EXHIBIT 99.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of September 25, 2003 by and among Mpower Holding Corporation
(the "Company"), and the purchasers signatory hereto (each such purchaser, a
"Purchaser" and collectively, the "Purchasers").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement,
dated as of the date hereof among the Company and the Purchasers (the "Purchase
Agreement").
The Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein
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).
"Common Stock" means the common stock of the Company, $0.001 par value
per share.
"Effectiveness Date" means, with respect to the initial Registration
Statement required to be filed hereunder, the earlier of (a) if the initial
Registration Statement does not receive a "full review" by the Commission,
the 120th calendar day following the date of the Purchase Agreement, (b) if
the initial Registration Statement receives a "full review" by the
Commission, the 150th calendar day following the date of the Purchase
Agreement, and (c) the fifteenth Trading Day following the date on which
the Company is notified by the Commission that the Registration Statement
will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further review and
comments.
"Event" shall have the meaning set fort in Section 2(b).
"Event Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(a).
"Filing Date" means, with respect to the Registration Statement
required to be filed hereunder, the 45th calendar day following the date of
the Purchase Agreement.
"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).
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"Proceeding" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding
(including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding,
such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in the Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an
effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated
under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus
supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the
Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement, and all other
amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective
amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
"Registrable Securities" means all of the Shares and the Warrant
Shares, together with any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon
any stock split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization or
similar event with respect to the foregoing. For purposes of this
Agreement, (i) Registrable Securities shall cease to be Registrable
Securities when a Registration Statement covering such Registrable
Securities has been declared effective under the Securities Act by the SEC
and such Registrable Securities have been disposed of pursuant to such
effective Registration Statement and (ii) the Registrable Securities of a
Holder shall not be deemed to be Registrable Securities at any time when
the entire amount of such Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by
such Holder may be distributed to the public without volume restrictions
pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any successor provision then in effect) under
the Securities Act or any such Registrable Securities have been sold in a
sale made pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statements required to
be filed hereunder, including (in each case) the Prospectus, amendments and
supplements to the 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 the
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 effect as such Rule.
"Rule 424" means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Shares" means the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement.
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"Warrants" means the Warrants issued pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement.
"Warrant Shares" shall mean the shares of Common Stock issued upon
exercise of the Warrants.
2. Registration.
(a) On or prior to the Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file
with the Commission the Registration Statement covering the resale of all
of the Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a continuous
basis pursuant to Rule 415. The Registration Statement required hereunder
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
the Registration shall be on another appropriate form in accordance
herewith). The Registration Statement required hereunder shall contain
(except if otherwise directed by the Holders) substantially the "Plan of
Distribution" attached hereto as Annex A. Subject to the terms of this
Agreement, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable 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 not later than the Effectiveness Date, and shall use its commercially
reasonable efforts to keep the Registration Statement continuously
effective under the Securities Act until the date when all Registrable
Securities covered by the 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").
(b) If: (i) a Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to the
Filing Date (if the Company files a Registration Statement without
affording the Holder 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 is not subject to
further review; provided, however, that between five and ten Trading Days
of the receipt of such "no review" notice, if the Company has failed to
file a request for acceleration, then the Company shall only be required,
on each such Trading Day, to pay a pro-rata portion of the liquidated
damages due on the Event Date, as set forth in this Section 2(b), or (iii)
prior to the date when such Registration Statement is first declared
effective by the Commission, 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 Statement within 15 Trading 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 on or before the
Effectiveness Date, or (v) after a Registration Statement is first declared
effective by the Commission, it ceases for any reason to remain
continuously effective as to all Registrable Securities for which it is
required to be
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effective, or the Holders are not permitted to utilize the Prospectus
therein to resell such Registrable Securities, for in any such case 30
consecutive calendar days but no more than an aggregate of 60 calendar days
during any 12 month period (which need not be consecutive Trading 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 15 Trading Day period is
exceeded, or for purposes of clause (v) the date on which such 30 or 60
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: (x) on each such Event Date the Company shall pay
to each Holder an amount in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a
penalty, equal to 1.0% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such Holder
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for any Registrable Securities then held
by such Holder; and (y) 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 liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to 2.0% of the
aggregate purchase price paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement for any Registrable Securities then held by such Holder. If the
Company fails to pay any 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 15% 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 liquidated damages are due until such amounts,
plus all such interest thereon, are paid in full. The 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 the
Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto, the Company shall, (i) furnish to the Holders copies of
all such documents proposed to be filed (including documents incorporated
or deemed incorporated by reference to the extent requested by such Person
(provided such documents are not then available on the Commission's ▇▇▇▇▇
retrieval system)) which documents will be subject to the review of such
Holders, and (ii) promptly incorporate into the Registration Statement or
prospectus any information a Holder may reasonably determine is necessary
to be included therein; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
required to include any such information upon request of a Holder if the
information would, in the good faith judgment of the Company, violate
applicable law. The Company shall not file the Registration Statement or
any such Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto to which the
Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities shall reasonably object
in good faith, provided that the Company is notified of such objection in
writing no later than 3 Trading Days after the Holders have been so
furnished copies of such documents.
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(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including
post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
used in connection therewith 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; (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably practicable
to any comments received from the Commission with respect to the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and, as promptly as
reasonably practicable, upon request, provide the Holders true and complete
copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to the
Registration Statement; and (iv) comply in all material respects with the
provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the
disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by the Registration
Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended
methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in the Registration
Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold as promptly
as reasonably practicable and (if requested by any such Person) confirm
such notice in writing promptly 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 the Registration
Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on the
Registration Statement (the Company shall upon request provide true and
complete copies thereof and all written responses thereto to each of the
Holders); 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 during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement
for amendments or supplements to the 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 the 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; and (v) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time that
makes the financial statements included in the Registration Statement
ineligible for inclusion therein or 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 light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
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(d) Use commercially reasonable 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) Furnish to each Holder, without charge, at least one conformed copy
of the 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.
(f) Promptly deliver to each Holder, without charge, as many copies of
the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each
amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request in
connection with resales by the Holder of Registrable Securities. 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 on any notice pursuant to Section 3(c).
(g) 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 such 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 the 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.
(h) 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 the
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.
(i) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(c)(v),
as promptly as reasonably practiable, 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
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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 light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. If the Company notifies the Holders in accordance with clauses
(ii) through (v) of Section 3(c) above to suspend the use of 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(i) to suspend the availability of a Registration
Statement and Prospectus, subject to the payment of liquidated damages
pursuant to Section 2(b), for a period not to exceed 90 days (which need
not be consecutive days) in any 12 month period.
(j) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission.
(k) The Company may require each 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 person thereof
that has 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
shall be tolled and any Event that may otherwise occur solely because of
such delay shall be suspended, 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
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 Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then
listed for trading, and (B) in compliance with applicable state securities or
Blue Sky laws), (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses
of printing certificates for Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses
if the printing of prospectuses is reasonably requested by the holders of a
majority of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement),
(iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company, (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 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, agents and employees of each of them, each Person
who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers,
directors, agents and employees of each such controlling Person, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation,
reasonable attorneys' fees) and expenses (collectively, "Losses"), as
determined by a court of compentent jurisdiction in a final judgment not
subject to appeal or review arising out of or relating to any untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or
relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case
of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except to the
extent, but only to the extent, that (i) such untrue statements or
omissions or alleged untrue statements or omissions are based upon
information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by
such Holder 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 by such
Holder for use in the 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(c)(ii)-(v), 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
of which the Company is aware in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall, severally and not
jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers,
agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange
Act), and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling
Persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and
against all Losses, as determined by a court of compentent jurisdiction in
a final judgment not subject to appeal or review to the extent arising out
of or based 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 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 for inclusion in the Registration
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Statement or such Prospectus or (ii) to the extent that (1) such untrue
statements or omissions are based upon information regarding such Holder
furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder 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 approved in writing by such Holder for use in the 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 (2) in the case of an occurrence of an
event of the type specified in Section 3(c)(ii)-(v), 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 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 the reasonable fees and expenses of one separate
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
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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 not entitled to indemnification hereunder,
determined based upon the relative faults of the parties.
(d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under Section 5(a) or
5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party (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 this Agreement, any reasonable attorneys' or other
reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any
Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such
fees or expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section was
available to such party in accordance with its terms.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into
account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph. 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 by such Holder.
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.
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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 obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the
Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all
rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of
damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this
Agreement. The Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would
not provide adequate compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a
breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further
agrees that, in the event of any action for specific performance in respect
of such breach, it shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be
adequate.
(b) No Piggyback on Registrations and Subsequent Registration
Statements. 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 a
Registration Statement other than the Registrable Securities, and the
Company shall not after the date hereof enter into any agreement providing
any such right to any of its security holders. Except as set forth in the
SEC Reports, no Person has any right to cause the Company to effect the
registration under the Securities Act of any securities of the Company. The
Company shall not file any other registration statement (other than on Form
S-4 or Form S-8, each as promulgated under the Securities Act) until after
the Effective Date.
(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 the Registration Statement.
(d) Discontinued Disposition. 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), 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 or until it is advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company
that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either
case, has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that
are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such
Prospectus or Registration Statement. The Company may provide appropriate
stop orders to enforce the provisions of this paragraph.
(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
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Securities Act of any of its equity securities, other than on Form S-4 or
Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the Securities Act) or their then
equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in connection
with any acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities
issuable in connection with 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, subject to customary underwriter
cutbacks applicable to all holders of registration rights.
(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 certain 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 made in accordance
with the provisions of 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. Each Holder may
assign their respective rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons
as permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
(i) Execution and 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.
(j) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity,
enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be determined with
the provisions of the Purchase Agreement.
(k) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative
and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
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(l) 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.
(m) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(n) Independent Nature of Purchasers' Obligations and Rights. The
obligations of each Purchaser hereunder are several and not joint with the
obligations of any other Purchaser hereunder, and no Purchaser shall be
responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other
Purchaser hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or
document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Purchaser
pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as
a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity,
or create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in
concert with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement. Each Purchaser 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 Purchaser 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.
MPOWER HOLDING CORPORATION
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS TO RRA]
[PURCHASER]
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
ANNEX A
Plan of Distribution
The Selling Stockholders (the "Selling Stockholders") of the common stock
("Common Stock") of Mpower Holding Corporation (the "Company") 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 any 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. The Selling Stockholders 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;
o broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a
specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
o a combination of any such methods of sale; and
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. The Selling Stockholders do not expect these commissions and
discounts to exceed what is customary in the types of transactions involved.
The Selling Stockholders may from time to time pledge or grant a security
interest in some or all of the shares of common stock owned by them and, if they
default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured
parties may offer and sell the shares of common stock from time to time under
this prospectus, or under an amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3)
or other applicable provision of the Securities Act amending the
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list of Selling Stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other
successors in interest as Selling Stockholders under this prospectus.
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. The Selling Stockholders have informed the
Company that it does not have any agreement or understanding, directly or
indirectly, with any person to distribute the Common Stock.
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.
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