REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of March 19,
2004 by and between ICOA, INC., a Nevada corporation, with its principal office
located at 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxx (the "Company"), and CORNELL
CAPITAL PARTNERS, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the "Investor").
WHEREAS:
A. In connection with the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement by and
between the parties hereto of even date herewith (the "Standby Equity
Distribution Agreement"), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to
the conditions of the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, to issue and sell
to the Investor that number of shares of the Company's common stock, par value
$0.0001 per share (the "Common Stock"), which can be purchased pursuant to the
terms of the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement for an aggregate purchase
price of up to Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) . Capitalized terms not defined
herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Standby Equity
Distribution Agreement.
B. To induce the Investor to execute and deliver the Standby Equity
Distribution Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration
rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the
"1933 Act"), and applicable state securities laws.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the
Investor hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
a. "Person" means a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a
partnership, an organization, a business, an individual, a governmental or
political subdivision thereof or a governmental agency.
b. "Register," "registered," and "registration" refer to a registration effected
by preparing and filing one or more Registration Statements (as defined below)
in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule 415 under the 1933 Act or
any successor rule providing for offering securities on a continuous or delayed
basis ("Rule 415"), and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such
Registration Statement(s) by the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC").
c. "Registrable Securities" means the shares of Common Stock issuable to
Investors pursuant to the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement.
d. "Registration Statement" means a registration statement under the 1933 Act
which covers the Registrable Securities.
2. REGISTRATION.
a. Mandatory Registration. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC a
Registration Statement on Form X-0, XX-0 or on such other form as is available.
The Company shall cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective by
the SEC prior to the first sale to the Investor of the Company's Common Stock
pursuant to the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement.
b. Sufficient Number of Shares Registered. In the event the number of shares
available under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) is
insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities which the Investor has
purchased pursuant to the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, the Company
shall amend the Registration Statement, or file a new Registration Statement (on
the short form available therefore, if applicable), or both, so as to cover all
of such Registrable Securities which the Investor has purchased pursuant to the
Standby Equity Distribution Agreement as soon as practicable, but in any event
not later than fifteen (15) days after the necessity therefore arises. The
Company shall use it best efforts to cause such amendment and/or new
Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable following the
filing thereof. For purposes of the foregoing provision, the number of shares
available under a Registration Statement shall be deemed "insufficient to cover
all of the Registrable Securities" if at any time the number of Registrable
Securities issuable on an Advance Notice Date is greater than the number of
shares available for resale under such Registration Statement.
3. RELATED OBLIGATIONS.
a. The Company shall keep the Registration Statement effective pursuant to Rule
415 at all times until the date on which the Investor shall have sold all the
Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement (the "Registration
Period"), which Registration Statement (including any amendments or supplements
thereto and prospectuses contained therein) shall not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
b. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including
post-effective amendments) and supplements to a Registration Statement and the
prospectus used in connection with such Registration Statement, which prospectus
is to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated under the 1933 Act, as may be
necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective at all times during the
Registration Period, and, during such period, comply with the provisions of the
1933 Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities of the
Company covered by such Registration Statement until such time as all of such
Registrable Securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with the
intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth in
2
such Registration Statement. In the case of amendments and supplements to a
Registration Statement which are required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement
(including pursuant to this Section 3(b)) by reason of the Company's filing a
report on Form 10-KSB, Form 10-QSB or Form 8-K or any analogous report under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), the Company shall
have incorporated such report by reference into the Registration Statement, if
applicable, or shall file such amendments or supplements with the SEC on the
same day on which the 1934 Act report is filed which created the requirement for
the Company to amend or supplement the Registration Statement.
c. The Company shall furnish to the Investor without charge, (i) at least one
copy of such Registration Statement as declared effective by the SEC and any
amendment(s) thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all
documents incorporated therein by reference, all exhibits and each preliminary
prospectus, (ii) ten (10) copies of the final prospectus included in such
Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto (or such other
number of copies as such Investor may reasonably request) and (iii) such other
documents as such Investor may reasonably request from time to time in order to
facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor.
d. The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) register and qualify the
Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement under such other
securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the
Investor reasonably requests, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions, such
amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such
registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the
effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii) take such other
actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and qualifications in
effect at all times during the Registration Period, and (iv) take all other
actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the Registrable Securities
for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (w) make any
change to its certificate of incorporation or by-laws, (x) qualify to do
business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify
but for this Section 3(d), (y) subject itself to general taxation in any such
jurisdiction, or (z) file a general consent to service of process in any such
jurisdiction. The Company shall promptly notify the Investor of the receipt by
the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
registration or qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale
under the securities or "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction in the United States
or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding
for such purpose.
e. As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event or development,
the Company shall notify the Investor in writing of the happening of any event
as a result of which the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as
then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omission to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading (provided that in no event shall such notice contain any
material, nonpublic information), and promptly prepare a supplement or amendment
to such Registration Statement to correct such untrue statement or omission, and
deliver ten (10) copies of such supplement or amendment to each Investor. The
Company shall also promptly notify the Investor in writing (i) when a prospectus
or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and
when a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment has become
effective (notification of such effectiveness shall be delivered to the Investor
by facsimile on the same day of such effectiveness), (ii) of any request by the
SEC for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related
prospectus or related information, and (iii) of the Company's reasonable
determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would
be appropriate.
3
f. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop
order or other suspension of effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or the
suspension of the qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in
any jurisdiction within the United States of America and, if such an order or
suspension is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such order or suspension at
the earliest possible moment and to notify the Investor of the issuance of such
order and the resolution thereof or its receipt of actual notice of the
initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose.
g. At the reasonable request of the Investor, the Company shall furnish to the
Investor, on the date of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and
thereafter from time to time on such dates as the Investor may reasonably
request (i) a letter, dated such date, from the Company's independent certified
public accountants in form and substance as is customarily given by independent
certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering,
and (ii) an opinion, dated as of such date, of counsel representing the Company
for purposes of such Registration Statement, in form, scope and substance as is
customarily given in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the Investor.
h. The Company shall make available for inspection by (i) the Investor and (ii)
one firm of accountants or other agents retained by the Investor (collectively,
the "Inspectors") all pertinent financial and other records, and pertinent
corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the "Records"),
as shall be reasonably deemed necessary by each Inspector, and cause the
Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all information which any
Inspector may reasonably request; provided, however, that each Inspector shall
agree, and the Investor hereby agrees, to hold in strict confidence and shall
not make any disclosure (except to an Investor) or use of any Record or other
information which the Company determines in good faith to be confidential, and
of which determination the Inspectors are so notified, unless (a) the disclosure
of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in
any Registration Statement or is otherwise required under the 1933 Act, (b) the
release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a final, non-appealable subpoena
or order from a court or government body of competent jurisdiction, or (c) the
information in such Records has been made generally available to the public
other than by disclosure in violation of this or any other agreement of which
the Inspector and the Investor has knowledge. The Investor agrees that it shall,
upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in or by a court or
governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt
notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake
appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order
for, the Records deemed confidential.
4
i. The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure of
information concerning the Investor provided to the Company unless (i)
disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state
securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid
or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii) the
release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other final,
non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of competent
jurisdiction, or (iv) such information has been made generally available to the
public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement or any other
agreement. The Company agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of
such information concerning the Investor is sought in or by a court or
governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt
written notice to the Investor and allow the Investor, at the Investor's
expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain
a protective order for, such information.
j. The Company shall use its best efforts either to cause all the Registrable
Securities covered by a Registration Statement (i) to be listed on each
securities exchange on which securities of the same class or series issued by
the Company are then listed, if any, if the listing of such Registrable
Securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange or to secure the
inclusion for quotation on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
OTC Bulletin Board for such Registrable Securities. The Company shall pay all
fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligation under this
Section 3(j).
k. The Company shall cooperate with the Investor to the extent applicable, to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any
restrictive legend) representing the Registrable Securities to be offered
pursuant to a Registration Statement and enable such certificates to be in such
denominations or amounts, as the case may be, as the Investor may reasonably
request and registered in such names as the Investor may request.
l. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities
covered by the applicable Registration Statement to be registered with or
approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary
to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities.
m. The Company shall make generally available to its security holders as soon as
practical, but not later than ninety (90) days after the close of the period
covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying with the provisions of
Rule 158 under the 0000 Xxx) covering a twelve-month period beginning not later
than the first day of the Company's fiscal quarter next following the effective
date of the Registration Statement.
n. The Company shall otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the SEC in connection with any registration
hereunder.
o. Within two (2) business days after a Registration Statement which covers
Registrable Securities is ordered effective by the SEC, the Company shall
deliver, and shall cause legal counsel for the Company to deliver, to the
transfer agent for such Registrable Securities (with copies to the Investor)
confirmation that such Registration Statement has been declared effective by the
SEC in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
p. The Company shall take all other reasonable actions necessary to expedite and
facilitate disposition by the Investor of Registrable Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement.
5
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTOR.
The Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company
of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(f) or the first
sentence of 3(e), the Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of
Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement(s) covering such
Registrable Securities until the Investor's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(e) or receipt of
notice that no supplement or amendment is required. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary, the Company shall cause its transfer agent to deliver unlegended
certificates for shares of Common Stock to a transferee of the Investor in
accordance with the terms of the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement in
connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which the
Investor has entered into a contract for sale prior to the Investor's receipt of
a notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in
Section 3(f) or the first sentence of 3(e) and for which the Investor has not
yet settled.
5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.
All expenses incurred in connection with registrations, filings or
qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, including, without limitation, all
registration, listing and qualifications fees, printers, legal and accounting
fees shall be paid by the Company.
6. INDEMNIFICATION.
With respect to Registrable Securities which are included in a
Registration Statement under this Agreement:
a. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will, and hereby does,
indemnify, hold harmless and defend the Investor, the directors, officers,
partners, employees, agents, representatives of, and each Person, if any, who
controls the Investor within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (each,
an "Indemnified Person"), against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities,
judgments, fines, penalties, charges, costs, reasonable attorneys' fees, amounts
paid in settlement or expenses, joint or several (collectively, "Claims")
incurred in investigating, preparing or defending any action, claim, suit,
inquiry, proceeding, investigation or appeal taken from the foregoing by or
before any court or governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency,
body or the SEC, whether pending or threatened, whether or not an indemnified
party is or may be a party thereto ("Indemnified Damages"), to which any of them
may become subject insofar as such Claims (or actions or proceedings, whether
commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i)
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in a
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or in any filing
made in connection with the qualification of the offering under the securities
or other "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction in which Registrable Securities are
offered ("Blue Sky Filing"), or the omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading; (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact contained in any final prospectus (as amended or supplemented,
if the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC)
or the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary
6
to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which
the statements therein were made, not misleading; or (iii) any violation or
alleged violation by the Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law,
including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or
regulation there under relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement (the matters in the foregoing
clauses (i) through (iii) being, collectively, "Violations"). The Company shall
reimburse the Investor and each such controlling person promptly as such
expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any legal fees or
disbursements or other reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with
investigating or defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this
Section 6(a): (x) shall not apply to a Claim by an Indemnified Person arising
out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished in writing to the Company by such Indemnified Person
expressly for use in connection with the preparation of the Registration
Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto; (y) shall not be
available to the extent such Claim is based on a failure of the Investor to
deliver or to cause to be delivered the prospectus made available by the
Company, if such prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to
Section 3(e); and (z) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim
if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Company,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Such indemnity shall remain in
full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of
the Indemnified Person.
b. In connection with a Registration Statement, the Investor agrees to
indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same manner
as is set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of its
officers who signs the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (each an
"Indemnified Party"), against any Claim or Indemnified Damages to which any of
them may become subject, under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar
as such Claim or Indemnified Damages arise out of or is based upon any
Violation, in each case to the extent, and only to the extent, that such
Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by the Investor expressly for use in connection with
such Registration Statement; and, subject to Section 6(d), the Investor will
reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection
with investigating or defending any such Claim; provided, however, that the
indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6(b) and the agreement with
respect to contribution contained in Section 7 shall not apply to amounts paid
in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior
written consent of the Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld; provided, further, however, that the Investor shall be liable under
this Section 6(b) for only that amount of a Claim or Indemnified Damages as does
not exceed the net proceeds to the Investor as a result of the sale of
Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Such indemnity
shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or
on behalf of such Indemnified Party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(b)
with respect to any prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified
Party if the untrue statement or omission of material fact contained in the
prospectus was corrected and such new prospectus was delivered to the Investor
prior to the Investor's use of the prospectus to which the Claim relates.
7
c. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under
this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding
(including any governmental action or proceeding) involving a Claim, such
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is
to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the
indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof, and the
indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent
the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party
similarly noticed, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel
mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party and the Indemnified Person or
the Indemnified Party, as the case may be; provided, however, that an
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own
counsel with the fees and expenses of not more than one counsel for such
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party to be paid by the indemnifying party,
if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel retained by the indemnifying party, the
representation by such counsel of the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
and the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any
other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The Indemnified
Party or Indemnified Person shall cooperate fully with the indemnifying party in
connection with any negotiation or defense of any such action or claim by the
indemnifying party and shall furnish to the indemnifying party all information
reasonably available to the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person which
relates to such action or claim. The indemnifying party shall keep the
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person fully apprised at all times as to the
status of the defense or any settlement negotiations with respect thereto. No
indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any action, claim or
proceeding effected without its prior written consent, provided, however, that
the indemnifying party shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition its
consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person, consent to entry of any judgment or
enter into any settlement or other compromise which does not include as an
unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person of a release from all liability in
respect to such claim or litigation. Following indemnification as provided for
hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be subrogated to all rights of the
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person with respect to all third parties, firms
or corporations relating to the matter for which indemnification has been made.
The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a
reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not relieve such
indemnifying party of any liability to the Indemnified Person or Indemnified
Party under this Section 6, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is
prejudiced in its ability to defend such action.
d. The indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be made by periodic
payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or
defense, as and when bills are received or Indemnified Damages are incurred.
e. The indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in addition to (i) any
cause of action or similar right of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person
against the indemnifying party or others, and (ii) any liabilities the
indemnifying party may be subject to pursuant to the law.
8
7. CONTRIBUTION.
To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is
prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum
contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable
under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that:
(i) no seller of Registrable Securities guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 0000 Xxx) shall be entitled to
contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation; and (ii) contribution by any seller of Registrable
Securities shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds received by
such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities.
8. REPORTS UNDER THE 1934 ACT.
With a view to making available to the Investor the benefits of Rule
144 promulgated under the 1933 Act or any similar rule or regulation of the SEC
that may at any time permit the Investors to sell securities of the Company to
the public without registration ("Rule 144") the Company agrees to:
a. make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and
defined in Rule 144;
b. file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required
of the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so long as the Company
remains subject to such requirements (it being understood that nothing herein
shall limit the Company's obligations under Section 6.3 of the Standby Equity
Distribution Agreement) and the filing of such reports and other documents is
required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
c. furnish to the Investor so long as the Investor owns Registrable Securities,
promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company that it has
complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the 1933 Act and the 1934
Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company
and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company, and (iii) such
other information as may be reasonably requested to permit the Investor to sell
such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.
9. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof
may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either
retroactively or prospectively), only by a written agreement between the Company
and the Investor. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this
Section 9 shall be binding upon the Investor and the Company. No consideration
shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or
modification of any provision of any of this Agreement unless the same
consideration also is offered to all of the parties to this Agreement.
9
10. MISCELLANEOUS.
a. A Person is deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities whenever such
Person owns or is deemed to own of record such Registrable Securities. If the
Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or elections from two or more
Persons with respect to the same Registrable Securities, the Company shall act
upon the basis of instructions, notice or election received from the registered
owner of such Registrable Securities.
b. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted
to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be
deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii)
upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is
mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party);
or (iii) one business day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight
delivery service, in each case properly addressed to the party to receive the
same. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications shall be:
If to the Company, to: ICOA, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xx., CFO,
Secretary/Treasurer
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000 0000
With a copy to: Xxxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx - Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Esq.
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
If to the Investor, to: Cornell Capital Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx - Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxx
Portfolio Manager
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
With copy to: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx - Xxxxx 000
Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
10
Any party may change its address by providing written notice to the other
parties hereto at least five days prior to the effectiveness of such change.
Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice,
consent, waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically
generated by the sender's facsimile machine containing the time, date, recipient
facsimile number and an image of the first page of such transmission or (C)
provided by a courier or overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence
of personal service, receipt by facsimile or receipt from a nationally
recognized overnight delivery service in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or
(iii) above, respectively.
c. Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or
otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy, shall not
operate as a waiver thereof.
d. The corporate laws of the State of Nevada shall govern all issues concerning
the relative rights of the Company and the Investor. All other questions
concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this
Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New Jersey,
without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule
(whether of the State of New Jersey or any other jurisdiction) that would cause
the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New
Jersey. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction
of the Superior Courts of the State of New Jersey, sitting in Xxxxxx County, New
Jersey and the Federal District Court for the District of New Jersey sitting in
Newark, New Jersey, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in
connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed
herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit,
action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the
jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought
in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is
improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and
consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by
mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under
this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient
service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed
to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law.
If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity
or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that jurisdiction or the
validity or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other
jurisdiction. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE, AND
AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE
HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY
TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
e. This Agreement, the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, the Escrow
Agreement and the Placement Agent Agreement constitute the entire agreement
among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than
those set forth or referred to herein and therein. This Agreement, the Standby
Equity Distribution Agreement, the Escrow Agreement and the Placement Agent
Agreement supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
11
f. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
permitted successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto.
g. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and
shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
h. This Agreement may be executed in identical counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same
agreement. This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be delivered to the
other party hereto by facsimile transmission of a copy of this Agreement bearing
the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.
i. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such
further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other
agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other party may
reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes
of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
j. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen
by the parties to express their mutual intent and no rules of strict
construction will be applied against any party.
k. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor
may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
12
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration Rights
Agreement to be duly executed as of day and year first above written.
COMPANY:
ICOA, INC.
By: /s/Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xx.
---------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xx.
Title: CFO, Secretary/Treasurer
INVESTOR:
CORNELL CAPITAL PARTNERS, LP
By: Yorkville Advisors, LLC
Its: General Partner
By: /s/Xxxx Xxxxxx
--------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Portfolio Manager
13
15
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS
OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Signature Stock Transfer
0000 Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Re: ICOA, INC.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are counsel to ICOA, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the "Company"), and
have represented the Company in connection with that certain Standby Equity
Distribution Agreement (the "Standby Equity Distribution Agreement") entered
into by and between the Company and Cornell Capital Partners, LP (the
"Investor") pursuant to which the Company issued to the Investor shares of its
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the "Common Stock"). Pursuant to the
Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, the Company also has entered into a
Registration Rights Agreement with the Investor (the "Registration Rights
Agreement") pursuant to which the Company agreed, among other things, to
register the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"). In
connection with the Company's obligations under the Registration Rights
Agreement, on ____________ ____, the Company filed a Registration Statement on
Form ________ (File No. 333-_____________) (the "Registration Statement") with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") relating to the Registrable
Securities which names the Investor 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,
XXXXXXXXXXX & XXXXXXXX LLP
By:
------------------------
cc: Cornell Capital Partners, LP
