EXHIBIT 10.28
Draft of 9/1/98
ANNEX V
TO
NOTE PURCHASE
AND EXCHANGE
AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of July 31, 1998 (this
"Agreement"), is made by and between EQUALNET COMMUNICATIONS CORP., a Texas
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 Note Purchase and Exchange Agreement,
dated as of July 31, 1998, by and between the Initial Investor and the Company
(the "Exchange Agreement"), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject
to the conditions of the Exchange Agreement, (1) to issue and sell to the
Initial Investor a 6% Senior Secured Convertible Note due 2001 (the "Note")
issued by the Company and (2) to issue to the Initial Investor shares (the
"Preferred Shares") of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock, $.01 par value (the
"Series D Preferred Stock"), of the Company in exchange for outstanding shares
of Common Stock, $.01 par value (the "Common Stock"), of the Company, as
provided in the Exchange Agreement, which Note and shares of Preferred Stock are
convertible into shares (the "Conversion Shares") of Common Stock and in
connection therewith to issue common stock purchase warrants (the "Warrants") to
purchase shares (the "Warrant Shares") of Common Stock; and
WHEREAS, to induce the Initial Investor to execute and deliver the
Exchange 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
"Securities Act"), and applicable state securities laws with respect to the
Conversion Shares, the Warrant Shares, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of the Interest Notes, and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of shares (the "Dividend Shares") of Series D Preferred Stock which
are issuable in payment of dividends on the Preferred 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:
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Investor" 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.
"Nasdaq" means the Nasdaq National Market.
"register," "registered," and "registration" refer to a registration
effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or Statements 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
basis ("Rule 415"), and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such
Registration Statement by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC").
"Registrable Securities" means the Conversion Shares, the Warrant
Shares, any shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Interest Notes,
and any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company to any Investor upon
conversion of any Dividend Shares.
"Registration Period" means the period from the Closing Date to the
earliest of (i) the date which is three years after the SEC Effective Date, (ii)
the date on which each Investor may sell all of its Registrable Securities
without registration under the Securities Act pursuant to 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 Securities Act, including any amendment thereto.
"Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities 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 Securities Act.
"SEC Effective Date" means the date the Registration Statement is
declared effective by the SEC.
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"SEC Filing Date" means the date the Registration Statement is first
filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 2(a).
"Statement of Resolution" means the Statement of Resolution of Board
of Directors Establishing and Designating Series D Convertible Preferred Stock
and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of such Series as filed by the Company
with the Secretary of State of the State of Texas.
(b) As used in this Agreement, the term Investor includes (i) each
Investor (as defined above) and (ii) each person who is a permitted transferee
or assignee of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 9 of this
Agreement.
(c) 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 Exchange Agreement.
2. REGISTRATION.
(A) MANDATORY REGISTRATION. The Company shall prepare, and on or
prior to the date which is 60 days after the Closing Date, file with the SEC a
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or, if the Company does not meet the
requirements of Form S-3, then on Form S-1 or another appropriate form) 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
(1) if Rule 416 under the 1933 Act is applicable to the Note, the
Interest Notes, the Preferred Shares, and the Dividend Shares, the sum of
(x) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the
Note and the Preferred Shares, determined as if the Note and the Preferred
Shares, together with accrued and unpaid interest and dividends thereon,
were converted in full on the SEC Filing Date (and determined without
regard to the limitations on conversion contained in the Note or the
Statement of Resolution or the limitations on beneficial ownership
contained in Section 2.1 of the Note and in the proviso to the second
sentence of Section 10(a) of the Statement of Resolution), plus (y) the
number of Warrant Shares (determined without regard to the limitation on
beneficial ownership contained in Section 1.1(b) of the Warrants) and the
resale of such additional number of shares of Common Stock as the Company
shall in its discretion determine to register to permit the issuance of
Interest Notes and Dividend Shares and the resale of the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon conversion thereof, and which Registration Statement
shall state that, in accordance with Rule 416 under the Securities Act,
such Registration Statement also covers such indeterminate number of
additional
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shares of Common Stock as may become issuable upon conversion of the Note,
the Preferred Shares, the Interest Notes, and the Dividend Shares or
exercise of the Warrants to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits,
stock dividends or similar transactions in accordance with the terms
thereof and the resale of such additional number of shares of Common Stock
as the Company shall in its discretion determine to register to permit the
issuance of Interest Notes and Dividend Shares and the resale of the shares
of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof; or
(2) if Rule 416 under the 1933 Act is not applicable to the Note and
the Series D Preferred Stock, the sum of (x) a number of shares of Common
Stock equal to 175% of the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of the Note and the Preferred Shares, determined as if the Note
and the Preferred Shares, together with accrued and unpaid interest and
dividends thereon, were converted in full on the SEC Filing Date (and
determined without regard to the limitations on conversion contained in the
Note or the Statement of Resolution or the limitations on beneficial
ownership contained in Section 2.1 of the Note and in the proviso to the
second sentence of Section 10(a) of the Statement of Resolution) plus (y)
the number of Warrant Shares (determined without regard to the limitation
on beneficial ownership contained in Section 1.1(b) of the Warrants) and
the resale of such additional number of shares of Common Stock as the
Company shall in its discretion determine to register to permit the
issuance of Interest Notes and Dividend Shares and the resale of the shares
of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof.
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 the number of shares of Common Stock
issuable on conversion in full of the unconverted Note, Interest Notes,
Preferred Shares and Dividend Shares or 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 or, if the Company does not meet the requirements of Form S-3, then
on Form S-1 or another appropriate form (in any such case 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 conversion and
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).
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(B) CERTAIN OFFERINGS. If any offering pursuant to a Registration
Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) 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 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) ADJUSTMENTS OF CONVERSION TERMS. The Note, the Interest Notes and
the Statement of Resolution provide, among other things, that, if (1) the
Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities which is required to
be filed by the Company pursuant to the first sentence of Section 2(a) (A) is
not filed with the SEC within 60 days after the Closing Date, (B) is not
effective within 105 days after the Closing Date, if the Registration Statement
is on Form S-3, or 120 days after the Closing Date, if the Registration
Statement is on Form S-1, or (C) shall cease to be available for use by any
holder of shares of the Note, Interest Notes or Series D Preferred Stock which
is named therein as a selling stockholder for any reason (including, without
limitation, by reason of an SEC stop order, a material misstatement or omission
in such Registration Statement or the information contained in such Registration
Statement having become outdated), or (2) a holder of the Note, Interest Notes
or shares of Series D Preferred Stock becomes unable to convert the Note, any
Interest Note or any shares of Series D Preferred Stock in accordance with
Section 10(a) of the Statement of Resolution (other than by reason of the 4.9%
limitation set forth therein), then the Conversion Percentage (as defined in the
Note, the Interest Notes and the Statement of Resolution) shall be adjusted as
provided in the Note, the Interest Notes and the Statement of Resolution.
(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 Securities
Act of any of its equity securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or their
then equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in connection
with any acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities issuable in
connection with stock option or other employee benefit plans, 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 (10) 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
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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 Company under this Section 2(d) may be waived by Investors
holding a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities 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 shall file all reports
required to be filed by the Company with the SEC in a timely manner so as to be
eligible for the use of Form S-3 for registration of the resale of the
Registrable Securities.
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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 60 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 time 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 time 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 Securities 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 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
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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 Articles 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 practical, and deliver a number of
copies of such supplement or amendment to each Investor as such Investor may
reasonably request;
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(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;
(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 Securities Act) 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
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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 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, 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 commercially reasonable 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 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
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
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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, 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) and shall cause the Company's General Counsel to deliver to the
Investors an opinion of such counsel in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT 3;
(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 Exchange 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 four
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 one business day 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
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Investor promptly after such Non-Responsive Investor provides 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; and
(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.
12
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 Section 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 the Investors, 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 pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof.
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
Securities Act or the Exchange Act, any underwriter (as defined in the
Securities Act) 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 Securities Act or the
Exchange 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 Securities Act, the
Exchange 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, omissions or violations in 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 Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law or any rule or
regulation under the Securities Act, the Exchange 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 each such underwriter or controlling person, promptly as such
expenses are incurred and are due
13
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 such person from
whom the person asserting any such Claim purchased the Registrable Securities
that are the subject thereof (or to the benefit of any person controlling such
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 Securities Act or the Exchange 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
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act
(collectively and together with an Indemnified Person, an "Indemnified Party"),
against any Claim to which any of them may become subject, under the Securities
Act, the Exchange 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 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
14
which the net proceeds to such Investor from the sale of Registrable Securities
pursuant to such Registration Statement exceeds the purchase price paid by such
Investor for the securities converted into such Registrable Securities. 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
15
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 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 Securities Act) 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 the securities converted into such
Registrable Securities.
8. REPORTS UNDER EXCHANGE ACT. With a view to making available to
the Investors the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or
any other 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;
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 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. ASSIGNMENT OF THE REGISTRATION RIGHTS. With the prior written
consent of the Company, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, the
rights to have the Company register Registrable Securities pursuant to this
Agreement shall be automatically assigned by the Investors to any transferee of
all or any portion of such securities (or all or any portion of the Note, the
Interest Notes, the Preferred Shares, the Dividend Shares or the Warrants) only
if: (a) the Investor agrees in writing with the
16
transferee or assignee to assign such rights, and a copy of such agreement is
furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such assignment, (b) the
Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment,
furnished with written notice of (i) the name and address of such transferee or
assignee 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 the transferee or
assignee is restricted under the Securities Act and applicable state securities
laws, and (d) at or before the time the Company received the written notice
contemplated by clause (b) of this sentence the transferee or assignee 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 its sole cost and
expense, promptly after such assignment take such actions as shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Initial Investor and such transferee to assure that the
Registration Statement and related prospectus are available for use by such
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 transferee such
Investor's rights under the Exchange Agreement by notice of such assignment to
the Company. Following such notice of assignment of rights under the Exchange
Agreement, the Company shall be obligated to such transferee to perform all of
its covenants under of the Exchange Agreement as if such transferee were the
Buyer under the Exchange Agreement.
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 Company and Investors who
hold a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities. 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 or other means)
(i) if to the Company, at ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇,
Attention: Chief Executive Officer, telephone line facsimile transmission
number (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, (ii) if to
17
the Initial Investor, ▇/▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇., ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.▇. ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, 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 New York 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 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 delay,
the Company shall be liable for all direct and consequential damages caused by
any such failure or delay.
18
(j) 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.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
19
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.
EQUALNET COMMUNICATIONS
CORP.
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
ADVANTAGE FUND LIMITED
By:
--------------------------------------
▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
President
20
Draft of 9/1/98
EXHIBIT 1
TO
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
[Company Letterhead]
[Date]
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company,
as Transfer Agent, Registrar, Conversion
Agent and Executive Agent
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
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, $.01 par value (the "Common Stock"), of Equalnet Communications Corp., a
Texas 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)]/1/ to issue (a) shares (the "Conversion Shares") of
Common Stock to or upon the order of the holder from time to time on conversion
of the Company's 6% Senior Secured Convertible Notes due 2001 (the "Notes") and
the shares (the "Preferred Shares") of Series D Convertible Preferred Stock,
$.01 par value, of the Company upon receipt by you of a Notice of Conversion of
6% Senior Secured Convertible Note due 2001 or a Notice of Conversion of Series
D Convertible Preferred Stock in the forms enclosed herewith, and (b) 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 (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.]/2/ Certificates for the
------------
/1/ Omit if no conversions of Notes or Preferred Stock or exercises of Warrants
have occurred before SEC registration is declared effective.
1-21
Conversion Shares and 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 an opinion of __________________________ as to registration of
the resale of [the Outstanding Shares and]* the Conversion Shares and Warrant
Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
1-22
Should you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact me.
Very truly yours,
EQUALNET COMMUNICATIONS CORP.
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Enclosures
cc: [Names of Investors]
1-23
EXHIBIT 2
TO
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
_______________ ___, 1998
[Names and Addresses of Investors]
EQUALNET COMMUNICATIONS CORP.
Shares of Common Stock
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are counsel to Equalnet Communications Corp., a Texas corporation
(the "Company"), and we understand that the Company has sold to [Names of
Investors] (the "Holders") $_________ aggregate principal amount of 6% Senior
Secured Convertible Notes due 2001 (the "Notes") and an aggregate of ________
shares (the "Preferred Shares") of the Company's Series D Convertible Preferred
Stock, $.01 par value (the "Preferred Stock"), and issued to the Holders Common
Stock Purchase Warrants (the "Warrants"). The Notes and Preferred Shares were
sold, and the Warrants were issued, to the Holders pursuant to several Note
Purchase and Exchange Agreements, dated as of August ___, 1998, by and between
the Holders and the Company (the "Exchange Agreements"). Pursuant to the
several Registration Rights Agreements, dated as of August ___, 1998, by and
between the Company and each Holder (the "Registration Rights Agreements")
entered into in connection with the purchase by the Holders of the Notes and
Preferred Shares, the Company agreed with each Holder, among other things, to
register for resale (1) the shares (the "Conversion Shares") of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion of the Notes and the Preferred Shares, conversion of
the Notes issued in payment of interest on the Notes and conversion of the
shares of Preferred Stock issuable as dividends on the Preferred 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 "Securities Act"),
upon the terms provided in the Registration Rights Agreements. The Conversion
Shares and the Warrant Shares are referred to herein collectively as the
"Shares." Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreements, on _________ ___,
1998 the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form S-__ (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.
2-24
[Other introductory and scope of examination language to be inserted
prior to execution of Registration Rights Agreement.]
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
(1) All of the forms, reports and other documents filed by the Company
with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"1934 Act"), since the Closing Date 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 we have not been requested to and do 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 our 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.
We 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 we are 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 our attention that leads us 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 we 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).
2-25
Paragraph (3) of this opinion may be relied upon by American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, as Transfer Agent and Registrar (the "Transfer
Agent"), as if addressed to the Transfer Agent.
Very truly yours,
cc: American Stock Transfer & Trust Company,
as Transfer Agent and Registrar
2-26
EXHIBIT 3
TO
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
_______________ ___, 1998
[Names and Addresses of Investors]
EQUALNET COMMUNICATIONS CORP.
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am General Counsel of Equalnet Communications Corp., a Texas
corporation (the "Company"), and I understand that the Company has sold to
[Names of Investors] (the "Holders") $_________ aggregate principal amount of 6%
Senior Secured Convertible Notes due 2001 (the "Notes") and an aggregate of
________ shares (the "Preferred Shares") of the Company's Series D Convertible
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value (the "Preferred Stock"), and issued to the
Holders Common Stock Purchase Warrants (the "Warrants"). The Notes and
Preferred Shares were sold, and the Warrants were issued, to the Holders
pursuant to several Note Purchase and Exchange Agreements, dated as of August
___, 1998, by and between the Holders and the Company (the "Exchange
Agreements"). Pursuant to the several Registration Rights Agreements, dated as
of August ___, 1998, by and between the Company and each Holder (the
"Registration Rights Agreements") entered into in connection with the purchase
by the Holders of the Preferred Shares, the Company agreed with each Holder,
among other things, to register for resale (1) the shares (the "Conversion
Shares") of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes and the Preferred
Shares, conversion of the Notes issued in payment of interest on the Notes and
conversion of the shares of Preferred Stock issuable as dividends on the
Preferred 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 "Securities Act"), upon the terms provided in the Registration
Rights Agreements. The Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares are referred to
herein collectively as the "Shares." Pursuant to the Registration Rights
Agreements, on _________ ___, 1998 the Company filed a Registration Statement on
Form S-__ (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.
3-27
[Other introductory and scope of examination language to be inserted
prior to execution of Registration Rights Agreement.]
Based on the foregoing, I am of the opinion that the Company has filed
with the SEC all of the forms, reports and other documents under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, required to be filed by the Company since the
Closing Date.
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 we 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).
Very truly yours,
3-28