REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is made and
entered into as of May 3, 1999, among Diversified Senior Services, Inc., a North
Carolina corporation (the "COMPANY"), Austinvest Anstalt Balzers ("AUSTINVEST"),
Esquire Trade & Finance Inc. ("ESQUIRE"), Amro International, S.A. ("AMRO"),
Nesher, Inc. ("NESHER"), Guarantee & Finance Corp. ("GUARANTEE") and ▇▇▇▇▇▇
House Enterprises, Limited ("THE"). Austinvest, Esquire, Amro, Nesher, Guarantee
and THE are each referred to herein as a "PURCHASER" are each referred to herein
as a "PURCHASER" and are collectively referred to herein as the "PURCHASERS."
This Agreement is being entered into pursuant to the Securities
Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof among the Company and the
Purchasers (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT").
The Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings given such terms in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement,
the following terms shall have the following meanings:
"ADVICE" shall have meaning set forth in Section 3(o).
"AFFILIATE" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that
directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or under common control with
such Person. For the purposes of this definition, "CONTROL," when used with
respect to any Person, means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms of "AFFILIATED," "CONTROLLING" and "CONTROLLED" have meanings
correlative to the foregoing.
"BOARD" shall have meaning set forth in Section 3(n).
"BUSINESS DAY" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day which
shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the state of
New York generally are authorized or required by law or other government actions
to close.
"COMMISSION" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"COMMON STOCK" means the Company's Common Stock, no par value.
"EFFECTIVENESS DATE" means with respect to the Registration Statement
the 180th day following the Initial Closing Date.
"EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.
"EVENT" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(e)(i).
"EVENT DATE" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(e)(i).
"EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"FILING DATE" means the 90th day following the Initial Closing Date.
"HOLDER" or "HOLDERS" means the holder or holders, as the case may be,
from time to time of Registrable Securities.
"INDEMNIFIED PARTY" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
"INDEMNIFYING PARTY" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
"LOSSES" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
"PERSON" means an individual or a corporation, partnership, trust,
incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability
company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or political subdivision
thereof) or other entity of any kind.
"PREFERRED STOCK" means the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, no
par value per share and stated value $2,000 per share, of the Company issued to
the Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
"PROCEEDING" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding
(including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as
a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
"PROSPECTUS" means the prospectus included in the Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the
Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with
respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable
Securities covered by the Registration Statement, and all other amendments and
supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all
material incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
"REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon conversion of the Preferred Stock; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Registrable
Securities shall include
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(but not be limited to) a number of shares of Common Stock equal to no less than
175% of the maximum number of shares of Common Stock which would be issuable
upon conversion of the Shares, assuming such conversion occurred on the Initial
Closing Date or the Filing Date, whichever date would result in the greater
number of Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding anything herein contained to
the contrary, such registered shares of Common Stock shall be allocated among
the Holders pro rata based on the total number of Registrable Securities issued
or issuable as of each date that a Registration Statement, as amended, relating
to the resale of the Registrable Securities is declared effective by the
Commission. Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, if the
actual number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the
Preferred Stock exceeds 175% of the number of shares of Common Stock issuable
upon conversion of the Preferred Stock based upon a computation as at the
Initial Closing Date or the Filing Date, the term "Registrable Securities" shall
be deemed to include such additional shares of Common Stock.
"REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means the registration statements and any
additional registration statements contemplated by Section 2, including (in each
case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement
or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits
thereto, and all material incorporated by reference in such registration
statement.
"RULE 144" means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"RULE 158" means Rule 158 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"RULE 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"SPECIAL COUNSEL" means any special counsel to the Holders, for which
the Holders will be reimbursed by the Company pursuant to Section 4.
2. REGISTRATION.
On or prior to the Filing Date the Company shall prepare and file with
the Commission a Registration Statement covering all Registrable Securities. The
Registration Statement shall be on Form SB-2 (or Form S-3 if such form is
available to the Company). The Company shall (i) not permit any securities other
than the Registrable Securities to be included in the Registration Statement,
except for any securities that have been disclosed on Schedule 2.1(u)
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to the Purchase Agreement and (ii) use its best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as
promptly as possible after the filing thereof, but in any event prior to the
Effectiveness Date, and to keep such Registration Statement continuously
effective under the Securities Act until such date as is the earlier of (x) the
date when all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have
been sold or (y) the date on which the Registrable Securities may be sold
without any restriction pursuant to Rule 144 as determined by the counsel to the
Company pursuant to a written opinion letter, addressed to the Company's
transfer agent to such effect (the "EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD"). If an additional
Registration Statement is required to be filed because the actual number of
shares of Common Stock into which the Preferred Stock is convertible exceeds the
number of shares of Common Stock initially registered in respect of the
Underlying Shares based upon the computation on the Initial Closing Date, the
Company shall have forty-five (45) Business Days to file such additional
Registration Statement, and the Company shall use its best efforts to cause such
additional Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as
soon as possible, but in no event later than 90 days after filing.
3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.
In connection with the Company's registration obligations hereunder,
the Company shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the Commission on or prior to the Filing
Date, a Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (or Form S-3 if such form is
available to the Company) in accordance with the method or methods of
distribution thereof as specified by the Holders (except if otherwise directed
by the Holders), and cause the Registration Statement to become effective and
remain effective as provided herein; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that not less than five
(5) Business Days prior to the filing of the Registration Statement or any
related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (including any
document that would be incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall (i)
furnish to the Holders and any Special Counsel, copies of all such documents
proposed to be filed, which documents (other than those incorporated by
reference) will be subject to the review of such Holders and such Special
Counsel, and (ii) cause its officers and directors, counsel and independent
certified public accountants to respond to such inquiries as shall be necessary,
in the reasonable opinion of counsel to such Holders, to conduct a reasonable
investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Company shall not
file the Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any amendments or
supplements thereto to which the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities or any Special Counsel shall reasonably object in writing within
three (3) Business Days of their receipt thereof.
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement as may be
necessary to keep the Registration Statement continuously effective as to the
applicable Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period and prepare and
file with the Commission such additional Registration Statements in order to
register for resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities;
(ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required
Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to
Rule 424 (or any similar
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provisions then in force) promulgated under the Securities Act; (iii) respond as
promptly as possible to any comments received from the Commission with respect
to the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and as promptly as
possible provide the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from
and to the Commission relating to the Registration Statement; and (iv) comply in
all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by the
Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the
intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in the
Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold and any
Special Counsel as promptly as possible (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not
less than five (5) days prior to such filing) and (if requested by any such
Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than one (1) Business Day
following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is proposed to be filed;
(B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a "review" of
such Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on
such Registration Statement and (C) with respect to the Registration Statement
or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any
request by the Commission or any other Federal or state governmental authority
for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for
additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement covering any or
all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that
purpose; (iv) if at any time any of the representations and warranties of the
Company contained in any agreement contemplated hereby ceases to be true and
correct in all material respects; (v) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption
from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such
purpose; and (vi) of the occurrence of any event that makes any statement made
in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or
that requires any revisions to the Registration Statement, Prospectus or other
documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
(d) Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued,
obtain the withdrawal of, (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or exemption
from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.
(e) If requested by the Holders of a majority in interest of the
Registrable Securities, (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement such information as the
Company reasonably agrees should be included therein and (ii) make all required
filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-
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effective amendment as soon as practicable after the Company has received
notification of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment.
(f) Furnish to each Holder and any Special Counsel, without charge, at
least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and each amendment
thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and all exhibits
to the extent requested by such Person (including those previously furnished or
incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such documents with the
Commission.
(g) Promptly deliver to each Holder and any Special Counsel, without
charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of
prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may
reasonably request; and the Company hereby consents to the use of such
Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling
Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities
covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its
best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders and
any Special Counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or
exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable
Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder requests in writing, to
keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective
during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or things
necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the
Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in
any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action that
would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it
is not then so subject or subject the Company to any material tax in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(i) Cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation
and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold
pursuant to a Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free of all
restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such
denominations and registered in such names as any Holder may request at least
two (2) Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(c)(vi),
as promptly as possible, prepare a supplement or amendment, including a
post-effective amendment, to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the
related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
therein by reference, and file any other required document so that, as
thereafter delivered, neither the Registration Statement nor such Prospectus
will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
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(k) Use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities relating
to such Registration Statement to be listed on The Nasdaq Small-Cap Market and
any other securities exchange, quotation system, market or over-the-counter
bulletin board, if any, on which similar securities issued by the Company are
then listed as and when required pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
(l) Comply in all material respects with all applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission and make generally available to its security
holders earning statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act and Rule 158 not later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month
period (or 90 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a
fiscal year) commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the
Company after the effective date of the Registration Statement, which statement
shall conform to the requirements of Rule 158.
(m) The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the
Company information regarding such Holder and the distribution of such
Registrable Securities as is required by law to be disclosed in the Registration
Statement, and the Company may exclude from such registration the Registrable
Securities of any such Holder who unreasonably fails to furnish such information
within a reasonable time after receiving such request.
If the Registration Statement refers to any Holder by name or
otherwise as the holder of any securities of the Company, then such Holder shall
have the right to require (if such reference to such Holder by name or otherwise
is not required by the Securities Act or any similar federal statute then in
force) the deletion of the reference to such Holder in any amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement filed or prepared subsequent to the
time that such reference ceases to be required.
Each Holder covenants and agrees that (i) it will not sell any
Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until it has received
copies of the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented as contemplated in
Section 3(g) and notice from the Company that such Registration Statement and
any post-effective amendments thereto have become effective as contemplated by
Section 3(c) and (ii) it and its officers, directors or Affiliates, if any, will
comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as
applicable to them in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant
to the Registration Statement.
Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable Securities
that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event
of the kind described in Section 3(c)(ii), 3(c)(iii), 3(c)(iv), 3(c)(v) or
3(c)(vi), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable
Securities under the Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the
copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement
contemplated by Section 3(j), or until it is advised in writing (the "ADVICE")
by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in
either case, has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that
are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or
Registration Statement.
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(n) If (i) there is material non-public information regarding the
Company which the Company's Board of Directors (the "BOARD") reasonably
determines not to be in the Company's best interest to disclose and which the
Company is not otherwise required to disclose, or (ii) there is a significant
business opportunity (including, but not limited to, the acquisition or
disposition of assets (other than in the ordinary course of business) or any
merger, consolidation, tender offer or other similar transaction) available to
the Company which the Board reasonably determines not to be in the Company's
best interest to disclose, then the Company may postpone or suspend filing or
effectiveness of a registration statement for a period not to exceed 20
consecutive days, provided that the Company may not postpone or suspend its
obligation under this Section 3(n) for more than 45 days in the aggregate during
any 12 month period; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such postponement or suspension
shall be permitted for consecutive 20 day periods, arising out of the same set
of facts, circumstances or transactions.
4. REGISTRATION EXPENSES.
All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance
with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the Company whether or not
the Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective and whether or not any
Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to the Registration Statement. The fees
and expenses referred to in the foregoing sentence shall include, without
limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation,
fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings required to be made with The
Nasdaq Small Cap Market and each other securities exchange or market on which
Registrable Securities are required hereunder to be listed, (B) with respect to
filings required to be made with the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. and the NASD Regulation, Inc. and (C) in compliance with state securities
or Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Holders in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the
Registrable Securities and determination of the eligibility of the Registrable
Securities for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Holders of
a majority of Registrable Securities may designate)), (ii) printing expenses
(including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for
Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses if the printing of
prospectuses is requested by the holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities included in the Registration Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone
and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company
and Special Counsel for the Holders, (v) Securities Act liability insurance, if
the Company so desires such insurance, and (vi) fees and expenses of all other
Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the
Company's independent public accountants (including the expenses of any comfort
letters or costs associated with the delivery by independent public accountants
of a comfort letter or comfort letters). In addition, the Company shall be
responsible for all of its internal expenses incurred in connection with the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including,
without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees
performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit, the
fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable
Securities on any securities exchange as required hereunder.
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5. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY. The Company shall, notwithstanding
any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the
officers, directors, agents, brokers (including brokers who offer and sell
Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or any failure to
perform under a margin call of Common Stock), investment advisors and employees
of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the
officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling Person, to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation,
costs of preparation and attorneys' fees) and expenses (collectively, "LOSSES"),
as incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any
Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission
or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form
of prospectus or supplement thereto, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made) not misleading, except to the extent, but only to the
extent, that such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon
information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such
Holder expressly for use therein, which information was reasonably relied on by
the Company for use therein or to the extent that such information relates to
such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of distribution of Registrable
Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder
expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of
Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto. The Company shall notify
the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding
of which the Company is aware in connection with the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.
(b) INDEMNIFICATION BY HOLDERS. Each Holder shall, severally and not
jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the directors, officers,
agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the
directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as
incurred, arising solely out of or based solely upon any untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or any
form of prospectus, or arising solely out of or based solely upon any omission
of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or
supplement thereto, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made) not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement or omission is contained in any information so furnished in writing by
such Holder to the Company specifically for inclusion in the Registration
Statement or such Prospectus and that such information was reasonably relied
upon by the Company for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or
such form of prospectus or to the extent that such information relates to such
Holder or such Holder's proposed method of distribution of Registrable
Securities and was reviewed and
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expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus.
(c) CONDUCT OF INDEMNIFICATION PROCEEDINGS. If any Proceeding shall be
brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an
"INDEMNIFIED PARTY"), such Indemnified Party promptly shall notify the Person
from whom indemnity is sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PARTY) in writing, and the
Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all
fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof; provided, that
the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the
Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement,
except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally determined by a court
of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or
further review) that such failure shall have proximately and materially
adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.
An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel
in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party
or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such
fees and expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to
assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named
parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both
such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party
shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to
exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the
Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the
Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the
expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the
right to assume the defense thereof and such counsel shall be at the expense of
the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any
settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. No Indemnifying Party shall, without
the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any
pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless
such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from
all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.
All fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable
fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with investigating or
preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this
Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within ten (10)
Business Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party (regardless of
whether it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified Party is not entitled to
indemnification hereunder; provided, that the Indemnifying Party may require
such Indemnified Party to undertake to reimburse all such fees and expenses to
the extent it is finally judicially determined that such Indemnified Party is
not entitled to indemnification hereunder).
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(d) CONTRIBUTION. If a claim for indemnification under Section 5(a) or
5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party because of a failure or refusal of a
governmental authority to enforce such indemnification in accordance with its
terms (by reason of public policy or otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party,
in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount
paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying
Party and Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or
omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified
Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any
action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken
or made by, or relates to information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or
Indemnified Party, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action, statement or
omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall
be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 5(c), any
reasonable attorneys' or other reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such
party in connection with any Proceeding to the extent such party would have been
indemnified for such fees or expenses if the indemnification provided for in
this Section was available to such party in accordance with its terms.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account
the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section
are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the
Indemnified Parties.
6. RULE 144.
As long as any Holder owns Shares the Company covenants to timely file
(or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace
period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof
pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and to promptly furnish
the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings. As long as any
Holder owns Shares or Underlying Shares, if the Company is not required to file
reports pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, it will prepare
and furnish to the Holders and make publicly available in accordance with Rule
144(c) promulgated under the Securities Act annual and quarterly financial
statements, together with a discussion and analysis of such financial statements
in form and substance substantially similar to those that would otherwise be
required to be included in reports required by Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act, as well as any other information required thereby, in the time
period that such filings would have been required to have been made under the
Exchange Act. The Company
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further covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder may
reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such
Person to sell Underlying Shares without registration under the Securities Act
within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under
the Securities Act, including providing any legal opinions referred to in the
Purchase Agreement. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to
such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether
it has complied with such requirements.
7. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) REMEDIES. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a Holder,
of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the Company, as
the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by
law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to
specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company and each
Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for
any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this
Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for
specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that
a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has, as of the date hereof entered into and currently in effect,
nor shall the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on or after the date of this
Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is
inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. Except as disclosed in SCHEDULE
2.1(U) of the Purchase Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has previously entered into any agreement currently in effect
granting any registration rights with respect to any of its securities to any
Person. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, without the written
consent of the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable
Securities, the Company shall not grant to any Person the right to request the
Company to register any securities of the Company under the Securities Act
unless the rights so granted are subject in all respects to the prior rights in
full of the Holders set forth herein, and are not otherwise in conflict with the
provisions of this Agreement.
(c) NO PIGGYBACK ON REGISTRATIONS. Neither the Company nor any of its
security holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto or as
disclosed in SCHEDULE 2.1(U) of the Purchase Agreement) may include securities
of the Company in the Registration Statement, and the Company shall not after
the date hereof enter into any agreement providing such right to any of its
securityholders, unless the right so granted is subject in all respects to the
prior rights in full of the Holders set forth herein, and is not otherwise in
conflict with the provisions of this Agreement.
(d) PIGGY-BACK REGISTRATIONS. If at any time when there is not an
effective Registration Statement covering Underlying Shares, the Company shall
determine to prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement
relating to an offering for its own account or
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the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity securities,
other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the Securities
Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely
in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or equity
securities issuable in connection with stock option or other employee benefit
plans, the Company shall send to each holder of Registrable Securities written
notice of such determination and, if within thirty (30) days after receipt of
such notice, any such holder shall so request in writing, (which request shall
specify the Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by the
Purchasers), the Company will cause the registration under the Securities Act of
all Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to register
by the holder, to the extent requisite to permit the disposition of the
Registrable Securities so to be registered, provided that if at any time after
giving written notice of its intention to register any securities and prior to
the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection with such
registration, the Company shall determine for any reason not to register or to
delay registration of such securities, the Company may, at its election, give
written notice of such determination to such holder and, thereupon, (i) in the
case of a determination not to register, shall be relieved of its obligation to
register any Registrable Securities in connection with such registration (but
not from its obligation to pay expenses in accordance with Section 4 hereof),
and (ii) in the case of a determination to delay registering, shall be permitted
to delay registering any Registrable Securities being registered pursuant to
this Section 7(d) for the same period as the delay in registering such other
securities. The Company shall include in such registration statement all or any
part of such Registrable Securities such holder requests to be registered;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not be required to register any
Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 7(d) that are eligible for sale
pursuant to Rule 144(k) of the Securities Act. In the case of an underwritten
public offering, if the managing underwriter(s) or underwriter(s) should
reasonably object to the inclusion of the Registrable Securities in such
registration statement, then if the Company after consultation with the managing
underwriter should reasonably determine that the inclusion of such Registrable
Securities, would materially adversely affect the offering contemplated in such
registration statement, and based on such determination recommends inclusion in
such registration statement of fewer or none of the Registrable Securities of
the Holders, then (x) the number of Registrable Securities of the Holders
included in such registration statement shall be reduced pro-rata among such
Holders (based upon the number of Registrable Securities requested to be
included in the registration), if the Company after consultation with the
underwriter(s) recommends the inclusion of fewer Registrable Securities, or (y)
none of the Registrable Securities of the Holders shall be included in such
registration statement, if the Company after consultation with the
underwriter(s) recommends the inclusion of none of such Registrable Securities;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if Securities are being offered for the account of other
persons or entities as well as the Company, such reduction shall not represent a
greater fraction of the number of Registrable Securities intended to be offered
by the Holders than the fraction of similar reductions imposed on such other
persons or entities (other than the Company).
(e) FAILURE TO FILE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND OTHER EVENTS. The
Company and the Purchasers agree that the Holders will suffer damages if the
Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to the Filing Date and not
declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the Effectiveness Date and
maintained in the manner contemplated herein during the
-13-
Effectiveness Time or if certain other events occur. The Company and the Holders
further agree that it would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such
damages with precision. Accordingly, if (A) the Registration Statement is not
filed on or prior to the Filing Date, or is not declared effective by the
Commission on or prior to the Effectiveness Date (or in the event an additional
Registration Statement is filed because the actual number of shares of Common
Stock into which the Preferred Stock is convertible exceeds the number of shares
of Common Stock initially registered is not filed and declared effective with
the time periods set forth in Section 2), or (B) the Company fails to file with
the Commission a request for acceleration in accordance with Rule 12dl-2
promulgated under the Exchange Act within five (5) Business Days of the date
that the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the
Commission that a Registration Statement will not be "reviewed," or not subject
to further review, or (C) the Registration Statement is filed with and declared
effective by the Commission but thereafter ceases to be effective as to all
Registrable Securities at any time prior to the expiration of the Effectiveness
Period, without being succeeded immediately by a subsequent Registration
Statement filed with and declared effective by the Commission, or (D) trading in
the Common Stock shall be suspended or if the Common Stock is delisted from The
Nasdaq Small-Cap Market or the OTC Bulletin Board for any reason for more than
three Business Days in the aggregate, or (E) the conversion rights of the
Holders are suspended for any reason except as a result of Section 6(a)(iii) of
the Certificate of Designation, or (F) the Company breaches in a material
respect any covenant or other material term or condition to this Agreement, the
Certificate of Designation, the Purchase Agreement (other than a representation
or warranty contained therein) or any other agreement, document, certificate or
other instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby, or (G) the Company fails to convene a meeting of
shareholders within the time period specified in Section 3.14 of the Purchase
Agreement or does so convene a meeting of shareholders within such time period
but fails to obtain Shareholder Approval at such meeting, or (H) the Company has
breached Section 3(n) (any such failure or breach being referred to as an
"EVENT," and for purposes of clauses (A), (E) and (F) the date on which such
Event occurs, or for purposes of clause (B) the date on which such five day
period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause (C) after more than fifteen
Business Days, or for purposes of clause (D) the date on which such three
Business Day period is exceeded, being referred to as "EVENT DATE"), then,
subject to the provisions of Section 7((p) below, the Company shall pay in cash
as liquidated damages to each Holder an amount equal to 3% per calendar month or
portion thereof of the stated value of the outstanding Shares held by such
Holder plus the stated value of any Shares that have been converted to the
extent any of the Underlying Shares issued upon such conversion have not been
sold from the Event Date until the applicable Event is cured. Payments to be
made pursuant to this Section 7(e) shall be due and payable immediately upon
demand in immediately available funds.
(f) AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company
and each of the Holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to
depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates
exclusively to the rights of Holders and that does not directly or indirectly
affect the rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of at least a
majority of the Registrable Securities to
-14-
which such waiver or consent relates; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the provisions of
this sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance
with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence.
(g) NOTICES. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries
required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
deemed given and effective on the earlier of (i) the date of transmission, if
such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile
telephone number specified for notice prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on
a Business Day, (ii) the Business Day after the date of transmission, if such
notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile telephone
number specified for notice later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on any
date and earlier than 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on such date, (iii) the
Business Day following the date of mailing, if sent by nationally recognized
overnight courier service or (iv) actual receipt by the party to whom such
notice is required to be given. The addresses for such communications shall be
with respect to each Holder at its address set forth under its name on SCHEDULE
1 attached hereto, or with respect to the Company, addressed to:
Diversified Senior Services, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: President
Facsimile No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
or to such other address or addresses or facsimile number or numbers as any such
party may most recently have designated in writing to the other parties hereto
by such notice. Copies of notices to any Holder shall be sent to Stroock &
Stroock & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, Attention:
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq., Facsimile No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇. Copies of notices to
the Company shall be sent to House & Ingersoll, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Esq., Facsimile No.: (336)
768-3369.
(h) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted assigns
and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder and its successors and assigns.
The Company may not assign this Agreement or any of its rights or obligations
hereunder without the prior written consent of each Holder. Each Purchaser may
assign its rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted under
the Purchase Agreement.
(i) ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS. The rights of each Holder
hereunder, including the right to have the Company register for resale
Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, shall be
automatically assignable by each Holder to any Affiliate of such Holder or any
other Holder or Affiliate of any other Holder of all or a portion of the shares
of Preferred Stock or the Registrable Securities if: (i) the Holder agrees in
writing with the transferee or assignee to assign such rights, and a copy of
such agreement is furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such
assignment, (ii) the Company is, within a
-15-
reasonable time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with written notice
of (a) the name and address of such transferee or assignee, and (b) the
securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred
or assigned, (iii) following such transfer or assignment the further disposition
of such securities by the transferee or assignees is restricted under the
Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, (iv) at or before the time
the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this
Section, the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be
bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement, and (v) such transfer shall
have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Purchase
Agreement. In addition, each Holder shall have the right to assign its rights
hereunder to any other Person with the prior written consent of the Company,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The rights to assignment shall
apply to the Holders (and to subsequent) successors and assigns.
(j) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original
and, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. In
the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission, such
signature shall create a valid binding obligation of the party executing (or on
whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with the same force and effect
as if such facsimile signature were the original thereof.
(k) GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to
principles of conflicts of law thereof.
(l) CUMULATIVE REMEDIES. The remedies provided herein are cumulative
and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(m) SEVERABILITY. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable in any
respect, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set
forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be
affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their
reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same
or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision,
covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the
intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be
hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(n) HEADINGS. The headings herein are for convenience only, do not
constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect
any of the provisions hereof.
(o) SHARES HELD BY THE COMPANY. Whenever the consent or approval of
Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required
hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company shall not be counted in
determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such
required percentage.
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(p) OPTIONAL REDEMPTION AFTER EVENT. Whenever an Event has occurred
and after a 120-day period following the Event Date when the Company shall have
committed its best efforts to cure the Event, but such Event has not been cured,
the Company may offer, upon 10 days notice, to redeem all the Shares then
outstanding at their stated value plus accrued and unpaid dividends through the
date of redemption (inclusive of the stated value of any Shares that had been
converted prior to and including the Event Date to the extent any such
Underlying Shares issued upon such conversions have not been sold from the Event
Date to the date of redemption). If any Holder chooses not to accept the
redemption offer, then as of the date such redemption occurs (or, if none of the
Holders accepts the redemption offer, would have occurred) the Company's
obligation to pay the liquidated damages specified in Section 7(e) shall cease.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized persons as
of the date first indicated above.
DIVERSIFIED SENIOR SERVICES, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
President
AUSTINVEST ANSTALT BALZERS
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Grill
-----------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Grill
Title: Director
ESQUIRE TRADE & FINANCE INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Director
AMRO INTERNATIONAL, S.A.
By: /s/ ▇. ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------
Name: ▇. ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Director
NESHER, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ Grin
-----------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ Grin
Title:
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GUARANTEE & FINANCE CORP.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
Title:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ HOUSE ENTERPRISES, LIMITED
By: /s/ ▇. ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------------
Name: ▇. ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: C.F.O.
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