INVESTOR REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
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THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of December
23, 2005, by and among AMERICANA PUBLISHING, INC., a Colorado corporation (the
"Company"), and the undersigned investors listed on Schedule I attached hereto
(each, an "Investor" and collectively, the "Investors").
WHEREAS:
A. In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the
parties hereto of even date herewith (the "Securities Purchase Agreement"), the
Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the
Securities Purchase Agreement, to issue and sell to the Investors secured
convertible debentures (the "Convertible Debentures") which shall be convertible
into that number of shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.001 per
share (the "Common Stock"), pursuant to the terms of the Securities Purchase
Agreement for an aggregate purchase price of up to Nine Hundred Eighty Thousand
Dollars ($980,000). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning
ascribed to them in the Securities Purchase Agreement.
B. To induce the Investors to execute and deliver the Securities Purchase
Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations there
under, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the "Securities 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 Investors
hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
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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 Securities Act and
pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities 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 the Investors upon conversion of the Convertible Debentures pursuant to
the Securities Purchase Agreement, as this term is defined in the
Securities Purchase Agreement, and shares of Common Stock underlying the
Warrant dated March 31, 2005.
(d) "Registration Statement" means a registration statement under the
Securities Act which covers the Registrable Securities.
2. REGISTRATION.
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(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company
shall prepare and file, no later than sixty (60) days from the date hereof
(the "Scheduled Filing Deadline"), with the SEC a registration statement on
Form S-1 or SB-2 (or, if the Company is then eligible, on Form S-3) under
the Securities Act (the "Initial Registration Statement") for the resale by
the Investors of the Registrable Securities, which includes at least five
times the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued upon conversion of
the Convertible Debentures based on the conversion price equal to seventy
five percent (75%) of the lowest Closing Bid Price of the Common Stock, as
quoted by Bloomberg, LP, during the ten (10) trading days immediately prior
to the date the Company files the Registration Statement and 375,000 shares
of Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of the Warrant dated March 31,
2005. The Company shall cause the Registration Statement to remain
effective until all of the Registrable Securities have been sold. Prior to
the filing of the Registration Statement with the SEC, the Company shall
furnish a copy of the Initial Registration Statement to the Investors for
their review and comment. The Investors shall furnish comments on the
Initial Registration Statement to the Company within twenty-four (24) hours
of the receipt thereof from the Company.
(b) Effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement. The Company
shall use its best efforts (i) to have the Initial Registration Statement
declared effective by the SEC no later than one hundred twenty (120) days
after the date hereof (the "Scheduled Effective Deadline") and (ii) to
insure that the Initial Registration Statement and any subsequent
Registration Statement remains in effect until all of the Registrable
Securities have been sold, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement. It shall be an event of default hereunder if the Initial
Registration Statement is not filed by the Scheduled Filing Deadline or
declared effective by the SEC by the Scheduled Effective Deadline.
(c) Failure to File or Obtain Effectiveness of the Registration
Statement. In the event the Registration Statement is not filed by the
Scheduled Filing Deadline or is not declared effective by the SEC on or
before the Scheduled Effective Deadline, or if after the Registration
Statement has been declared effective by the SEC, sales cannot be made
pursuant to the Registration Statement (whether because of a failure to
keep the Registration Statement effective, failure to disclose such
information as is necessary for sales to be made pursuant to the
Registration Statement, failure to register sufficient shares of Common
Stock or otherwise) then as partial relief for the damages to any holder of
Registrable Securities by reason of any such delay in or reduction of its
ability to sell the underlying shares of Common Stock (which remedy shall
not be exclusive of any other remedies at law or in equity), the Company
will pay as liquidated damages (the "Liquidated Damages") to the holder, at
the holder's option, either a cash amount or shares of the Company's Common
Stock within three (3) business days, after demand therefore, equal to two
percent (2%) of the liquidated value of the Convertible Debentures
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outstanding as Liquidated Damages for each thirty (30) day period after the
Scheduled Filing Deadline or the Scheduled Effective Date as the case may
be.
(d) Liquidated Damages. The Company and the Investor hereto
acknowledge and agree that the sums payable under subsection 2(c) above
shall constitute liquidated damages and not penalties and are in addition
to all other rights of the Investor, including the right to call a default.
The parties further acknowledge that (i) the amount of loss or damages
likely to be incurred is incapable or is difficult to precisely estimate,
(ii) the amounts specified in such subsections bear a reasonable
relationship to, and are not plainly or grossly disproportionate to, the
probable loss likely to be incurred in connection with any failure by the
Company to obtain or maintain the effectiveness of a Registration
Statement, (iii) one of the reasons for the Company and the Investor
reaching an agreement as to such amounts was the uncertainty and cost of
litigation regarding the question of actual damages, and (iv) the Company
and the Investor are sophisticated business parties and have been
represented by sophisticated and able legal counsel and negotiated this
Agreement at arm's length.
3. RELATED OBLIGATIONS.
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(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 Securities 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 Securities Act with
respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities of the Company
covered by such Registration Statement until such time as all of such
Registrable Securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with the
intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set
forth in such Registration Statement. In the case of amendments and
supplements to a Registration Statement which are required to be filed
pursuant to this Agreement (including pursuant to this Section 3(b)) by
reason of the Company'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 "Exchange Act"), the Company shall incorporate 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
Exchange Act report is filed which created the requirement for the Company
to amend or supplement the Registration Statement.
(c) The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose Registrable
Securities are included in any Registration Statement, without charge, (i)
at least one (1) copy of such Registration Statement as declared effective
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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 any Investor reasonably requests, (ii) prepare and file in those
jurisdictions, such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and
supplements to such registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to
maintain the effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii)
take such other actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations
and qualifications in effect at all times during the Registration Period,
and (iv) take all other actions reasonably necessary or advisable to
qualify the Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection
therewith or as a condition thereto to (w) make any change to its articles
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 each Investor who holds Registrable
Securities of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect
to the suspension of the registration or qualification of any of the
Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or "blue sky" laws of
any jurisdiction in the United States or its receipt of actual notice of
the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose.
(e) As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event or
development, the Company shall notify each Investor in writing of the
happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in a
Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of
a material fact or omission to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (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 each Investor in writing (i) when a prospectus
or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed,
and when a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment has
become effective (notification of such effectiveness shall be delivered to
each Investor by facsimile on the same day of such effectiveness), (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.
(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
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such order or suspension at the earliest possible moment and to notify each
Investor who holds Registrable Securities being sold of the issuance of
such order and the resolution thereof or its receipt of actual notice of
the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose.
(g) At the reasonable request of any Investor, the Company shall
furnish to such Investor, on the date of the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement and thereafter from time to time on such dates as an
Investor may reasonably request (i) a letter, dated such date, from the
Company's independent certified public accountants in form and substance as
is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to
underwriters in an underwritten public offering, and (ii) an opinion, dated
as of such date, of counsel representing the Company for purposes of such
Registration Statement, in form, scope and substance as is customarily
given in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the Investors.
(h) The Company shall make available for inspection by (i) any
Investor and (ii) one (1) firm of accountants or other agents retained by
the Investors (collectively, the "Inspectors") all pertinent financial and
other records, and pertinent corporate documents and properties of the
Company (collectively, the "Records"), as shall be reasonably deemed
necessary by each Inspector, and cause the Company's officers, directors
and employees to supply all information which any Inspector may reasonably
request; provided, however, that each Inspector shall agree, and each
Investor hereby agrees, to hold in strict confidence and shall not make any
disclosure (except to an Investor) or use 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 Securities
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. Each Investor agrees that it shall, upon learning
that disclosure of such Records is sought in or by a court or governmental
body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice
to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake
appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective
order for, the Records deemed confidential.
(i) The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure
of information concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless (i)
disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state
securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to
avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement,
(iii) the release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or
other final, non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of
competent jurisdiction, or (iv) such information has been made generally
available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this
Agreement or any other agreement. The Company agrees that it shall, upon
learning that disclosure of such information concerning an Investor is
sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or
through other means, give prompt written notice to such Investor and allow
such Investor, at the Investor's expense, to undertake appropriate action
to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, such
information.
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(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 (ii) 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 Investors who hold
Registrable Securities being offered and, 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
Investors may reasonably request and registered in such names as the
Investors 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 Securities Act) covering a twelve
(12) 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 declared effective by the SEC, the Company
shall deliver, and shall cause legal counsel for the Company to deliver, to
the transfer agent for such Registrable Securities (with copies to the
Investors whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration
Statement) confirmation that 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 Investors of Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTORS.
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Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of
the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(f) or the first
sentence of 3(e), such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of
Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement(s) covering such
Registrable Securities until such Investor's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(e) or receipt of
notice that no supplement or amendment is required. Notwithstanding anything to
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the contrary, the Company shall cause its transfer agent to deliver unlegended
certificates for shares of Common Stock to a transferee of an Investor in
accordance with the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement in connection
with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which an Investor has
entered into a contract for sale prior to the Investor's receipt of a notice
from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section
3(f) or the first sentence of 3(e) and for which the Investor has not yet
settled.
5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.
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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.
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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 each Investor, the
directors, officers, partners, employees, agents, representatives of, and
each Person, if any, who controls any Investor within the meaning of the
Securities Act or the Exchange 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 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
Securities Act, the Exchange 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
Investors 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
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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(c); 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 and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable
Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 9 hereof.
(b) In connection with a Registration Statement, each Investor agrees
to severally and not jointly indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the
same extent and in the same manner as is set forth in Section 6(a), the
Company, each of its directors, each of its officers, employees,
representatives, or agents and each Person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each
an "Indemnified Party"), against any Claim or Indemnified Damages to which
any of them may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange 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 such Investor expressly for
use in connection with such Registration Statement; and, subject to Section
6(d), such Investor will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such
Claim; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this
Section 6(b) and the agreement with respect to contribution contained in
Section 7 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if
such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of such
Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided,
further, however, that the Investor shall be liable under this Section 6(b)
for only that amount of a Claim or Indemnified Damages as does not exceed
the net proceeds to such Investor as a result of the sale of Registrable
Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Such indemnity shall
remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or
on behalf of such Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of the
Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 9.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(b) with respect to
any prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Party if
the untrue statement or omission of material fact contained in the
prospectus was corrected and such new prospectus was delivered to each
Investor prior to such Investor's use of the prospectus to which the Claim
relates.
(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
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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 (1) 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.
7. CONTRIBUTION.
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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 Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of
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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 EXCHANGE ACT.
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With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule 144
promulgated under the Securities 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 Securities Act and the Exchange
Act so long as the Company remains subject to such requirements (it being
understood that nothing herein shall limit the Company's obligations under
Section 4(c) of the Securities Purchase Agreement) and the filing of such
reports and other documents as are required by the applicable provisions of
Rule 144; and
(c) furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns Registrable
Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company
that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual
or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so
filed by the Company, and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably
requested to permit the Investors to sell such securities pursuant to Rule
144 without registration.
9. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
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Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may
be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively
or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and Investors
who then hold at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Registrable Securities. Any
amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 9 shall be binding
upon each Investor and the Company. No such amendment shall be effective to the
extent that it applies to fewer than all of the holders of the Registrable
Securities. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or
consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of any of this Agreement
unless the same consideration also is offered to all of the parties to this
Agreement.
10. MISCELLANEOUS.
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(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 (2) 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.
10
(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 (1) 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: Americana Publishing, Inc.
c/o Anslow & ▇▇▇▇▇▇, LLP
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
With Copy to: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, LLP
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
Telephone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
If to an Investor, to its address and facsimile number on the Schedule of
Investors attached hereto, with copies to such Investor's representatives as set
forth on the Schedule of Investors or to such other address and/or facsimile
number and/or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has
specified by written notice given to each other party five (5) 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 laws of the State of New Jersey shall govern all issues
concerning the relative rights of the Company and the Investors as its
stockholders. All other questions concerning the construction, validity,
enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the
internal laws of the State of 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 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ County, New
Jersey and federal courts for the District of New Jersey sitting Newark,
11
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 Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions, the
Securities Purchase Agreement and related documents including the
Convertible Debenture and the Escrow Agreement dated the date hereof by and
among the Company, the Investors set forth on the Schedule of Investors
attached hereto, and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq. (the "Escrow Agreement") and the
Security Agreement dated the date hereof (the "Security Agreement")
constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to
the subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no restrictions, promises,
warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to
herein and therein. This Agreement, the Irrevocable Transfer Agent
Instructions, the Securities Purchase Agreement and related documents
including the Convertible Debenture, the Escrow Agreement and the Security
Agreement supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
(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
12
accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby. 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.
(j) 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]
13
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Investor Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of day and year first above written.
COMPANY:
AMERICANA PUBLISHING, INC.
By:----------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Executive Officer
14
SCHEDULE I
----------
SCHEDULE OF INVESTORS
---------------------
ADDRESS/FACSIMILE
NAME SIGNATURE NUMBER OF INVESTORS
--------- -------------- ----------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Equity By: Yorkville Advisors, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Partners, Ltd LLC - Suite 3700
Its: General Partner ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
By:--------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Its: Portfolio Manager
With a copy to: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq. ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
- ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS
OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
-------------------------
Attention:
Re: AMERICANA PUBLISHING, INC.
----------------------------
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are counsel to Americana Publishing, Inc., a Colorado corporation (the
"Company"), and have represented the Company in connection with that certain
Securities Purchase Agreement (the "Securities Purchase Agreement") entered into
by and among the Company and the investors named therein (collectively, the
"Investors") pursuant to which the Company issued to the Investors shares of its
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Common Stock"). Pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement, the Company also has entered into a Registration Rights
Agreement with the Investors (the "Investor 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 "Securities 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 SEC (the "SEC") relating to the Registrable Securities which names
each of the Investors as a selling stockholder there under.
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 Securities 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 Securities Act pursuant to the
Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
[LAW FIRM]
By:----------------------------