Registration Rights Agreement between StarBase Corporation and Shareholders (February 20, 2001)

Summary

This agreement is between StarBase Corporation and certain shareholders who received shares as part of a merger. StarBase agrees to register 8,300,000 shares of its common stock issued to these shareholders, allowing them to sell their shares publicly under SEC rules. The company must file a registration statement within 60 days and keep it effective until all shares are sold or can be freely traded. The agreement outlines the process, timing, and responsibilities for both the company and shareholders regarding the registration and sale of these shares.

EX-2.2 3 0003.txt REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT ----------------------------- This Registration Rights Agreement is made and entered into as of February 20, 2001 (this "Agreement"), by and among StarBase Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and each of the shareholders or other persons who are receiving or may receive merger consideration of the Company and listed on Schedule 1 attached hereto (individually, a "Shareholder" and, collectively, the "Shareholders"). Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement"), dated as of February 11, 2001, by and among the Company, World Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation and worldweb.net, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Worldweb"), the Company has agreed to provide to the Shareholders certain registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, with respect to an aggregate of 8,300,000 shares (the "Shares") of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per share ("Common Stock"), issued to the Shareholders on the date hereof pursuant to the Merger Agreement. The number of Shares owned by each Shareholder is set forth opposite such Shareholder's name on Schedule 1. The Company and the Shareholders hereby agree as follows: 1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given such terms in the Merger Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings: "Advice" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(m). "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or under common control with such Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control," when used with respect to any Person, means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms of "affiliated," "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing. "Blackout Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(n). "Board" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(n). "Business Day" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day which shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York generally are authorized or required by law or other government actions to close. "Closing Date" means February 20, 2001. "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission. "Common Stock" means the Company's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share. "Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2. "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. "Filing Date" means the date the Registration Statement is filed which date shall be on or before sixty (60) days after the Closing Date. "Holder" or "Holders" means the holder or holders, as the case may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities, including the Shareholders and their permitted assigns and transferees. "Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(c). "Indemnifying Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(c). "Losses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a). "Nasdaq" shall mean the Nasdaq National Market. "Person" means an individual or a corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or political subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind. "Proceeding" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened. "Prospectus" means the prospectus included in the Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference in such Prospectus. "Registrable Securities" means the Shares and any shares of Common Stock or other capital stock issuable upon any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or similar event with respect to such Shares, and any capital stock issued in connection with a merger or consolidation involving the Company with respect to its Common Stock. "Registration Statement" means the registration statement contemplated by Section 2, 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 in such registration statement. 2 "Rule 144" means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule. "Rule 158" means Rule 158 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule. "Rule 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule. "Rule 416" means Rule 416 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule. "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. "Special Counsel" means any special counsel to the Holders as designated in writing by the Holders to the Company. "Underwritten Offering" means a registration of Common Stock of the Company under the Securities Act in which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the public. 2. Registration. The Company shall use its best efforts to prepare and file with the Commission, on or prior to the Filing Date, a "shelf" Registration Statement covering all Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 (except if the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-3, in which case such registration shall be on another appropriate form in accordance herewith). The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable and to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until such date as is the earlier of (x) the date when all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold or (y) the date on which all of the Registrable Securities may be sold without restriction pursuant to Rule 144(k) promulgated under the Securities Act as determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter, addressed to the Company's transfer agent to such effect (the "Effectiveness Period"). 3. Registration Procedures. In connection with the Company's registration obligations hereunder, the Company shall: (a) Use its best efforts to prepare and file with the Commission, on or prior to the Filing Date, a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or if the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-3 such registration shall be on another appropriate form in accordance herewith) in accordance with the method or methods of 3 distribution thereof as specified by the Holders (except if otherwise directed by the Holders), and cause the Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective as provided herein; provided, however, that not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the filing of the Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (including any document that would be incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall furnish to the Holders and to any Special Counsel copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents (other than those incorporated by reference) will be subject to the review of such Holders and such Special Counsel. The Company shall not file the Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto to which the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities or any Special Counsel shall reasonably object in writing within two (2) Business Days of their receipt thereof. (b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period; (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provisions then in force) promulgated under the Securities Act; (iii) respond as promptly as practicable to any comments received from the Commission with respect to the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and as promptly as practicable provide the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to the Registration Statement; and (iv) comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in the Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented; provided, however, that any and all costs or expenses relating to any such amendments, including post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, amendments or supplements to the Prospectus, or "sticker" supplements to the Prospectus resulting from any and all assignments or Transfers from WorldWeb Investors, LLC (the "LLC") to any of its Members shall be borne exclusively by the LLC. (c) Rule 416. The Company and the Shareholders each acknowledge that the Registration Statement prepared pursuant to this Agreement shall include an indeterminate number of Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act so as to cover any and all Registrable Securities which may become issuable to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions. In this regard, the Company agrees to use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the maximum number of Registrable Securities which may be registered pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act are covered by the Registration Statement. (d) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold and any Special Counsel as promptly as practicable (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is proposed to be filed; (B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a "review" of such Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on such Registration Statement and (C) with respect to the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any request by the Commission or any other Federal or state 4 governmental authority for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such purpose; and (v) of the occurrence of any event that makes any statement made in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires any revisions to the Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company shall promptly furnish to Special Counsel, without charge, (i) a copy of any correspondence from the Commission or the Commission's staff to the Company or its representatives relating to any Registration Statement and (ii) promptly after the same is prepared and filed with the Commission, a copy of any written response to the correspondence received from the Commission. (e) Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued, obtain the withdrawal of, (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment. (f) Furnish to each Holder and any Special Counsel, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and each amendment thereto. (g) Promptly deliver to each Holder and any Special Counsel, without charge, a copy of the Registration Statement, Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto and such additional copies as such Persons may reasonably request at their own cost and expense. (h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder requests in writing, to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or things necessary to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, to take any action that would subject the Company to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject, subject the Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or if, based upon the opinion of counsel to the Company, the Company reasonably believes it is not necessary to qualify in such jurisdiction. 5 (i) Cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to a Registration Statement, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as any Holder may request at least two (2) Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities. (j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(d)(v), as promptly as practicable, prepare a supplement or amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered, neither the Registration Statement nor such Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. (k) Use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities relating to such Registration Statement to be listed on the Nasdaq and any other securities exchange, quotation system, market or over-the-counter bulletin board, if any, on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed. (l) Comply in all material respects with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and make generally available to its security holders earning statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 not later than forty-five (45) days after the end of any 12-month period (or ninety (90) days after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a fiscal year) commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company after the effective date of the Registration Statement, which statement shall conform to the requirements of Rule 158. (m) Require each selling Holder to furnish to the Company information regarding such Holder and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as is required by law to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, and the Company may exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of any such Holder who fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time prior to the filing of each Registration Statement, supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement. Each Holder covenants and agrees that (i) it will not sell any Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until: (a) it has received copies of the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented as contemplated in Section 3(g) and notice from the Company that such Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto have become effective as contemplated by Section 3(d) and (ii) it and its officers, directors or Affiliates, if any, will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to them in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement and (b) any other trading restrictions set forth in the Merger Agreement have been complied with. Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section 3(d)(ii), 3(d)(iii), 3(d)(iv) or 3(d)(v), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition 6 of such Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement contemplated by Section 3(j), or until it is advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement. (n) If (i) there is material non-public information regarding the Company which the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") reasonably determines in good faith not to be in the Company's best interest to disclose and which the Company is not otherwise required to disclose, or (ii) there is a significant business opportunity (including, but not limited to, the acquisition or disposition of assets (other than in the ordinary course of business) or any merger, consolidation, tender offer or other similar transaction) available to the Company which the Board reasonably determines in good faith not to be in the Company's best interest to disclose and which the Company would be required to disclose under the Registration Statement, then the Company may suspend effectiveness of a registration statement and suspend the sale of Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement for a period that the Board determines, in its reasonable discretion (a "Blackout Period"). (o) The Company shall provide a transfer agent and registrar of all such Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement. (p) Within three (3) business days after the Registration Statement which includes the Registrable Securities is ordered effective by the Commission, 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 Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement) confirmation that the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. 4. Piggyback Registration. (a) Right to Piggyback. If at any time during the Effectiveness Period the Company proposes to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to an Underwritten Offering solely for cash for its own account (other than a registration statement (i) on Form S-4 or S-8 or any successor forms thereto or (ii) filed solely in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan or employee benefit plan of the Company or its Affiliates) or a registration statement filed solely for the account of any holder of securities of the same type as the Registrable Securities (to the extent that the Company has the right to include Registrable Securities in any registration statement to be filed by the Company on behalf of such holder)), and provided, however that a Registration Statement with respect to the Registrable Securities has not been filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 2 hereof, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to the Holders at least 15 days before the anticipated effective date of such registration statement (the "Piggyback Notice"). Such notice shall offer the Holders the opportunity to register such amount of Registrable Securities as they may request in accordance with the immediately following sentence (a "Piggyback Registration"). Subject to Section 4(b) hereof, the Company shall include in each such Piggyback Registration only such 7 Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests from Holders for inclusion therein within 10 days after the Piggyback Notice has been sent to the Holders. (b) Priority on Piggyback Registration. Notwithstanding any other term of this Section 4, if a registration pursuant to this Section 4 involves an Underwritten Offering and the managing underwriter or underwriters of such proposed Underwritten Offering advises the Company that in its opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such Piggyback Registration exceeds the number which can be sold in the offering covered by such Piggyback Registration without a significant adverse effect on the offering and sale (including pricing, timing or distribution) of the securities offered, then the Company will include in such Registration (i) first, the number of shares of Common Stock sought to be sold by any other person(s) or entities (including the Company) which initiated such registration that, in the opinion of such managing underwriter or underwriters, can be sold in the offering without a significant adverse effect on the offering and sale (including pricing, timing or distribution) of the securities offered, selected pro rata among the Company and such holders based upon the relative proportionate shares they proposed to sell in such registration and (ii) second, the number of shares of Common Stock which other holders (including the Holders) have requested be included in such registration, which, in the opinion of the managing underwriter or underwriters, can be sold without such adverse affect referred to above, such amount to be allocated pro rata such Holders and other holders based upon the relative proportionate shares they propose to sell in such registration. (c) Right to Suspend or Abandon. Nothing in this Section 4 or Section 3 hereof (with respect to an offering under this Section 4) shall create any liability or obligation on the part of the Company to the Holders if the Company in its sole discretion should decide (i) not to file a registration statement proposed to be filed pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof, (ii) to withdraw such registration statement subsequent to its filing and prior to the later of its effectiveness or the release of the Registrable Securities for public offering by the managing underwriter, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, or (iii) to suspend or terminate any offering or the effectiveness of any registration statement by the Company or at the request of any person, entity or governmental authority, regardless of any action whatsoever that a Holder may have taken, whether as a result of the issuance by the Company of any notice hereunder or otherwise. 5. Lock-Up. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein and subject to any Blackout Period, each Holder of Registrable Securities shall not publicly sell (pursuant to an effective registration statement or otherwise), publicly make any short sale of, publicly grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise publicly dispose of, transfer, pledge, hypothecate, assign or otherwise transfer (collectively, "Transfer") any Registrable Securities (the "Lock-Up"). Registrable Securities shall be released from the Lock-Up and freely transferable (subject to registration or exemption therefrom) in twenty-four (24) equal monthly installments commencing on the Closing Date. The Lock-Up shall remain in full force and effect with respect to such Registrable Securities at all times and any Holder of Registrable Securities shall be subject to the provisions set forth in this Section 5. The share certificates representing the Registrable Securities shall bear an appropriate legend stating that such shares are subject to the 8 Lock-Up set forth in this Section 5 of the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of this date between Holder and the Company. 6. Registration Expenses All fees and expenses incident to the registration of the Registrable Securities shall be borne by the Company, other than fees and expenses of Special Counsel or any other counsel retained by the Holders in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, which fees and expenses shall be borne exclusively by the Holders whether or not the Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective and whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to the Registration Statement. The fees and expenses to be borne by the Company shall include, without limitation, the following: (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings required to be made with the Nasdaq and each other securities exchange or market on which Registrable Securities are required hereunder to be listed, and (B) with respect to filings required to be made with the Commission; (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is requested by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and (v) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Company's independent public accountants (including the expenses of any comfort letters or costs associated with the delivery by independent public accountants of a comfort letter or comfort letters). In addition, the Company shall be responsible for all of its internal expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit, the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange as required hereunder. 7. Indemnification (a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the officers, directors, agents or employees, if any, of such Holder and each Person who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling Person, and the respective successors, assigns, estate and personal representatives of each of the foregoing, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all claims, losses, damages, liabilities, penalties, judgments, costs (including, without limitation, costs of investigation) and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and expenses) (collectively, "Losses"), as incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not 9 misleading, except to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statements or omissions are based upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, which information was reasonably relied on by the Company for use therein. The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding of which the Company is aware in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. (b) Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the directors, officers, agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, and the respective successors, assigns, estate and personal representatives of each of the foregoing, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as incurred, arising solely out of or based solely upon any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or arising solely out of or based solely upon any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in or omitted from any information so furnished in writing by such Holder to the Company specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or such Prospectus and that such information was reasonably relied upon by the Company for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of prospectus. (c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an "Indemnified Party"), such Indemnified Party promptly shall notify the Person from whom indemnity is sought (the "Indemnifying Party) in writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof; provided that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement, except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or further review) that such failure shall have proximately and materially adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party. An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying 10 Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding. All fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within ten (10) Business Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party, regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder; provided that the Indemnifying Party may require such Indemnified Party to undertake to reimburse all such fees and expenses to the extent it is finally judicially determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder. (d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under Section 7(a) or 7(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party because of a failure or refusal of a governmental authority to enforce such indemnification in accordance with its terms (by reason of public policy or otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by, such Indemnifying, Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7(c), any reasonable attorneys' or other reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section was available to such party in accordance with its terms. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 12(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. 11 Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 6, in no event shall any Holder be required to contribute an amount in excess of the amount received by such Holder from the applicable sale of Registrable Securities. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the Indemnified Parties. 8. Rule 144. As long as any Holder owns Registrable Securities, the Company covenants to use its best efforts to timely file (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. As long as any Holder owns Registrable Securities, if the Company is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, it will prepare and furnish to the Holders and make publicly available in accordance with Rule 144(c) promulgated under the Securities Act annual and quarterly financial statements, together with a discussion and analysis of such financial statements in form and substance substantially similar to those that would otherwise be required to be included in reports required by Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as well as any other information required thereby, in the time period that such filings would have been required to have been made under the Exchange Act. The Company further covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Person to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act. 9. Miscellaneous. (a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a Holder, of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate. (b) Specific Enforcement, Consent to Jurisdiction. (i) The Company and the Holders acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent or cure breaches of the provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof or thereof, this being in addition to any other remedy to which any of them may be entitled by law or equity. 12 (ii) Each of the Company and the Holders (i) hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and the courts of the State of New York located in New York county for the purposes of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and (ii) hereby waives, and agrees not to assert in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such court, that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each of the Company and the Holders consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing in this Section shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. (c) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company and Holders of not less two-thirds (2/3) of the Registrable Securities then owned by all Holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Registrable Securities to which such waiver or consent relates; provided, however, that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence. (d) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earlier of (i) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile telephone number specified for notice prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on a Business Day, (ii) the Business Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile telephone number specified for notice later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on such date, (iii) the Business Day following the date of mailing, if sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service or (iv) actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The addresses for such communications shall be with respect to each Holder at its address set forth under its name on Schedule 1 attached hereto, or with respect to the Company, addressed to: StarBase Corporation 4 Hutton Centre Drive Suite 800 Santa Ana, California 92707 Attention: Douglas Norman, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Facsimile no.: (714) 445-4482 or to such other address or addresses or facsimile number or numbers as any such party may most recently have designated in writing to the other parties hereto by such notice. Copies of 13 notices to any Holder shall be sent to the addresses listed on Schedule 1 attached hereto, if applicable. Copies of notices to the Company shall be sent to Jenkens & Gilchrist Parker Chapin LLP, The Chrysler Building, 405 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10174, Attention: Martin Eric Weisberg, Esq., Facsimile no.: (212) 704-6288. (e) Successors and Assigns. The rights under this Agreement shall be assignable by the Holders to any transferee of all or any portion of Registrable Securities if: (i) the Holder agrees in writing with the transferee or assignee to assign such rights, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such assignment; (ii) the Company is, within five (5) days after such transfer or assignment, furnished with written notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or assignee, and (b) the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned; (iii) immediately following such transfer or assignment the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is restricted under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, provided, however, that the transferee or assignee may subsequently transfer or assign all or any portion of the Registrable Securities if an exemption from registration under the Securities Act is applicable to such transfer or assignment; (iv) at or before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this sentence the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein; and (v) such transfer shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Merger Agreement. (f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission, such signature shall create a valid binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature were the original thereof. (g) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of law thereof. This Agreement shall not be interpreted or construed with any presumption against the party causing this Agreement to be drafted. (h) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law. (i) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable in any respect, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable. 14 (j) Headings. The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized persons as of the date first indicated above. STARBASE CORPORATION By: /s/ Donald R. Farrow ---------------------------------- Name: Donald R. Farrow Title: Executive Vice President SHAREHOLDER: If Individual: ----------------------------------- Print Name: ----------------------------------- Signature: ----------------------------------- If Corporation, Partnership, Limited Liability Company or Other Entity: Print Name of Entity: WorldWeb Investors, LLC ------------------------- Signature: By: /s/ Keith Walz, Managing Member -------------------------------- Keith Walz 15 EXHIBIT A REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT FORM OF NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT [TRANSFER AGENT] [ADDRESS] Attn: _____________ Re: StarBase Corporation Ladies and Gentlemen: We are counsel to StarBase Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), and have represented the Company in connection with that certain Registration Rights Agreement (the "REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT") among the Company and the stockholders of the Company parties thereto (the "HOLDERS"), dated as of __________ __, 2001, pursuant to which the Company agreed, among other things, to register the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 ACT"). In connection with the Company's obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, on ________________, 2001, the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form ___ (File No. ___-________) (the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") relating to the resale of the Registrable Securities which names each of the present Holders as a selling stockholder thereunder. In connection with the foregoing, we advise you that a member of the SEC's staff has advised us by telephone that the SEC has entered an order declaring the Registration Statement effective under the 1933 Act at [ENTER TIME OF EFFECTIVENESS] on [ENTER DATE OF EFFECTIVENESS] and we have no knowledge, after telephonic inquiry of a member of the SEC's staff, that any stop order suspending its effectiveness has been issued or that any proceedings for that purpose are pending before, or threatened by, the SEC and, accordingly, the Registrable Securities are available for resale under the 1933 Act in the manner specified in, and pursuant to the terms of the Registration Statement. Very truly yours, By: --------------------------------------------- cc: [LIST NAMES OF HOLDERS] 16 SCHEDULE 1 TO THE REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT FOR STARBASE CORPORATION NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF SHAREHOLDERS NUMBER OF --------------- --------- SHARES ------ TOTAL SHARES 17