REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of June 30, 2005, by and among Mobilepro Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and The Bethell Family Trust, under Trust Agreement dated June 1, 1993 (the “Stockholder”).

 

A.  Pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated of even date herewith, by and among the Company, AFN Acquisition Corp., a Nevada corporation, American Fiber Network, Inc., a Nevada corporation and the Stockholder identified therein (the “Merger Agreement”), the Stockholder has been issued, as part of the Merger Consideration (as those terms are defined in the Merger Agreement), shares of the Company’s Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”).

 

B.  Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company is required to provide the Stockholder certain registration rights with respect to the Common Stock.

 

1.  REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

 

1.1  Definitions. For purposes of this Section 1:

 

(a)  Common Stock. The term “Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

(b)  Registration. The terms “register,”“registration” and “registered” refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement in compliance with the Securities Act, and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such registration statement.

 

(c)  Registrable Securities. The term “Registrable Securities” means the Common Stock issued pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

 

(d)  Registrable Securities Then Outstanding. The number of shares of “Registrable Securities then outstanding” shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock which are Registrable Securities that are then (1) issued and outstanding or (2) issuable pursuant to the exercise or conversion of then outstanding and then exercisable and qualifying options, warrants or convertible securities.

 

(e)  Holder. The term “Holder” means any person owning of record Registrable Securities or any assignee of record of such Registrable Securities to whom rights set forth herein have been duly assigned in accordance with this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company shall in no event be obligated to register shares of Common Stock except as set forth herein.

 

(f)  SEC. The term “SEC” or “Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

1.2  Piggyback Registrations. The Company shall notify all Holders of Registrable Securities in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to filing any registration statement under the Securities Act for purposes of effecting a public offering of securities of the Company (including, but not limited to, registration statements relating to secondary offerings of securities of the Company, but excluding registration statements relating to any employee benefit plan or a corporate reorganization or other transaction covered by Rule 145 promulgated under the Securities Act, or a registration on any registration form which does not permit secondary sales or does not include substantially the same information as would be required to be included in a registration statement covering the sale of Registrable Securities) and will afford each such Holder an opportunity to include in such registration statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities then held by such Holder. Each Holder desiring to include in any such registration statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities held by such Holder shall, within twenty (20) days after receipt of the above-described notice from the Company, so notify the Company in writing, and in such notice shall inform the Company of the number of Registrable Securities such Holder wishes to include in such registration statement. If a Holder decides not to include all of its Registrable Securities in any registration statement thereafter filed by the Company, such Holder shall nevertheless continue to have the right to include any Registrable Securities in any subsequent registration statement or registration statements as may be filed by the Company with respect to offerings of its securities, all upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

1.3  Obligations of the Company. Whenever required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under this Agreement, the Company shall, subject to the provisions of Section 1.3(g) below, as expeditiously as reasonably possible:

 

(a)  Prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective, and, upon the request of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities registered thereunder, keep such registration statement effective for up to ninety (90) days during which the Company has not exercised its right to suspend the registration statement pursuant to Section 1.3(g) below.

 

(b)  Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection with such registration statement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement.

 

(c)  Furnish to the Holders such number of copies of a prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as they may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by them that are included in such registration.

 

(d)  Use reasonable efforts to register and qualify the securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders, provided that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to service of process in any such states or jurisdictions.

 

(e)  In the event of any underwritten public offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing underwriter(s) of such offering. Each Holder participating in such underwriting hereby agrees to also enter into and perform its obligations under such an agreement.

 

(f)  Notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such 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 in the light of the circumstances then existing.

 

(g)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, from and after the time a registration statement filed under this Section 2 covering Registrable Securities is declared effective, the Company shall have the right to suspend the registration statement and the related prospectus in order to prevent premature disclosure of any material non-public information related to corporate developments by delivering notice of such suspension to the Holders, provided, however, that the Company may exercise the right to such suspension only once in any 12-month period and for a period not to exceed 90 days. From and after the date of a notice of suspension under this Section 1.3(g), each Holder agrees not to use the registration statement or the related prospectus for resale of any Registrable Security until the earlier of (1) notice from the Company that such suspension has been lifted or (2) the 90^th day following the giving of the notice of suspension.

 

1.4  Furnish Information. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to Section 1.2 that the selling Holders shall furnish to the Company such information regarding themselves, the Registrable Securities held by them, and the intended method of disposition of such securities as shall be required to timely effect the registration of their Registrable Securities.

 

1.5  Delay of Registration. No Holder shall have any right to obtain or seek an injunction restraining or otherwise delaying any such registration as the result of any controversy that might arise with respect to the interpretation or implementation of this Section 1.

 

1.6  Indemnification. In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a registration statement under Section 1.2:

 

(a)  By the Company. To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the partners, officers and directors of each Holder, any underwriter (as defined in the Securities Act) for such Holder and each person, if any, who controls such Holder or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”), against any losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (joint or several) to which they may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any of the following statements, omissions or violations (collectively, the “Violations” and, individually, a “Violation”):

 

(1)  any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in such registration statement, including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto; or

 

(2)  the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or

 

(3)  any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any federal or state securities law or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any federal or state securities law in connection with the offering covered by such registration statement.

 

The Company will reimburse each such Holder, partner, officer or director, underwriter or controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them, within three months after a request for reimbursement has been received by the Company, in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 1.6(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), nor shall the Company be liable in any such case for any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action to the extent that it arises out of or is based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished expressly for use in connection with such registration by such Holder, partner, officer, director, underwriter or controlling person of such Holder.

 

(b)  By Selling Holders. To the extent permitted by law, each selling Holder will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who have signed the registration statement, each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, any underwriter and any other Holder selling securities under such registration statement or any of such other Holder’s partners, directors or officers or any person who controls such Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (joint or several) to which the Company or any such director, officer, controlling person, underwriter or other such Holder, partner or director, officer or controlling person of such other Holder may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereto) arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent (and only to the extent) that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by such Holder expressly for use in connection with such registration. Each such Holder will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such director, officer, controlling person, underwriter or other Holder, partner, officer, director or controlling person of such other Holder in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; within three months after a request for reimbursement has been received by the indemnifying Holder, provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 1.6(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Holder, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; and provided further, that the total amounts payable in indemnity by a Holder under this Section 1.6(b) in respect of any Violation shall not exceed the net proceeds received by such Holder in the registered offering out of which such Violation arises.

 

(c)  Notice. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section  1.6 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any governmental action), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section  1.6, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof. The indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties; provided, however, that an indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential conflict of interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action, if prejudicial to its ability to defend such action, shall relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the indemnified party under this Section 1.6, but the failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party will not relieve it of any liability that it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 1.6.

 

(d)  Defect Eliminated in Final Prospectus. The foregoing indemnity agreements of the Company and Holders are subject to the condition that, insofar as they relate to any Violation made in a preliminary prospectus but eliminated or remedied in the amended prospectus on file with the SEC at the time the registration statement in question becomes effective or the amended prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to SEC Rule 424(b) (the “Final Prospectus”), such indemnity agreement shall not inure to the benefit of any person if a copy of the Final Prospectus was furnished to the indemnified party and was not furnished to the person asserting the loss, liability, claim or damage at or prior to the time such action is required by the Securities Act.

 

(e)  Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 1.6 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified party with respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party with respect to such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense in the proportion that is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. In any such case, (A) no such Holder will be required to contribute any amount in excess of the public offering price of all such Registrable Securities offered and sold by such Holder pursuant to such registration statement; and (B) no person or entity guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person or entity who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

(f)  Survival. The obligations of the Company and Holders under this Section 1.6 shall survive the completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in a registration statement, and otherwise.

 

1.7  Rule 144 Reporting. With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the Commission which may at any time permit the sale of the Registrable Securities to the public without registration, the Company agrees to:

 

(a)  Make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act;

 

(b)  Use reasonable, diligent efforts to file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements); and

 

(c)  So long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, to furnish to the Holder forthwith upon request a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of said Rule 144 (at any time after ninety (90) days after the effective date of the first registration statement filed by the Company for an offering of its securities to the general public), and of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act), a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and such other reports and documents of the Company as a Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the Commission allowing a Holder to sell any such securities without registration (at any time after the Company has become subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act).

 

2.  ASSIGNMENT AND AMENDMENT.

 

2.1  Assignment. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary:

 

(a)  Registration Rights. The registration rights of a Holder under Section 1 hereof may be assigned only to a party who acquires at least 500,000 shares of Common Stock; provided, however that no party may be assigned any of the foregoing rights unless the Company is given written notice by the assigning party at the time of such assignment stating the name and address of the assignee and identifying the securities of the Company as to which the rights in question are being assigned; provided further, that any such assignee of such rights is not deemed by the Board of Directors of the Company, in its reasonable judgment, to be a competitor of the Company; and provided further that any such assignee shall receive such assigned rights subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including without limitation the provisions of this Section 2. Assignments may be made without the Company’s consent or obtaining the minimum number of shares of Registrable Securities noted above if the assignment is to a partner, affiliate, shareholder, parent, child or spouse of the holder or to the holder’s estate.

 

2.2  Amendment and Waiver of Rights. Any provision 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 the written consent of the Company and Holders (and/or any of their permitted successors or assigns) holding Registrable Securities. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 2.2 shall be binding upon each Holder, each permitted successor or assignee of such Holder and the Company.

 

3.  GENERAL PROVISIONS.

 

3.1  Notices. Any and all notices required or permitted to be given to a party pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement will be in writing and will be effective and deemed to provide such party sufficient notice under this Agreement on the earliest of the following: (i) at the time of personal delivery, if delivery is in person; (ii)  at the time of transmission by facsimile, addressed to the other party at its facsimile number specified herein (or hereafter modified by subsequent notice to the parties hereto), with confirmation of receipt made by both telephone and printed confirmation sheet verifying successful transmission of the facsimile; (iii) one (1) business day after deposit with an express overnight courier for United States deliveries, or two (2) business days after such deposit for deliveries outside of the United States, with proof of delivery from the courier requested; or (iv) three (3) business days after deposit in the United States mail by certified mail (return receipt requested) for United States deliveries.

 

All notices for delivery outside the United States will be sent by facsimile or by express courier. Notices by facsimile shall be machine verified as received. All notices not delivered personally or by facsimile will be sent with postage and/or other charges prepaid and properly addressed to the party to be notified at the address or facsimile number as follows, or at such other address or facsimile number as such other party may designate by one of the indicated means of notice herein to the other parties hereto as follows:

 

(a)  if to the Stockholder, at 9401 Indian Creek Parkway; Suite 140, Building 40; Overland Park, KS 66210.

 

(b)  if to the Company, marked “Attention: President”, at 6701 Democracy Blvd., Suite 300, Bethesda, MD 20817.

 

3.2  Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the documents referred to herein, including, but not limited to the Merger Agreement, together with all the Exhibits hereto, constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, and supersede any and all prior understandings and agreements, whether oral or written, between or among the parties hereto with respect to the specific subject matter hereof.

 

3.3  Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to that body of laws pertaining to conflict of laws.

 

3.4  Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is determined by any court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such provision will be enforced to the maximum extent possible given the intent of the parties hereto. If such clause or provision cannot be so enforced, such provision shall be stricken from this Agreement and the remainder of this Agreement shall be enforced as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable clause or provision had (to the extent not enforceable) never been contained in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the forgoing, if the value of this Agreement based upon the substantial benefit of the bargain for any party is materially impaired, which determination as made by the presiding court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction shall be binding, then both parties agree to substitute such provision(s) through good faith negotiations.

 

3.5  Third Parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any person, other than the parties hereto and their successors and assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

3.6  Successors And Assigns. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.1, this Agreement, and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder, will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives.

 

3.7  Titles and Headings. The titles, captions and headings of this Agreement are included for ease of reference only and will be disregarded in interpreting or construing this Agreement. Unless otherwise specifically stated, all references herein to “sections” and “exhibits” will mean “sections” and “exhibits” to this Agreement.

 

3.8  Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered will be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

3.9  Costs And Attorneys’ Fees. In the event that any action, suit or other proceeding is instituted concerning or arising out of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereunder, the prevailing party shall recover all of such party’s costs and attorneys’ fees incurred in each such action, suit or other proceeding, including any and all appeals or petitions therefrom.

 

3.10  Adjustments for Stock Splits, Etc. Wherever in this Agreement there is a reference to a specific number of shares of Common Stock of the Company of any class or series, then, upon the occurrence of any subdivision, combination or stock dividend of such class or series of stock, the specific number of shares so referenced in this Agreement shall automatically be proportionally adjusted to reflect the affect on the outstanding shares of such class or series of stock by such subdivision, combination or stock dividend.

 

3.11  Further Assurances. The parties agree to execute such further documents and instruments and to take such further actions as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement.

 

3.12  Facsimile Signatures. This Agreement may be executed and delivered by facsimile and upon such delivery the facsimile signature will be deemed to have the same effect as if the original signature had been delivered to the other party. The original signature copy shall be delivered to the other party by express overnight delivery. The failure to deliver the original signature copy and/or the nonreceipt of the original signature copy shall have no effect upon the binding and enforceable nature of this Agreement.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date and year first written above.

 

THE COMPANY:   MOBILEPRO CORP.
Name:
By:	Jay O. Wright
Title:	Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDER:
THE BETHELL FAMILY TRUST,
under Trust Agreement dated June 1, 1993
By:
Douglas C. Bethell, Trustee