EXHIBIT 10.28
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is made and
entered into as of August 9, 2006, among Sonoma College, Inc., a California
corporation (the "COMPANY"), and the several purchasers signatory hereto (each
such purchaser is a "PURCHASER" and collectively, the "PURCHASERS").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement,
dated as of the date hereof between the Company and each Purchaser (the
"PURCHASE AGREEMENT").
The Company and each Purchaser hereby agrees as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS
CAPITALIZED TERMS USED AND NOT OTHERWISE DEFINED HEREIN THAT ARE
DEFINED IN THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT 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 6(d).
"EFFECTIVENESS DATE" means, with respect to the initial
Registration Statement required to be filed hereunder, the 120th
calendar day following the date hereof and, with respect to any
additional Registration Statements which may be required pursuant to
Section 3(c), the 90th calendar day following the date on which the
Company first knows, or reasonably should have known, that such
additional Registration Statement is required hereunder; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, in the event the Company is notified by the Commission that
one of the above Registration Statements will not be reviewed or is no
longer subject to further review and comments, the Effectiveness Date
as to such Registration Statement shall be the fifth Trading Day
following the date on which the Company is so notified if such date
precedes the dates required above.
"EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2(a).
"EVENT" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
"EVENT DATE" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
"FILING DATE" means, with respect to the initial Registration
Statement required hereunder, the 30th calendar day following the date
hereof and, with respect to any additional Registration Statements
which may be required pursuant to Section 3(c), the 30th day following
the date on which the Company first knows, or reasonably should have
known that such additional Registration Statement is required
hereunder.
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"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).
"PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2(a).
"PROSPECTUS" means the prospectus included in a 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 a Registration
Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus,
including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by
reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
"REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means: (i) all of the shares of
Common Stock issuable upon conversion in full of the Debentures, (ii)
all shares issuable as interest or principal on the Debentures assuming
all permissible interest and principal payments are made in shares of
Common Stock and the Debentures are held until maturity, (iii) all
Warrant Shares, (iv) any additional shares issuable in connection with
any anti-dilution provisions in the Debentures or the Warrants (in each
case, without giving effect to any limitations on conversion set forth
in the Debenture or limitations on exercise set forth in the Warrant),
(v) shares of Common Stock underlying warrants issued to the placement
agent (or its designees), and (vi) any securities issued or issuable
upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization
or similar event with respect to the foregoing.
"REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means the registration statements
required to be filed hereunder and any additional registration
statements contemplated by Section 3(c), 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 or deemed
to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
"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 purpose and 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
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regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the
same purpose and effect as such Rule.
"SELLING SHAREHOLDER QUESTIONNAIRE" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 3(a).
2. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) On or prior to each Filing Date, the Company shall
prepare and file with the Commission a "Shelf" Registration Statement
covering the resale of 150% of the Registrable Securities on such
Filing Date for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant
to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 (except if
the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable
Securities on Form S-3, in which case such registration shall be on
another appropriate form in accordance herewith) and shall contain
(unless otherwise directed by at least an 85% majority in interest of
the Holders) substantially the "PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION" attached hereto
as ANNEX A. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall
use its best efforts to cause a 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 applicable Effectiveness
Date, and shall use its best efforts to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until all
Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been
sold, or may be sold without volume restrictions pursuant to Rule
144(k), as determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a
written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to the
Company's transfer agent and the affected Holders (the "EFFECTIVENESS
PERIOD"). The Company shall telephonically request effectiveness of a
Registration Statement as of 5:00 pm Eastern Time on a Trading Day. The
Company shall immediately notify the Holders via facsimile of the
effectiveness of a Registration Statement on the same Trading Day that
the Company telephonically confirms effectiveness with the Commission,
which shall be the date requested for effectiveness of a Registration
Statement. The Company shall, by 9:30 am Eastern Time on the Trading
Day after the Effective Date (as defined in the Purchase Agreement),
file a final Prospectus with the Commission as required by Rule 424.
Failure to so notify the Holder within 1 Trading Day of such
notification of effectiveness or failure to file a final Prospectus as
a foresaid shall be deemed an Event under Section 2(b).
(b) If: (i) a Registration Statement is not filed on or
prior to its Filing Date (if the Company files a Registration Statement
without affording the Holders the opportunity to review and comment on
the same as required by Section 3(a), the Company shall not be deemed
to have satisfied this clause (i)), or (ii) the Company fails to file
with the Commission a request for acceleration in accordance with Rule
461 promulgated under the Securities Act, within five Trading 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) prior to its
Effectiveness Date, the Company fails to file a pre-effective amendment
and otherwise respond in writing to comments made by the Commission in
respect of such Registration
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Statement within 20 calendar days after the receipt of comments by or
notice from the Commission that such amendment is required in order for
a Registration Statement to be declared effective, or (iv) a
Registration Statement filed or required to be filed hereunder is not
declared effective by the Commission by its Effectiveness Date, or (v)
after the Effectiveness Date, a Registration Statement ceases for any
reason to remain continuously effective as to all Registrable
Securities for which it is required to be effective, or the Holders are
otherwise not permitted to utilize the Prospectus therein to resell
such Registrable Securities for more than 10 consecutive calendar days
or more than an aggregate of 20 calendar days during any 12-month
period (which need not be consecutive calendar days) (any such failure
or breach being referred to as an "Event", and for purposes of clause
(i) or (iv) the date on which such Event occurs, or for purposes of
clause (ii) the date on which such five Trading Day period is exceeded,
or for purposes of clause (iii) the date which such 20 calendar day
period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause (v) the date on which
such 10 or 20 calendar day period, as applicable, is exceeded being
referred to as "EVENT DATE"), then in addition to any other rights the
Holders may have hereunder or under applicable law, on each such Event
Date and on each monthly anniversary of each such Event Date (if the
applicable Event shall not have been cured by such date) until the
applicable Event is cured, the Company shall pay to each Holder an
amount in cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty,
equal to 1.5% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such Holder
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for any Registrable Securities then
held by such Holder, up to a maximum of 18% per Holder of the aggregate
purchase price paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
If the Company fails to pay any partial liquidated damages pursuant to
this Section in full within seven days after the date payable, the
Company will pay interest thereon at a rate of 18% per annum (or such
lesser maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable law)
to the Holder, accruing daily from the date such partial liquidated
damages are due until such amounts, plus all such interest thereon, are
paid in full. The partial liquidated damages pursuant to the terms
hereof shall apply on a daily pro-rata basis for any portion of a month
prior to the cure of an Event.
3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.
In connection with the Company's registration obligations
hereunder, the Company shall:
(a) Not less than five Trading Days prior to the filing
of each Registration Statement and not less than two Trading Days prior
to the filing of any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto (including any document that would be incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall, (i) furnish
to each Holder copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which
documents (other than those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
by reference) will be subject to the review of such Holders, 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 respective counsel to each Holder to
conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities
Act. The Company shall not file a Registration Statement or any such
Prospectus or any amendments or supplements
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thereto to which the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities shall reasonably object in good faith, provided that, the
Company is notified of such objection in writing no later than 5
Trading Days after the Holders have been so furnished copies of a
Registration Statement or 1 Trading Day after the Holders have been so
furnished copies of any related Prospectus or amendments or supplements
thereto. Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Company a completed
Questionnaire in the form attached to this Agreement as Annex B (a
"SELLING SHAREHOLDER QUESTIONNAIRE") not less than two Trading Days
prior to the Filing Date or by the end of the fourth Trading Day
following the date on which such Holder receives draft materials in
accordance with this Section.
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such
amendments, including post-effective amendments, to a Registration
Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be
necessary to keep a 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 (subject
to the terms of this Agreement), and as so supplemented or amended to
be filed pursuant to Rule 424; (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably
possible to any comments received from the Commission with respect to a
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and as promptly as
reasonably possible provide the Holders true and complete copies of all
correspondence from and to the Commission relating to a Registration
Statement (provided that the Company may excise any information
contained therein which would constitute material non-public
information as to any Holder which has not executed a confidentiality
agreement with the Company); 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 a
Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance
(subject to the terms of this Agreement) with the intended methods of
disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in such Registration
Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) If during the Effectiveness Period, the number of
Registrable Securities at any time exceeds 75% of the number of shares
of Common Stock then registered in a Registration Statement, then the
Company shall file as soon as reasonably practicable but in any case
prior to the applicable Filing Date, an additional Registration
Statement covering the resale by the Holders of not less than 150% of
the number of such Registrable Securities.
(d) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be
sold (which notice shall, pursuant to clauses (iii) through (vi)
hereof, be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the
Prospectus until the requisite changes have been made) as promptly as
reasonably possible (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than
one Trading Day prior to such filing) and (if requested by any such
Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than one Trading Day
following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement
or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement is proposed to
be filed; (B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there
will be a "review"
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of such Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in
writing on such Registration Statement; and (C) with respect to a
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 a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional
information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission or any other
federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending
the effectiveness of a Registration Statement covering any or all of
the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for
that purpose; (iv) 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; (v) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time
that makes the financial statements included in a Registration
Statement ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement made in a
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 a Registration Statement,
Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of a 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; and (vi) the occurrence or existence of any pending
corporate development with respect to the Company that the Company
believes may be material and that, in the determination of the Company,
makes it not in the best interest of the Company to allow continued
availability of a Registration Statement or Prospectus; provided that
any and all of such information shall remain confidential to each
Holder until such information otherwise becomes public, unless
disclosure by a Holder is required by law; PROVIDED, further,
notwithstanding each Holder's agreement to keep such information
confidential, the Holders make no acknowledgement that any such
information is material, non-public information.
(e) Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if
issued, obtain the withdrawal of: (i) any order suspending the
effectiveness of a 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.
(f) Furnish to each Holder, without charge, at least one
conformed copy of each such Registration Statement and each amendment
thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference to the
extent requested by such Person, 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) Subject to the terms of this Agreement, 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, except after the
giving of any notice pursuant to Section 3(d).
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(h) If NASDR Rule 2710 requires any broker-dealer to make
a filing prior to executing a sale by a Holder, the Company shall: (i)
make an Issuer Filing with the NASDR, Inc. Corporate Financing
Department pursuant to proposed NASDR Rule 2710(b)(10)(A)(i), (ii)
respond within five Trading Days to any comments received from NASDR in
connection therewith, (iii) and pay the filing fee required in
connection therewith.
(i) Prior to any resale of Registrable Securities by a
Holder, use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify
or cooperate with the selling Holders in connection with the
registration or qualification (or exemption from the Registration or
qualification) of such Registrable Securities for the resale by the
Holder under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions
within the United States as any Holder reasonably requests in writing,
to keep each registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom)
effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other
acts or things reasonably necessary to enable the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by each
Registration Statement; provided, that the Company shall not be
required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where
it is not then so qualified, subject the Company to any material tax in
any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or file a general
consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction.
(j) If requested by the Holders, cooperate with the
Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to a
transferee pursuant to a Registration Statement, which certificates
shall be free, to the extent permitted by the Purchase Agreement, of
all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to
be in such denominations and registered in such names as any such
Holders may request.
(k) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by this
Section 3, as promptly as reasonably possible under the circumstances
taking into account the Company's good faith assessment of any adverse
consequences to the Company and its stockholders of the premature
disclosure of such event, prepare a supplement or amendment, including
a post-effective amendment, to a 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 a 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 light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading. If the Company notifies the
Holders in accordance with clauses (iii) through (vi) of Section 3(d)
above to suspend the use of any Prospectus until the requisite changes
to such Prospectus have been made, then the Holders shall suspend use
of such Prospectus. The Company will use its best efforts to ensure
that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as is
practicable. The Company shall be entitled to exercise its right under
this Section 3(k) to suspend the availability of a Registration
Statement and Prospectus, subject to the payment of partial
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liquidated damages pursuant to Section 2(b), for a period not to exceed
60 calendar days (which need not be consecutive days) in any 12 month
period.
(l) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of
the Commission.
(m) The Company may require each selling Holder to
furnish to the Company a certified statement as to the number of shares
of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Holder and, if required by
the Commission, the natural persons thereof that have voting and
dispositive control over the Shares. During any periods that the
Company is unable to meet its obligations hereunder with respect to the
registration of the Registrable Securities solely because any Holder
fails to furnish such information within three Trading Days of the
Company's request, any liquidated damages that are accruing at such
time as to such Holder only shall be tolled and any Event that may
otherwise occur solely because of such delay shall be suspended as to
such Holder only, until such information is delivered to the Company.
4. REGISTRATION EXPENSES. All fees and expenses incident to the
performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne
by the Company whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to a
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 any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then
listed for trading, (B) in compliance with applicable state securities or Blue
Sky laws reasonably agreed to by the Company in writing (including, without
limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company in connection with
Blue Sky qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities), and (C) if
not previously paid by the Company in connection with an Issuer Filing, with
respect to any filing that may be required to be made by any broker through
which a Holder intends to make sales of Registrable Securities with NASD
Regulation, Inc. pursuant to the NASD Rule 2710, so long as the broker is
receiving no more than a customary brokerage commission in connection with such
sale, (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of
printing certificates for Registrable Securities), (iii) messenger, telephone
and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company,
(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. 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 and the fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any
securities exchange as required hereunder. In no event shall the Company be
responsible for any broker or similar commissions of any Holder or, except to
the extent provided for in the Transaction Documents, any legal fees or other
costs of the Holders.
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5. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold
harmless each Holder, the officers, directors, members, partners,
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 (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of
a Person holding such titles, notwithstanding a lack of such title or
any other title) 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, members,
shareholders, partners, agents and employees (and any other Persons
with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles,
notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) 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, reasonable attorneys' fees) and
expenses (collectively, "LOSSES"), as incurred, arising out of or
relating to: (1) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in a 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 light of the
circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, or (2) any
violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act,
the Exchange Act or any state securities law, or any rule or regulation
thereunder, in connection with the performance of its obligations under
this Agreement, except to the extent, but only to the extent, that: (i)
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, 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 a Registration
Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto (it being understood that the Holder
has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose), or (ii) in the case of
an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section
3(d)(iii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective
Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that
the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by
such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 6(d). The Company
shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or
assertion of any Proceeding arising from or in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement of which the Company is
aware.
(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 or
employees of such controlling Persons, to the fullest extent permitted
by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as incurred, to the
extent arising out of or based solely upon: (x) such Holder's failure
to comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act, or (y) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained
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in any 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 not misleading: (i) 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 such Registration
Statement or such Prospectus, or (ii) to the extent that such
information relates to 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 a Registration Statement
(it being understood that the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for
this purpose), such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or (ii) in the case of an occurrence of
an event of the type specified in Section 3(d)(iii)-(vi), the use by
such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company
has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or
defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice
contemplated in Section 6(d). In no event shall the liability of any
selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of
the net proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the
Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
(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
shall promptly notify the Person from whom indemnity is sought (the
"INDEMNIFYING PARTY") in writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall have
the right 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 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;
(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 counsel to the Indemnified Party shall reasonably believe
that a material 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 the reasonable
fees and expenses of no more than one separate counsel shall be at the
expense of the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying Party shall not be
liable
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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 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.
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, all reasonable
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 Trading Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying
Party; provided, that the Indemnified Party shall promptly reimburse
the Indemnifying Party for that portion of such fees and expenses
applicable to such actions for which such Indemnified Party is
judicially determined to be not entitled to indemnification hereunder.
(d) CONTRIBUTION. If the indemnification under Section
5(a) or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party or insufficient to
hold an Indemnified Party harmless for any Losses, then each
Indemnifying Party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such Indemnified Party, 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 this Agreement, any reasonable
attorneys' or other fees or expenses incurred by such party in
connection with any Proceeding to the extent such party would have been
indemnified for such fees or expenses if the indemnification provided
for in this Section was available to such party in accordance with its
terms.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined
by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does
not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the
immediately preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 5(d), no Holder shall be required to contribute, in the
aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the proceeds
actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable
Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages
that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission,
except in the case of fraud or willful misconduct by such Holder.
11
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. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) REMEDIES. In the event of a breach by the Company or
by a Holder, 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 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 not assert or shall waive the defense that a remedy at
law would be adequate.
(b) NO PIGGYBACK ON REGISTRATIONS. Except as set forth on
SCHEDULE 6(B) attached hereto, 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 initial
Registration Statement other than the Registrable Securities. The
Company shall not file any other registration statements until the
initial Registration Statement required hereunder is declared effective
by the Commission, provided that this Section 6(b) shall not prohibit
the Company from filing amendments to registration statements already
filed.
(c) COMPLIANCE. Each Holder covenants and agrees that it
will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act as applicable to it in connection with sales of Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.
(d) DISCONTINUED DISPOSITION. Each Holder agrees by its
acquisition of Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice
from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described
in Section 3(d)(iii) through (vi), such Holder will forthwith
discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under a
Registration Statement until it is advised in writing (the "ADVICE") by
the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus (as it may have
been supplemented or amended) may be resumed. The Company will use its
best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as
promptly as it practicable. The Company agrees and acknowledges that
any periods during which the Holder is required to discontinue the
disposition of the Registrable Securities hereunder shall be subject to
the provisions of Section 2(b).
(e) PIGGY-BACK REGISTRATIONS. If at any time during the
Effectiveness Period there is not an effective Registration Statement
covering all of the Registrable Securities and 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
12
connection with the stock option or other employee benefit plans, then
the Company shall send to each Holder a written notice of such
determination and, if within fifteen days after the date of such
notice, any such Holder shall so request in writing, 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 6(e) that are eligible
for resale pursuant to Rule 144(k) promulgated under the Securities Act
or that are the subject of a then effective Registration Statement.
(f) AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. The provisions of this
Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be
amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to
departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the same
shall be in writing and signed by the Company and each Holder of the
then outstanding Registrable Securities. 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 all 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.
(g) NOTICES. Any and all notices or other communications
or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be
delivered as set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
(h) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall inure to
the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns
of each of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder.
The Company may not assign (except by merger) its rights or obligations
hereunder without the prior written consent of all of the Holders of
the then-outstanding Registrable Securities. Each Holder may assign
their respective rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as
permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
(i) NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. Neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries has entered, as of the date hereof, 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 would have the effect of impairing the rights granted to the
Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions
hereof. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has previously
entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with
respect to any of its securities to any Person that have not been
satisfied in full.
(j) EXECUTION AND COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be
executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together
shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become
effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and
delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties
need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is
delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a ".pdf"
format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding
obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is
executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or ".pdf"
signature page were an original thereof.
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(k) GOVERNING LAW. All questions concerning the
construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this
Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the
Purchase Agreement.
(l) CUMULATIVE REMEDIES. The remedies provided herein are
cumulative and not exclusive of any other remedies provided by law.
(m) SEVERABILITY. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, 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 commercially 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 in this Agreement are for
convenience only, do not constitute a part of the Agreement and shall
not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.
(o) INDEPENDENT NATURE OF HOLDERS' OBLIGATIONS AND
RIGHTS. The obligations of each Holder hereunder are several and not
joint with the obligations of any other Holder hereunder, and no Holder
shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations
of any other Holder hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other
agreement or document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by
any Holder pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute
the Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any
other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Holders are in
any way acting in concert with respect to such obligations or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Holder shall be
entitled to protect and enforce its rights, including without
limitation the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not
be necessary for any other Holder to be joined as an additional party
in any proceeding for such purpose.
********************
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement as of the date first written above.
SONOMA COLLEGE, INC.
By: /s/
--------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: CEO
[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS FOLLOWS]
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[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS TO SNMA RRA]
Name of Holder: ___Monarch Capital Fund Ltd._______________________
SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY OF HOLDER: ___/s/_______________________
Name of Authorized Signatory: ____Navigator Management Ltd.______________
Title of Authorized Signatory: _________Director_________________
Name of Holder: ___Haborview Master Fund LP._______________________
SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY OF HOLDER: ___/s/_______________________
Name of Authorized Signatory: ____Navigator Management Ltd.______________
Title of Authorized Signatory: _________Director_________________
[SIGNATURE PAGES CONTINUE]
16
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each Selling Stockholder (the "SELLING STOCKHOLDERS") of the common
stock and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from
time to time, sell any or all of their shares of common stock on the OTC
Bulletin Board or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which
the shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or
negotiated prices. A Selling Stockholder may use any one or more of the
following methods when selling 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 resale 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 settlement of short sales entered into after the effective
date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is
a part;
o broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell
a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per
share;
o through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging
transactions, whether through an options exchange or
otherwise;
o a combination of any such methods of sale; or
o any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
The Selling Stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"), if available, rather
than under this prospectus.
Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for
other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive
commissions or discounts from the Selling Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer
acts as agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be
negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this Prospectus, in the
case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission
in compliance with NASDR Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a
markup or markdown in compliance with NASDR IM-2440.
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In connection with the sale of the common stock or interests therein,
the Selling Stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers
or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the
common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The Selling
Stockholders may also sell shares of the common stock short and deliver these
securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the common
stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The Selling
Stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with
broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more
derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other
financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such
broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this
prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).
The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are
involved in selling the shares may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the
meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any
commissions received by such 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. Each Selling Stockholder has
informed the Company that it does not have any written or oral agreement or
understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Common
Stock. In no event shall any broker-dealer receive fees, commissions and markups
which, in the aggregate, would exceed eight percent (8%).
The Company is required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by
the Company incident to the registration of the shares. The Company has agreed
to indemnify the Selling Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages
and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
Because Selling Stockholders may be deemed to be "underwriters" within
the meaning of the Securities Act, they will be subject to the prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act including Rule 172 thereunder. In
addition, any securities covered by this prospectus which qualify for sale
pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather
than under this prospectus. There is no underwriter or coordinating broker
acting in connection with the proposed sale of the resale shares by the Selling
Stockholders.
We agreed to keep this prospectus effective until the earlier of (i)
the date on which the shares may be resold by the Selling Stockholders without
registration and without regard to any volume limitations by reason of Rule
144(k) under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect or (ii) all
of the shares have been sold pursuant to this prospectus or Rule 144 under the
Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect. The resale shares will be
sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under
applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the resale
shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in
the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification
requirement is available and is complied with.
Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any
person engaged in the distribution of the resale shares may not simultaneously
engage in market making activities with respect to the common stock for the
applicable restricted period, as defined in Regulation
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M, prior to the commencement of the distribution. In addition, the Selling
Stockholders will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and
the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit
the timing of purchases and sales of shares of the common stock by the Selling
Stockholders or any other person. We will make copies of this prospectus
available to the Selling Stockholders and have informed them of the need to
deliver a copy of this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of
the sale (including by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).
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ANNEX B
SONOMA COLLEGE, INC.
SELLING SECURITYHOLDER NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE
The undersigned beneficial owner of common stock, par value $.0001 per
share (the "COMMON STOCK"), of Sonoma College, Inc., a California corporation
(the "COMPANY"), (the "REGISTRABLE SECURITIES") understands that the Company has
filed or intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"COMMISSION") a registration statement on Form SB-2 (the "REGISTRATION
STATEMENT") for the registration and resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"), of the Registrable Securities, in
accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of
August____, 2006 (the "REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT"), among the Company and
the Purchasers named therein. A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement is
available from the Company upon request at the address set forth below. All
capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed
thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement.
Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling
securityholder in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus.
Accordingly, holders and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised
to consult their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being
named or not being named as a selling securityholder in the Registration
Statement and the related prospectus.
NOTICE
The undersigned beneficial owner (the "SELLING SECURITYHOLDER") of
Registrable Securities hereby elects to include the Registrable Securities owned
by it and listed below in Item 3 (unless otherwise specified under such Item 3)
in the Registration Statement.
20