Exhibit 10.17
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
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This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
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entered into as of May __, 1999, between SkyLynx Communications, Inc., a
Colorado corporation (the "Company"), and each of the Purchasers listed on
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Schedule 1 attached hereto (collectively, the "Purchasers").
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This Agreement is being entered into pursuant to the Series E
Convertible Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by
and among the Company and the Purchasers (the "Purchase Agreement").
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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 the meaning set forth in Section 3(m).
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"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that
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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
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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
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correlative to the foregoing.
"Blackout Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(n).
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"Board" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(n).
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"Business Day" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day which
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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.
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"Common Stock" means the Company's Common Stock, par value $0.001 per
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share.
"Effectiveness Date" shall, with respect to the Registration
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Statement, have the meaning assigned to such term in the Series D Registration
Rights Agreement.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.
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"Event" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(e).
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"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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"Filing Date" shall, with respect to the Registration Statement, have
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the meaning assigned to such term in the Series D Registration Rights Agreement.
"Holders" means the holders from time to time of Registrable
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Securities.
"Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
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"Indemnifying Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
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"Losses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
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"OTC Bulletin Board" shall mean the over-the-counter electronic
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bulletin board.
"Periodic Amount" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(e).
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"Person" means an individual or a corporation, partnership, trust,
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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 E Convertible Preferred Stock, par
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value $.01 per share and stated value $1,000 per share, of the Company issued to
the Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
"Proceeding" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding
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(including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as
a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in the Registration
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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 (i) the shares of Common Stock issuable
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upon conversion of the Preferred Stock (the "Conversion Shares") and exercise of
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the Warrants (the "Warrant Shares"), and upon any stock split, stock dividend,
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recapitalization or similar event with respect to such Conversion Shares or
Warrant Shares and (ii) any other dividend or other distribution with respect
to, conversion or exchange of, or in replacement of, Registrable Securities;
provided, however, that Registrable Securities shall include (but not be limited
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to) a number of shares of Common Stock equal to no less than 200% of the maximum
number of shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon conversion of the
Preferred Stock and upon exercise of the Warrants, assuming such conversion and
exercise occurred on the 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 contained herein to the
contrary, if the actual number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of the Preferred Stock and upon exercise of the Warrants exceeds 200%
of the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the
Preferred Stock and upon exercise of the Warrants based upon a computation as at
the 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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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"Series D Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights
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Agreement dated as of April 16, 1999 among the Company and the holders of Series
D Convertible Preferred Stock listed on Schedule 1 attached thereto.
"Special Counsel" means any special counsel to the Holders, for which
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the Holders will be reimbursed by the Company pursuant to Section 4.
2. Shelf Registration.
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On or prior to the Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file
with the Commission a "shelf" Registration Statement covering 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). The Company shall (i) not permit any securities other than
the Registrable Securities to be included in the Registration Statement 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(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"). If an additional Registration Statement is required to
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be filed because the actual number of shares of Common Stock into which the
Preferred Stock is convertible and the Warrants are exercisable exceeds the
number of shares of Common Stock initially registered in respect of the
Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares based upon the computation on the
Closing Date, 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 thirty (30) 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)
in accordance with the method or methods of distribution thereof as specified by
the Holders, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registration
Statement to become effective and remain effective as provided herein; provided,
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however, that not less than five (5) Business Days prior to the filing of the
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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 their 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
the Holders and their Special Counsel, and (ii) at the request of the Holders
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 the Holders, to conduct a reasonable
investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act.
(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 provisions then in force) promulgated under the
Securities Act; (iii) respond as promptly as practicable to any comments
received from the Commission with respect to the Registration Statement or any
amendment thereto and as promptly as practicable 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 and their Special Counsel as promptly as
possible (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than five (5) Business Days
prior to such filing) and (if requested by any Holder or its Special Counsel)
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 reasonable 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-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 any Holder and its Special Counsel, without charge, 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 the Holders or their Special Counsel (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 its 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 Holder or its
Special Counsel may reasonably request; and the Company hereby consents to the
use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the
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 Holders and their
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 the Holders request 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,
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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.
(k) Use its reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable
Securities relating to such Registration Statement to be listed on the OTC
Bulletin Board 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 or in each case within such extended period of time as may be
permitted by the Commission for filing the applicable report with the
Commission) 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 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")
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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.
(n) If (i) there is material non-public information regarding the
Company which the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") reasonably
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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 and which the Company would be required to disclose
under the Registration Statement, 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 (each, a "Blackout Period"); provided, however, that no such
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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
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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 OTC
Bulletin Board 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 Commission, (C) with respect to filings required to
be made under the OTC Bulletin Board and (D) 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), (ii) printing
expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for
Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses), (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 $25,000), (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 or relisting of the
Registrable Securities on the OTC Bulletin Board or any securities exchange as
required hereunder.
5. Indemnification
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(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall,
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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 such Holder (within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act)
and the officers, directors, agents, investment advisors 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
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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. Such indemnity shall remain in full
force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of an
Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities
by the Holders.
(b) Indemnification by Holders. The Holders shall, severally and not
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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 expressly approved in writing by such Holder
expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of
Prospectus. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
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
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be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an
"Indemnified Party"), such Indemnified Party promptly shall notify the Person
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from whom indemnity is sought (the "Indemnifying Party) in writing, and the
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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).
(d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under Section 5(a)
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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.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, such Holder shall be
liable or required to contribute under this Section 5(c) 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.
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 Preferred Shares, Conversion Shares,
Warrants or Warrant 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
Preferred Shares, Conversion Shares, Warrants or Warrant 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 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
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.
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(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company, on the one
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hand, or by a Holder, on the other hand, of any of their respective 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 respective rights under this Agreement. The Company and the
Holders 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. 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) 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 security holders, 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 its 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 the Company will cause the registration under
the Securities Act of all Registrable Securities (unless within fifteen (15)
days after receipt of such notice, any such holder shall notify the Company in
writing that it elects to have less than all of its Registrable Securities
intended to be disposed of by such Holder included in such registration)
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 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 (i) 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
required to be filed because the actual number of shares of Common Stock into
which the Preferred Stock is convertible and the Warrants are exercisable
exceeds the number of shares of Common Stock initially registered is not filed
and declared effective within the time periods set forth in Section 2(a)), or
(ii) the Company fails to file with the Commission a
request for acceleration in accordance with Rule 12d1-2 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 (iii) 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 (iv) trading in the Common
Stock shall be suspended or if the Common Stock is delisted from the OTC
Bulletin Board for any reason for more than three Business Days in the
aggregate, or (v) the conversion or exercise rights of the Holders with respect
to Preferred Stock or the Warrants are suspended for any reason or (vi) 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, and such
breach continues for a period of thirty days after written notice thereof to the
Company, or (vii) the Company has breached Section 3(n) of this Agreement (any
such failure or breach being referred to as an "Event"), the Company shall pay
in cash as liquidated damages for such failure and not as a penalty to each
Holder an amount equal to one percent (1%) of such Holder's pro rata share of
the purchase price paid by all Holders for shares of the Preferred Stock
purchased and then outstanding pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for the
initial thirty (30) day period until the applicable Event has been cured, which
shall be pro rated for such periods less than thirty (30) days and two percent
(2%) of such Holder's pro rata share for each thirty (30) day period thereafter
until the applicable Event has been cured (which shall be also pro rated, as
aforesaid) (the "Periodic Amount"). Payments to be made pursuant to this
---------------
Section 7(e) shall be due and payable immediately upon demand in immediately
available funds. The parties agree that the Periodic Amount represents a
reasonable estimate on the part of the parties, as of the date of this
Agreement, of the amount of damages that may be incurred by the Holders if the
Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to the Filing Date or has not
been declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the Effectiveness Date
and maintained in the manner contemplated herein during the Effectiveness Time
or if any other Event as described herein has occurred and not been cured.
(f) Specific Enforcement, Consent to Jurisdiction.
---------------------------------------------
(i) The Company and the Purchasers acknowledge and agree that
irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this
Registration Rights Agreement or the Purchase Agreement were not performed in
accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is
accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent or cure breaches of the provisions of this Registration
Rights Agreement or the Purchase Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms
and provisions hereof or thereof, this being in addition to any other remedy to
which any of them may be entitled by law or equity.
(ii) Each of the Company and the Purchasers (i) hereby
irrevocably
submits to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court sitting in the
Southern District of New York for the purposes of any suit, action or proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Purchase Agreement and (ii)
hereby waives, and agrees not to assert in any such suit, action or proceeding,
any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such court,
that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that
the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each of the Company and
the Purchasers consents 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(f) shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other
manner permitted by law.
(g) 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. 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 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.
(h) 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
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 Time, on
any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m., New York 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 address for such communications with respect
to each of the Holders shall be that set forth under such Holder's name on
Schedule 1 attached hereto, or with respect to the Company, addressed to:
SkyLynx Communications, Inc.
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▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, President and CEO
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
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 the addresses listed on Schedule 1
attached hereto, if applicable.
(i) 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 the Holders. The Purchasers may
assign their rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted
under the Purchase Agreement.
(j) 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 transferee of such 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 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.
(k) 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.
(l) 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.
(m) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative
-------------------
and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(n) 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.
(o) 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.
(p) Within two (2) business days after the Registration Statement
which includes the Registrable Securities is ordered effective by the
Commission, the Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal counsel for the
Company to deliver, to the transfer agent for such Registrable Securities (with
copies to the Holders) confirmation that the Registration Statement has been
declared effective by the Commission in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
---------
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
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.
SKYLYNX COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND III, L.P.
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
SPECIAL SITUATIONS PRIVATE EQUITY FUND, L.P.
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
SPECIAL SITUATIONS CAYMAN FUND, L.P.
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
SPECIAL SITUATIONS TECHNOLOGY FUND, L.P.
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
Schedule 1
Special Situations Fund III, L.P.
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▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Special Situations Private Equity Fund, L.P.
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▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Special Situations Cayman Fund, L.P.
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▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Special Situations Technology Fund, L.P.
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EXHIBIT A
FORM OF NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS
OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
[TRANSFER AGENT]
ATTN:
RE: SKYLYNX COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
----------------------------
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are counsel to SkyLynx Communications, Inc., a Colorado corporation (the
"COMPANY"), and have represented the Company in connection with that certain
Series __ Convertible Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement (the "PURCHASE
AGREEMENT") entered into by and between the Company and the buyers named therein
(the "HOLDERS") pursuant to which the Company issued to the Holders shares of
its Series E Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
"PREFERRED SHARES"), convertible into shares of the Company's common stock, par
value $0.001 per share (the "COMMON STOCK"), and a warrant to purchase shares of
the Common Stock (the "WARRANT"). Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the
Company also has entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Holders
(the "REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT") pursuant to which the Company agreed,
among other things, to register the Registrable Securities (as defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement), including the shares of Common Stock issuable
upon conversion of the Preferred Shares and exercise of the Warrant, under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 ACT"). In connection with the
Company's obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, on April __,
1999, the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 333-
_____________) (the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT") with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") relating to the Registrable Securities which names each
of the Holders as selling stockholders thereunder.
In connection with the foregoing, we advise you that a member of the SEC's
staff has advised us by telephone that the SEC has entered an order declaring
the Registration Statement effective under the 1933 Act at [ENTER TIME OF
EFFECTIVENESS] on [ENTER DATE OF EFFECTIVENESS] and we have no knowledge, after
telephonic inquiry of a member of the SEC's staff, that any stop order
suspending its effectiveness has been issued or that any proceedings for that
purpose are pending before, or threatened by, the SEC and the Registrable
Securities are available for resale under the 1933 Act pursuant to the
Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
[COMPANY'S COUNSEL]
By:
cc: [HOLDERS]