REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
EX-4.9 4 v047772_ex4-9.htm
Exhibit 4.9
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of July 14, 2006, by and between OMNI U.S.A., INC., a Nevada corporation (the "Company"), and the Potawatomi Business Development Corp., (the “Buyer”).
WHEREAS:
A. In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the parties hereto of even date herewith (the "Securities Purchase Agreement"), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained therein, to issue and sell to the Buyer (i) convertible debentures (the "Debentures") that are convertible into shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.004995 per share (the "Common Stock"), upon the terms and subject to the limitations and conditions set forth in such Debentures and (ii) warrants (the "Warrants") to purchase 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock, upon the terms and conditions and subject to the limitations and conditions set forth in the Warrants dated July 14, 2006; and
B. To induce the Buyer to execute and deliver the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the "1933 Act"), and applicable state securities laws;
NOW, THEREFORE, In consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Buyer hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
a. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(i) "BUYER" means Carol Leese, Chief Executive Officer Potawatomi Business Development Corp., and any transferee or assignee who agrees to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with Section 9 hereof.
(ii) "REGISTER," "REGISTERED," and "REGISTRATION" refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or Statements in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule 415 under the 1933 Act or any successor rule providing for offering securities on a continuous basis ("RULE 415"), and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
(iii) "REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means (a) the shares of Common Stock (the "Conversion Shares") issued or issuable upon conversion of or otherwise pursuant to the Debentures (including, without limitation, any shares issued or issuable pursuant to Sections 1.3 and 1.4 of the Debentures and Section 2 herein) (b) any shares of Common Stock (the "Warrant Shares") issued or issuable upon exercise of or otherwise pursuant to the Warrants and (c) any shares of capital stock issued or issuable as a dividend on or in exchange for or otherwise with respect to any of the foregoing.
(iv) "REGISTRATION STATEMENT(S)" means a registration statement(s) of the Company under the 1933 Act.
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b. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement.
2. REGISTRATION.
A. MANDATORY REGISTRATION. The Company shall prepare, and, on or prior to January 1, 2007 (the "FILING DATE") file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (or, if Form SB-2 is not then available, on such form of Registration Statement as is then available to effect a registration of the Registrable Securities, subject to the consent of the Buyer, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) covering the resale of the Registrable Securities, which Registration Statement, to the extent allowable under the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including Rule 416), shall state that such Registration Statement also covers such indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock as may become issuable upon conversion of or otherwise pursuant to the Debentures and exercise of or otherwise pursuant to the Warrants to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions. The number of shares of Common Stock initially included in such Registration Statement shall be no less than the aggregate number of Conversion Shares that are then issuable upon conversion of or otherwise pursuant to the Debentures (based on the Conversion Price (as defined in the Debentures) then in effect) and the aggregate number of Warrant Shares that are then issuable upon exercise of or otherwise pursuant to the Warrants, without regard to any limitation on the Buyer's ability to convert the Debentures or exercise the Warrants. The Company acknowledges that the number of shares initially included in the Registration Statement represents a good faith estimate of the maximum number of shares issuable upon conversion of or otherwise pursuant to the Debentures and exercise of or otherwise pursuant to the Warrants. The Registration Statement (and each amendment or supplement thereto, and each request for acceleration of effectiveness thereof) shall be provided to (and subject to the approval of) the Buyer and its counsel prior to its filing or other submission.
B. [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED].
C. PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY. The Company shall use its best efforts to obtain effectiveness of the Registration Statement as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than March 1, 2007 (the "REGISTRATION DEADLINE"). If (i) the Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof is not declared effective by the SEC by the Registration Deadline, or (ii) after the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC, sales of all of the Registrable Securities cannot be made pursuant to the Registration Statement, or (iii) the Common Stock is not listed or included for quotation on the Over the Counter Electronic Bulletin Board (the "OTC-BB"), the Nasdaq National Market ("NNM"), the Nasdaq Small Cap Market ("NASDAQ SMALL CAP"), the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") or the American Stock Exchange (the "AMEX"), then the Company will make payments to the Buyer in such amounts and at such times as shall be determined pursuant to this Section 2(c) as partial relief for the damages to the Buyer by reason of any such delay in or reduction of its ability to sell the Registrable Securities (which remedy shall not be exclusive of any other remedies available at law or in equity). The Company shall pay to each holder of the Debentures or Registrable Securities an amount equal to the then outstanding principal amount of the Debentures (and, in the case of holders of Registrable Securities, the principal amount of Debentures from which such Registrable Securities were converted or the aggregate exercise price paid for such Registrable Securities upon exercise of the Warrants) ("OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL AMOUNT") multiplied by the Applicable Percentage (as defined below) times the number of months (prorated for partial months) after the Registration Deadline and prior to the date the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC;
The term "APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE" means 2.0 hundredths (.02). (For example, if the Registration Statement becomes effective one (1) month after the Registration Deadline, the Company would pay $20,000 for each $1,000,000 of Outstanding Principal Amount. If thereafter, sales of all of the Registrable Securities could not be made pursuant to the Registration Statement for an additional period of one (1) month, the Company would pay an additional $20,000 for each $1,000,000 Outstanding Principal Amount. Such amounts shall be paid in cash within five (5) days after the end of each period that gives rise to such obligation, PROVIDED that, if any such period extends for more than thirty (30) days, interim payments shall be made for each such thirty (30) day period,
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PROVIDED, FURTHER, that, if such amounts are not paid within the period specified, at the Buyer's option, such amounts may be added to the Conversion Amount (as defined in the Debentures) of the Debentures and thereafter be convertible into Common Stock at the "CONVERSION PRICE" (as defined in the Debentures) in accordance with the terms of the Debentures. Any shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of such amounts shall be Registrable Securities. Nothing herein shall limit the Buyer's right to pursue damages for the failure to timely obtain effectiveness of the Registration Statement by the Registration Deadline or to thereafter maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement as required pursuant to this Agreement or to maintain the listing of the Common Stock;
D. PIGGY-BACK REGISTRATIONS. If at any time prior to the expiration of the Registration Period (as hereinafter defined) the Company shall determine to file with the SEC a Registration Statement relating to an offering for its own account or the account of others under the 1933 Act of any of its equity securities (other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities issuable in connection with stock option or other employee benefit plans), the Company shall send to Buyer written notice of such determination and, if within fifteen (15) days after the effective date of such notice, the Buyer shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such Registration Statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities the Buyer requests to be registered, except that if, in connection with any underwritten public offering for the account of the Company, the managing underwriter(s) thereof shall impose a limitation on the number of shares of Common Stock which may be included in the Registration Statement because, in such underwriter(s)' judgment, marketing or other factors dictate such limitation is necessary to facilitate public distribution, then the Company shall be obligated to include in such Registration Statement only such limited portion of the Registrable Securities with respect to which the Buyer has requested inclusion hereunder as the underwriter shall permit;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not exclude any Registrable Securities unless the Company has first excluded all outstanding securities, the holders of which are not entitled by contract to inclusion of such securities in such Registration Statement or are not entitled to pro rata inclusion with the Registrable Securities; and
PROVIDED, FURTHER, HOWEVER, that, after giving effect to the immediately preceding proviso, any exclusion of Registrable Securities shall be made pro rata with holders of other securities having the contractual right to include such securities in the Registration Statement other than holders of securities entitled to inclusion of their securities in such Registration Statement by reason of demand registration rights. No right to registration of Registrable Securities under this Section 2(d) shall be construed to limit any registration required under Section 2(a) hereof. If an offering in connection with which the Buyer is entitled to registration under this Section 2(d) is an underwritten offering, then the Buyer shall, unless otherwise agreed by the Company, offer and sell such Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering using the same underwriter or underwriters and, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, on the same terms and conditions as other shares of Common Stock included in such underwritten offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the registration rights of the Buyer pursuant to this Section 2(d) shall only be available in the event the Company fails to timely file, obtain effectiveness or maintain effectiveness of any Registration Statement to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a) in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
E. ELIGIBILITY FOR FORM SB-2. The Company represents and warrants that it meets the registrant eligibility and transaction requirements for the use of Form SB-2 for registration of the sale by the Buyer of the Registrable Securities and the Company shall file all reports required to be filed by the Company with the SEC in a timely manner so as to maintain such eligibility for the use of Form SB-2.
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3. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY. In connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities, the Company shall have the following obligations:
a. The Company shall prepare promptly, and file with the SEC as soon as practicable after the date of the Closing under the Securities Purchase Agreement (the "CLOSING DATE") (but no later than the Filing Date), a Registration Statement with respect to the number of Registrable Securities provided in Section 2(a), and thereafter use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement relating to Registrable Securities to become effective as soon as possible after such filing (but in no event later than the Registration Deadline), and keep the Registration Statement effective pursuant to Rule 415 at all times until such date as is the earlier of (i) the date on which all of the Registrable Securities have been sold and (ii) the date on which the Registrable Securities (in the opinion of counsel to the Buyer) may be immediately sold to the public without registration or restriction (including without limitation as to volume by each holder thereof) under the 1933 Act (the "REGISTRATION PERIOD"), which Registration Statement (including any amendments or supplements thereto and prospectuses contained therein) shall not contain any 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 not misleading.
b. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to the Registration Statements and the prospectus used in connection with the Registration Statements as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statements effective at all times during the Registration Period, and, during such period, comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities of the Company covered by the Registration Statements until such time as all of such Registrable Securities have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth in the Registration Statements. In the event that on any Trading Day (as defined in the Debentures) (the "REGISTRATION TRIGGER DATE") the number of shares available under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement is insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities issued or issuable upon conversion of or otherwise pursuant to the Debentures (based on the Conversion Price (as defined in the Debentures) then in effect) and exercise of or otherwise pursuant to the Warrants, in each case without giving effect to any limitations on the Buyer's ability to convert the Debentures or exercise the Warrants, the Company shall amend the Registration Statement, or file a new Registration Statement (on the short form available therefore, if applicable), or both, so as to cover one hundred percent (100%) of all of the Registrable Securities so issued or issuable (without giving effect to any limitations on conversion contained in the Debentures or exercise contained in the Warrants) as of the Registration Trigger Date, in each case, as soon as practicable, but in any event within twenty (20) business days after the necessity therefore arises (based on the market price of the Common Stock and other relevant factors on which the Company reasonably elects to rely), provided, however that the Company shall have a sufficient number of authorized and unissued shares. In the event the Company does not have a sufficient number of authorized and unissued shares, the Company shall use its best efforts to obtain all necessary shareholder approvals and to make all necessary filings to increase its authorized shares as promptly as practicable and, within twenty (20) business days after the necessary increase in its authorized shares shall become effective, amend the Registration Statement or file a new Registration Statement as set forth above. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause such amendment and/or new Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable following the filing thereof, but in any event within sixty (60) days of the Registration Trigger Date or as promptly as practicable in the event the Company is required to increase its authorized shares. The provisions of Section 2(c) above shall be applicable with respect to the Company's obligations under this Section 3(b).
c. The Company shall furnish to the Buyer and its legal counsel (i) promptly after the same is prepared and publicly distributed, filed with the SEC, or received by the Company, one copy of each Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, each preliminary prospectus and prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto, and, in the case of the Registration Statement referred to in Section 2(a), each letter written by or on behalf of the Company to the SEC or the staff of the SEC, and each item of correspondence from the SEC or the staff of the SEC, in each case relating to such Registration Statement (other than any portion of any thereof which contains information for which the Company has sought confidential treatment), and (ii) such number of copies of a prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto and such other documents as the Buyer may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by the Buyer. The Company will immediately notify the Buyer by facsimile of the effectiveness of each Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment. The Company will promptly respond to any and all comments received from the SEC, with a view towards causing each Registration Statement or any amendment thereto to be declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable and shall file an acceleration request as soon as practicable, but no later than three (3) business days (the "ACCELERATION REQUEST DEADLINE"), following the resolution or clearance of all SEC comments or, if applicable, following notification by the SEC that any such Registration Statement or any amendment thereto will not be subject to review.
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d. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to (i) register and qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statements under such other securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Buyer, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii) take such other actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and qualifications in effect at all times during the Registration Period, and (iv) take all other actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions;
e. [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
f. As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event, the Company shall notify the Buyer of the happening of any event, of which the Company has knowledge, as a result of which the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and use its best efforts promptly to prepare a supplement or amendment to any Registration Statement to correct such untrue statement or omission, and deliver such number of copies of such supplement or amendment to the Buyer as the Buyer may reasonably request; provided that, for not more than twenty (20) consecutive days (or a total of not more than sixty (60) days in any twelve (12) month period), the Company may delay the disclosure of material non-public information concerning the Company (as well as prospectus or Registration Statement updating) the disclosure of which at the time is not, in the good faith opinion of the Company, in the best interests of the Company (an "ALLOWED DELAY"); provided, further, that the Company shall promptly (i) notify the Buyer in writing of the existence of (but in no event, without the prior written consent of the Buyer, shall the Company disclose to the Buyer any of the facts or circumstances regarding) material non-public information giving rise to an Allowed Delay and (ii) advise the Buyer in writing to cease all sales under such Registration Statement until the end of the Allowed Delay, provided the above actions are consistent with the requirements of the 1933 Act and/or 1934 Act or other applicable law. Upon expiration of the Allowed Delay, the Company shall again be bound by the first sentence of this Section 3(f) with respect to the information giving rise thereto.
g. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of any Registration Statement, and, if such an order is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such order at the earliest possible moment and to notify the Buyer who holds Registrable Securities being sold (or, in the event of an underwritten offering, the managing underwriters) of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof.
h. The Company shall permit a single firm of counsel designated by the Buyer to review such Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto (as well as all requests for acceleration or effectiveness thereof) a reasonable period of time prior to their filing with the SEC (not less than three (3) business days but not more then five (5) business days) and not file any document in a form to which such counsel reasonably objects and will not request acceleration of such Registration Statement without prior notice to such counsel.
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i. The Company shall make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but not later than ninety (90) days after the close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying with the provisions of Rule 158 under the 1933 Act) covering a twelve-month period beginning not later than the first day of the Company's fiscal quarter next following the effective date of the Registration Statement.
j. At the request of the Buyer participating in an underwritten offering pursuant to Section 2(d), the Company shall furnish, on the date that Registrable Securities are delivered to an underwriter for sale in connection with any Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(d), (i) an opinion, dated as of such date, from counsel representing the Company for purposes of such Registration Statement, in form, scope and substance as is customarily given in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters, if any, and the Buyer and (ii) a letter, dated such date, from the Company's independent certified public accountants in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters, if any, and the Buyer.
k. The Company shall make available for inspection by (i) the Buyer, and (ii) one firm of attorneys and one firm of accountants or other agents retained by the Buyer (collectively, the "INSPECTORS") all pertinent financial and other records, and pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the "RECORDS"), as shall be reasonably deemed necessary by each Inspector to enable each Inspector to exercise its due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all information which any Inspector may reasonably request for purposes of such due diligence;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that each Inspector shall hold in confidence and shall not make any disclosure (except to the Buyer) of any Record or other information which the Company determines in good faith to be confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors are so notified, unless (a) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (b) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court or government body of competent jurisdiction, or (c) the information in such Records has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this or any other agreement. The Company shall not be required to disclose any confidential information in such Records to any Inspector until and unless such Inspector shall have entered into confidentiality agreements (in form and substance satisfactory to the Company) with the Company with respect thereto, substantially in the form of this Section 3(k). The Buyer agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, the Records deemed confidential. Nothing herein (or in any other confidentiality agreement between the Company and the Buyer) shall be deemed to limit the Buyer's ability to sell Registrable Securities in a manner which is otherwise consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
l. The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure of information concerning the Buyer provided to the Company unless (i) disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii) the release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, or (iv) such information has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this or any other agreement. The Company agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such information concerning the Buyer is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to the Buyer prior to making such disclosure, and allow the Buyer, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, such information.
m. The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) cause all the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be listed on each national securities exchange on which securities of the same class or series issued by the Company are then listed, if any, if the listing of such Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange, or (ii) to the extent the securities of the same class or series are not then listed on a national securities exchange, secure the designation and quotation, of all the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement on the NNM or, if not eligible for the NNM on the Nasdaq Small Cap or, if not eligible for the Nasdaq Small Cap, on the Over the Counter electronic bulletin board and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to arrange for at least two market makers to register with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") as such with respect to such Registrable Securities.
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n. The Company shall provide a transfer agent and registrar, which may be a single entity, for the Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of the Registration Statement.
o. The Company shall cooperate with the Buyer who holds Registrable Securities being offered and the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to such Registration Statement and enable such certificates to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may be, as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or the Buyer may reasonably request and registered in such names as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or the Buyer may request, and, within three (3) business days after a Registration Statement which includes Registrable Securities is ordered effective by the SEC, the Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal counsel selected by the Company to deliver, to the transfer agent for the Registrable Securities (with copies to the Buyer) an appropriate instruction and an opinion of such counsel in the form required by the transfer agent in order to issue the Registrable Securities free of restrictive legends.
p. At the request of the holders of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities, the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to a Registration Statement and any prospectus used in connection with the Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to change the plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement.
q. The Company shall not, and shall not agree to, allow the holders of any securities of the Company to include any of their securities in any Registration Statement under Section 2(a) hereof or any amendment or supplement thereto under Section 3(b) hereof without the consent of the holders of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities. In addition, the Company shall not offer any securities for its own account or the account of others in any Registration Statement under Section 2(a) hereof or any amendment or supplement thereto under Section 3(b) hereof without the consent of the holders of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities.
r. The Company shall take all other reasonable actions necessary to expedite and facilitate disposition by the Buyer of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.
s. The Company shall comply with all applicable laws related to a Registration Statement and offering and sale of securities and all applicable rules and regulations of governmental authorities in connection therewith (including without limitation the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC).
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE BUYER. In connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities, the Buyer shall have the following obligations:
a. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities of the Buyer that the Buyer shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it as shall be reasonably required to effect the registration of such Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request. At least three (3) business days prior to the first anticipated filing date of the Registration Statement, the Company shall notify the Buyer of the information the Company requires from each the Buyer.
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b. The Buyer, by the Buyer's acceptance of the Registrable Securities, agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statements hereunder, unless the Buyer has notified the Company in writing of the Buyer's election to exclude all of the Buyer's Registrable Securities from the Registration Statements.
c. In the event of an underwritten offering pursuant to Section 2(d) in which any Registrable Securities are to be included, the Buyer agrees to enter into and perform the Buyer's obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, including, without limitation, customary indemnification and contribution obligations, with the managing underwriter of such offering and take such other actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities, unless the Buyer has notified the Company in writing of the Buyer's election to exclude all of the Buyer's Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement.
d. The Buyer agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(f) or 3(g), the Buyer will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities until the Buyer's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(f) or 3(g) and, if so directed by the Company, the Buyer shall deliver to the Company (at the expense of the Company) or destroy (and deliver to the Company a certificate of destruction) all copies in the Buyer's possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.
e. No Buyer may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless the Buyer (i) agrees to sell the Buyer's Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements in usual and customary form entered into by the Company, (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements, and (iii) agrees to pay its pro rata share of all underwriting discounts and commissions and any expenses in excess of those payable by the Company pursuant to Section 5 below.
5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION. All reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, incurred in connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, including, without limitation, all registration, listing and qualification fees, printers and accounting fees, the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel selected by the Buyer pursuant to Sections 2(b) and 3(h) hereof shall be borne by the Company.
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6. INDEMNIFICATION. In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a Registration Statement under this Agreement:
a. To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify, hold harmless and defend (i) the Buyer, (ii) the directors, officers, partners, managers, members, employees, agents and each person who controls any Buyer within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 ACT"), if any, (iii) any underwriter (as defined in the 1933 Act) for the Buyer in connection with an underwritten offering pursuant to Section 2(d) hereof, and (iv) the directors, officers, partners, employees and each person who controls any such underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, if any (each, an "INDEMNIFIED PERSON"), against any joint or several losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (collectively, together with actions, proceedings or inquiries by any regulatory or self-regulatory organization, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof, "CLAIMS") to which any of the may become subject insofar as such Claims arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in a Registration Statement or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus if used prior to the effective date of such Registration Statement, or contained in the final prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which the statements therein were made, not misleading; or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law, including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable Securities (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) being, collectively, "VIOLATIONS"). Subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 6(c) with respect to the number of legal counsel, the Company shall reimburse the Indemnified Person, promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any reasonable legal fees or other reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (i) shall not apply to a Claim arising out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by any Indemnified Person or underwriter for such Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with the preparation of such Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto; (ii) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; and (iii) with respect to any preliminary prospectus, shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Person if the untrue statement or omission of material fact contained in the preliminary prospectus was corrected on a timely basis in the prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, such corrected prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(c) hereof, and the Indemnified Person was promptly advised in writing not to use the incorrect prospectus prior to the use giving rise to a Violation and such Indemnified Person, notwithstanding such advice, used it. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Buyer pursuant to Section 9.
b. [Intentionally Omitted].
c. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any governmental action), such Indemnified Person shall, if Claim in respect thereof is to be made against any Indemnified Person or the Company under this Section 6, deliver to the Company a written notice of the commencement thereof, and the Company shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the Company so desires, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the Company and the Indemnified Person, as the case may be.
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that an Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the fees and expenses to be paid by the Company, if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel retained by the Company, the representation by such counsel of the Indemnified Person and the Company would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such Indemnified Person and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The Company shall pay for only one separate legal counsel for the Indemnified Persons, and such legal counsel shall be selected by Buyer, if the Buyer is entitled to indemnification hereunder. The failure to deliver written notice to the Company within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not relieve the Company of any liability to the Indemnified Person under this Section 6, except to the extent that the Company is actually prejudiced in its ability to defend such action. The indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as such expense, loss, damage or liability is incurred and is due and payable.
7. CONTRIBUTION. To the extent any indemnification by the Company is prohibited or limited by law, the Company agrees to make the maximum contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law.
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8. REPORTS UNDER THE 1934 ACT. With a view to making available to the Buyer the benefits of Rule144 promulgated under the 1933 Act or any other similar rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Buyer to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration ("RULE 144"), the Company agrees to:
a. make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144;
b. file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so long as the Company remains subject to such requirements (it being understood that nothing herein shall limit the Company's obligations under Section 4(c) of the Securities Purchase Agreement) and the filing of such reports and other documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
c. furnish to the Buyer so long as the Buyer owns Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company, and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested to permit the Buyers to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.
9. ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS. The rights under this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by the Buyers to any transferee of all or any portion of Registrable Securities if: (i) the Buyer agrees in writing with the transferee or assignee to assign such rights, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such assignment, (ii) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with written notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or assignee, and (b) the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned, (iii) following such transfer or assignment, the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is restricted under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, (iv) at or before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this sentence, the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein, and (v) such transfer shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Purchase Agreement.
10. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS. Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only with written consent of the Company, the Buyer (to the extent such Buyer still owns Registrable Securities) and Buyers who hold a majority interest of the Registrable Securities. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 10 shall be binding upon the Buyer and the Company.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
a. A person or entity is deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities whenever such person or entity owns of record such Registrable Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or elections from two or more persons or entities with respect to the same Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions, notice or election received from the registered owner of such Registrable Securities.
b. Any notices required or permitted to be given under the terms hereof shall be sent by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested) or delivered personally or by courier (including a recognized overnight delivery service) or by facsimile and shall be effective five days after being placed in the mail, if mailed by regular United States mail, or upon receipt, if delivered personally or by courier (including a recognized overnight delivery service) or by facsimile, in each case addressed to a party. The addresses for such communications shall be:
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If to the Company: To the address set forth immediately below such Company's name on the signature pages hereto.
With copy to:
David Ficksman, Esq.
TROY & GOULD PC
1801 Century Park East, Suite 1600
Los Angeles, CA 90067-2367
Tel ###-###-####
Fax ###-###-####
If to a Buyer: To the address set forth immediately below such Buyer's name on the signature pages hereto.
Each party shall provide notice to the other party of any change in address.
c. Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof.
d. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of California. Any controversy or claim arising out of or related to this Debenture or the breach thereof, shall be settled by binding arbitration in San Diego, CA in accordance with the Expedited Procedures (Rules 53-57) of the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"). A proceeding shall be commenced upon written demand by Company or the Buyer to the other. The arbitrator(s) shall enter a judgment by default against any party, which fails or refuses to appear in any properly noticed arbitration proceeding. The proceeding shall be conducted by one (1) arbitrator, unless the amount alleged to be in dispute exceeds two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000), in which case three (3) arbitrators shall preside. The arbitrator(s) will be chosen by the parties from a list provided by the AAA, and if they are unable to agree within ten (10) days, the AAA shall select the arbitrator(s). The arbitrators must be experts in securities law and financial transactions. The arbitrators shall assess costs and expenses of the arbitration, including all attorneys' and experts' fees, as the arbitrators believe is appropriate in light of the merits of the parties' respective positions in the issues in dispute. Each party submits irrevocably to the jurisdiction of any state court sitting in San Diego, CA or to the United States District Court sitting in California for purposes of enforcement of any discovery order, judgment or award in connection with such arbitration. The award of the arbitrator(s) shall be final and binding upon the parties and may be enforced in any court having jurisdiction. The arbitration shall be held in such place as set by the arbitrator(s) in accordance with Rule 55. With respect to any arbitration proceeding in accordance with this section, the prevailing party's reasonable attorney's fees and expenses shall be borne by the non-prevailing party.
Although the parties, as expressed above, agree that all claims, including claims that are equitable in nature, for example specific performance, shall initially be prosecuted in the binding arbitration procedure outlined above, if the arbitration panel dismisses or otherwise fails to entertain any or all of the equitable claims asserted by reason of the fact that it lacks jurisdiction, power and/or authority to consider such claims and/or direct the remedy requested, then, in only that event, will the parties have the right to initiate litigation respecting such equitable claims or remedies. The forum for such equitable relief shall be in either a state or federal court sitting in San Diego, CA. Each party waives any right to a trial by jury, assuming such right exists in an equitable proceeding, and irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of said California court. California law shall govern both the proceeding as well as the interpretation and construction of this Agreement and the transaction as a whole.
e. This Agreement and the Securities Purchase Agreement (including all schedules and exhibits thereto) constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein and therein. This Agreement and the Securities Purchase Agreement supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
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f. Subject to the requirements of Section 9 hereof, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto.
g. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
h. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be delivered to the other party hereto by facsimile transmission of a copy of this Agreement bearing the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.
i. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
j. Except as otherwise provided herein, all consents and other determinations to be made by the Buyer pursuant to this Agreement shall be made by Buyers holding a majority of the Registrable Securities, determined as if the all of the Debentures then outstanding have been converted into Registrable Securities.
k. The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Buyer by vitiating the intent and purpose of the transactions contemplated hereby. Accordingly, the Company acknowledges that the remedy at law for breach of its obligations hereunder will be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by the Company of any of the provisions hereunder, that the Buyer shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies in law or in equity, to an injunction or injunctions to prevent or cure breaches of the provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required.
l. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.
m. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then such provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that it may conflict therewith and shall be deemed modified to conform with such statute or rule of law. Any provision hereof which may prove invalid or unenforceable under any law shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof.
n. The initial number of Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement and each increase to the number of Registrable Securities included therein shall be allocated pro rata among the Buyers based on the number of Registrable Securities held by the Buyer at the time of such establishment or increase, as the case may be. In the event an Buyer shall sell or otherwise transfer any of such holder's Registrable Securities, each transferee shall be allocated a pro rata portion of the number of Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement for such transferor. Any shares of Common Stock included on a Registration Statement and which remain allocated to any person or entity which does not hold any Registrable Securities shall be allocated to the remaining Buyers, pro rata based on the number of shares of Registrable Securities then held by the Buyers. For the avoidance of doubt, the number of Registrable Securities held by a Buyer shall be determined as if all the Debentures and Warrants then outstanding and held by the Buyer were converted into or exercised for Registrable Securities.
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o. There shall be no oral modifications or amendments to this Agreement. This Agreement may be modified or amended only in writing.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Buyer and the Company have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the 14th day of July 2006.
OMNI U.S.A., INC., the Company | Potawatomi Business Development Corp., the Buyer |
By: /S/ LOWELL W. GIFFHORN | By: /S/ CAROL LEESE |
Lowell W. Giffhorn, CFO | Carol Leese, CEO |
ADDRESS: | ADDRESS: |
2236 Rutherford Rd., Suite 107 | 320 E. Buffalo St., Suite 607 |
Carlsbad, CA 92008 | Milwaukee, WI 53202 |
Telephone: (760) 929-7500 Ext 210 | Telephone: 262 ###-###-#### |
Facsimile: (760) 929-7504 | Facsimile: 262 ###-###-#### |
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