Unassociated Document


Exhibit 10.3


 



REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


 


This Registration Rights Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of July 26, 2011 by and among Ante5, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the “Purchasers” named in that certain Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the Company and the Purchasers (the “Purchase Agreement”).  Capitalized terms used herein have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Purchase Agreement unless otherwise defined herein.


 


IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Company and each Purchaser agree as follows:


 


ARTICLE I


DEFINITIONS


 


In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement (including in the preamble above), for all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth in this Article I:


 


“Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday or a Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are generally authorized or required by law or regulation to close in the City of New York.


 


“Common Stock” means the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value, and any securities into which such shares may hereinafter be reclassified.


 


“Offering Price” means the price per Unit at which the Units have been sold to the Purchasers pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement.


 


“Purchasers” means the Purchasers identified in the Purchase Agreement and any Affiliate or permitted transferee of any Purchaser who is a subsequent holder of any Warrants or Registrable Securities.


 


“Prospectus” means (i) the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, 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 by all other amendments and supplements to the prospectus, including post-effective amendments and all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus, and (ii) any “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act.


 


“Register,” “registered” and “registration” refer to a registration made by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or similar document in compliance with the 1933 Act (as defined below), and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement or document.


 




  





 











  






 


“Registrable Securities” means (i) the shares of Common Stock acquired by the Purchasers under the Purchase Agreement, (ii) the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants issued to the Purchasers under the Purchase Agreement, and (iv) any other securities issued or issuable with respect to or in exchange for Registrable Securities, whether by merger, charter amendment or otherwise; provided, that, a security shall cease to be a Registrable Security upon (A) sale pursuant to a Registration Statement or Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, or (B) such security becoming eligible for sale without restriction by the Purchasers pursuant to Rule 144 without volume restrictions.


 


“Registration Statement” means any registration statement of the Company filed under the 1933 Act that covers the resale of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement.


 


“Required Purchasers” means the Purchasers holding a majority of the Registrable Securities.


 


“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.


 


“Securities Purchase Agreement” means the Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and the initial Holders pursuant to which the Registrable Securities were acquired.


 


“Unit” means the combination of one share of Common Stock and a warrant to acquire one-half of a share of Common Stock sold pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement.


 


“Warrants” means the warrants issued to the Purchasers pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement.


 


“1933 Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.


 


“1934 Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.


 


ARTICLE II


REGISTRATION


 


2.1           Registration Statements.  Promptly following the closing of the purchase and sale of the securities contemplated by the Purchase Agreement (the “Closing Date”) but no later than thirty (30) days after the Closing Date, or if such thirtieth day is a Saturday, Sunday or other holiday in which the SEC is not open for business, such deadline shall be extended to the next business day on which the SEC is open for business (the “Filing Deadline”), the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC one (1) Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or, if Form S-3 is not then available to the Company, on such form of registration statement as is then available to effect a registration for resale of the Registrable Securities), covering the resale of the Registrable Securities.  Subject to any SEC comments, such Registration Statement shall include the plan of distribution attached hereto as Exhibit A; provided, however, that no Purchaser shall be named as an “underwriter” in the Registration Statement without the Purchaser’s prior written consent.  Such Registration Statement also shall cover, to the extent allowable under the 1933 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder (including Rule 416), such indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions with respect to the Registrable Securities.  The Registration Statement (and each amendment or supplement thereto, and each request for acceleration of effectiveness thereof) shall be provided in accordance with Section 3.1(c) to the Purchasers and their counsel prior to its filing or other submission.  If a Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities is not filed with the SEC on or prior to the Filing Deadline, the Company will make pro rata payments to each Purchaser, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, in an amount equal to 1.0% of the aggregate Offering Price per Unit held by such Purchaser for each 30-day period or pro rata for any portion thereof following the Filing Deadline for which no Registration Statement is filed with respect to the Registrable Securities.  Such payments shall be made to each Purchaser in cash no later than ten (10) days after the end of each 30-day period. Amounts payable as liquidated damages hereunder shall cease when such securities are no longer Registrable Securities.


 




  





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2.2           Expenses.  The Company will pay all expenses associated with each registration, including filing and printing fees, the Company’s counsel and accounting fees and expenses, costs associated with clearing the Registrable Securities for sale under applicable state securities laws, listing fees, fees and expenses of one counsel to Purchasers and the Purchasers’ reasonable expenses in connection with the registration, but excluding discounts, commissions, fees of underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers or similar securities industry professionals with respect to the Registrable Securities being sold.


 


2.3           Effectiveness.


 


(a)           The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable.  The Company shall notify the Purchasers by facsimile or e-mail as promptly as practicable, and in any event, within three Business Days, after any Registration Statement is declared effective and shall simultaneously provide the Purchasers with copies of any related Prospectus to be used in connection with the sale or other disposition of the securities covered thereby.  If (A) a Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities is not declared effective by the SEC prior to the earlier of (i) ten (10) Business Days after the SEC shall have informed the Company that no review of the Registration Statement will be made or that the SEC has no further comments on the Registration Statement or (ii) ninety (90) days after the Filing Deadline, or (B) after a Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC, sales cannot be made pursuant to such Registration Statement for any reason (including without limitation by reason of a stop order, or the Company’s failure to update the Registration Statement), but excluding any Allowed Delay (as defined below) or the inability of any Purchaser to sell the Registrable Securities covered thereby due to market conditions, then the Company will make pro rata payments to each Purchaser, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, in an amount equal to 1.0% of the aggregate Offering Price per Unit held by such Purchaser for each 30-day period or pro rata for any portion thereof following the date by which such Registration Statement should have been effective (the “Blackout Period”).  The amounts payable as liquidated damages pursuant to this paragraph shall be paid monthly within ten (10) days of the last day of each month following the commencement of the Blackout Period until the termination of the Blackout Period.  Such payments shall be made to each Purchaser in cash. Amounts payable as liquidated damages hereunder shall cease when such securities are no longer Registrable Securities.


 




  





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  (b)           For not more than thirty consecutive days or for a total of not more than sixty (60) days in any twelve (12) month period, the Company may suspend the use of any Prospectus included in any Registration Statement contemplated by this Section in the event that the Company determines in good faith that such suspension is necessary to (A) delay the disclosure of material non-public information concerning the Company, the disclosure of which at the time is not, in the good faith opinion of the Company, in the best interests of the Company, (B) amend or supplement the affected Registration Statement or the related Prospectus so that such Registration Statement or Prospectus shall not include 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 case of the Prospectus in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (C) to file a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement to comply with the undertaking in Item 512 of Regulation S-K or to include updated annual audited financial statements (an “Allowed Delay”); provided, that the Company shall promptly (a) notify each Purchaser in writing of the commencement of and the reasons for an Allowed Delay, but shall not (without the prior written consent of a Purchaser) disclose to such Purchaser any material non-public information giving rise to an Allowed Delay, (b) advise the Purchasers in writing to cease all sales under the Registration Statement until the end of the Allowed Delay and (c) use commercially reasonable efforts to terminate an Allowed Delay as promptly as practicable.


 


2.4           Rule 415; Cutback.  If at any time the SEC takes the position that the offering of some or all of the Registrable Securities in a Registration Statement is not eligible to be made on a delayed or continuous basis under the provisions of Rule 415 under the 1933 Act or requires any Purchaser to be named as an “underwriter”, the Company shall use best efforts to persuade the SEC that the offering contemplated by the Registration Statement is a valid secondary offering and not an offering “by or on behalf of the issuer” as defined in Rule 415 and that none of the Purchasers is an “underwriter.”  The Purchasers shall have the right to have their counsel participate in any meetings or discussions with the SEC regarding the SEC’s position and to comment or have their counsel comment on any written submission made to the SEC with respect thereto.  No such written submission shall be made to the SEC to which the Purchasers’ counsel reasonably objects.  In the event that, despite the Company’s best efforts and compliance with the terms of this Section 2.4, the SEC refuses to alter its position, the Company shall (i) remove from the Registration Statement such portion of the Registrable Securities (the “Cut Back Shares”) and/or (ii) agree to such restrictions and limitations on the registration and resale of the Registrable Securities as the SEC may require to assure the Company’s compliance with the requirements of Rule 415 (collectively, the “SEC Restrictions”); provided, however, that the Company shall not agree to name any Purchaser as an “underwriter” in such Registration Statement without the prior written consent of such Purchaser.  Any cut-back imposed on the Purchasers pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall apply as follows:  first, the holder of any other securities (other than the Registrable Securities and other than any securities to be included that have registration rights in connection with the Credit Agreement) shall be reduced until such shares have been reduced in their entirety; second, any securities to be included that have registration rights in connection with the Credit Agreement shall be reduced until such shares have been reduced in their entirety; third, any shares of Common Stock to be issuable upon exercise of the Warrants shall be reduced on a pro rata basis until such shares have been reduced in their entirety; fourth, any remaining reduction shall be allocated among Common Stock of the Purchasers on a pro rata basis, unless the SEC Restrictions otherwise require or provide or the Required Purchasers otherwise agree.  No liquidated damages shall accrue as to any Cut Back Shares until such date as the Company is able to effect the registration of such Cut Back Shares in accordance with any SEC Restrictions (such date, the “Restriction Termination Date”) of such Cut Back Shares.  From and after the Restriction Termination Date applicable to any Cut Back Shares, all of the provisions of this Section 2 (including the liquidated damages provisions) shall again be applicable to such Cut Back Shares; provided, however, that (i) the Filing Deadline for the Registration Statement including such Cut Back Shares shall be ten (10) Business Days after such Restriction Termination Date, and (ii) the date by which the Company is required to obtain effectiveness with respect to such Cut Back Shares under Section 2.3 shall be the 90th day immediately after the Restriction Termination Date.


 




  





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ARTICLE III


COMPANY OBLIGATIONS


 


3.1           The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, and pursuant thereto the Company will, as expeditiously as possible:


 


(a)           use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and to remain continuously effective for a period that will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement as amended from time to time, have been sold, or (ii) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement may be sold without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 (the “Effectiveness Period”) and advise the Purchasers in writing when the Effectiveness Period has expired;


 


(b)           prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period and to comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act with respect to the distribution of all of the Registrable Securities covered thereby;


 


(c)           furnish to the Purchasers and their legal counsel (i) promptly after the same is prepared and publicly distributed, filed with the SEC, or received by the Company (but not later than two (2) Business Days after the filing date, receipt date or sending date, as the case may be) one (1) copy of any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, each preliminary prospectus and Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto, and (ii) such number of copies of a Prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto and such other documents as each Purchaser may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Purchaser that are covered by the related Registration Statement;


 




  





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(d)           use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness and, (ii) if such order is issued, obtain the withdrawal of any such order at the earliest possible moment;


 


(e)           prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the Purchasers and their counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions requested by the Purchasers and do any and all other commercially reasonable acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the distribution in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (i) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3.1, (ii) subject itself to general taxation in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be so subject but for this Section 3.1, or (iii) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction;


 


(f)           use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange, interdealer quotation system or other market on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;


 


(g)           immediately notify the Purchasers, at any time prior to the end of the Effectiveness Period, upon discovery that, or upon the happening of any event as a result of which, the Prospectus includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing, and promptly prepare, file with the SEC and furnish to such holder a supplement to or an amendment of such Prospectus as may be necessary so that such Prospectus shall not include 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 not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing; and


 


(h)          otherwise use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act, including, without limitation, Rule 172 under the 1933 Act, file any final Prospectus, including any supplement or amendment thereof, with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act, promptly inform the Purchasers in writing if, at any time during the Effectiveness Period, the Company does not satisfy the conditions specified in Rule 172 and, as a result thereof, the Purchasers are required to deliver a Prospectus in connection with any disposition of Registrable Securities and take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to facilitate the registration of the Registrable Securities hereunder; and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than the Availability Date (as defined below), an earnings statement covering a period of at least twelve (12) months, beginning after the effective date of each Registration Statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act, including Rule 158 promulgated thereunder (for the purpose of this subsection 3(i), “Availability Date” means the 45th day following the end of the fourth fiscal quarter that includes the effective date of such Registration Statement, except that, if such fourth fiscal quarter is the last quarter of the Company’s fiscal year, “Availability Date” means the 90th day after the end of such fourth fiscal quarter).


 




  





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3.2           With a view to making available to the Purchasers the benefits of Rule 144 (or its successor rule) and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Purchasers to sell shares of Common Stock to the public without registration, the Company covenants and agrees to: (i) make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144, until the earlier of (A) six months after such date as all of the Registrable Securities may be sold without restriction by the holders thereof pursuant to Rule 144 or any other rule of similar effect or (B) such date as all of the Registrable Securities shall have been resold; (ii) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the 1934 Act; and (iii) furnish to each Purchaser upon request, as long as such Purchaser owns any Registrable Securities, (A) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of the 1934 Act, (B) a copy of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and (C) such other information as may be reasonably requested in order to avail such Purchaser of any rule or regulation of the SEC that permits the selling of any such Registrable Securities without registration.


 


ARTICLE IV


DUE DILIGENCE REVIEW; INFORMATION


 


4.1            The Company shall make available, during normal business hours, for inspection and review by the Purchasers, advisors to and representatives of the Purchasers (who may or may not be affiliated with the Purchasers and who are reasonably acceptable to the Company), all financial and other records, all Commission Reports (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) and other filings with the SEC, and all other corporate documents and properties of the Company as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose of such review, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees, within a reasonable time period, to supply all such information reasonably requested by the Purchasers or any such representative, advisor or underwriter in connection with such Registration Statement (including, without limitation, in response to all questions and other inquiries reasonably made or submitted by any of them), prior to and from time to time after the filing and effectiveness of the Registration Statement for the sole purpose of enabling the Purchasers and such representatives, advisors and underwriters and their respective accountants and attorneys to conduct initial and ongoing due diligence with respect to the Company and the accuracy of such Registration Statement.


 


 


4.2           The Company shall not disclose material nonpublic information to the Purchasers, or to advisors to or representatives of the Purchasers, unless prior to disclosure of such information the Company identifies such information as being material nonpublic information and provides the Purchasers, such advisors and representatives with the opportunity to accept or refuse to accept such material nonpublic information for review and any Purchaser wishing to obtain such information enters into an appropriate confidentiality agreement with the Company with respect thereto.


 




  





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ARTICLE V


OBLIGATIONS OF THE PURCHASERS


 


5.1           Each Purchaser 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 be reasonably 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.  At least five (5) Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of any Registration Statement, the Company shall notify each Purchaser of the information the Company requires from such Purchaser if such Purchaser elects to have any of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement.  A Purchaser shall provide such information to the Company at least two (2) Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement if such Purchaser elects to have any of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement. The Company shall not be required to include the Registrable Securities of a Holder in a Registration Statement and shall not be required to pay any liquidated or other damages under Sections 2.1 and 2.3 hereof to such Holder who fails to furnish to the Company a fully completed selling holder questionnaire containing the required information referenced in this Section 5.1 at least two Business Days prior to the Filing Date.


 


5.2           Each Purchaser, by its 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 a Registration Statement hereunder, unless such Purchaser has notified the Company in writing of its election to exclude all of its Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement.


 


5.3           Each Purchaser agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of either (i) the commencement of an Allowed Delay pursuant to Section 2.3(a) or (b) or (ii) the happening of an event pursuant to Section 3.1(g) hereof, such Purchaser will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities, until the Purchaser is advised by the Company that such dispositions may again be made.


 


ARTICLE VI


INDEMNIFICATION


 


6.1           Indemnification by the Company.  The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Purchaser and its officers, directors, members, employees and agents, successors and assigns, and each other person, if any, who controls such Purchaser within the meaning of the 1933 Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they may become subject under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any preliminary Prospectus or final Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof; (ii) any blue sky application or other document executed by the Company specifically for that purpose or based upon written information furnished by the Company filed in any state or other jurisdiction in order to qualify any or all of the Registrable Securities under the securities laws thereof (any such application, document or information herein called a “Blue Sky Application”); (iii) the omission or alleged omission to state in a Blue Sky Application a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (iv) any violation by the Company or its agents of any rule or regulation promulgated under the 1933 Act applicable to the Company or its agents and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with such registration; or (v) any failure to register or qualify the Registrable Securities included in any such Registration Statement in any state where the Company or its agents has affirmatively undertaken or agreed in writing that the Company will undertake such registration or qualification on a Purchaser’s behalf and will reimburse such Purchaser, and each such officer, director or member and each such controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably 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 (i) a Purchaser’s failure to comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the 1933 Act, (ii) the use by a Purchaser of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Purchase in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective, or (iii) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in conformity with information furnished by such Purchaser or any such controlling person in writing specifically for use in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or Blue Sky Application.


 




  





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6.2           Indemnification by the Purchasers.  Each Purchaser agrees, severally but not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company, its directors, officers, employees, stockholders and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the 1933 Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expense (including reasonable attorney fees) resulting from (i) such Purchaser’s failure to comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the 1933 Act; (ii) the use by such Purchaser of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Purchase in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective; or (iii) any untrue statement of a material fact or any omission of a material fact required to be stated in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto or in any Blue Sky Application or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (A) to the extent, but only to the extent that (1) such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information furnished in writing by such Purchaser to the Company specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto or Blue Sky Application or (2) such information relates to such Purchaser or such Purchaser’s proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Purchaser expressly for use in a Registration Statement (it being understood that the Purchaser has approved Exhibit A hereto for this purpose), such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto.  In no event shall the liability of a Purchaser be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of all expense paid by such Purchaser in connection with any claim relating to this Section 6 and the amount of any damages such Purchaser has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue statement or omission) received by such Purchaser upon the sale of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement giving rise to such indemnification obligation, except in the case of fraud or willful misconduct by such Purchaser.


 




  





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6.3           Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings.  Any person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim; provided that any person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such person unless (a) the indemnifying party has agreed to pay such fees or expenses, or (b) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim or (c) in the reasonable judgment of any such person, based upon written advice of its counsel, a conflict of interest exists between such person and the indemnifying party with respect to such claims (in which case, if the person notifies the indemnifying party in writing that such person elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such claim on behalf of such person); and provided, further, that the failure of any indemnified party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations hereunder, except to the extent that such failure to give notice shall materially adversely affect the indemnifying party in the defense of any such claim or litigation.  It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for fees or expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all such indemnified parties.  No indemnifying party will, except with the consent of the indemnified party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect of such claim or litigation.


 


6.4           Contribution.  If for any reason the indemnification provided for in the preceding paragraphs (a) and (b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient to hold it harmless, other than as expressly specified therein, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act shall be entitled to contribution from any person not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  In no event shall the contribution obligation of a holder of Registrable Securities be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of all expenses paid by such holder in connection with any claim relating to this Section 6 and the amount of any damages such holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission) received by it upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such contribution.


 


ARTICLE VII


MISCELLANEOUS


 


7.1           Entire Agreement.  This Agreement, together with the other Transaction Documents and the exhibits and schedules hereto and thereto, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect to such matters, which the parties acknowledge have been merged into such documents, exhibits and schedules.


 




  





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7.2           Notices.  All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made as set forth in Section 5.4 of the Purchase Agreement.


 


7.3           Amendments and Waivers.  This Agreement may be amended only by a writing signed by the Company and the Required Purchasers.  The Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, only if the Company shall have obtained the written consent to such amendment, action or omission to act, of the Required Purchasers.


 


7.4           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.


 


7.5           Assignments and Transfers by Purchasers.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Purchasers and their respective successors and assigns.  A Purchaser may transfer or assign, in whole or from time to time in part, to one or more persons its rights hereunder in connection with the transfer of Registrable Securities by such Purchaser to such person, provided that such Purchaser complies with all laws applicable thereto and provides written notice of assignment to the Company promptly after such assignment is effected.


 


7.6           Assignments and Transfers by the Company.  This Agreement may not be assigned by the Company (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the Required Purchasers, provided, however, that in the event that the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, share exchange or similar business combination transaction in which the Common Stock is converted into the equity securities of another Person, from and after the effective time of such transaction, such Person shall, by virtue of such transaction, be deemed to have assumed the obligations of the Company hereunder, the term “Company” shall be deemed to refer to such Person and the term “Registrable Securities” shall be deemed to include the securities received by the Purchasers in connection with such transaction unless such securities are otherwise freely tradable by the Purchasers after giving effect to such transaction.


 


7.7           No Third-Party Beneficiaries.  This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and the Purchaser Parties (with respect to Section 4.4 of the Purchase Agreement) and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.


 




  





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7.8           Governing Law.  All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof, or Federal law, as applicable.  Each party agrees that all legal proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective Affiliates, directors, officers, stockholders, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan.  Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan 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 improper or is an inconvenient venue for such proceeding.  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 via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) 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 contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.  If either party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, then the prevailing party in such action or 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 action or proceeding.


 


7.9           Execution.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart.  In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.


 


7.10           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 commercially 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.


 


7.11           Remedies.  In addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages, each of the Purchasers and the Company will be entitled to specific performance under this Agreement.  The parties agree that monetary damages may not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of any breach of obligations contained in this Agreement and hereby agree to waive and not to assert in any action for specific performance of any such obligation the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.


 


7.12           Construction.  The parties agree that each of them and/or their respective counsel has reviewed and had an opportunity to revise this Agreement and, therefore, the normal rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement or any amendments hereto.  In addition, each and every reference to share prices and shares of capital stock in this Agreement shall be subject to adjustment for reverse and forward stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations and other similar transactions of the Common Stock that occur after the date of this Agreement.


 




  





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7.13           Further Assurances.  The parties shall execute and deliver all such further instruments and documents and take all such other actions as may reasonably be required to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and to evidence the fulfillment of the agreements herein contained.


 


7.14           WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, OR PROCEEDING IN ANY JURISDICTION BROUGHT BY ANY PARTY AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY, THE PARTIES EACH KNOWINGLY AND INTENTIONALLY, TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, HEREBY ABSOLUTELY, UNCONDITIONALLY, IRREVOCABLY AND EXPRESSLY WAIVES FOREVER TRIAL BY JURY.


 


[Signature Page Follows]


 


 


 


 


 


 




  





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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.


 










	
COMPANY NAME


 

	 	
Address for Notice:


 


	
By:

	  	 	
Fax:


	  	
Name:

	 	  
	  	
Title:

	 	  
	

With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):



	 	  
	 	 	 
	


Legal Counsel


Address





	 	  





 



	

INDIVIDUAL NAME




 


 

	 	
Address for Notice:


 


	
By:

	  	 	
Fax:


	  	
Name:

	 	  
	  	
Title:

	 	  
	

With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):



	 	  
	
 

	 	  
	

Legal Counsel


Address



	 	 





 






[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.


SIGNATURE PAGE FOR PURCHASER FOLLOWS.]


 





Signature Page to the Registration Rights Agreement







  











  






 


[PURCHASER SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.


 


Name of Purchaser:                                                                                                                                                             


 


Signature of Authorized Signatory of Purchaser:                                                                                                        


 


Name of Authorized Signatory:                                                                                                                                        


 


Title of Authorized Signatory:                                                                                                                                          


 


 


 


 


 


 





Signature Page to the Registration Rights Agreement







  











  






 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.


 





	
THE COMPANY


 


Ante5, Inc.


 


	
By:

	
/s/ Bradley Berman

	  
	  	
Name: Bradley Berman

	  
	  	
Title: Chief Executive Officer

	  
	  	  







 














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Signature Page to the Registration Rights Agreement







  











  




 




Exhibit A




 


Plan of Distribution


 


The selling stockholders, which as used herein includes donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors-in-interest selling shares of common stock or interests in shares of common stock received after the date of this prospectus from a selling stockholder as a gift, pledge, partnership distribution or other transfer, may, from time to time, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of their shares of common stock or interests in shares of common stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private transactions.  These dispositions may be at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market price, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices.


 


The selling stockholders may use any one or more of the following methods when disposing of shares or interests therein:


 


- ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;


 


- block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;


 


- purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;


 


- an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;


 


- privately negotiated transactions;


 


- short sales effected after the date the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part is declared effective by the SEC;


 


- through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;


 


- broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;


 


- a combination of any such methods of sale; and


 


- any other method permitted by applicable law.


 


The selling stockholders may, from time to time, pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares of common stock owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of common stock, from time to time, under this prospectus, or under an amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act amending the list of selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling stockholders under this prospectus.  The selling stockholders also may transfer the shares of common stock in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.


 




  





  











  






 


In connection with the sale of our common stock or interests therein, the selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume.  The selling stockholders may also sell shares of our common stock short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities.  The selling stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).


 


The aggregate proceeds to the selling stockholders from the sale of the common stock offered by them will be the purchase price of the common stock less discounts or commissions, if any.  Each of the selling stockholders reserves the right to accept and, together with their agents from time to time, to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of common stock to be made directly or through agents.  We will not receive any of the proceeds from this offering. Upon any exercise of the warrants by payment of cash, however, we will receive the exercise price of the warrants.


 


The selling stockholders also may resell all or a portion of the shares in open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, provided that they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of that rule.


 


The selling stockholders and any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents that participate in the sale of the common stock or interests therein may be “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act.  Any discounts, commissions, concessions or profit they earn on any resale of the shares may be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.  Selling stockholders who are “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.


 


Each selling stockholder has advised us that they have not entered into any written or oral agreements, understandings or arrangements with any underwriter or broker-dealer regarding the sale of the resale shares. There is no underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with the proposed sale of the resale shares by the selling stockholders.


 


To the extent required, the shares of our common stock to be sold, the names of the selling stockholders, the respective purchase prices and public offering prices, the names of any agents, dealer or underwriter, any applicable commissions or discounts with respect to a particular offer will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement or, if appropriate, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement that includes this prospectus.


 




  





  











  






 


In order to comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the common stock may be sold in these jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.  In addition, in some states the common stock may not be sold unless it has been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with.


 


We have advised the selling stockholders that the anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, may apply to sales of shares in the market and to the activities of the selling stockholders and their affiliates.  In addition, to the extent applicable we will make copies of this prospectus (as it may be supplemented or amended from time to time) available to the selling stockholders for the purpose of satisfying the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.  The selling stockholders may indemnify any broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving the sale of the shares against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.


 


We have agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders against liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act and state securities laws, relating to the registration of the shares offered by this prospectus.


 


We have agreed with the selling stockholders to keep the registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part effective until the earlier of (1) such time as all of the shares covered by this prospectus have been disposed of pursuant to and in accordance with the registration statement or (2) the date on which the shares may be sold without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act.