REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

 

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of March 13, 2007, by and among NEWGEN TECHNOLOGIES, INC., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and the undersigned Buyers listed on Schedule I attached hereto (each, a “Buyer” and collectively, the “Buyers”).

 

 

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 of the Securities Purchase Agreement, to issue and sell to the Buyers (i) secured convertible debenture (the “Convertible Debenture”) which shall be convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock,” as converted, the “Conversion Shares”) in accordance with the terms of the Convertible Debenture, and (ii) warrants (the “Warrants”), which will be exercisable to purchase shares of Common Stock (as exercised, collectively, the “Warrant Shares”). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

B. To induce the Buyers 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 “Securities 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 Buyers hereby agree as follows:

 

1. DEFINITIONS.

 

As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(a) “Effectiveness Deadline” means, with respect to the initial Registration Statement required to be filed hereunder, the 120^th calendar day following receipt of or written demand from the buyers requesting the filing of such Registration Statements, and, with respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be required pursuant to Section 3(c), the 120^th calendar day following the date on which the Company first knows, or reasonably should have known, that such additional Registration Statement is required hereunder; provided, however, in the event the Company is notified by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that one of the above Registration Statements will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further review and comments, the Effectiveness Date as to such Registration Statement shall be the fifth Trading Day following the date on which the Company is so notified if such date precedes the dates required above.

 

(b) “Filing Deadline” means, with respect to the initial Registration Statement required hereunder, the 30th calendar day following receipt of or written demand from the buyers requesting the filing of such Registration Statements, and, with respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be required pursuant to Section 3(c), the 30th day following the date on which the Company first knows, or reasonably should have known that such additional Registration Statement is required hereunder; provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be required to honor any demand for the filing of a Registration Statement hereunder while the Company is engaged in a material acquisition until the later of thirty (30) calendar days have passed from the date on which the Company files a Form 8-K (or amended Form 8-K) under the Exchange Act (as defined hereafter) that reports the acquisition and includes all of the financial statements required by Form 8-K with respect thereto or sixty (60) calendar days following receipt of or written demand from the buyers requesting the filing of such Registration Statements.

 

(c) “Person” means a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a partnership, an organization, a business, an individual, a governmental or political subdivision thereof or a governmental agency.

 

(d) “Prospectus” means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

 

(e) “Registrable Securities” means all of (i) the Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Debenture and (ii) any additional shares issuable in connection with any anti-dilution provisions in the Convertible Debenture (without giving effect to any limitations on exercise set forth in the Convertible Debenture) and (iii) any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable with respect to the Conversion Shares, the Convertible Debenture, as a result of any stock split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization or similar event or otherwise, without regard to any limitations on the conversion of the Convertible Debenture.

 

(f) “Registration Statement” means the registration statements required to be filed hereunder and any additional registration statements contemplated by Section 3(c), including (in each case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

 

(g) “Required Registration Amount” means (i) 300% (or such lesser amount as the SEC may permit as evidenced in comments received to a filed Registration Statement) of the number of Conversion Shares issued and issuable pursuant to the Convertible Debenture as of the trading day immediately preceding the applicable date of determination (without regard to any limitations on conversion of the Convertible Debenture).

 

(h) “Rule 415” means Rule 415 promulgated by the SEC 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 SEC having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.

 

2. REGISTRATION.

 

(a) On or prior to each Filing Deadline, the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-1 or SB-2 (or, if the Company is then eligible, on Form S-3) covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities. The Registration Statement prepared pursuant hereto shall register for resale at least the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Required Registration Amount as of date the Registration Statement is initially filed with the SEC. The Registration Statement shall contain the “Selling Stockholders” and “Plan of Distribution” sections in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A and contain all the required disclosures set forth on Exhibit B. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable, but in no event later than the Effectiveness Deadline. On the date following the date of effectiveness, the Company shall file with the SEC in accordance with Rule 424 under the 1933 Act the final Prospectus to be used in connection with sales pursuant to such Registration Statement. The Company shall cause the Registration Statement to remain effective until all of the Registrable Securities 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 (“Registration Period”). Prior to the filing of the Registration Statement with the SEC, the Company shall furnish a draft of the Registration Statement to the Buyers for their review and comment. The Buyers shall furnish comments on the Registration Statement to the Company within twenty-four (24) hours of the receipt thereof from the Company.

 

(b) Failure to File or Obtain Effectiveness of the Registration Statement. If: (i) a Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to its Filing Date (if the Company files a Registration Statement without affording the Holders the opportunity to review and comment on the same as required by Section 3(a), the Company shall not be deemed to have satisfied this clause (i)), or (ii) the Company fails to file with the SEC 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 SEC that a Registration Statement will not be “reviewed,” or not subject to further review, or (iii) a Registration Statement filed or required to be filed hereunder is not declared effective by the SEC by its Effectiveness Deadline, or (iv) after the effectiveness, a Registration Statement ceases for any reason to remain continuously effective as to all Registrable Securities for which it is required to be effective, or the Holders are otherwise not permitted to utilize the Prospectus therein to resell such Registrable Securities for more than 30 consecutive calendar days or more than an aggregate of 60 calendar days during any 12-month period (which need not be consecutive calendar days) (any such failure or breach being referred to as an “Event”), then in addition to any other rights the holders of the Convertible Debenture may have hereunder or under applicable law, on each such Event date and on each monthly anniversary of each such Event date (if the applicable Event shall not have been cured by such date) until the applicable Event is cured, the Company shall pay to each holder of Convertible Debenture an amount in cash, as partial liquidated damages (“Liquidated Damages”) and not as a penalty, equal to 2.0% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such holder pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement for the Convertible Debenture then held by such holder. The parties agree that (1) the Company shall not be liable for Liquidated Damages under this Agreement with respect to any Warrants or Warrant Shares and (2) the maximum aggregate Liquidated Damages payable to a holder of Convertible Debenture under this Agreement shall be twenty-four percent (24%) of the aggregate Purchase Price paid by such holder pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement. The partial Liquidated Damages pursuant to the terms hereof shall apply on a daily pro-rata basis for any portion of a month prior to the cure of an Event.

 

(c) Liquidated Damages. The Company and the Buyer hereto acknowledge and agree that the sums payable under subsection 2(b) above shall constitute liquidated damages and not penalties and are in addition to all other rights of the Buyer, including the right to call a default. The parties further acknowledge that (i) the amount of loss or damages likely to be incurred is incapable or is difficult to precisely estimate, (ii) the amounts specified in such subsections bear a reasonable relationship to, and are not plainly or grossly disproportionate to, the probable loss likely to be incurred in connection with any failure by the Company to obtain or maintain the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, (iii) one of the reasons for the Company and the Buyer reaching an agreement as to such amounts was the uncertainty and cost of litigation regarding the question of actual damages, and (iv) the Company and the Buyer are sophisticated business parties and have been represented by sophisticated and able legal counsel and negotiated this Agreement at arm’s length.

 

3. RELATED OBLIGATIONS.

 

(a) The Company shall, not less than three (3) Trading Days prior to the filing of each Registration Statement and not less than one (1) Trading Day prior to the filing of any related amendments and supplements to all Registration Statements (except for annual reports on Form 10-K or Form 10-KSB), furnish to each Buyer copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents (other than those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference) will be subject to the reasonable and prompt review of such Buyers, The Company shall not file a Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto to which the Buyers shall reasonably object in good faith; provided that, the Company is notified of such objection in writing no later than two (2) Trading Days after the Buyers have been so furnished copies of a Registration Statement.

 

(b) The Company shall (i) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to a Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection with such Registration Statement, which prospectus is to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated under the Securities Act, as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective at all times during the Registration Period, and prepare and file with the SEC such additional Registration Statements in order to register for resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities; (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement (subject to the terms of this Agreement), and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably possible to any comments received from the SEC with respect to a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and as promptly as reasonably possible provide the Buyers true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to the SEC relating to a Registration Statement (provided that the Company may excise any information contained therein which would constitute material non-public information as to any Buyer which has not executed a confidentiality agreement with the Company); and (iv) comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities of the Company covered by such Registration Statement until such time as all of such Registrable Securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth in such Registration Statement. In the case of amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement which are required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement (including pursuant to this Section 3(b)) by reason of the Company’s filing a report on Form 10-KSB, Form 10-QSB or Form 8-K or any analogous report under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the Company shall incorporate such report by reference into the Registration Statement, if applicable, or shall file such amendments or supplements with the SEC on the same day on which the Exchange Act report is filed which created the requirement for the Company to amend or supplement the Registration Statement.

 

(c) If during the Registration Period, the number of Registrable Securities at any time exceeds the number of shares of Common Stock then registered in a Registration Statement, then the Company shall file as soon as reasonably practicable but in any case prior to the applicable Filing Deadline, an additional Registration Statement covering the resale by the Buyers of not less than 300% of the number of such Registrable Securities.

 

(d) The Company shall furnish to each Buyer whose Registrable Securities are included in any Registration Statement, without charge, (i) at least one (1) copy of such Registration Statement as declared effective by the SEC and any amendment(s) thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference, all exhibits and each preliminary prospectus, (ii) ten (10) copies of the final prospectus included in such Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto (or such other number of copies as such Buyer may reasonably request) and (iii) such other documents as such Buyer may reasonably request from time to time in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Buyer.

 

(e) The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) register and qualify the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement under such other securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as any Buyer reasonably requests, (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; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (w) make any change to its articles of incorporation or by-laws, (x) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (y) subject itself to general taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (z) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction. The Company shall promptly notify each Buyer who holds Registrable Securities of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the registration or qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction in the United States or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose.

 

(f) As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event or development, the Company shall notify each Buyer in writing of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omission 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 (provided that in no event shall such notice contain any material, nonpublic information), and promptly prepare a supplement or amendment to such Registration Statement to correct such untrue statement or omission, and deliver ten (10) copies of such supplement or amendment to each Buyer. The Company shall also promptly notify each Buyer in writing (i) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and when a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment has become effective (notification of such effectiveness shall be delivered to each Buyer by facsimile on the same day of such effectiveness), (ii) of any request by the SEC for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related prospectus or related information, and (iii) of the Company’s reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate.

 

(g) The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or the suspension of the qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction within the United States of America and, if such an order or suspension is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such order or suspension at the earliest possible moment and to notify each Buyer who holds Registrable Securities being sold of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose.

 

(h) If, after the execution of this Agreement, a Buyer believes, after consultation with its legal counsel, that it could reasonably be deemed to be an underwriter of Registrable Securities, at the request of any Buyer, the Company shall furnish to such Buyer, on the date of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and thereafter from time to time on such dates as a Buyer may reasonably request (i) 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, and (ii) an opinion, dated as of such date, of 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 Buyers.

 

(i) If, after the execution of this Agreement, a Buyer believes, after consultation with its legal counsel, that it could reasonably be deemed to be an underwriter of Registrable Securities, at the request of any Buyer, the Company shall make available for inspection by (i) any Buyer and (ii) one (1) firm of accountants or other agents retained by the Buyers (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, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information which any Inspector may reasonably request; provided, however, that each Inspector shall agree, and each Buyer hereby agrees, to hold in strict confidence and shall not make any disclosure (except to a Buyer) or use 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 or is otherwise required under the Securities Act, (b) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a final, non-appealable subpoena or 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 of which the Inspector and the Buyer has knowledge. Each 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.

 

(j) The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure of information concerning a 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 final, non-appealable 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 Agreement or any other agreement. The Company agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such information concerning a Buyer is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt written notice to such Buyer and allow such Buyer, at the Buyer’s expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, such information.

 

(k) The Company shall use its best efforts either to cause all the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement (i) to be listed on each 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) the inclusion for quotation on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. OTC Bulletin Board for such Registrable Securities. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligation under this Section 3(j).

 

(l) The Company shall cooperate with each Buyer who holds Registrable Securities being offered and, to the extent applicable, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legend) representing the Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to a Registration Statement and enable such certificates to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may be, as the Buyers may reasonably request and registered in such names as the Buyers may request.

 

(m) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities.

 

(n) The Company shall make generally available to its security holders as soon as practical, but not later than one hundred five (105) days after the close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying with the provisions of Rule 158 under the Securities Act) covering a twelve (12) month period beginning not later than the first day of the Company’s fiscal quarter next following the effective date of the Registration Statement.

 

(o) The Company shall otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC in connection with any registration hereunder.

 

(p) Within two (2) business days after a Registration Statement which covers Registrable Securities is declared effective by the SEC, the Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal counsel for the Company to deliver, to the transfer agent for such Registrable Securities (with copies to the Buyer whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement) confirmation that such Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

 

(q) The Company shall take all other reasonable actions necessary to expedite and facilitate disposition by each Buyer of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.

 

4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE BUYERS.

 

(a) Each 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 the first sentence of Section 3(e), such Buyer will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities until such Buyer’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(f) or the first sentence of Section 3(e) or receipt of notice that no supplement or amendment is required. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Company shall cause its transfer agent to deliver unlegended certificates for shares of Common Stock to a transferee of a Buyer in accordance with the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which a Buyer has entered into a contract for sale prior to the Buyer’s receipt of a notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(f) or the first sentence of 3(e) and for which the Buyer has not yet settled.

 

(b) Each Buyer covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to it or an exemption there from in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.

 

5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.

 

All expenses incurred in connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, including, without limitation, all registration, listing and qualifications fees, printers, legal and accounting fees shall be paid by the Company. All selling expenses (including broker commissions and related expenses) incurred by each Buyer in connection with the sale of Registrable Securities shall be paid by such Buyer.

 

6. INDEMNIFICATION.

 

With respect to Registrable Securities which are included in a Registration Statement under this Agreement:

 

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will, and hereby does, indemnify, hold harmless and defend each Buyer, the directors, officers, partners, employees, agents, representatives of, and each Person, if any, who controls any Buyer within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each, an “Indemnified Person”), against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees, amounts paid in settlement or expenses, joint or several (collectively, “Claims”) incurred in investigating, preparing or defending any action, claim, suit, inquiry, proceeding, investigation or appeal taken from the foregoing by or before any court or governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency, body or the SEC, whether pending or threatened, whether or not an indemnified party is or may be a party thereto (“Indemnified Damages”), to which any of them may become subject insofar as such Claims (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or in any filing made in connection with the qualification of the offering under the securities or other “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction in which Registrable Securities are offered (“Blue Sky Filing”), or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any 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 Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any other law, including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation there under relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) being, collectively, “Violations”). The Company shall reimburse the Buyers and each such controlling person promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any legal fees or disbursements 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): (w) shall not apply to any Claim arising out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Indemnified Person; (x) shall not apply to a Claim by an Indemnified Person 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 such Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto; (y) shall not be available to the extent such Claim is based on a failure of the Buyer to deliver or to cause to be delivered the prospectus made available by the Company, if such prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(c); and (z) 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. 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 Buyers pursuant to Section 9 hereof.

 

(b) In connection with a Registration Statement, each Buyer agrees to severally and not jointly indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same manner as is set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers, employees, representatives, or agents and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each an “Indemnified Party”), against any Claim or Indemnified Damages to which any of them may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim or Indemnified Damages arise out of or is 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 to the Company by such Buyer expressly for use in connection with such Registration Statement; and, subject to Section 6(d), such Buyer will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6(b) and the agreement with respect to contribution contained in Section 7 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of such Buyer, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, further, however, that the Buyer shall be liable under this Section 6(b) for only that amount of a Claim or Indemnified Damages as does not exceed the net proceeds to such Buyer as a result of the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Buyers pursuant to Section 9. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(b) with respect to any prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Party if the untrue statement or omission of material fact contained in the prospectus was corrected and such new prospectus was delivered to each Buyer prior to such Buyer’s use of the prospectus to which the Claim relates. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification obligations stated herein shall not apply to any Claim arising out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Indemnified Person

 

(c) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including any governmental action or proceeding) involving a Claim, such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof, and 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 control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party and the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party, as the case may be; provided, however, that an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the fees and expenses of not more than one (1) counsel for such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party to be paid by the indemnifying party, if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel retained by the indemnifying party, the representation by such counsel of the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person shall cooperate fully with the indemnifying party in connection with any negotiation or defense of any such action or claim by the indemnifying party and shall furnish to the indemnifying party all information reasonably available to the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person which relates to such action or claim. The indemnifying party shall keep the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person fully apprised at all times as to the status of the defense or any settlement negotiations with respect thereto. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any action, claim or proceeding effected without its prior written consent; provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition its consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement or other compromise which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation. Following indemnification as provided for hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be subrogated to all rights of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person with respect to all third parties, firms or corporations relating to the matter for which indemnification has been made. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is prejudiced in its ability to defend such action.

 

(d) 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 and when bills are received or Indemnified Damages are incurred.

 

(e) The indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in addition to (i) any cause of action or similar right of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person against the indemnifying party or others, and (ii) any liabilities the indemnifying party may be subject to pursuant to the law.

 

7. CONTRIBUTION.

 

To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party 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; provided, however, that: (i) no seller of Registrable Securities guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation; and (ii) contribution by any seller of Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds received by such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities.

 

8. REPORTS UNDER THE EXCHANGE ACT.

 

With a view to making available to the Buyers the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or any similar rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Buyers 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 Securities Act and the Exchange 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 as are required by the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and

 

(c) furnish to each Buyer so long as such 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 Securities Act and the Exchange 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. 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 the written consent of the Company and Buyers who then hold at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Registrable Securities. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 9 shall be binding upon each Buyer and the Company. No such amendment shall be effective to the extent that it applies to fewer than all of the holders of the Registrable Securities. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of any of this Agreement unless the same consideration also is offered to all of the parties to this Agreement.

 

10. MISCELLANEOUS.

 

(a) A Person is deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities whenever such Person owns or is deemed to own of record such Registrable Securities or owns the right to receive the Registrable Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or elections from two (2) or more Persons 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) No Piggyback on Registrations. Except as set forth on Schedule 10(b) attached hereto, neither the Company nor any of its security holders (other than the Buyers in such capacity pursuant hereto) may include securities of the Company in the initial Registration Statement other than the Registrable Securities. The Company shall not file any other registration statements until the initial Registration Statement required hereunder is declared effective by the SEC, provided that this Section 10(b) shall not prohibit the Company from filing amendments to registration statements already filed.

 

(c) Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time during the Registration 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 SEC a registration statement relating to an offering for its own account or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the Securities Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities issuable in connection with the stock option or other employee benefit plans, then the Company shall send to each Buyer a written notice of such determination and, if within fifteen (15) days after the date of such notice, any such Buyer shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such Buyer requests to be registered; provided, however, that, the Company shall not be required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 10(c) that are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144(k) promulgated under the Securities Act or that are the subject of a then effective Registration Statement.

 

(d) Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party); or (iii) one (1) business day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, in each case properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications shall be:

 

If to the Company, to:	NewGen Technologies, Inc.
	6000 Fairview Road, 12th Floor
	Charlotte, North Carolina 28210
	Attention: S. Bruce Wunner
	Telephone:  ###-###-####
	Facsimile:  ###-###-####
With Copy to:	Reed Smith LLP
	599 Lexington Ave, 29th Floor
	New York, NY 10022
	Attention: Gerard DiFiore, Esq.
	Telephone:  ###-###-####
	Facsimile:  ###-###-####

If to an Buyer, to its address and facsimile number on the Schedule of Buyers attached hereto, with copies to such Buyer’s representatives as set forth on the Schedule of Buyers or to such other address and/or facsimile number and/or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party five (5) days prior to the effectiveness of such change. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically generated by the sender’s facsimile machine containing the time, date, recipient facsimile number and an image of the first page of such transmission or (C) provided by a courier or overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by facsimile or receipt from a nationally recognized overnight delivery service in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.

 

(e) 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.

 

(f) The laws of the State of New Jersey shall govern all issues concerning the relative rights of the Company and the Buyers as its stockholders. All other questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New Jersey, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New Jersey or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New Jersey. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Superior Courts of the State of New Jersey, sitting in Hudson County, New Jersey and federal courts for the District of New Jersey sitting Newark, New Jersey, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

(g) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the permitted successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto.

 

(h) The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

 

(i) This Agreement may be executed in identical 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.

 

(j) 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.

 

(k) 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.

 

(l) This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

		COMPANY:
		NEWGEN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
		By:
		Name: S. Bruce Wunner
		Title:  Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

		BUYER:
		CORNELL CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.
		By: Yorkville Advisors, LLC
		Its:  Investment Manager
		By:
		Name: Mark Angelo
		Title Portfolio Manager