
(other than those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference) will
be subject to the review of such Holders, their Special Counsel and such
managing underwriters, and (ii) cause its officers and directors, counsel and
independent certified public accountants to respond to such inquiries as shall
be necessary, in the opinion of respective counsel to such Holders and such
underwriters, 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 Holders of
a majority of the Registrable Securities, their Special Counsel, or any managing
underwriters, shall reasonably object on a timely basis to the information
contained in the Registration Statement concerning the Registrable Securities,
the Plan of Distribution any information relating to the Holders of the
Registrable Securities (the "REGISTRATION INFORMATION")
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep the Registration Statement continuously effective as to the
applicable Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period and prepare and
file with the Commission such additional Registration Statements 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 practicable to any comments
received from the Commission with respect to the Registration Statement or any
amendment thereto and promptly provide the Holders true and complete copies of
all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to the Registration
Statement; and (iv) comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance
with the intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in the
Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold, their
Special Counsel and any managing underwriters immediately (and, in the case of
(i)(A) below, not less than five (5) days prior to such filing) and (if
requested in writing 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 (the Company shall
provide true and complete copies thereof and all written responses thereto to
each of the Holders) 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
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Commission or any other Federal or state governmental authority for amendments
or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional
information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement covering any or all
of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that
purpose; (iv) if at any time any of the representations and warranties of the
Company contained in any agreement (including any underwriting 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 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 any managing underwriter or the Holders of a
majority in interest of the Registrable Securities to be sold in connection with
an Underwritten Offering, (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement such Registration
Information as such managing underwriters and such Holders reasonably agree
should be included therein and (ii) make all required filings of such Prospectus
supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the
Company has received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
Company shall not be required to take any action pursuant to this Section 3(e)
that would, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, violate applicable law or
be materially detrimental to the business prospects of the Company.
(f) Furnish to each Holder, their Special Counsel and any managing
underwriters, 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 reasonably requested by such Person
(including those previously furnished or incorporated by reference) promptly
after the filing of such documents with the Commission.
(g) Promptly deliver to each Holder, their Special Counsel, and any
underwriters, 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
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request; and the Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each
amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders and any
underwriters 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 Holders, any
underwriters and their Special Counsel in connection with the registration or
qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such
Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws
of such jurisdictions as any Holder or underwriter 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 necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally
to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take
any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or subject the Company to any
material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(i) Cooperate with the Holders and any managing underwriters 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 such managing underwriters or Holders may request at least five (5)
Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section
3(c)(vi), as promptly as practicable, 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 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 Nasdaq SmallCap Market 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 as and when required pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
(l) In the case of an Underwritten Offering, enter into such
customary agreements on terms which are customary in connection with such
transactions (including an underwriting agreement in form, scope and substance
as is customary in Underwritten Offerings)
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and take all such other actions in connection therewith (including those
reasonably requested by any managing underwriters and the Holders of a majority
of the Registrable Securities being sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the
disposition of such Registrable Securities, and whether or not an underwriting
agreement is entered into, (i) make such representations and warranties to such
Holders and such underwriters as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters
in underwritten public offerings, and confirm the same if and when requested;
(ii) obtain and deliver copies thereof to each Holder and the managing
underwriters, if any, of opinions of counsel to the Company and updates thereof
addressed to each selling Holder and each such underwriter, that are customary
in form, scope and substance and reasonably satisfactory to any such managing
underwriters and Special Counsel to the selling Holders covering the matters
customarily covered in opinions requested in Underwritten Offerings and such
other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Special Counsel and
underwriters; (iii) immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or at the time of delivery of any Registrable Securities sold pursuant
thereto (at the option of the underwriters), obtain and deliver copies to the
Holders and the managing underwriters, if any, of "cold comfort" letters and
updates thereof from the independent certified public accountants of the Company
(and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any
subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for which
financial statements and financial data is, or is required to be, included in
the Registration Statement), addressed to each Person and in such form and
substance as are customary in connection with Underwritten Offerings; (iv) if an
underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall contain indemnification
provisions and procedures no less favorable to the selling Holders and the
underwriters, if any, than those set forth in Section 7 (or such other
provisions and procedures acceptable to the managing underwriters, if any, and
holders of a majority of Registrable Securities participating in such
Underwritten Offering; and (v) deliver such documents and certificates as may be
reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities
being sold, their Special Counsel and any managing underwriters to evidence the
continued validity of the representations and warranties made pursuant to clause
3(l)(i) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained
in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company.
(m) Make available for inspection by the selling Holders, a
representative of such Holders, an underwriter participating in any disposition
of Registrable Securities, and an attorney or accountant retained by such
selling Holders or underwriters, at the offices where normally kept, during
reasonable business hours, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, and cause the
officers, directors, agents and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries to
supply all information in each case requested by any such Holder,
representative, underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with the
Registration Statement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any information that is
determined in good faith by the Company in writing to be of a confidential
nature at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by
such Persons, unless (i) disclosure of such information is required by court or
administrative order or is necessary to respond to inquiries of regulatory
authorities; (ii) disclosure of such information, in the reasonable opinion of
counsel to such Person, is required by law; (iii) such information becomes
generally available
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to the public other than as a result of a disclosure or failure to safeguard by
such Person; or (iv) such information becomes available to such Person from a
source other than the Company and such source is not known by such Person to be
bound by a confidentiality agreement with the Company.
(n) Comply 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) (i)
commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Securities are
sold to underwriters in a firm commitment or best efforts Underwritten Offering
and (ii) if not sold to underwriters in such an offering, commencing on the
first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company after the effective date of
the Registration Statement, which statement shall cover said 12-month period, or
end shorter periods as is consistent with the requirements of Rule 158.
(o) The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the
Company such information regarding the distribution of such Registrable
Securities and the beneficial ownership of Common Stock held by such selling
Holder as is reasonably determined to be 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 unreasonably fails to furnish such
information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.
If the Registration Statement refers to any Holder by name or
otherwise as the holder of any securities of the Company, then such Holder shall
have the right to require (if such reference to such Holder by name or otherwise
is not required by the Securities Act or any similar Federal statute then in
force) the deletion of the reference to such Holder in any amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement filed or prepared subsequent to the
time that such reference ceases to be required.
(p) Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable
Securities that (i) it will not offer or 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 will
comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as
applicable to it 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 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 Pro-
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spectus 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.
4. REGISTRATION EXPENSES
(a) All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or
compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall, except as and to the extent
specified in Section 4(b), be borne by the Company whether or not pursuant to an
Underwritten Offering and 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 Nasdaq SmallCap Market and each
other securities exchange or market on which Registrable Securities are required
hereunder to be listed and (B) in compliance with state securities or Blue Sky
laws (including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the
underwriters or Holders in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the
Registrable Securities and determination of the eligibility of the Registrable
Securities for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as the managing
underwriters, if any, or the Holders of a majority of Registrable Securities may
designate)), (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of
printing certificates for Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses if
the printing of prospectuses is requested by the managing underwriters, if any,
or by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the
Registration Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv)
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and Special Counsel for the
Holders, in the case of the Special Counsel, (v) Securities Act liability
insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance, and (vi) fees and expenses
of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. 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.
(b) If the Holders require an Underwritten Offering pursuant to the
terms hereof, the Company shall be responsible for all costs, fees and expenses
in connection therewith, except for the fees and disbursements of the
Underwriters (including any underwriting commissions and discounts) and their
legal counsel and accountants. By way of illustration which is not intended to
diminish from the provisions of Section 4(a), the Holders shall not be
responsible for, and the Company shall be required to pay the fees or
disbursements incurred by the Company (including by its legal counsel and
accountants) in connection with, the preparation and filing of a Registration
Statement and related Prospectus for such offering, the maintenance
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of such Registration Statement in accordance with the terms hereof, the listing
of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the requirements hereof, and
printing expenses incurred to comply with the requirements hereof.
5. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless
each Holder, the officers, directors, agents (including any underwriters
retained by such Holder in connection with the offer and sale of Registrable
Securities), 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, settlements, judgments, costs (including, without
limitation, costs of preparation and reasonable 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 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 upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the
Company by or on behalf of such Holder expressly 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 Holders promptly of the
institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding of which the Company is aware
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) INDEMNIFICATION BY HOLDERS. Each Holder shall, severally and not
jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers,
agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the
directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses (as
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment not subject
to appeal or review) arising solely out of or based solely upon any untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any
Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or arising solely out of or based solely
upon any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading to the extent, but only to the
extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information
so furnished in writing by such Holder to
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the Company specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or such
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. In no
event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount
than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale
of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
(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 10 Business
Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party (regard-
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less 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, or provide reasonable security or
assurance therefor, 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 this Section was available to such party in
accordance with its terms.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by PRO RATA
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account
the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), the Purchaser shall not be
required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by
which the proceeds actually received by the Purchaser from the sale of the
Registrable Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any
damages that the Purchaser have otherwise been required to pay by reason of such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. 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.
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6. 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. Except as and to the extent
specifically set forth in SCHEDULE 6(B) attached hereto, neither the Company nor
any of its subsidiaries has, as of the date hereof, nor shall the Company or any
of its subsidiaries, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any
agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights
granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the
provisions hereof. The Company has not previously entered into any agreement
granting any registration rights with respect to any of its securities to any
Person which conflicts or is inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, without the written consent of
the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities, the
Company shall not grant to any Person the right to request the Company to
register any securities of the Company under the Securities Act unless the
rights so granted are subject in all respects to the prior rights in full of the
Holders set forth herein, and are not otherwise in conflict or inconsistent with
the provisions of this Agreement.
(c) NO PIGGYBACK ON REGISTRATIONS. Neither the Company nor any of
its security holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto)
may include securities of the Company in the Registration Statement other than
the Registrable Securities, and the Company shall not enter into any agreement
providing any such right to any of its securityholders, except with the consent
of the holders of the Debentures and a majority of the outstanding Registrable
Securities.
(d) PIGGY-BACK REGISTRATIONS. If at any time during the
Effectiveness Period there is not an effective Registration Statement covering
all of the Registrable Securities 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 their 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, then the Company shall send to each holder of Registrable
Securities written notice of such determination and, if within twenty (20) days
after receipt of such notice, any such holder shall so request in writing, the
Company shall include in such registration statement all or any part of the
Registrable Securities such holder requests to be registered. No
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right to registration of Registrable Securities under this Section shall be
construed to limit any registration otherwise required hereunder.
(e) AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company
and the Holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding Registrable
Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, for the purposes of this sentence,
Registrable Securities that are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company,
or an Affiliate of the Company are not deemed outstanding. 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 Holders and that does not
directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by
Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities 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 on the earliest of (i) the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified in this Section prior to 5:00 p.m. (New
York City time) on a Business Day, (ii) the Business Day after the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified in the Purchase Agreement later than 5:00
p.m. (New York City time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m. (New York City
time) on such date, (iii) the Business Day following the date of mailing, if
sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual
receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address
for such notices and communications shall be as follows:
If to the Company: The Network Connection, Inc.
0000 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
Facsimile No.:
With copies to: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx & Xxxxxxx
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
If to the Holder: KA Investments, LDC
c/o Tamarchan Capital Management
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0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
With copies to: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx &
Xxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
If to any other Person who is then the registered Holder:
To the address of such Holder as it appears in the
stock transfer books of the Company
or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same
manner, by such Person.
(g) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of
the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company may not
assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of
each Holder. The Purchaser may assign their respective rights hereunder in the
manner and to the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
(h) ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS. The rights of the Purchaser
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 the Purchaser to any assignee or transferee of all
or a portion of the Debentures, without the consent of the Company if: (i) such
Purchaser 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 such registration rights are being transferred or assigned, (iii) 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 (iv)
such transfer shall have been made in accordance with the applicable
requirements of the Purchase Agreement. The rights to assignment shall apply to
the Purchaser's (and to subsequent) successors and assigns.
(i) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original
and, all of which
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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.
(j) GOVERNING LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. This Agreement shall
be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New
York, without regard to principles of conflicts of law. Each party hereby
irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York state
court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, the state and federal courts sitting
in the City of New York or any federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan
in the City of New York (collectively, the "NEW YORK COURTS") in respect of any
Proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, and irrevocably accepts
for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally,
jurisdiction of the New York Courts. The Company irrevocably waives to the
fullest extent it may effectively do so under applicable law any objection that
it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such proceeding
brought in any New York Court and any claim that any such Proceeding brought in
any New York Court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Nothing herein
shall affect the right of any Holder. Each party hereby irrevocably waives
personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such
suit, action or proceeding by receiving a copy thereof sent 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 contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right
to serve process in any manner permitted by law.
(k) CUMULATIVE REMEDIES. The remedies provided herein are cumulative
and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(l) SEVERABILITY. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative
means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated
by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and
declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the
remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of
such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(m) HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(n) SHARES HELD BY THE COMPANY AND ITS AFFILIATES. Whenever the
consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable
Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or
its Affiliates (other than the Purchaser or transferees or successors or assigns
thereof if such Persons are deemed to be Affiliates solely by
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reason of their holdings of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in
determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such
required percentage.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement as of the date first written above.
THE NETWORK CONNECTION, INC.
By:
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Name:
Title:
KA INVESTMENTS LDC
By:
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Name:
Title:
