Exhibit 10(ii)
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Registration Rights Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated as of August 15, 2005, by and between Nexia Holdings Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of State of Nevada, with its principal executive office at ,59 West 100 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84101 (the “Company”), and Dutchess Private Equities Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership with its principal office at 312 Stuart Street, Boston, MA 02116 (the “Holder”).
Whereas, in connection with the Investment Agreement by and between the Company and the Investor of even date herewith (the “Investment Agreement”), the Company has agreed to issue and sell to the Investor an indeterminate number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), to be purchased pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Investment Agreement; and
Whereas, to induce the Investor to execute and deliver the Investment Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the “1933 Act”), and applicable state securities laws, with respect to the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Investment Agreement.
Now therefore, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual covenants contained hereinafter and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Investor hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Execution Date” means the date first written above.
“Investor” means Dutchess Private Equities Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
“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.
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“Potential Material Event” means any of the following: (i) the possession by the Company of material information not ripe for disclosure in the Registration Statement, which shall be evidenced by determinations in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company that disclosure of such information in the Registration Statement would be detrimental to the business and affairs of the Company, or (ii) any material engagement or activity by the Company which would, in the good faith determination of the Board of Directors of the Company, be adversely affected by disclosure in the Registration Statement at such time, which determination shall be accompanied by a good faith determination by the Board of Directors of the Company that the Registration Statement would be materially misleading absent the inclusion of such information.
“Principal Market” shall mean The American Stock Exchange, National Association of Securities Dealer’s, Inc. Over-the-Counter electronic bulletin board, the Nasdaq National Market or The Nasdaq SmallCap Market whichever is the principal market on which the Common Stock is listed.
“Register,” “Registered,” and “Registration” refer to the Registration effected by preparing and filing one (1) or more Registration Statements in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule 415 under the 1933 Act or any successor rule providing for offering securities on a continuous basis (“Rule 415”), and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement(s) by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
“Registrable Securities” means (i) the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to the Investment Agreement, and (ii) any shares of capital stock issued or issuable with respect to such shares of Common Stock, if any, as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, exchange or similar event or otherwise, which have not been (x) included in the Registration Statement that has been declared effective by the SEC or (y) sold under circumstances meeting all of the applicable conditions of Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force) under the 1933 Act.
“Registration Statement” means the registration statement of the Company filed under the 1933 Act covering the Registrable Securities.
All capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning ascribed to them as in the Investment Agreement.
Section 2. REGISTRATION.
(a) On or before the execution of this Agreement, the Company shall have provided a draft of the Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities to the Investor. The Company shall, as soon as practicable, but not later than thirty (30) calendar days following the Execution of this agreement, file with the SEC the Registration Statement or Registration Statements (as is necessary) on Form SB-2 (or, if such form is unavailable for such a registration, on such other form as is available for such a registration), covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities, which Registration Statement(s) shall state that, in accordance with Rule 416 promulgated under the 1933 Act, such Registration Statement also covers such indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock as may become issuable upon stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions. The Company shall initially register for resale _________ shares of Common Stock which would be issuable on the date preceding the filing of the Registration Statement based on the closing bid price of the Company’s Common Stock on such date and the amount reasonably calculated that represents Common Stock issuable to other parties as set forth in the Investment Agreement except to the extent that the SEC requires the share amount to be reduced as a condition of effectiveness..
(b) The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration Statement(s) declared effective by the SEC within ninety (90) calendar days after the Execution Date.
(c) The Company agrees not to include any other securities in the Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities without Investor’s prior written consent which Investor may withhold in its sole discretion. Furthermore, the Company agrees that it will not file any other Registration Statement for other securities, until thirty calendar days after the Registration Statement for the Registrable Securities is declared effective by the SEC.
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Section 3. RELATED OBLIGATIONS.
At such time as the Company is obligated to prepare and file the Registration Statement with the SEC pursuant to Section 2(a), the Company will effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof and, with respect thereto, the Company shall have the following obligations:
(a) The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Securities to become effective within ninety (90) days after the Execution Date and shall keep such Registration Statement effective until the earlier to occur of (i) the date on which (A) the Investor shall have sold all the Registrable Securities; and (B) the Investor has no right to acquire any additional shares of Common Stock under the Investment Agreement (the “Registration Period”). The Registration Statement (including any amendments or supplements thereto and prospectuses contained therein) shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to respond to all SEC comments within seven (7) business days from receipt of such comments by the Company. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Securities to become effective no later than three (3) business days after notice from the SEC that the Registration Statement may be declared effective. The Investor agrees to provide all information which it is required by law to provide to the Company, including the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities, and the Company’s obligations set forth above shall be conditioned on the receipt of such information.
(b) The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to the 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 1933 Act, as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective during the Registration Period, and, during such period, comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities of the Company covered by 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 Investor thereof as set forth in such Registration Statement. In the event the number of shares of Common Stock covered by the Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement is at any time insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities, the Company shall amend such Registration Statement, or file a new Registration Statement (on the short form available therefor, if applicable), or both, so as to cover all of the Registrable Securities, in each case, as soon as practicable, but in any event within thirty (30) calendar days after the necessity therefor arises (based on the then Purchase Price of the Common Stock and other relevant factors on which the Company reasonably elects to rely), assuming the Company has sufficient authorized shares at that time, and if it does not, within thirty (30) calendar days after such shares are authorized. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such amendment and/or new Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable following the filing thereof.
(c) The Company shall make available to the Investor whose Registrable Securities are included in any Registration Statement and its legal counsel without charge (i) promptly after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC at least one (1) copy of such Registration Statement and any amendment(s) thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits, the prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary prospectus) and, with regards to such Registration Statement(s), any correspondence by or on behalf of the Company to the SEC or the staff of the SEC and any correspondence from the SEC or the staff of the SEC to the Company or its representatives; (ii) upon the effectiveness of any Registration Statement, the Company shall make available copies of the prospectus, via EDGAR, included in such Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto; and (iii) such other documents, including copies of any preliminary or final prospectus, as the Investor may reasonably request from time to time in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities.
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(d) The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) register and qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such other securities or “blue sky” laws of such states in the United States as any Investor 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 (x) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), or (y) subject itself to general taxation in any such jurisdiction. The Company shall promptly notify each Investor 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 threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.
(e) As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event, the Company shall notify Investor in writing of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in the 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 (“Registration Default”) and use all diligent efforts to promptly prepare a supplement or amendment to such Registration Statement and take any other necessary steps to cure the Registration Default, (which, if such Registration Statement is on Form S-3, may consist of a document to be filed by the Company with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act (as defined below) and to be incorporated by reference in the prospectus) to correct such untrue statement or omission, and make available copies of such supplement or amendment to each Investor. The Company shall also promptly notify Investor (i) when a prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and when the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment has become effective (the Company will prepare notification of such effectiveness which shall be delivered to the Investor on the same day of such effectiveness and by overnight mail), additionally, the Company will promptly provide to the Investor, a copy of the effectiveness order prepared by the SEC once it is received by the Company; (ii) of any request by the SEC for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or related prospectus or related information, (iii) of the Company’s reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement would be appropriate, (iv) in the event the Registration Statement is no longer effective, or (v) if Registration Statement is stale as a result of the Company’s failure to timely file its financials or otherwise. The Company acknowledges that its failure to cure the Registration Default within ten (10) business days will cause the Investor to suffer damages in an amount that will be difficult to ascertain. Accordingly, the parties agree that it is appropriate to include a provision for liquidated damages. The parties acknowledge and agree that the liquidated damages provision set forth in this section represents the parties’ good faith effort to quantify such damages and, as such, agree that the form and amount of such liquidated damages are reasonable and will not constitute a penalty. It is the intention of the parties that interest payable under any of the terms of this Agreement shall not exceed the maximum amount permitted under any applicable law. If a law, which applies to this Agreement which sets the maximum interest amount, is finally interpreted so that the interest in connection with this Agreement exceeds the permitted limits, then: (1) any such interest shall be reduced by the amount necessary to reduce the interest to the permitted limit; and (2) any sums already collected (if any) from the Company which exceed the permitted limits will be refunded to the Company. The Investor may choose to make this refund by reducing the amount that the Company owes under this Agreement or by making a direct payment to the Company. If a refund reduces the amount that the Company owes the Investor, the reduction will be treated as a partial payment. In case any provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be excessive in scope or otherwise invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be adjusted rather than voided, if possible, so that it is enforceable to the maximum extent possible, and the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
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(f) The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or the suspension of the qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction 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 the Investor 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.
(g) The Company shall permit the Investor and one (1) legal counsel, designated by the Investor, to review and comment upon the Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto at least seven (7) business days prior to their filing with the SEC, and not file any document in a form to which such counsel reasonably objects. The Company may request to shorten the Investor’s review period and the Investor will, if possible, attempt to comply with the accelerated review period. The Company shall not submit to the SEC a request for acceleration of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or file with the SEC the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto without the prior approval of such counsel or the Investor, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(h) At the request of the Investor, the Company shall cause to be furnished to Investor, on the date of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, a legal opinion, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Investor’s counsel, dated as of such date, of counsel representing the Company for purposes of such Registration Statement.
(i) The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure of information concerning a Investor 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 Investor is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt written notice to such Investor and allow such Investor, at the Investor’s expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, such information.
(j) The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain designation and quotation of all the Registrable Securities covered by any Registration Statement on the Principal Market. If, despite the Company’s commercially reasonable efforts, the Company is unsuccessful in satisfying the preceding sentence, it shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all the Registrable Securities covered by any Registration Statement to be listed on each other national securities exchange and automated quotation system, if any, 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 system. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligation under this Section 3(j).
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(k) The Company shall cooperate with the Investor to facilitate the prompt preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to the Registration Statement and enable such certificates to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may be, as the Investor may reasonably request (and after any sales of such Registrable Securities by the Investor, such certificates not bearing any restrictive legend).
(l) The Company shall provide a transfer agent for all the Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of the first Registration Statement filed pursuant hereto.
(m) If requested by the Investor, the Company shall (i) as soon as reasonably practical incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as such Investor reasonably determines should be included therein relating to the sale and distribution of Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, information with respect to the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; (ii) make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably possible after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; and (iii) supplement or make amendments to any Registration Statement if reasonably requested by such Investor.
(n) The Company shall use commercially reasonable 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.
(o) The Company shall otherwise use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC in connection with any registration hereunder.
(p) Within one (1) business day after the Registration Statement which includes Registrable Securities is declared effective by the SEC, the Company shall deliver to the transfer agent for such Registrable Securities, with copies to the Investor, confirmation that such Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC.
(q) The Company shall take all other reasonable actions necessary to expedite and facilitate disposition by the Investor of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.
Section 4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTOR.
(a) At least five (5) calendar days prior to the first anticipated filing date of the Registration Statement the Company shall notify the Investor in writing of the information the Company requires from Investor if Investor elects to have any of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities of the Investor and Investor shall furnish in writing to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it as shall reasonably be required to effect the registration of such Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request. Investor covenants and agrees that, in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities by it pursuant to the Registration Statement, it shall comply with the “Plan of Distribution” section of the current prospectus relating to such Registration Statement.
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(b) The Investor, by Investor’s acceptance of the Registrable Securities, agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of any Registration Statement hereunder, unless Investor has notified the Company in writing of an election to exclude all Investor’s Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement.
(c) The Investor agrees that, upon receipt of written 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), such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement(s) covering such Registrable Securities until Investor’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(f) or the first sentence of 3(e)
Section 5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.
All expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions and other than as set forth in the Investment Agreement, incurred in connection with registrations including comments, filings or qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, including, without limitation, all registration, listing and qualifications fees, printing and accounting fees, and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company or for the Investor shall be paid by the Company.
Section 6. INDEMNIFICATION.
In the event any Registrable Securities are included in the Registration Statement under this Agreement:
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will, and hereby does, indemnify, hold harmless and defend Investor who holds Registrable Securities, the directors, officers, partners, employees, counsel, agents, representatives of, and each Person, if any, who controls, any Investor within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”) (each, an “Indemnified Person”), against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, costs, 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 the 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 the Investor has requested in writing that the Company register or qualify the Shares (“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, in light of the circumstances under which the statements therein were made, not misleading, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the final prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which the statements therein were made, not misleading, or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law, including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) being, collectively, “Violations”). Subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 6(c) the Company shall reimburse the Investor and each such controlling person, promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any reasonable legal fees or other reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (i) shall not apply to a Claim arising out of or based upon a Violation which is due to the inclusion in the Registration Statement of the information furnished to the Company by any Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto; (ii) shall not be available to the extent such Claim is based on (a) a failure of the Investor to deliver or to cause to be delivered the prospectus made available by the Company or (b) the Indemnified Person’s use of an incorrect prospectus despite being promptly advised in advance by the Company in writing not to use such incorrect prospectus; (iii) any claims based on the manner of sale of the Registrable Securities by the Investor or of the Investor’s failure to register as a dealer under applicable securities laws; (iv) any omission of the Investor to notify the Company of any material fact that should be stated in the Registration Statement or prospectus relating to the Investor or the manner of sale; and (v) any 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 resale of the Registrable Securities by the Investor pursuant to the Registration Statement.
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(b) In connection with any Registration Statement in which Investor is participating, Investor agrees to severally and 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 who signs the Registration Statement, each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act and the Company’s agents (collectively and together with an Indemnified Person, an “Indemnified Party”), against any Claim or Indemnified Damages to which any of them may become subject, under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim or Indemnified Damages arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent, and only to the extent, that such Violation is due to the inclusion in the Registration Statement of the written information furnished to the Company by such Investor expressly for use in connection with such Registration Statement; and, subject to Section 6(c), such Investor 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 Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, further, however, that the Investor 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 Investor 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 resale of the Registrable Securities by the Investor pursuant to the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(b) with respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Party if the untrue statement or omission of material fact contained in the preliminary prospectus were corrected on a timely basis in the prospectus, as then amended or supplemented. This indemnification provision shall apply separately to each Investor and liability hereunder shall not be joint and several.
(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 to be paid by the indemnifying party, if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel retained by the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party, the representation by 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 indemnifying party shall pay for only one (1) separate legal counsel for the Indemnified Persons or the Indemnified Parties, as applicable, and such counsel shall be selected by the Investor, if the Investor are entitled to indemnification hereunder, or the Company, if the Company is entitled to indemnification hereunder, as applicable. 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 appraised 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 written consent, provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition its consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the 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. Following indemnification as provided for hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be surrogated 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 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.
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Section 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 contribution shall be made under circumstances where the maker would not have been liable for indemnification under the fault standards set forth in Section 6; (ii) no seller of Registrable Securities guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation; and (iii) 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.
Section 8. REPORTS UNDER THE 1934 ACT.
With a view to making available to the Investor the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the 1933 Act or any other similar rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Investor to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration (“Rule 144”), provided that the Investor holds any Registrable Securities are eligible for resale under Rule 144 (k), the Company agrees to:
(a) make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144;
(b) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so long as the Company remains subject to such requirements (it being understood that nothing herein shall limit the Company’s obligations under Section 5(c) of the Investment Agreement) and the filing of such reports and other documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
(c) furnish to the Investor, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company, and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested to permit the Investor to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.
Section 9. NO ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
The rights under this Agreement shall not be assignable.
Section 10. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
Provisions of this Agreement may be amended only with the written consent of the Company and Investor.
Section 11. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) Any notices or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement that must be in writing will be deemed to have been delivered (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided a confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party); or (iii) one (1) 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:
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If to the Company:
Nexia Holdings, Inc.
59 West 100 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Telephone: 801-575-8073
If to the Investor:
Dutchess Private Equities Fund, LP
312 Stuart St, Third Floor
Boston, MA 02116
Telephone: 617-960-3570
Facsimile: 617-960-3772
Each party shall provide five (5) business days prior notice to the other party of any change in address, phone number or facsimile number.
(b) 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.
(c) The laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall govern all issues arising from or related to this Agreement without regard to the principles of conflict of laws. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of Boston, County of Suffolk, 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.
(d) This Agreement and the Transaction Documents constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein and therein.
(e) This Agreement and the Transaction Documents supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
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(f) The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof. Whenever required by the context of this Agreement, the singular shall include the plural and masculine shall include the feminine. This Agreement shall not be construed as if it had been prepared by one of the parties, but rather as if all the parties had prepared the same.
(g) This Agreement may be executed in two or more 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.
(h) 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.
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SIGNATURE PAGE OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Your signature on this Signature Page evidences your agreement to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Investment Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
The undersigned signatory hereby certifies that he has read and understands the Registration Rights Agreement, and the representations made by the undersigned in this Registration Rights Agreement are true and accurate, and agrees to be bound by its terms.
DUTCHESS PRIVATE EQUITIES FUND, L.P., BY ITS GENERAL PARTNER, DUTCHESS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC | ||
| | | |
| By: | /s/ Douglas H. Leighton | |
Douglas H. Leighton Managing Member | ||
| NEXIA HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
| | | |
| By: | /s/ Richard Surber | |
Richard Surber Chief Executive Officer | ||
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