Exhibit 10.16
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of September 26, 2006, by and among FreeHand Systems
International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and the purchasers
listed on Schedule I hereto (the "Purchasers").
This Agreement is being entered into pursuant to the Common Stock and
Warrant 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.
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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(m).
"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.
"Closing Date" means the date of the closing of the final
purchase and sale of the Common Stock and the Warrants pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Common Stock" means the Company's Common Stock, par value
$0.0001 per share.
"Effectiveness Date" means with respect to the Registration
Statement the earlier of (A) the ninetieth (90th) day following the Closing Date
(or in the event the Registration Statement receives a "full review" by the
Commission, the one hundred thirty-fifth (135th) day following the Closing Date)
or (B) the date which is within three (3) Business Days after the date on which
the Commission informs the Company (i) that the Commission will not review the
Registration Statement or (ii) that the Company may request the acceleration of
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and the Company makes such
request; provided that, if the Effectiveness Date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or
any other day which shall be a legal holiday or a day on which the Commission is
authorized or required by law or other government actions to close, the
Effectiveness Date shall be the following Business Day.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.
"Event" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(e).
"Event Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(e).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Filing Date" means the thirtieth (30th) day following the
Closing Date; provided that, if the Filing Date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or
any other day which shall be a legal holiday or a day on which the Commission is
authorized or required by law or other government actions to close, the Filing
Date shall be the following Business Day.
"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.
"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.
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"Registrable Securities means (i) the shares of Common Stock
issued or issuable pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and (ii) the shares of
Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants issued pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement.
"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.
"Rule 424" means Rule 424 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 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP,
for which the Holders will be reimbursed by the Company pursuant to Section 4.
"Warrants" means the warrants to purchase shares of Common
Stock issued to the Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
2. Resale Registration.
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On or prior to the Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and
file with the Commission a "resale" Registration Statement providing for the
resale of all Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a continuous
basis pursuant to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on Form SB-2
(except if the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the
Registrable Securities on Form SB-2, in which case such registration shall be on
another appropriate form in accordance herewith and the Securities Act and the
rules promulgated thereunder). Such Registration Statement shall cover to the
extent allowable under the Securities Act and the rules promulgated thereunder
(including Rule 416), such indeterminate number of additional shares of Common
Stock resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions with
respect to the Registrable Securities. The Company shall (i) not permit any
securities other than the Registrable Securities and the securities listed on
Schedule II hereto to be included in the Registration Statement and (ii) use its
best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective under
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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(k) 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"). The Company shall request that the effective time of the Registration
Statement is 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the effective date. If at any time and
for any reason, an additional Registration Statement is required to be filed
because at such time the actual number of shares of Common Stock into which the
Warrants are exercisable plus the number of shares of Common Stock exceeds the
number of Registrable Securities remaining under the Registration Statement, the
Company shall have twenty (20) 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 sixty (60) days after filing.
3. Registration Procedures.
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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 if the Company is not
then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form SB-2
such registration shall be on another appropriate form in accordance herewith
and the Securities Act and the rules promulgated thereunder) in accordance with
the plan of distribution as set forth on Exhibit A hereto and in accordance with
applicable law, 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, the Company shall (i)
furnish to the Holders and any Special Counsel, copies of all such documents
proposed to be filed, which documents 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 Special Counsel,
to conduct a reasonable review of such documents. 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. In the event that the Holders of a majority of
the Registrable Securities or any Special Counsel object to the filing of the
Registration Statement, the Filing Date and the Effectiveness Date shall be
stayed on such date of objection until such time that the Company is permitted
to file the Registration Statement with the approval of the Holders of a
majority of the Registrable Securities.
(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 as
necessary in order to register for resale under the Securities Act all of the
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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 provisions then in
force) promulgated under the Securities Act; (iii) respond as promptly as
possible, but in no event later than ten (10) Business Days, 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; (iv) file the final prospectus pursuant to Rule 424 of
the Securities Act no later than 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the Business Day
following the date the Registration Statement is declared effective by the
Commission; and (v) 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
Effectiveness 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 and any
Special Counsel as promptly as possible (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not
less than three (3) Business Days prior to such filing, and in the case of (iii)
below, on the same day of receipt by the Company of such notice from the
Commission) 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 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 or threatening 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, as promptly as possible, (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.
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(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-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) If requested by any Holder, furnish to such 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 subject to the provisions of Sections
3(m) and 3(n), 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, to the extent
permitted by the Purchase Agreement and applicable federal and state securities
laws, 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 in connection with 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
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statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.
(k) Use its best efforts to cause all Registrable
Securities relating to the Registration Statement to be listed or quoted on the
OTC Bulletin Board or any other securities exchange, quotation system or market,
if any, on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed or
traded 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 all documents filed or required to be filed with the
Commission, including, but not limited, to, 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, Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, 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 it will not sell any
Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until the Company has
electronically filed the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented as
contemplated in Section 3(g) and notice from the Company that the Registration
Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto have become effective as
contemplated by Section 3(c).
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), 3(c)(vi) or 3(n), 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")
determines not to be in the Company's best interest to disclose and which the
Company is not otherwise required to disclose, (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 determines not to be in the Company's best interest
to disclose, or (iii) the Company is required to file a post-effective amendment
to the Registration Statement to incorporate the Company's quarterly and annual
reports and audited financial statements on Forms 10-QSB and 10-KSB, then the
Company may (x) postpone or suspend filing of a registration statement for a
period not to exceed thirty (30) consecutive days or (y) postpone or suspend
effectiveness of a registration statement for a period not to exceed twenty (20)
consecutive days; provided that the Company may not postpone or suspend
effectiveness of a registration statement under this Section 3(n) for more than
forty-five (45) days in the aggregate during any three hundred sixty (360) day
period; provided, however, that no such postponement or suspension shall be
permitted for consecutive twenty (20) day periods arising out of the same set of
facts, circumstances or transactions.
4. Registration Expenses.
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All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or
compliance with this Agreement by the Company, except as and to the extent
specified in this Section 4, 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 OTC
Bulletin Board and/or each other securities exchange or market on which
Registrable Securities are required hereunder to be quoted or listed, if any (B)
with respect to filing fees required to be paid to 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, in the case of the Special Counsel,
up to a maximum amount of $7,500, (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. The Company shall
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not be responsible for any discounts, commissions, transfer taxes or other
similar fees incurred by the Holders in connection with the sale of the
Registrable Securities.
5. Indemnification.
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(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless
each Holder, the officers, directors, managers, partners, members, shareholders,
agents, brokers, 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 violation of securities laws or 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 or such other Indemnified Party furnished in
writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein. 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, its
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 and employees of such
controlling Persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and
against all Losses (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a
final judgment not subject to appeal or review), 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 in any
amendment or supplement thereto, 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 or other Indemnifying Party to the Company specifically for
inclusion in the Registration Statement or such Prospectus. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, each Holder shall be liable under
this Section 5(b) for only that amount as does not exceed the net proceeds to
such Holder as a result of the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement.
(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
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the Person from whom indemnity is sought (the "Indemnifying Party) in writing,
and the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to 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 parties
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 or delayed. No Indemnifying Party
shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any
settlement of any pending or threatened Proceeding in respect of which any
Indemnified Party is a party and indemnity has been sought hereunder, 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 Indemnified Party shall reimburse all such fees and expenses to the extent
it is finally judicially determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled
to indemnification hereunder).
(d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under
Section 5(a) or 5(b) is due but 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
benefits received by the Indemnifying Party on the one hand and the Indemnified
Party on the other from the offering of the Common Stock and Warrants. If, but
only if, the allocation provided by the foregoing sentence is not permitted by
applicable law, the allocation of contribution shall be made in such proportion
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as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in the
foregoing sentence but also the relative fault, as applicable, 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. In no
event shall any selling Holder be required to contribute an amount under this
Section 5(d) in excess of the net proceeds received by such Holder upon sale of
such Holder's Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement
giving rise to such contribution obligation.
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 pursuant to the law.
6. Rule 144.
--------
As long as any Holder owns Warrants or Registrable Securities,
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. As long as any Holder owns Warrants or Registrable Securities, 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
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 Conversion Shares and Warrant 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
relating to such sale pursuant to Rule 144. Upon the request of any Holder,
-11-
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, such 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(c) of the Purchase Agreement or Schedule II hereto, 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(c) of the Purchase Agreement or
Schedule II hereto) 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 (i) Conversion Shares or
(ii) Warrant Shares, the Company shall determine to prepare and file with the
Commission 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 (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, or within such shorter period of time as may be
specified by the Company in such written notice as may be necessary for the
Company to comply with its obligations with respect to the timing of the filing
-12-
of such registration statement, 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
Effectiveness Period 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 (B) the Registration Statement is
not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the Effectiveness Date,
or (C) the Company fails to file with the Commission a request for acceleration
in accordance with Rule 461 promulgated under the Securities Act within three
(3) 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 (D) 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
-13-
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 (E) the Company has breached Section
3(n), or (F) trading in the Common Stock shall be suspended or if the Common
Stock is no longer quoted on or delisted from the OTC Bulletin Board (or other
principal exchange on which the Common Stock is traded) for any reason for more
than three (3) Business Days in the aggregate (any such failure or breach being
referred to as an "Event," and for purposes of clauses (A) and (B) the date on
which such Event occurs, or for purposes of clause (C) the date on which such
three (3) Business Day period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause (D) after
more than fifteen (15) Business Days, or for purposes of clause (F) the date on
which such three (3) Business Day period is exceeded, being referred to as
"Event Date"), the Company shall pay an amount in cash as liquidated damages to
each Holder equal to two percent (2%) of the amount of the Holder's initial
investment in the Common Stock for each calendar month or portion thereof
thereafter from the Event Date until the applicable Event is cured; provided,
however, that in no event shall the amount of liquidated damages payable at any
time and from time to time to any Holder pursuant to this Section 7(e) exceed an
aggregate of ten percent (10%) of the amount of the Holder's initial investment
in the Common Stock. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph
(e), if (a) any of the Events described in clauses (A), (B), (C), (D) or (F)
shall have occurred, (b) on or prior to the applicable Event Date, the Company
shall have exercised its rights under Section 3(n) hereof and (c) the
postponement or suspension permitted pursuant to such Section 3(n) shall remain
effective as of such applicable Event Date, then the applicable Event Date shall
be deemed instead to occur on the second Business Day following the termination
of such postponement or suspension. Liquidated damages payable by the Company
pursuant to this Section 7(d) shall be payable on the first (1st) Business Day
of each thirty (30) day period following the Event Date. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event shall any liquidated
damages be payable with respect to the Warrants or the Warrant Shares.
(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 the Holders of seventy-five percent (75%) of the
Registrable Securities outstanding.
(g) Notices. Any notice, demand, request, waiver or other
communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be effective (a) upon hand delivery, telecopy or facsimile at the
address or number designated below (if delivered on a business day during normal
business hours where such notice is to be received), or the first business day
following such delivery (if delivered other than on a business day during normal
business hours where such notice is to be received) or (b) on the second
business day following the date of mailing by express courier service, fully
prepaid, addressed to such address, or upon actual receipt of such mailing,
whichever shall first occur. The addresses for such communications shall be:
If to the Company: FreeHand Systems International, Inc.
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, President and CEO
Tel. No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Fax No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
-14-
with copies (which shall ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Jaclin, LLP
not constitute notice) to: ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
Tel. No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Fax No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
If to any Purchaser: At the address of such Purchaser set
forth on Exhibit A to this
Agreement, with copies to
Purchaser's counsel as set
forth on Exhibit A or as
specified in writing by such:
with copies (which shall ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP
not constitute notice) to: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Tel No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Fax No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Any party hereto may from time to time change its address for
notices by giving at least ten (10) days written notice of such changed address
to the other party hereto.
(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 Person of all or a portion of 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 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
-15-
Agreement. 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 and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each
party and delivered to the other parties hereto, it being understood that all
parties need not sign the same counterpart. 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; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of
New York, without giving effect to any of the conflicts of law principles which
would result in the application of the substantive law of another jurisdiction.
This Agreement shall not be interpreted or construed with any presumption
against the party causing this Agreement to be drafted. The Company and the
Holders agree that venue for any dispute arising under this Agreement will lie
exclusively in the state or federal courts located in New York County, New York,
and the parties irrevocably waive any right to raise forum non conveniens or any
other argument that New York is not the proper venue. The Company and the
Holders irrevocably consent to personal jurisdiction in the state and federal
courts of the state of New York. The Company and the Holders consent to process
being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to
such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and
agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process
and notice thereof. Nothing in this Section 7(k) shall affect or limit any right
to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. The Company and the
Holders hereby agree that the prevailing party in any suit, action or proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Purchase Agreement, shall be
entitled to reimbursement for reasonable legal fees from the non-prevailing
party. The parties hereby waive all rights to a trial by jury.
(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.
-16-
(o) Shares Held by the Company and its Affiliates.
Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of
Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the
Company or its Affiliates (other than any Holder or transferees or successors or
assigns thereof if such Holder is deemed to be an Affiliate solely by reason of
its holdings of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in determining
whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required
percentage.
(p) Independent Nature of Purchasers. The Company
acknowledges that the obligations of each Purchaser under the Transaction
Documents are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser,
and no Purchaser shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the
obligations of any other Purchaser under the Transaction Documents. The Company
acknowledges that the decision of each Purchaser to purchase Securities pursuant
to the Purchase Agreement has been made by such Purchaser independently of any
other Purchaser and independently of any information, materials, statements or
opinions as to the business, affairs, operations, assets, properties,
liabilities, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or
prospects of the Company or of its Subsidiaries which may have made or given by
any other Purchaser or by any agent or employee of any other Purchaser, and no
Purchaser or any of its agents or employees shall have any liability to any
Purchaser (or any other person) relating to or arising from any such
information, materials, statements or opinions. The Company acknowledges that
nothing contained herein, or in any Transaction Document, and no action taken by
any Purchaser pursuant hereto or thereto (including, but not limited to, the (i)
inclusion of a Purchaser in the Registration Statement and (ii) review by, and
consent to, such Registration Statement by a Purchaser) shall be deemed to
constitute the Purchasers as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or
any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any
way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the
transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. The Company acknowledges
that each Purchaser shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its
rights, including without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement
or out of the other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any
other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such
purpose. The Company acknowledges that for reasons of administrative convenience
only, the Transaction Documents have been prepared by counsel for one of the
Purchasers and such counsel does not represent all of the Purchasers. The
Company acknowledges that it has elected to provide all Purchasers with the same
terms and Transaction Documents for the convenience of the Company and not
because it was required or requested to do so by the Purchasers. The Company
acknowledges that such procedure with respect to the Transaction Documents in no
way creates a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert
or as a group with respect to the Transaction Documents or the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
-17-
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.
FREEHAND SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
-------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
Title: President and CEO
PURCHASER:
By:______________________________________
Name:
Title:
Schedule I
----------
Purchasers
----------
Names and Addresses Investment Amount, Number of Shares
Purchasers & Warrants Purchased
---------- --------------------
Vision Opportunity Master Fund, Ltd. Investment Amount: $3,000,000
▇▇ ▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇., ▇▇▇ floor Shares: 4,000,000
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Series A Warrants: 2,000,000
Series B Warrants: 2,000,000
Series C Warrants: 2,000,000
Series J Warrants: 4,000,000
Series D Warrants: 2,000,000
Series E Warrants: 2,000,000
Series F Warrants: 2,000,000
-19-
Schedule II
-----------
Other Securities to be Included on the Registration Statement
-------------------------------------------------------------
None.
-20-
Exhibit A
---------
Plan of Distribution
--------------------
The selling security holders and any of their pledgees, donees,
assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of
their shares of common stock being offered under this prospectus on any stock
exchange, market or trading facility on which shares of our common stock are
traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated
prices. The selling security holders may use any one or more of the following
methods when disposing of shares:
o ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the
broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
o block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares
as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as
principal to facilitate the transaction;
o purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resales by the
broker-dealer for its account;
o an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
exchange;
o privately negotiated transactions;
o to cover short sales made after the date that the registration
statement of which this prospectus is a part is declared effective by
the Commission;
o broker-dealers may agree with the selling security holders to sell a
specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
o a combination of any of these methods of sale; and
o any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
The shares may also be sold under Rule 144 under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended ("Securities Act"), if available, rather than under this
prospectus. The selling security holders have the sole and absolute discretion
not to accept any purchase offer or make any sale of shares if they deem the
purchase price to be unsatisfactory at any particular time.
The selling security holders may pledge their shares to their brokers
under the margin provisions of customer agreements. If a selling security holder
defaults on a margin loan, the broker may, from time to time, offer and sell the
pledged shares.
Broker-dealers engaged by the selling security holders may arrange for
other broker-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive
commissions or discounts from the selling security holders (or, if any
broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in
amounts to be negotiated, which commissions as to a particular broker or dealer
may be in excess of customary commissions to the extent permitted by applicable
law.
-21-
If sales of shares offered under this prospectus are made to
broker-dealers as principals, we would be required to file a post-effective
amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. In
the post-effective amendment, we would be required to disclose the names of any
participating broker-dealers and the compensation arrangements relating to such
sales.
The selling security holders and any broker-dealers or agents that are
involved in selling the shares offered under this prospectus may be deemed to be
"underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with these
sales. Commissions received by these broker-dealers or agents and any profit on
the resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting
commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Any broker-dealers or agents
that are deemed to be underwriters may not sell shares offered under this
prospectus unless and until we set forth the names of the underwriters and the
material details of their underwriting arrangements in a supplement to this
prospectus or, if required, in a replacement prospectus included in a
post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus
is a part.
The selling security holders and any other persons participating in the
sale or distribution of the shares offered under this prospectus will be subject
to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations
under that act, including Regulation M. These provisions may restrict activities
of, and limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the shares by, the
selling security holders or any other person. Furthermore, under Regulation M,
persons engaged in a distribution of securities are prohibited from
simultaneously engaging in market making and other activities with respect to
those securities for a specified period of time prior to the commencement of
such distributions, subject to specified exceptions or exemptions. All of these
limitations may affect the marketability of the shares.
If any of the shares of common stock offered for sale pursuant to this
prospectus are transferred other than pursuant to a sale under this prospectus,
then subsequent holders could not use this prospectus until a post-effective
amendment or prospectus supplement is filed, naming such holders. We offer no
assurance as to whether any of the selling security holders will sell all or any
portion of the shares offered under this prospectus.
We have agreed to pay all fees and expenses we incur incident to the
registration of the shares being offered under this prospectus. However, each
selling security holder and purchaser is responsible for paying any discounts,
commissions and similar selling expenses they incur.
We and the selling security holders have agreed to indemnify one
another against certain losses, damages and liabilities arising in connection
with this prospectus, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
-22-