exv10w5



 




EXHIBIT
10.5




REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT




          This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of March 15,
2006, by and between Digital Recorders, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the “Company”), and
Laurus Master Fund, Ltd. (the “Purchaser”).




          This Agreement is made pursuant to the Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and
among the Purchaser, the Company and various subsidiaries of the Company (as amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time, the “Security Agreement”), and pursuant to the Warrants referred to
therein.




          The Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:




     1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined in
the Security Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in the Security Agreement. As used
in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:



          “Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.




          “Common Stock” means shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.10 per share.




          “Effectiveness Date” means, (i) with respect to the Registration Statement required to be
filed in connection with the Warrants issued on the date hereof, a date no later than one hundred
fifty (150) days following such date and (ii) with respect to each additional Registration
Statement required to be filed hereunder (if any), a date no later than thirty (30) days following
the applicable Filing Date.




          “Effectiveness Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).




          “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any successor
statute.




          “Filing Date” means, with respect to (1) the Registration Statement required to be filed in
connection with the shares of Common Stock issuable to the Holder upon exercise of a Warrant, the
date which is one hundred twenty (120) days after the issuance of such Warrant, and (2) the
Registration Statement required to be filed in connection with the shares of Common Stock issuable
to the Holder as a result of adjustments to the Exercise Price made pursuant to Section 4 of the
Warrant or otherwise, thirty (30) days after the occurrence of such event or the date of the
adjustment of the Exercise Price.




          “Holder” or “Holders” means the Purchaser or any of its affiliates or transferees to the
extent any of them hold Registrable Securities, other then those purchasing Registrable Securities
in a market transaction.




          “Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).





Registration Rights Agreement





 









 








          “Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).




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




          “Registrable Securities” means the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Warrants.




          “Registration Statement” means each registration statement required to be filed hereunder,
including the Prospectus therein, amendments and supplements to such registration statement or
Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material
incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.




          “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 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.




          “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor statute.




          “Security Agreement” has the meaning given to such term in the Preamble hereto.




          “Trading Market” means any of the NASD Over The Counter Bulletin Board, NASDAQ Capital Market,
the NASDAQ National Market, the American Stock Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange




          “Warrants” means the Common Stock purchase warrants issued in connection with the Security
Agreement, whether on the date thereof or thereafter.




     2. Registration.



          (a) On or prior to each Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a
Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities for a selling





Registration Rights Agreement




2









 







stockholder resale offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. Each
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 cause each Registration
Statement to become effective and remain effective as provided herein. The Company shall use its
best efforts to cause each Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act
as promptly as possible after the filing thereof, but in any event no later than the Effectiveness
Date. The Company shall use its reasonable commercial efforts to keep each Registration Statement
continuously effective under the Securities Act until the date which is the earlier date of when
(i) all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold or (ii) all
Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement may be sold immediately without
registration under the Securities Act and without volume restrictions pursuant to Rule 144(k), as
determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect,
addressed and acceptable to the Company’s transfer agent and the affected Holders (each, an
“Effectiveness Period”).




          (b) Within three business days of the Effectiveness Date, the Company shall cause its counsel
to issue a blanket opinion in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, to the transfer agent stating
that the shares are subject to an effective registration statement and can be reissued free of
restrictive legend upon notice of a sale by the Purchaser and confirmation by the Purchaser that it
has complied with the prospectus delivery requirements, provided that the Company has not advised
the transfer agent orally or in writing that the opinion has been withdrawn. Copies of the blanket
opinion required by this Section 2(b) shall be delivered to the Purchaser within the time frame set
forth above.




     3. Registration Procedures. If and whenever the Company is required by the provisions hereof
to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act, the Company
will, as expeditiously as possible:



          (a) prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement with respect to such
Registrable Securities, respond as promptly as possible to any comments received from the
Commission, and use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become and remain
effective for the Effectiveness Period with respect thereto, and promptly provide to the Purchaser
copies of all filings and Commission letters of comment relating thereto;




          (b) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such Registration
Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to comply with the
provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities
covered by such Registration Statement and to keep such Registration Statement effective until the
expiration of the Effectiveness Period applicable to such Registration Statement;




          (c) furnish to the Purchaser such number of copies of the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus included therein (including each preliminary Prospectus) as the Purchaser reasonably may
request to facilitate the public sale or disposition of the Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement;




Registration Rights Agreement




3









 








          (d) use its best efforts to register or qualify the Purchaser’s Registrable Securities covered
by such Registration Statement under the securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions within
the United States as the Purchaser may reasonably request, provided, however, that the Company
shall not for any such purpose be required to qualify generally to transact business as a foreign
corporation in any jurisdiction where it is not so qualified or to consent to general service of
process in any such jurisdiction;




          (e) list the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement with any securities
exchange on which the Common Stock of the Company is then listed;




          (f) immediately notify the Purchaser at any time when a Prospectus relating thereto is
required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event of which the
Company has knowledge as a result of which the Prospectus contained in such Registration Statement,
as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in
light of the circumstances then existing; and




          (g) make available for inspection by the Purchaser and any attorney, accountant or other agent
retained by the Purchaser, all publicly available, non-confidential financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, and cause the Company’s officers,
directors and employees to supply all publicly available, non-confidential information reasonably
requested by the attorney, accountant or agent of the Purchaser.




     4. Registration Expenses. Expenses relating to the Company’s compliance with Sections 2 and 3
hereof, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, printing expenses, fees
and disbursements of counsel and independent public accountants for the Company, fees and expenses
(including reasonable counsel fees) incurred in connection with complying with state securities or
“blue sky” laws, fees of the NASD, transfer taxes, fees of transfer agents and registrars, fees of,
and disbursements incurred by, one counsel for the Holders are called “Registration Expenses”.
Selling commissions applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities, including any fees and
disbursements of any special counsel to the Holders beyond those included in Registration Expenses,
are called “Selling Expenses.” The Company shall only be responsible for all Registration
Expenses.



     5. Indemnification.



          (a) In the event of a registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act
pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, and its
officers, directors and each other person, if any, who controls such Holder within the meaning of
the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which
such Holder, or such persons may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are
based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any
Registration Statement under which such Registrable Securities were registered under the Securities
Act pursuant to this Agreement, any preliminary Prospectus or final Prospectus contained therein,
or any amendment or supplement thereof, or arise out of or



Registration Rights Agreement






4









 







are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse
such Holder, and each such person for any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred by them in
connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action;
provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case if and to
the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in conformity with
information furnished by or on behalf of the Purchaser or any such person in writing specifically
for use in any such document.




          (b) In the event of a registration of the Registrable Securities under the Securities Act
pursuant to this Agreement, the Purchaser will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and its
officers, directors and each other person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of
the Securities Act, against all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which
the Company or such persons may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are
based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact which was
furnished in writing by the Purchaser to the Company expressly for use in (and such information is
contained in) the Registration Statement under which such Registrable Securities were registered
under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement, any preliminary Prospectus or final Prospectus
contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse the Company and each
such person for any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred by them in connection with
investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action, provided,
however, that the Purchaser will be liable in any such case if and only to the extent that
any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in conformity with information
furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Purchaser specifically for use in any
such document. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph, the Purchaser shall not be
required to indemnify any person or entity in excess of the amount of the aggregate net proceeds
received by the Purchaser in respect of Registrable Securities in connection with any such
registration under the Securities Act.




          (c) Promptly after receipt by a party entitled to claim indemnification hereunder (an
“Indemnified Party”) of notice of the commencement of any action, such Indemnified Party shall, if
a claim for indemnification in respect thereof is to be made against a party hereto obligated to
indemnify such Indemnified Party (an “Indemnifying Party”), notify the Indemnifying Party in
writing thereof, but the omission so to notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve it from any
liability which it may have to such Indemnified Party other than under this Section 5(c) and shall
only relieve it from any liability which it may have to such Indemnified Party under this Section
5(c) if and to the extent the Indemnifying Party is prejudiced by such omission. In case any such
action shall be brought against any Indemnified Party and it shall notify the Indemnifying Party of
the commencement thereof, the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate in and, to the
extent it shall wish, to assume and undertake the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to such
Indemnified Party, and, after notice from the Indemnifying Party to such Indemnified Party of its
election so to assume and undertake the





Registration Rights Agreement







5









 







defense thereof, the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable to such Indemnified Party under
this Section 5(c) for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party in
connection with the defense thereof; if the Indemnified Party retains its own counsel, then the
Indemnified Party shall pay all fees, costs and expenses of such counsel, provided,
however, that, if the defendants in any such action include both the Indemnified Party and
the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be
reasonable defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to
the Indemnifying Party or if the interests of the Indemnified Party reasonably may be deemed to
conflict with the interests of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnified Party shall have the right
to select one separate counsel and to assume such legal defenses and otherwise to participate in
the defense of such action, with the reasonable expenses and fees of such separate counsel and
other expenses related to such participation to be reimbursed by the Indemnifying Party as
incurred.




          (d) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in the event of joint liability
under the Securities Act in any case in which either (i) the Purchaser, or any officer, director or
controlling person of the Purchaser, makes a claim for indemnification pursuant to this Section 5
but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent
jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that
such indemnification may not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that this Section 5
provides for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Securities Act may be
required on the part of the Purchaser or such officer, director or controlling person of the
Purchaser in circumstances for which indemnification is provided under this Section 5; then, and in
each such case, the Company and the Purchaser will contribute to the aggregate losses, claims,
damages or liabilities to which they may be subject (after contribution from others) in such
proportion so that the Purchaser is responsible only for the portion represented by the percentage
that the public offering price of its securities offered by the Registration Statement bears to the
public offering price of all securities offered by such Registration Statement, provided,
however, that, in any such case, (A) the Purchaser will not be required to contribute any
amount in excess of the public offering price of all such securities offered by it pursuant to such
Registration Statement; and (B) no person or entity guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within
the meaning of Section 10(f) of the Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person or entity
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.




     6. Representations and Warranties.



          (a) The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act and,
except with respect to certain matters which the Company has disclosed to the Purchaser on
Schedule 12(u) to the Security Agreement, the Company has timely filed all proxy
statements, reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by it
under the Exchange Act. The Company has filed (i) its Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2004 and (ii) its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters
ended March 31, 2005, June 30, 2005 and September 30, 2005 (collectively, the “SEC Reports”).
Each SEC Report was, at the time of its filing, in substantial compliance with the requirements of
its respective form and none of the SEC Reports, nor the financial statements (and the notes
thereto) included in the SEC Reports, as of their respective filing dates, contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which




Registration Rights Agreement








6









 







they were made, not misleading. The financial statements of the Company included in the SEC
Reports comply as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the
published rules and regulations of the Commission or other applicable rules and regulations with
respect thereto. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved
(except (i) as may be otherwise indicated in such financial statements or the notes thereto or (ii)
in the case of unaudited interim statements, to the extent they may not include footnotes or may be
condensed) and fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, the results of
operations and the cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, as of,
and for, the periods presented in each such SEC Report.




          (b) The
Common Stock is listed for trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market and satisfies all
requirements for the continuation of such listing, and the Company shall do all things necessary
for the continuation of such listing. The Company has not received any notice that its Common
Stock will be delisted from the NASDAQ Capital Market (except for prior notices which have been
fully remedied) or that the Common Stock does not meet all requirements for the continuation of
such listing




          (c) Neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their
behalf, has directly or indirectly made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers
to buy any security under circumstances that would cause the offering of the Securities pursuant to
the Security Agreement to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of the
Securities Act which would prevent the Company from selling the Common Stock pursuant to Rule 506
under the Securities Act, or any applicable exchange-related stockholder approval provisions, nor
will the Company or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries take any action or steps that would cause
the offering of the Common Stock to be integrated with other offerings (other than such concurrent
offering to the Purchaser).




          (d) The Warrants and the shares of Common Stock that the Purchaser may acquire pursuant to the
Warrants are all restricted securities under the Securities Act as of the date of this Agreement.
The Company will not issue any stop transfer order or other order impeding the sale and delivery of
any of the Registrable Securities at such time as such Registrable Securities are registered for
public sale or an exemption from registration is available, except as required by federal or state
securities laws.




          (e) The Company understands the nature of the Registrable Securities issuable upon the
exercise of each Warrant and recognizes that the issuance of such Registrable Securities may have a
potential dilutive effect. The Company specifically acknowledges that its obligation to issue the
Registrable Securities is binding upon the Company and enforceable regardless of the dilution such
issuance may have on the ownership interests of other shareholders of the Company.




          (f) Except for agreements made in the ordinary course of business, there is no agreement that
has not been filed with the Commission as an exhibit to a registration statement or to a form
required to be filed by the Company under the Exchange Act, the breach of which could reasonably be
expected to have a material and adverse effect on the Company and its





Registration Rights Agreement







7









 







subsidiaries, or would prohibit or otherwise interfere with the ability of the Company to
enter into and perform any of its obligations under this Agreement in any material respect.




          (g) The Company will at all times have authorized and reserved a sufficient number of shares
of Common Stock for the full exercise of the Warrants.




     7. Miscellaneous.



          (a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a Holder, of any of their
respective 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.




          (b) No Piggyback on Registrations. Except as and to the extent set forth on Schedule 7(b)
hereto, neither the Company nor any of its security holders (other than the Holders in such
capacity pursuant hereto) may include securities of the Company in any Registration Statement other
than the Registrable Securities, and the Company shall not after the date hereof enter into any
agreement providing any such right for inclusion of shares in the Registration Statement to any of
its security holders. Except as and to the extent specified in Schedule 7(b) hereto, the
Company has not previously entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect
to any of its securities to any Person that have not been fully satisfied.




          (c) Compliance. Each Holder covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to it in connection with sales of
Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement.




          (d) Discontinued Disposition. Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable
Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of a Discontinuation
Event (as defined below), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable
Securities under the applicable Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of
the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement 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. The Company
may provide appropriate stop orders to enforce the provisions of this paragraph. For purposes of
this Agreement, a “Discontinuation Event” shall mean (i) 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 (the Company shall provide true and complete
copies thereof and all written responses thereto to each of the Holders); (ii) any request by the
Commission or any other Federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to
such Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; (iii) the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement covering
any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose;
(iv) 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




Registration Rights Agreement







8









 







jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such purpose; and/or (v)
the occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes the financial statements included in such
Registration Statement ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement made in such 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 such Registration
Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of such Registration Statement or
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 light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.




          (e) Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time [during any Effectiveness Period][after the date
hererof] there is not an effective Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable
Securities required to be covered [during such Effectiveness Period][hereunder] and the Company
shall determine to prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement relating to an
offering for its own account or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity
securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the Securities Act) or
their then equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in connection with any
acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities issuable in connection with stock option
or other employee benefit plans, then the Company shall send to each Holder written notice of such
determination and, if within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such notice, any such Holder shall
so request in writing, the Company shall include in such registration statement all or any part of
such Registrable Securities such Holder requests to be registered, to the extent the Company may do
so without violating registration rights of others which exist as of the date of this Agreement,
subject to customary underwriter cutbacks applicable to all holders of registration rights and
subject to obtaining any required consent of any selling stockholder(s) to such inclusion under
such registration statement.




          (f) 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 the Holders of the then outstanding Registrable Securities. 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 certain Holders and that does not directly or indirectly
affect the rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of at least a majority 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.




          (g) Notices. Any notice or request hereunder may be given to the Company or the Purchaser at
the respective addresses set forth below or as may hereafter be specified in a notice designated as
a change of address under this Section 7(g). Any notice or request hereunder shall be given by
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, hand delivery, overnight mail, Federal
Express or other national overnight next day carrier (collectively, “Courier”) or telecopy
(confirmed by mail). Notices and requests shall be, in the case of those by hand delivery, deemed
to have been given when delivered to any party to whom it is addressed, in the case of those by
mail or overnight mail, deemed to have been given three (3)




Registration Rights Agreement






9









 







business days after the date when deposited in the mail or with the overnight mail carrier, in
the case of a Courier, the next business day following timely delivery of the package with the
Courier, and, in the case of a telecopy, when confirmed. The address for such notices and
communications shall be as follows:




	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	If to the Company:
	 	Digital Recorders, Inc.
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Attention:
	 	David L. Turney
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Chief Executive Officer
	 

	 	 	 	Facsimile:214.378.8347
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	with a copy to:
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Gray, Layton, Kersh, Solomon, Sigmon, Furr &
	 

	 	 	 	Smith, P.A.
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	516 South New Hope Road
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	P.O. Box 2636
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Gastonia, North Carolina 28053-2636
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Attention: David Furr
	 

	 	 	 	Facsimile: 704.866.8010
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	If to a Purchaser:
	 	To the address set forth under such Purchaser
	 

	 	 	 	name on the signature pages hereto.
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	If to any other Person who is	 	 
	 

	 	then the registered Holder:
	 	To the address of such Holder as it
	 

	 	 	 	appears in the stock transfer books of the Company





or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter in accordance with this Section
7(g) by such Person.




          (h) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each
Holder. The Company may not assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written
consent of each Holder. Each Holder may assign their respective rights hereunder in the manner and
to the Persons as permitted under the Security Agreement.




          (i) Execution and 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




Registration Rights Agreement






10









 







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.




          (j) Governing Law, Jurisdiction and Waiver of Jury Trial. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY
AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO
CONTRACTS MADE AND PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. The
Company hereby consents and agrees that the state or federal courts located in the County of New
York, State of New York shall have exclusion jurisdiction to hear and determine any Proceeding
between the Company, on the one hand, and the Purchaser, on the other hand, pertaining to this
Agreement or to any matter arising out of or related to this Agreement; provided, that the
Purchaser and the Company acknowledge that any appeals from those courts may have to be heard by a
court located outside of the County of New York, State of New York, and further
provided, that nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed or operate to preclude the
Purchaser from bringing a Proceeding in any other jurisdiction to collect the obligations, to
realize on the Collateral or any other security for the obligations, or to enforce a judgment or
other court order in favor of the Purchaser. The Company expressly submits and consents in advance
to such jurisdiction in any Proceeding commenced in any such court, and the Company hereby waives
any objection which it may have based upon lack of personal jurisdiction, improper venue or
forum non conveniens. The Company hereby waives personal service of the summons, complaint
and other process issued in any such Proceeding and agrees that service of such summons, complaint
and other process may be made by registered or certified mail addressed to the Company at the
address set forth in Section 7(g) and that service so made shall be deemed completed upon the
earlier of the Company’s actual receipt thereof or three (3) days after deposit in the U.S. mails,
proper postage prepaid. The parties hereto desire that their disputes be resolved by a judge
applying such applicable laws. Therefore, to achieve the best combination of the benefits of the
judicial system and of arbitration, the parties hereto waive all rights to trial by jury in any
Proceeding brought to resolve any dispute, whether arising in contract, tort, or otherwise between
the Purchaser and/or the Company arising out of, connected with, related or incidental to the
relationship established between then in connection with this Agreement. If either party hereto
shall commence a Proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, the Security Agreement or
any other Ancillary Agreement, then the prevailing party in such Proceeding shall be reimbursed by
the other party for its reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the
investigation, preparation and prosecution of such Proceeding.




          (k) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any
remedies provided by law.




          (l) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held
by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, 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




Registration Rights Agreement






11









 







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.




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




[Balance of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows]




Registration Rights Agreement





12









 








          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the
date first written above.




	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	DIGITAL RECORDERS, INC.
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Name:	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Title:	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	LAURUS MASTER FUND, LTD.
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Name:	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Title:	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Address for Notices:
	 
	 	 	825 Third Avenue, 14th Floor
	 	 	New York, New York 10022
	 	 	Attention: David Grin
	 	 	Facsimile: 212-541-4434





Registration Rights Agreement






13









 






EXHIBIT A




                                        , 200                    




[Continental Stock Transfer

& Trust Company

Two Broadway

New York, New York 10004

Attn: William Seegraber]




                    Re:          Digital Recorders, Inc. Registration Statement on Form [S-3]




Ladies and Gentlemen:




     As counsel to Digital Recorders, Inc. , a North Carolina corporation (the “Company”), we have
been requested to render our opinion to you in connection with the resale by the individuals or
entitles listed on Schedule A attached hereto (the “Selling Stockholders”), of an aggregate
of                     shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s Common Stock.



     A Registration Statement on Form [S-3] under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“Act”), with respect to the resale of the Shares was declared effective by the Securities and
Exchange Commission on [date]. Enclosed is the Prospectus dated [date]. We understand that the
Shares are to be offered and sold in the manner described in the Prospectus.



     Based upon the foregoing, upon request by the Selling Stockholders at any time while the
registration statement remains effective, it is our opinion that the Shares have been registered
for resale under the Act and new certificates evidencing the Shares upon their transfer or
re-registration by the Selling Stockholders may be issued without restrictive legend. We will
advise you if the registration statement is not available or effective at any point in the future.



Very truly yours,




[Company counsel]





Registration Rights Agreement






 









 





Schedule A to Exhibit A




	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	Shares
	Selling Stockholder	 	R/N/O	 	 	Being Offered




Registration Rights Agreement







 









 





SCHEDULE 7(b)



Registration Rights Agreement