1
Exhibit 4.23
ANNEX IV
TO
SUBSCRIPTION
AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of December 7, 1999 (this
"Agreement"), is made by and between ▇▇▇.▇▇▇, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and the person named on the signature page hereto (the "Initial
Investor").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, in connection with the Subscription Agreement, dated as of
December 7, 1999, between the Initial Investor and the Company (the
"Subscription Agreement"), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to
the conditions of the Subscription Agreement, to issue and sell to the Initial
Investor shares (the "Common Shares") of Common Stock, $.001 par value (the
"Common Stock"), of the Company, and to issue Common Stock Purchase Warrants,
Class A and Common Stock Purchase Warrants, Class B (collectively, the
"Warrants") to purchase shares (the "Warrant Shares") of Common Stock; and
WHEREAS, to induce the Initial Investor to execute and deliver the
Subscription 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 with respect to the Common
Shares and the Warrant Shares;
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 Initial
Investor hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
(a) As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
"Investor" or "Investors" means the Initial Investor and any transferee or
assignee who agrees to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in
accordance with Section 9 hereof.
"Majority Holders" means those Investors who hold a majority in interest of
the Registrable Securities, the Warrants and the "Registrable Securities" and
"Warrants" as such terms are defined in the Other Registration Rights Agreement.
"Nasdaq" means the Nasdaq National Market.
"1934 Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Other Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights
Agreement entered into in connection with the Other Subscription Agreement.
2
"Permitted Transferee" means any person (1) who is an "accredited investor"
as defined in Regulation D under the 1933 Act, (2) who is not a Restricted
Person named in a Restricted Person Resolution delivered to an Investor in
accordance with Section 4(a)(2) of the Subscription Agreement and (3) who,
immediately following the assignment of rights under this Agreement holds (x) at
least 50,000 shares of Common Stock or (y) Warrants which at the time of such
transfer are exercisable for at least 50,000 shares of Common Stock, or any
combination thereof (the 50,000 share amounts referred to in this definition
being subject to equitable adjustment from time to time on terms reasonably
acceptable to the Majority Holders for (i) stock splits, (ii) stock dividends,
(iii) combinations, (iv) capital reorganizations, (v) issuance to all holders of
Common Stock of rights or warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock and (vi)
similar events relating to the Common Stock, in each such case which occur on or
after the Closing Date).
"register," "registered," and "registration" refer to a registration
effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or Statements in
compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule 415 under the 1933 Act or any
successor rule providing for offering securities on a continuous basis ("Rule
415"), and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration
Statement by the SEC.
"Registrable Securities" means the Common Shares and the Warrant Shares. As
to any particular securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable
Securities when they have been sold pursuant to an effective registration
statement or in compliance with Rule 144 or are eligible to be sold pursuant to
subsection (k) of Rule 144.
"Registration Period" means the period from the Closing Date to the earlier
of (i) the date which is five years after the SEC Effective Date, (ii) the date
on which each Investor may sell all of its Registrable Securities without
registration under the 1933 Act pursuant to subsection (k) of Rule 144, without
restriction on the manner of sale or the volume of securities which may be sold
in any period and without the requirement for the giving of any notice to, or
the making of any filing with, the SEC and (iii) the date on which the Investors
no longer beneficially own any Registrable Securities.
"Registration Statement" means a registration statement of the Company
under the 1933 Act, including any amendment thereto, required to be filed by the
Company pursuant to this Agreement.
"Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated under the 1933 Act or any other
similar rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit a holder of
any securities to sell securities of the Company to the public without
registration under the 1933 Act.
"SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
"SEC Effective Date" means the date the Registration Statement is declared
effective by the SEC.
"SEC Filing Date" means the date the Registration Statement is first filed
with the SEC pursuant to Section 2(a).
(b) Capitalized terms defined in the introductory paragraph or the recitals
to this Agreement shall have the respective meanings therein provided.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the
respective meanings set forth in the Subscription Agreement.
-2-
3
2. REGISTRATION.
(a) MANDATORY REGISTRATION. (1) The Company shall prepare and, on or prior
to the date which is 45 days after the Closing Date, file with the SEC a
Registration Statement on Form S-3 which, on the date of filing with the SEC,
covers the resale by the Initial Investor of a number of shares of Common Stock
at least equal to the sum of (x) the number of Common Shares plus (y) the number
of Warrant Shares issuable upon the exercise in full of the Class A Warrants
plus (z) the number of Warrant Shares equal to 175% of the number of shares of
Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Class B Warrants, determined as
if the First Adjustment Date (as defined in the Class B Warrants) occurred and
the Class B Warrants were otherwise exercised in full for cash in accordance
with the terms thereof on the Trading Day prior to the SEC Filing Date (in each
case determined without regard to the limitations on beneficial ownership
contained in Section 1.1(b) of the Warrants). If at any time the number of
shares of Common Stock included in the Registration Statement required to be
filed as provided in the first sentence of this Section 2(a) shall be
insufficient to cover 100% of the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon
exercise of the unexercised portion of the Warrants, then promptly, but in no
event later than 20 days after such insufficiency shall occur, the Company shall
file with the SEC an additional Registration Statement on Form S-3 (which shall
not constitute a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement filed
pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 2(a)), covering such number of
shares of Common Stock as shall be sufficient to permit such exercise. For all
purposes of this Agreement such additional Registration Statement shall be
deemed to be the Registration Statement required to be filed by the Company
pursuant to Section 2(a) of this Agreement, and the Company and the Investors
shall have the same rights and obligations with respect to such additional
Registration Statement as they shall have with respect to the initial
Registration Statement required to be filed by the Company pursuant to this
Section 2(a). The Registration Statement shall not include securities to be sold
for the account of any selling security holder other than the Investors and the
investors contemplated by the Other Registration Rights Agreement.
(2) Prior to the SEC Effective Date or during any time subsequent to the
SEC Effective Date when the Registration Statement for any reason is not
available for use by any Investor for the resale of any Registrable Securities,
the Company shall not file any other registration statement or any amendment
thereto with the SEC under the 1933 Act or request the acceleration of the
effectiveness of any other registration statement previously filed with the SEC,
other than any registration statement registering securities issued (w) pursuant
to compensation plans for employees, directors, officers, advisers or
consultants of the Company and in accordance with the terms of such plans as in
effect as of the date of this Agreement, (x) upon exercise of conversion,
exchange, purchase or similar rights issued, granted or given by the Company and
outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and disclosed in the SEC Reports or
the Subscription Agreement, (y) pursuant to a public offering underwritten on a
firm commitment basis registered under the 1933 Act or (z) as part of a
transaction involving a strategic alliance, acquisition of stock or assets,
merger, collaboration, joint venture, partnership or other similar arrangement
of the Company with another corporation, partnership or other business entity
which is engaged in a business similar to or related to the business of the
Company, so long as in the case of this clause (z) the Board of Directors of the
Company by resolution duly adopted (and a copy of which shall be furnished to
the Investor promptly after adoption) determines that such issuance is fair to
the holders of each class and series of capital stock of the Company and to the
Investor in respect of its equity interest in the Company that is represented by
the Shares and the Warrants.
(b) CERTAIN OFFERINGS. If any offering pursuant to a Registration Statement
pursuant to Section 2(a)(1) hereof involves an underwritten offering, Investors
who hold a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities subject to such
underwritten offering shall have the right to select one legal counsel and an
investment banker or bankers and manager or managers to administer the offering,
which investment banker or bankers or manager or managers shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Company. The Investors who hold the Registrable Securities
to be included in such underwriting shall pay all underwriting discounts and
commissions and other fees and expenses of such investment banker or
-3-
4
bankers and manager or managers so selected in accordance with this Section 2(b)
(other than fees and expenses relating to registration of Registrable Securities
under federal or state securities laws, which are payable by the Company
pursuant to Section 5 hereof) with respect to their Registrable Securities and
the fees and expenses of such legal counsel so selected by the Investors.
(c) CERTAIN PAYMENTS. If for any reason the Registration Statement covering
at least the number of shares of Common Stock referred to in clauses (x) and (y)
of Section 2(a)(1) is not declared effective by the SEC on or before the date
which is 150 days after the Closing Date, the Company shall pay the Initial
Investor an amount in cash equal to 1.5% of the Purchase Price for the Common
Shares for each period of 30 days after such 150th day during which the
Registration Statement is not effective (such amount to be prorated for any
period of less than 30 days). Each such payment shall be made by the Company to
the Initial Investor at the end of each such 30-day period by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to such account as shall be specified by the Initial
Investor in writing to the Company at least one Business Day prior to the date
of each payment. Any such amount which is not paid when due shall bear interest
at the rate of 14% per annum (or such other rate as shall be the maximum rate
allowable by applicable law) until paid in full.
(d) PIGGY-BACK REGISTRATIONS. If at any time the Company shall determine to
prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement relating to an offering
for its own account or the account of others under the 1933 Act of any of its
equity securities, other than a registration statement registering securities
issued (1) pursuant to compensation plans for employees, directors, officers,
advisers or consultants of the Company and in accordance with the terms of such
plans as in effect as of the date of the Agreement or (2) as part of a
transaction involving a strategic alliance, acquisition of stock or assets,
merger, collaboration, joint venture, partnership or other similar arrangement
of the Company with another corporation, partnership, or other business entity
which is engaged in a business similar to or related to the business of the
Company, so long as in the case of this clause (2) the Board of Directors of the
Company by resolution duly adopted (and a copy of which shall be furnished to
the Investor promptly after adoption) determines that such issuance is fair to
the holders of each class and series of capital stock of the Company and to the
Investor in respect of its equity interest in the Company that is represented by
the Shares and the Warrants, the Company shall send to each Investor who is
entitled to registration rights under this Section 2(d) written notice of such
determination and, if within ten days after receipt of such notice, such
Investor shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such
Registration Statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities such
Investor requests to be registered, except that if, in connection with any
underwritten public offering for the account of the Company, the managing
underwriter(s) thereof shall impose a limitation on the number of shares of
Common Stock which may be included in the Registration Statement because, in
such underwriter(s)' judgment, such limitation is necessary to effect an orderly
public distribution, then the Company shall be obligated to include in such
Registration Statement only such limited portion of the Registrable Securities
with respect to which such Investor has requested inclusion hereunder. Any
exclusion of Registrable Securities shall be made pro rata among the Investors
seeking to include Registrable Securities, in proportion to the number of
Registrable Securities sought to be included by such Investors; provided,
however, that the Company shall not exclude any Registrable Securities unless
the Company has first excluded all outstanding securities the holders of which
are not entitled by right to inclusion of securities in such Registration
Statement; and provided further, however, that, after giving effect to the
immediately preceding proviso, any exclusion of Registrable Securities shall be
made pro rata with holders of other securities having the right to include such
securities in the Registration Statement, based on the number of securities for
which registration is requested except to the extent such pro rata exclusion of
such other securities is prohibited under any written agreement entered into by
the Company with the holder of such other securities prior to the date of this
Agreement, in which case such other securities shall be excluded, if at all, in
accordance with the terms of such agreement. No right to registration of
Registrable Securities under this Section 2(d) shall be construed to limit any
registration required under Section 2(a) hereof. The obligations of the
-4-
5
Company under this Section 2(d) may be waived by the Majority Holders and shall
expire after the Company has afforded the opportunity for the Investors to
exercise registration rights under this Section 2(d) for two registrations;
provided, however, that any Investor who shall have had any Registrable
Securities excluded from any Registration Statement in accordance with this
Section 2(d) shall be entitled to include in an additional Registration
Statement filed by the Company the Registrable Securities so excluded.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the Registration
Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a) of this Agreement shall
have been ordered effective by the SEC and the Company shall have maintained the
effectiveness of such Registration Statement as required by this Agreement and
if the Company shall otherwise have complied in all material respects with its
obligations under this Agreement, then the Company shall not be obligated to
register any Registrable Securities on such Registration Statement referred to
in this Section 2(d).
(e) ELIGIBILITY FOR FORM S-3. The Company meets the requirements for the
use of Form S-3 for registration of the Registrable Securities for resale by the
Investors. The Company shall file all reports required to be filed by the
Company with the SEC in a timely manner so as to maintain such eligibility for
the use of Form S-3.
3. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY. In connection with the registration of the
Registrable Securities, the Company shall:
(a) prepare promptly, and file with the SEC not later than 45 days after
the Closing Date, a Registration Statement with respect to the number of
Registrable Securities provided in Section 2(a), and thereafter to use its best
efforts to cause each Registration Statement relating to Registrable Securities
to become effective as soon as possible after such filing, and keep the
Registration Statement effective pursuant to Rule 415 at all times during the
Registration Period; submit to the SEC, within three Business Days after the
Company learns that no review of the Registration Statement will be made by the
staff of the SEC or that the staff of the SEC has no further comments on the
Registration Statement, as the case may be, a request for acceleration of
effectiveness of the Registration Statement to a time and date not later than 48
hours after the submission of such request; notify the Investors of the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement on the date the Registration
Statement is declared effective; and the Company represents and warrants to, and
covenants and agrees with, the Investors that the Registration Statement
(including any amendments or supplements thereto and prospectuses contained
therein), at the time it is first filed with the SEC, at the time it is ordered
effective by the SEC and at all times during which it is required to be
effective hereunder (and each such amendment and supplement at the time it is
filed with the SEC and at all times during which it is available for use in
connection with the offer and sale of the Registrable Securities) 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) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including post-effective
amendments) and supplements to the Registration Statement and the prospectus
used in connection with the Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep
the Registration Statement effective at all times during the Registration
Period, and, during the Registration Period, comply with the provisions of the
1933 Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities of the
Company covered by the Registration Statement until such time as all of such
Registrable Securities have been disposed of in accordance with the intended
methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth in the
Registration Statement;
(c) furnish to each Investor whose Registrable Securities are included in
the Registration Statement and its legal counsel, (1) promptly after the same is
prepared and publicly distributed, filed with the SEC or received by the
Company, one copy of the Registration Statement and
-5-
6
any amendment thereto, each preliminary prospectus and prospectus and each
amendment or supplement thereto, each letter written by or on behalf of the
Company to the SEC or the staff of the SEC and each item of correspondence from
the SEC or the staff of the SEC relating to such Registration Statement (other
than any portion of any thereof which contains information for which the Company
has sought confidential treatment) and (2) such number of copies of a
prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, and all amendments and
supplements thereto and such other documents, as such Investor may reasonably
request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities
owned by such Investor;
(d) use reasonable efforts to (i) register and qualify the Registrable
Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or blue
sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Investors who hold a majority in interest
of the Registrable Securities being offered reasonably request, (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 at all times until the end of
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 (I) to qualify to do business in any
jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this
Section 3(d), (II) to subject itself to general taxation in any such
jurisdiction, (III) to file a general consent to service of process in any such
jurisdiction, (IV) to provide any undertakings that cause more than nominal
expense or burden to the Company or (V) to make any change in its Certificate of
Incorporation or by-laws, which in each case the Board of Directors of the
Company determines to be contrary to the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders;
(e) in the event that the Registrable Securities are being offered in an
underwritten offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an
underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, including, without
limitation, customary indemnification and contribution obligations, with the
underwriters of such offering;
(f) as promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event or
circumstance, notify each Investor of any event or circumstance of which the
Company has knowledge, as a result of which the prospectus included in the
Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a
material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, and use its best efforts promptly to
prepare a supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement to correct such
untrue statement or omission, file such supplement or amendment with the SEC at
such time as shall permit the Investors to sell Registrable Securities pursuant
to the Registration Statement as promptly as practicable, and deliver a number
of copies of such supplement or amendment to each Investor as such Investor may
reasonably request;
(g) as promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event, notify
each Investor who holds Registrable Securities being sold (or, in the event of
an underwritten offering, the managing underwriters) of the issuance by the SEC
of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of the Registration
Statement at the earliest possible time;
(h) permit a single firm of counsel designated as selling stockholders'
counsel by the Investors who hold a majority in interest of the Registrable
Securities being sold to review and comment on the Registration Statement and
all amendments and supplements thereto a reasonable period of time prior to
their filing with the SEC;
-6-
7
(i) 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 ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) 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;
(j) at the request of the Investors who hold a majority in interest of the
Registrable Securities being sold, furnish on the date that Registrable
Securities are delivered to an underwriter, if any, for sale in connection with
the Registration Statement (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, addressed to the underwriters; and (ii) an
opinion, dated such date, from counsel representing the Company for purposes of
such Registration Statement, in form and substance as is customarily given in an
underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters and the Investors;
(k) make available for inspection by any Investor, any underwriter
participating in any disposition pursuant to the Registration Statement, and any
attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such Investor or underwriter
(collectively, the "Inspectors"), all pertinent financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the
"Records"), as shall be reasonably necessary to enable each Investor to exercise
its due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company's officers, directors
and employees to supply all information which any Inspector may reasonably
request for purposes of such due diligence; provided, however, that each
Inspector shall hold in confidence and shall not make any disclosure (except to
an Investor) 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 (i) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or
correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (ii) the
release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a
court or government body of competent jurisdiction or (iii) 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. The Company shall not be
required to disclose any confidential information in such Records to any
Inspector until and unless such Inspector shall have entered into
confidentiality agreements (in form and substance satisfactory to the Company)
with the Company with respect thereto, substantially in the form of this Section
3(k). 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 the Company's own expense, to undertake appropriate action to
prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, the Records deemed
confidential. The Company shall hold in confidence and shall not make any
disclosure of information concerning an Investor provided to the Company
pursuant to Section 4(e) hereof 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 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 or, to the
knowledge of the Company, 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 notice to such Investor and allow such
Investor, at such Investor's own expense, to undertake appropriate action to
prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, such information;
(l) use its best efforts (i) to cause all the Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement to be listed on the Nasdaq or such other
principal securities market on which securities of the same class or series
issued by the Company are then listed or traded or (ii) if securities of
-7-
8
the same class or series as the Registrable Securities are not then listed on
Nasdaq or any such other securities market, to cause all of the Registrable
Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be listed on the New York
Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market;
(m) provide a transfer agent and registrar, which may be a single entity,
for the Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of the
Registration Statement;
(n) cooperate with the Investors who hold Registrable Securities being
offered and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, to facilitate the
timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive
legends) representing Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to the
Registration Statement and enable such certificates to be in such denominations
or amounts, as the case may be, as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if
any, or the Investors may reasonably request and registered in such names as the
managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or the Investors may request; and,
within three Business Days after a Registration Statement which includes
Registrable Securities is ordered effective by the SEC, the Company shall
deliver to the transfer agent for the Registrable Securities (with copies to the
Investors whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration
Statement) an instruction substantially in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT 1
and shall cause legal counsel selected by the Company to deliver to the
Investors an opinion of such counsel in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT 2
(with a copy to the Company's transfer agent);
(o) during the period the Company is required to maintain effectiveness of
the Registration Statement pursuant to Section 3(a), the Company shall not bid
for or purchase any Common Stock or any right to purchase Common Stock or
attempt to induce any person to purchase any such security or right if such bid,
purchase or attempt would in any way limit the right of the Investors to sell
Registrable Securities by reason of the limitations set forth in Regulation M
under the 1934 Act; and
(p) take all other reasonable actions necessary to expedite and facilitate
disposition by the Investors of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Registration Statement.
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTORS. In connection with the registration of the
Registrable Securities, the Investors shall have the following obligations:
(a) It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to
complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the
Registrable Securities of a particular Investor that such Investor shall furnish
to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities
held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities
held by it as shall be reasonably required to effect the registration of such
Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection with such
registration as the Company may reasonably request. At least five days prior to
the first anticipated filing date of the Registration Statement, the Company
shall notify each Investor of the information the Company requires from each
such Investor (the "Requested Information") if any of such Investor's
Registrable Securities are eligible for inclusion in the Registration Statement.
If at least two Business Days prior to the filing date the Company has not
received the Requested Information from an Investor (a "Non-Responsive
Investor"), then the Company may file the Registration Statement without
including Registrable Securities of such Non-Responsive Investor but shall not
be relieved of its obligation to file a Registration Statement with the SEC
relating to the Registrable Securities of such Non-Responsive Investor promptly
after such Non-Responsive Investor provides the Requested Information; provided,
however, that (i) all expenses of the Company relating to the preparation,
amendment and filing of the Registration Statement to include the Registrable
Securities of such Non-Responsive Investor shall be paid by such Non-Responsive
Investor and (ii) the Company shall not be considered in breach of any of its
obligations to such Non-Responsive Investor to timely file the Registration
Statement under this Agreement or be subject to any liability to such
Non-Responsive
-8-
9
Investor pursuant to Section 2(c) to the extent a delay in filing or obtaining
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement for such Non-Responsive Investor
is due to the failure of such Non-Responsive Investor to timely provide the
Requested Information.
(b) Each Investor by such Investor's acceptance of the Registrable
Securities agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the
Company in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration
Statement hereunder, unless such Investor has notified the Company in writing of
such Investor's election to exclude all of such Investor's Registrable
Securities from the Registration Statement;
(c) In the event Investors holding a majority in interest of the
Registrable Securities being registered determine to engage the services of an
underwriter, each Investor agrees to enter into and perform such Investor's
obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form,
including, without limitation, customary indemnification and contribution
obligations, with the managing underwriter of such offering and take such other
actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the
disposition of the Registrable Securities, unless such Investor has notified the
Company in writing of such Investor's election to exclude all of such Investor's
Registrable Securities from the Registration Statement;
(d) Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company
of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(f) or 3(g),
such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities
until such Investor's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended
prospectus contemplated by Section 3(f) or 3(g) and, if so directed by the
Company, such Investor shall deliver to the Company (at the expense of the
Company) or destroy (and deliver to the Company a certificate of destruction)
all copies in such Investor's possession of the prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice;
(e) No Investor may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder
unless such Investor (i) agrees to sell such Investor's Registrable Securities
on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Investors
entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements, (ii) completes and executes all
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and
other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting
arrangements and (iii) agrees to pay its pro rata share of all underwriting
discounts and commissions and other fees and expenses of investment bankers and
any manager or managers of such underwriting and legal expenses of the
underwriters applicable with respect to its Registrable Securities, in each case
to the extent not payable by the Company pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement; and
(f) Each Investor agrees to take all reasonable actions necessary to comply
with the prospectus delivery requirements of the 1933 Act applicable to its
sales of Registrable Securities.
5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION. All reasonable expenses, other than
underwriting discounts and commissions and other fees and expenses of investment
bankers and other than brokerage commissions, incurred in connection with
registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3,
including, without limitation, all registration, listing and qualifications
fees, printers and accounting fees and the fees and disbursements of counsel for
the Company and one legal counsel for the Investors and the investors under the
Other Registration Rights Agreement (in addition to the payment of the Initial
Investor's expenses to the extent provided in the Subscription Agreement), shall
be borne by the Company, provided, however, that the Investors shall bear the
fees and out-of-pocket expenses of the one legal counsel selected by the
Investors and the investors under the Other Registration Rights Agreement
pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof and thereof.
-9-
10
6. INDEMNIFICATION. In the event any Registrable Securities are included in
a Registration Statement under this Agreement:
(a) To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify and hold
harmless each Investor who holds such Registrable Securities, the directors, if
any, of such Investor, the officers, if any, of such Investor, each person, if
any, who controls any Investor within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934
Act, any underwriter (as defined in the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) for the Investors, the
directors, if any, of such underwriter and the officers, if any, of such
underwriter, and each person, if any, who controls any such underwriter within
the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (each, an "Indemnified Person"),
against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (joint or several)
incurred (collectively, "Claims") to which any of them may become subject under
the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claims (or actions or
proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of
or are based upon any of the following statements or omissions in or violations
with respect to the Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment
thereof, or any prospectus included therein: (i) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or
any post-effective amendment thereof or the omission or alleged omission to
state therein 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 preliminary prospectus if
used prior to the effective date of such Registration Statement, or contained in
the final prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the Company files any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or the omission or alleged
omission to state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements
made therein, in light of the circumstances under which the statements therein
were made, not misleading or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the
Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any state securities law or any rule or
regulation under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or any state securities law (the
matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) being, collectively,
"Violations"). Subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 6(d) with
respect to the number of legal counsel, the Company shall reimburse the
Investors and the other Indemnified Persons, promptly as such expenses are
incurred and are due and payable, for any legal fees or other reasonable
expenses incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such
Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (I) shall not apply to
a Claim arising out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon
and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by any
Indemnified Person or underwriter for such Indemnified Person expressly for use
in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement, the prospectus
or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto, if such prospectus was
timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(c) hereof; (II) with
respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any
Indemnified Person if the untrue statement or omission of material fact
contained in the preliminary prospectus was corrected in the prospectus, as then
amended or supplemented, if such prospectus was timely made available by the
Company pursuant to Section 3(c) hereof; and (III) shall not apply to amounts
paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior
written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person and shall survive
the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section
9.
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement in which an Investor is
participating, each such Investor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the
same extent and in the same manner set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each
of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement,
each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act
or the 1934 Act, any underwriter and any other stockholder selling securities
pursuant to the Registration Statement or any of its directors or officers or
any person who controls such stockholder or
-10-
11
underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (collectively and
together with an Indemnified Person, an "Indemnified Party"), against any Claim
to which any of them may become subject, under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or
otherwise, insofar as such Claim arises 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 such Investor will reimburse any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by any Indemnified Party, promptly as such expenses are
incurred and are due and payable, in connection with investigating or defending
any such Claim; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in
this Section 6(b) 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 as does not exceed the amount by which the net proceeds to such
Investor from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration
Statement exceeds the cost of such Registrable Securities to such Investor. Such
indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of
the Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 9.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification
agreement contained in this Section 6(b) with respect to any preliminary
prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Party if the untrue
statement or omission of material fact contained in the preliminary prospectus
was corrected on a timely basis in the prospectus, as then amended or
supplemented.
(c) The Company shall be entitled to receive indemnities from underwriters,
selling brokers, dealer managers and similar securities industry professionals
participating in any distribution, to the same extent as provided above, with
respect to information so furnished in writing by such persons expressly for
inclusion in the Registration Statement.
(d) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any
governmental action), 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 selected by the indemnifying party but reasonably
acceptable to the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party, as the case may
be; provided, however, that an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall
have the right to retain its own counsel with the fees and expenses to be paid
by the indemnifying party, if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel retained by
the indemnifying party, the representation by such counsel of the Indemnified
Person or Indemnified Party and the indemnifying party would be inappropriate
due to actual or potential differing interests between such Indemnified Person
or Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such counsel in such
proceeding. In such event, the Company shall pay for only one separate legal
counsel for the Investors; such legal counsel shall be selected by the Investors
holding a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities included in the
Registration Statement to which the Claim relates. 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. 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 such expense, loss, damage or liability is incurred
and is due and payable.
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
-11-
12
respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable under Section 6 to
the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that (a) no contribution
shall be made under circumstances where the maker would not have been liable for
indemnification under the fault standards set forth in Section 6, (b) no seller
of Registrable Securities guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) shall be entitled to contribution from
any seller of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation and (c) contribution by any seller of Registrable Securities
shall be limited in amount to the amount by which the net amount of proceeds
received by such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities exceeds the
purchase price paid by such seller for such Registrable Securities.
8. REPORTS UNDER 1934 ACT. With a view to making available to the Investors
the benefits of 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; 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 and the 1934 Act,
(ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and
such other reports and documents so filed by the Company and (iii) such other
information as may be reasonably requested to permit the Investors to sell such
securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.
9. ASSIGNMENT OF THE REGISTRATION RIGHTS. The rights to have the Company
register Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be
automatically assigned by the Investors to any Permitted Transferee only if: (a)
the Investor agrees in writing with such Permitted Transferee to assign such
rights, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company within a
reasonable time after such assignment, (b) except as otherwise provided in
Section 4(a)(2) of the Subscription Agreement, the Company is, within a
reasonable time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with written notice
of (i) the name and address of such Permitted Transferee and (ii) the securities
with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or
assigned, (c) immediately following such transfer or assignment the further
disposition of such securities by such Permitted Transferee is restricted under
the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, and (d) at or before the time
the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause (b) of this
sentence (or such later time within ten Business Days after the Company approves
a Proposed Transferee pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Subscription Agreement)
such Permitted Transferee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all
of the provisions contained herein. In connection with any such transfer the
Company shall, at the cost and expense of the Permitted Transferee, promptly
after such assignment take such actions as shall be reasonably acceptable to the
Initial Investor and such Permitted Transferee to assure that the Registration
Statement and related prospectus are available for use by such Permitted
Transferee for sales of the Registrable Securities in respect of which the
rights to registration have been so assigned. In connection with any such
assignment, each Investor shall have the right to assign to such Permitted
Transferee such Investor's rights under the Subscription Agreement by notice of
such assignment to the Company. Following such notice of assignment of rights
under the Subscription Agreement, the Company shall be obligated to such
Permitted Transferee to perform all of its covenants under the Subscription
Agreement as if such Permitted Transferee were the Buyer under the Subscription
Agreement.
-12-
13
10. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS. Any provision 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 Majority Holders. Any amendment or waiver effected in
accordance with this Section 10 shall be binding upon each Investor and the
Company.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) A person or entity is deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities
whenever such person or entity owns of record such Registrable Securities. If
the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or elections from two or
more persons or entities with respect to the same Registrable Securities, the
Company shall act upon the basis of instructions, notice or election received
from the registered owner of such Registrable Securities.
(b) Notices required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed to be sufficiently given when personally delivered (by hand,
by courier, by telephone line facsimile transmission (with answer back
confirmation) or other means) (i) if to the Company, at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: Chief Executive Officer, telephone line
facsimile transmission number (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, (ii) if to the Initial Investor,
c/o _____________________________, telephone line facsimile transmission number
_______________________ and (iii) if to any other Investor, at such address as
such Investor shall have provided in writing to the Company, or at such other
address as each such party furnishes by notice given in accordance with this
Section 11(b), and shall be effective upon receipt.
(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) This Agreement shall be enforced, governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado applicable to agreements made
and to be performed entirely within such State. In the event that any provision
of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable under any applicable statute or
rule of law, then such provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that
it may conflict therewith and shall be deemed modified to conform with such
statute or rule of law. Any provision hereof which may prove invalid or
unenforceable under any law shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
any other provision hereof.
(e) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. There are no restrictions,
promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to
herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings among
the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
(f) Subject to the requirements of Section 9 hereof, this Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each
of the parties hereto.
(g) All pronouns and any variations thereof refer to the masculine,
feminine or neuter, singular or plural, as the context may require.
(h) The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only
and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(i) The Company acknowledges that any failure by the Company to perform its
material obligations under this Agreement, including, without limitation, the
Company's obligations under Section 3(n), or any delay in such performance could
result in damages to the Investors and the Company agrees that, in addition to
any other liability the Company may have by reason of any such failure or
-13-
14
delay, the Company shall be liable for the following damages to the extent
caused by any such failure or delay: (i) an amount equal to the aggregate
purchase price paid by the Initial Investor for the Securities pursuant to the
Subscription Agreement plus (ii) an amount equal to the Initial Investor's
historical rate of return on all of such Initial Investor's investments in
private placements of debt and equity securities of corporate issuers multiplied
by such aggregate purchase price paid.
(j) 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.
(k) The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language
chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict
construction will be applied against any party.
(l) This Agreement may be executed in two or more 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 telephone line facsimile transmission of a copy of
this Agreement bearing the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.
-14-
15
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of day and
year first above written.
▇▇▇.▇▇▇, INC.
By:
-------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
-----------------------------------------
By:
-------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
-15-
16
EXHIBIT 1
TO
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
[Company Letterhead]
[Date]
American Securities Transfer & Trust, Inc.,
as Transfer Agent and Registrar
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter shall serve as our irrevocable authorization and direction
to you (1) to transfer or re-register the certificates for the shares of Common
Stock, $.001 par value (the "Common Stock"), of ▇▇▇.▇▇▇, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), represented by certificate numbers _______ and
_______ for an aggregate of _______ shares (the "Outstanding Shares") of Common
Stock presently registered in the name of [Name of Investors] upon surrender of
such certificate(s) to you, notwithstanding the legend appearing on such
certificates, and (2) to issue shares (the "Warrant Shares") of Common Stock to
or upon the order of the holder from time to time on exercise of the Common
Stock Purchase Warrants, Class A and Common Stock Purchase Warrants, Class B
(collectively, the "Warrants") exercisable for Common Stock issued by the
Company upon receipt by you of a subscription form from such holder in the form
enclosed herewith. The transfer or re-registration of the certificates for the
Outstanding Shares by you should be made at such time as you are requested to do
so by the record holder of the Outstanding Shares. The certificate issued upon
such transfer or re-registration should be registered in such name as requested
by the holder of record of the certificate surrendered to you and should not
bear any legend which would restrict the transfer of the shares represented
thereby. In addition, you are hereby directed to remove any stop-transfer
instruction relating to the Outstanding Shares. Certificates for the Warrant
Shares should not bear any restrictive legend and should not be subject to any
stop-transfer restriction.
Contemporaneously with the delivery of this letter, the Company is
delivering to you the following:
(a) a list showing the name and address of each holder of record of the
Warrants and the date of issuance, Warrant number, and, in the case of the
Class A Warrants, the initial fixed number of shares issuable upon exercise
thereof;
(b) the form of subscription relating to the exercise of the Warrants;
and
(c) an opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq., Vice President and
General Counsel of the Company, as to registration of the Outstanding
Shares and the Warrant Shares for resale under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended.
1-16
17
Should you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact
me.
Very truly yours,
▇▇▇.▇▇▇, INC.
By:
-------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Enclosures
cc: [Names of Investors]
1-17
18
EXHIBIT 2
TO
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
[SEC Effective Date]
[Names and Addresses of Investors]
▇▇▇.▇▇▇, INC.
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am Vice President and General Counsel of ▇▇▇.▇▇▇, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and I understand that the Company has sold to
[Names of Investors] (the "Holders") an aggregate of ________ shares (the
"Common Shares") of the Company's Common Stock, $.001 par value (the "Common
Stock"), and issued to the Holders Common Stock Purchase Warrants, Class A and
Common Stock Purchase Warrants, Class B (collectively, the "Warrants"). The
Common Shares were sold, and the Warrants were issued, to the Holders pursuant
to several Subscription Agreements, dated as of December 7, 1999, by and between
the Holders and the Company (the "Subscription Agreements"). Pursuant to the
several Registration Rights Agreements, dated as of December 7, 1999, by and
between the Company and each Holder (the "Registration Rights Agreements")
entered into in connection with the purchase by the Holders of the Common
Shares, the Company agreed with each Holder, among other things, to register for
resale (1) the Common Shares and (2) the shares (the "Warrant Shares") of Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "1933 Act"), upon the terms provided in the Registration Rights
Agreements. The Common Shares and the Warrant Shares are referred to herein
collectively as the "Shares." Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreements, on
____________________ , _____ the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (File No. 333-__________) (the "Registration Statement") with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") relating to the Shares, which names the
Holders as selling stockholders thereunder.
[Other introductory and scope of examination language to be inserted]
Based on the foregoing, I am of the opinion that:
(1) Since the Closing Date, the Company has timely filed with the SEC
all forms, reports and other documents required to be filed with the SEC
under the Securities 1934 Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"). All of
such forms, reports and other documents complied, when filed, in all
material respects, with all applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the
1934 Act;
(2) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus contained therein
(other than the financial statements and financial schedules and other
financial and statistical information contained or incorporated by
reference therein, as to which I have not been requested to and do
2-18
19
not express any opinion) comply as to form in all material respects with
the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder; and
(3) The Registration Statement has become effective under the 1933 Act,
to the best of my knowledge after due inquiry, no stop order proceedings
with respect thereto have been instituted or threatened by the SEC. The
Shares have been registered under the 1933 Act and may be resold by the
respective Holders pursuant to the Registration Statement.
I have participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, including review and discussions with officers and other
representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent public
accountants for the Company, and your representatives at which the contents of
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus contained therein and related
matters were discussed, and, although I am not passing upon and do not assume
any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements
contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus contained therein, on
the basis of the foregoing, nothing has come to my attention that leads me to
believe either that the Registration Statement at the time the Registration
Statement became effective contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus contained in
the Registration Statement, as of its date, contained an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading (it being understood that I have not
been requested to and do not express any view with respect to the financial
statements and schedules and other financial and statistical data included or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
contained therein).
Paragraph (3) of this opinion may be relied upon by American Securities
Transfer & Trust, Inc., as Transfer Agent and Registrar (the "Transfer Agent"),
as if addressed to the Transfer Agent.
Very truly yours,
cc: American Securities Transfer & Trust, Inc.,
as Transfer Agent and Registrar
2-19