Form of Registration Rights Agreement

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Registration Rights Agreements
EX-10.1 3 ex_269393.htm EXHIBIT 10.1 FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT ex_269393.htm

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of July 20, 2021, is by and between Sonic Foundry, Inc. (the “Company”) and [name] (the “Investor”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Investor have entered into that certain Subscription Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “Subscription Agreement”), pursuant to which the Investor shall purchase $[amount] worth of securities issued by the Company as provided for in the Subscription Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of, and in partial consideration for the Investor entering into, the Subscription Agreement, the Company has issued to the Investor a warrant (the “Warrant”), exercisable from time to time within five (5) years following the date of issuance for the purchase of an aggregate of up to [amount] shares of the Company’s common stock at a price specified in such Warrant; and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of, and in partial consideration for, the Investor’s agreement to enter into the Subscription Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide the Investor with certain registration rights as set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, in the Warrant, and in the Subscription Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
REGISTRATION RIGHTS

 

Section 1.1.    Registration Statement.

 

(a)    Filing of the Registration Statement. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company shall file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), within six months after the date hereof, a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or such other form as deemed appropriate by counsel to the Company for the registration (the “Registration Statement”) for the resale by the Investor of the securities purchased pursuant to the Subscription Agreement and shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Warrant (the “Registrable Securities”).

 

(b)    Effectiveness of the Registration Statement. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts (i) to have the Registration Statement declared effective by the Commission as soon as reasonably practicable, and (ii) to ensure that the Registration Statement remains in effect throughout the term of this Agreement as set forth in Section 4.2, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE II
REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

 

Section 2.1.    Filings; Information. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration with respect to the sale of the Registrable Securities by the Investor in accordance with the intended methods of disposition thereof. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company in each such case will use commercially reasonable efforts to do the following as expeditiously as possible:

 

 
 
 

 

(a)    The Company shall (i) prepare and file with the Commission the Registration Statement; (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such filed Registration Statement to become and to remain effective (pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act or otherwise); (iii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith (“Prospectus”) as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the time period prescribed by Section 4.2 and in order to effectuate the purpose of this Agreement, the Subscription Agreement, and the Warrant; and (iv) comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement during such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the Investor set forth in such Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Investor shall be responsible for the delivery of the Prospectus to the Persons to whom the Investor sells the shares and the Investor agrees to dispose of Registrable Securities in compliance with the plan of distribution described in the Registration Statement and otherwise in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws.

 

(b)    Two (2) business trading days prior to filing the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto (excluding amendments or supplements deemed to result from the filing of documents incorporated by reference therein), the Company shall deliver to the Investor and to counsel representing the Investor, in accordance with the notice provisions of Section 4.8, copies of the Registration Statement, Prospectus and/or any amendments or supplements thereto as proposed to be filed, together with exhibits thereto, which documents will be subject to review by the Investor and such counsel, and thereafter deliver to the Investor and such counsel, in accordance with the notice provisions of Section 4.8, such number of copies of the Registration Statement, each amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits thereto), the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) and such other documents or information as the Investor or counsel may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities.

 

(c)    The Company shall deliver, in accordance with the notice provisions of Section 4.8, to each seller of Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement such number of conformed copies of the Registration Statement and of each amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits and documents incorporated by reference), such number of copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus) and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 promulgated under the Securities Act relating to such seller’s Registrable Securities, and such other documents, as such seller may reasonably request to facilitate the disposition of its Registrable Securities.

 

(d)    After the filing of the Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly notify the Investor of any stop order issued or threatened by the Commission in connection therewith and take all commercially reasonable actions required to prevent the entry of such stop order or to remove it if entered.

 

(e)    The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities under such other securities or blue sky laws of each jurisdiction in the United States as the Investor may reasonably (in light of its intended plan of distribution) request, and (ii) cause the Registrable Securities to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities in the United States as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other customary acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the Investor to consummate the disposition of the Registrable Securities; provided, however, that the Company will not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 2.1(e), subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction, consent or subject itself to general service of process in any such jurisdiction, change any existing business practices, benefit plans or outstanding securities or amend or otherwise modify the Company’s articles of incorporation and/or by-laws.

 

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(f)    The Company shall make available to the Investor (and will deliver to Investor’s counsel), (A) subject to restrictions imposed by the United States federal government or any agency or instrumentality thereof, copies of all public correspondence between the Commission and the Company concerning the Registration Statement and will also make available for inspection by the Investor and any attorney, accountant or other professional retained by the Investor (collectively, the “Inspectors”), (B) upon reasonable advance notice during normal business hours all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the “Records”) as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company’s officers and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any Inspector in connection with the Registration Statement; provided, however, that any such Inspectors must agree in writing for the benefit of the Company not to use or disclose any such Records except as provided in this Section 2.1(f). Records that the Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential and that it notifies the Inspectors are confidential shall not be disclosed by the Inspectors unless the disclosure or release of such Records is requested or required pursuant to oral questions, interrogatories, requests for information or documents or a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction or other judicial or governmental process; provided, however, that prior to any disclosure or release pursuant to the immediately preceding clause, the Inspectors shall provide the Company with prompt notice of any such request or requirement so that the Company may seek an appropriate protective order or waive such Inspectors’ obligation not to disclose such Records; and, provided, further, that if failing the entry of a protective order or the waiver by the Company permitting the disclosure or release of such Records, the Inspectors, upon advice of counsel, are compelled to disclose such Records, the Inspectors may disclose that portion of the Records that counsel has advised the Inspectors that the Inspectors are compelled to disclose; provided, however, that upon any such required disclosure, such Inspector shall use his or her best efforts to obtain reasonable assurances that confidential treatment will be afforded such information. The Investor agrees that information obtained by it solely as a result of such inspections (not including any information obtained from a third party who, insofar as is known to the Investor after reasonable inquiry, is not prohibited from providing such information by a contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation to the Company) shall be deemed confidential and shall not be used for any purposes other than as indicated above or by it as the basis for any market transactions in the securities of the Company or its affiliates unless and until such information is made generally available to the public. The Investor further agrees that it will, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, give notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential.

 

(g)    The Company shall otherwise comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, including, without limitation, compliance with applicable reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

 

(h)    The Company shall appoint a transfer agent and registrar for all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement.

 

(i)    The Investor shall cooperate with the Company, as reasonably requested by the Company, in connection with the preparation and filing of any Registration Statement hereunder. The Company may require the Investor to promptly furnish in writing to the Company such information as may be required in connection with such registration including, without limitation, all such information as may be requested by the Commission or self-regulatory organization or any state securities commission and all such information regarding the Investor, the Registrable Securities held by the Investor and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities. The Investor agrees to provide such information requested in connection with such registration within two (2) business trading days after receiving such written request and the Company shall not be responsible for any delays in obtaining or maintaining the effectiveness of the Registration Statement caused by the Investor’s failure to timely provide such information.

 

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(j)    Upon receipt of a blackout notice from the Company, the Investor shall immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities until (i) the Company advises the Investor that the blackout period has terminated and (ii) the Investor receives copies of a supplemented or amended prospectus, if necessary. If so directed by the Company, the Investor will 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 Investor’s possession (other than a limited number of file copies) of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities that is current at the time of receipt of such notice.

 

(k)    The Investor shall not take any action with respect to any distribution deemed to be made pursuant to the Registration Statement, which would constitute a violation of Regulation M under the Exchange Act or any other applicable rule, regulation or law.

 

Section 2.2.    Registration Expenses. The Company shall pay all registration expenses incurred in connection with the Registration Statement (the “Registration Expenses”), including, without limitation: (i) all registration, filing, securities exchange listing and fees required by the applicable self regulatory organization, (ii) all registration, filing, qualification and other fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities), (iii) all word processing, duplicating, printing, messenger and delivery expenses, (iv) the Company’s internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), (v) the fees and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities, (vi) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and customary fees and expenses for independent certified public accountants retained by the Company, and (vii) the fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in connection with such registration and amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement and Prospectus. Any fees and disbursements of underwriters, broker-dealers or investment bankers, including without limitation underwriting fees, discounts, transfer taxes or commissions, and any other fees or expenses (including legal fees and expenses) if any, attributable to the sale of Registrable Securities, shall be payable by each holder of Registrable Securities pro rata on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities of each such holder that are included in a registration under this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE III
INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 3.1.    Indemnification.

 

(a)    Company Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Investor, its partners, Affiliates, officers, directors, employees and duly authorized agents, and each Person or entity, if any, who controls the Investor within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively, the “Controlling Persons”), from and against any loss, claim, damage, liability, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements and costs and expenses of investigating and defending any such claim) (collectively, “Damages”), joint or several, and any action or proceeding in respect thereof to which the Investor, its partners, affiliates, officers, directors, employees and duly authorized agents, and any Controlling Person, may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, as incurred, insofar as such Damages (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, or in any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, summary prospectus, amendment or supplement relating to the Registrable Securities or arises out of, or are based upon, any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein under the circumstances not misleading, and shall reimburse the Investor and each such Controlling Person, for any legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by the Investor or any such Controlling Person, as incurred, in investigating or defending or preparing to defend against any such Damages or actions or proceedings; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable (i) to the extent that any such Damages arise out of the Investor’s (or any other indemnified Person’s) failure to send or give a copy of the final prospectus or supplement (as then amended or supplemented) to the persons asserting an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of Registrable Securities to such person if such statement or omission was corrected in such final prospectus or supplement; (ii) to the extent that any such Damages arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such Registration Statement, or any such preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, summary prospectus, amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Investor or any other person who participates as an underwriter in the offering or sale of such securities, in either case, specifically stating that it is for use in the preparation thereof; or (iii) to the extent any such Damages arise out of the sale by the Investor of Registrable Securities during a Blackout Period.

 

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(b)    Investor Indemnification. In connection with any Registration Statement with respect to which the Investor is participating, such Investor will indemnify and hold harmless, to the same extent and in the same manner as set forth in the preceding paragraph, the Company, each of its directors, officers, each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each a “Company Indemnified Person”) against any Damages to which any Company Indemnified Person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Damages arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, or in any preliminary prospectus, final prospectus, summary prospectus, amendment or supplement relating to the Registrable Securities or arising out of, or are based upon, any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein under the circumstances not misleading to the extent that such violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Investor or on behalf of the Investor expressly for use in connection with such Registration Statement, (ii) any failure by the Investor to comply with prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any other law or legal requirement applicable to sales under the Registration Statement or (iii) any sale by the Investor of Registrable Securities during a Blackout Period.

 

Section 3.2.    Additional Indemnification. Indemnification similar to that specified in the preceding paragraphs of this Article III (with appropriate modifications) shall be given by the Company with respect to any required registration or other qualification of securities under any federal or state law or regulation of any governmental authority other than the Securities Act. The provisions of this Article III shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification, contribution or other remedies which an Indemnified Party or a Company Indemnified Person may have pursuant to law, equity, contract or otherwise. To the extent that any indemnification provided for herein is prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party will make the maximum contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable under this Article III to the fullest extent permitted by law. However, (a) no contribution will be made under circumstances where maker of such contribution would not have been required to indemnify the indemnified party under the fault standards set forth in this Article III, (b) no seller of Registrable Securities guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any Person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation, and (c) contribution (together with any indemnification obligations under this Agreement) by any seller of Registrable Securities will be limited in amount of proceeds received by such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities.

 

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ARTICLE IV
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 4.1.    Term. The registration rights provided to the holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, and the Company’s obligation to keep the Registration Statement effective, shall terminate at the earlier of (i) such time that is two years following the termination of the date hereof, or (ii) such time as all Registrable Securities have been issued and have ceased to be Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Article III and Section 4.8 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

Section 4.2.    Rule 144. The Company will, at its expense, promptly take such action as holders of Registrable Securities may reasonably request to enable such holders of Registrable Securities to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (a) Rule 144 under the Securities Act (“Rule 144”), as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or (b) any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission. If at any time the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, at its expense, forthwith upon the written request of any holder of Registrable Securities, make available adequate current public information with respect to the Company within the meaning of paragraph (c)(2) of Rule 144 or such other information as necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144. Upon the request of the Investor, the Company will deliver to the Investor a written statement, signed by the Company’s principal financial officer, as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

 

Section 4.3.    Certificate. The Company will, at its expense, forthwith upon the request of any holder of Registrable Securities, deliver to such holder a certificate, signed by the Company’s principal financial officer, stating (a) the Company’s name, address and telephone number (including area code), (b) the Company’s Internal Revenue Service identification number, (c) the Company’s Commission file number, (d) the number of shares of each class of stock outstanding as shown by the most recent report or statement published by the Company, and (e) whether the Company has filed the reports required to be filed under the Exchange Act for a period of at least ninety (90) days prior to the date of such certificate and in addition has filed the most recent annual report required to be filed thereunder.

 

Section 4.4.    Amendment and Modification. Any provision of this Agreement may be waived, provided that such waiver is set forth in a writing executed by both parties to this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the Company has obtained the written consent of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the waiver of any provision hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of holders of Registrable Securities whose securities are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other holders of Registrable Securities may be given by holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold by such holders; provided that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence. No course of dealing between or among any Person having any interest in this Agreement will be deemed effective to modify, amend or discharge any part of this Agreement or any rights or obligations of any person under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

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Section 4.5.    Successors and Assigns; Entire Agreement. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. The Investor may assign its rights under this Agreement to any subsequent holder of the Registrable Securities (unless sold pursuant to an effective registration statement or in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act), provided that the Company shall have the right to require any holder of Registrable Securities to execute a counterpart of this Agreement as a condition to such holder’s claim to any rights hereunder. The Company may assign this Agreement at any time in connection with a sale or acquisition of the Company, whether by merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, or similar transaction, without the consent of the Investor or other holders of Registrable Securities, provided that the successor or acquiring Person or entity agrees in writing to assume all of the Company’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Subscription Agreement and the Warrant(s) sets forth the entire agreement and understanding between the parties as to the subject matter hereof and merges and supersedes all prior discussions, agreements and understandings of any and every nature among them.

 

Section 4.6.    Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect without said provision; provided that such severability shall be ineffective if it materially changes the economic benefit of this Agreement to any party hereto.

 

Section 4.7.    Notices. All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals, and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be given in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Subscription Agreement.

 

Section 4.8.    Governing Law; Dispute Resolution. This Agreement shall be construed under the laws of the State of Wisconsin. Any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be resolved by means of arbitration.

 

Section 4.9.    Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement, nor shall they affect their meaning, construction or effect.

 

Section 4.10.    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original instrument and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

Section 4.11.    Further Assurances. Each party shall cooperate and take such action as may be reasonably requested by another party in order to carry out the provisions and purposes of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 4.12.    Absence Of Presumption. This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the party drafting or causing any instrument to be drafted.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Registration Rights Agreement to be executed by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first set forth above.

 

Sonic Foundry, Inc.

 

 

 

By: _______________________________________

Joe Mozden

CEO

 

 

 

 

 

 

By: _______________________________________

[name]

 

 

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