Document:

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.31

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

         This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of the 18th day of August, 2000, by and among CEREUS TECHNOLOGY
PARTNERS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and each of the
stockholders listed on the signature pages hereto (each a "Stockholder" and,
collectively, the "Stockholders").

         IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual promises and covenants set forth herein,
and intending to be legally bound, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

1.       RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY OF SECURITIES; REGISTRATION RIGHTS

         1.1      CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

                  (a)      "Common Stock" shall mean the Company's common stock,
$.01 par value per share.

                  (b)      "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended.

                  (c)      "Holder" shall mean any Stockholder who holds
Registrable Securities and any holder of Registrable Securities to whom the
rights conferred by this Agreement have been transferred in compliance with
Section 1.2 hereof.

                  (d)      "Other Stockholders" shall mean persons who, by
virtue of agreements with the Company other than this Agreement, are entitled to
include their securities in certain registrations hereunder.

                  (e)      "Registrable Securities" shall mean the shares of
Common Stock held by the Stockholders listed on the signature pages hereto in
the amount set forth thereon, the Warrants held by the Stockholders listed on
the signature pages hereto and any shares of Common Stock that such Stockholder
has the right to acquire, or does acquire, upon the exercise of the Warrants or,
in either case, their permitted transferees, provided that a Registrable
Security ceases to be a Registrable Security when (i) it is registered under the
Securities Act; (ii) it is sold or transferred in accordance with the
requirements of Rule 144 (or similar provisions then in effect) promulgated by
the SEC under the Securities Act ("Rule 144"); (iii) it is eligible to be sold
or transferred under Rule 144 without holding period or

<PAGE>   2
volume limitations; or (iv) it is sold in a private transaction in which the
transferor's rights under this Agreement are not assigned.

                  (f)      The terms "register," "registered" and "registration"
shall refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration
statement in compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), and applicable rules and regulations thereunder and the
declaration or ordering of the effectiveness of such registration statement.

                  (g)      "Registration Expenses" shall mean all expenses
incurred in effecting any registration pursuant to this Agreement, including,
without limitation, all registration, qualification, and filing fees, printing
expenses, escrow fees, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and one
counsel selected to represent the Holders, which counsel shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Company, blue sky fees and expenses, and expenses of any
regular or special audits incident to or required by any such registration, but
shall not include (i) Selling Expenses; (ii) the compensation of regular
employees of the Company, which shall be paid in any event by the Company; and
(iii) blue sky fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or
qualification of any Registrable Securities in any state, province or other
jurisdiction in a registration pursuant to Section 1.3 hereof to the extent that
the Company shall otherwise be making no offers or sales in such state, province
or other jurisdiction in connection with such registration.

                  (h)      "Restricted Securities" shall mean any Registrable
Securities required to bear the legend set forth in Section 1.2(c) hereof.

                  (i)      "Rule 145" shall mean Rule 145 as promulgated by the
SEC under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or
any similar successor rule that may be promulgated by the SEC.

                  (j)      "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

                  (k)      "Selling Expenses" shall mean all underwriting
discounts, selling commissions and stock transfer taxes applicable to the sale
of Registrable Securities.

                  (l)      "Warrantholder" shall mean any holder of a Warrant.

                  (m)      "Warrant Shares" shall mean the shares of Common
Stock issuable by the Company upon exercise of the Warrants.

                  (n)      "Warrants" shall mean the warrants to purchase shares
of Common Stock at an exercise price of $10.00 per share dated August 18, 2000
issued in connection with the Company's August 2000 private equity financing.

         1.2      RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER.

                                       2
<PAGE>   3

                  (a)      Each Holder agrees not to make any disposition of all
or any portion of the Registrable Securities unless and until (i) there is then
in effect a registration statement under the Securities Act covering such
proposed disposition and such disposition is made in accordance with such
registration statement; or (ii) (A) such Holder shall have notified the Company
of the proposed disposition and shall have furnished the Company with a detailed
statement of the circumstances surrounding the proposed disposition and (B) if
reasonably requested by the Company, such Holder shall have furnished the
Company with an opinion of counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that
such disposition will not require registration of such shares under the
Securities Act, it being understood that the Company will not require opinions
of counsel for transactions made pursuant to Rule 144 except in unusual
circumstances.

                  (b)      Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraphs (i)
and (ii) of paragraph (a) above, no such registration statement or opinion of
counsel shall be necessary for a transfer by a Holder which is (i) a partnership
to its partners in accordance with their partnership interests; (ii) a limited
liability company to its members in accordance with their member interests; or
(iii) to the Holder's family member or a trust for the benefit of an individual
Holder or one or more of his family members, provided that the transferee will
be subject to the terms of this Section 1.2 to the same extent as if it were an
original Holder hereunder.

                  (c)      Each certificate representing Registrable Securities
shall (unless otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Agreement) be
stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend substantially similar to the
following (in addition to any legend required under applicable state securities
laws):

         THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED,
ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS AND UNTIL REGISTERED UNDER SUCH ACT OR
UNLESS THE COMPANY HAS RECEIVED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL OR OTHER EVIDENCE,
SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL, THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT
REQUIRED.

                  (d)      The Company shall be obligated to promptly reissue
unlegended certificates at the request of any Holder thereof if the Holder shall
have obtained an opinion of counsel (which counsel may be counsel to the
Company) reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that the securities
proposed to be disposed of may lawfully be so disposed of in compliance with the
Securities Act without registration, qualification or legend.

                  (e)      Any legend endorsed on an instrument pursuant to
applicable state securities laws and the stop-transfer instructions with respect
to such securities shall be removed upon receipt by the Company of an order of
the appropriate blue sky authority authorizing such removal or if the Holder
shall request such removal and shall have obtained

                                       3
<PAGE>   4

and delivered to the Company an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the
Company to the effect that such legend and/or stop-transfer instructions are no
longer required pursuant to applicable state securities laws.

         1.3      COMPANY REGISTRATION.

                  (a)      Right to Piggyback. If at any time prior to the five
(5) year anniversary of the date hereof the Company shall determine to register
any shares of Common Stock for its own account, other than a registration
relating solely to employee benefit plans, or a registration relating solely to
a Rule 145 transaction, or a registration on any registration form that does not
permit secondary sales, the Company will:

                           (i)      promptly give to each Holder written notice
thereof, which notice briefly describes the Holders' rights under this Section
1.3 (including notice deadlines);

                           (ii)     use its best efforts to include in such
registration (and any related filing or qualification under applicable blue sky
laws), except as set forth in Section 1.3(b) below, and in any underwriting
involved therein, all the Registrable Securities specified in a written request
or requests, made by any Holder and received by the Company within ten (10) days
after the written notice from the Company described in clause (i) above is
mailed or delivered by the Company, provided that such Holders shall have
requested for inclusion in such registration at least ten percent (10%) of the
aggregate number of the Registrable Securities which have been issued to the
Holders prior to the date of such written request. Such written request may
specify all or a part of a Holder's Registrable Securities; and

                           (iii)    keep such registration effective for a
period of one hundred eighty (180) days or until the Holder or Holders have
completed the distribution described in the registration statement relating
thereto, whichever first occurs.

                  (b)      Underwriting. If the registration of which the
Company gives notice is for a registered public offering involving an
underwriting, the Company shall so advise the Holders as a part of the written
notice given pursuant to Section 1.3(a)(i). In such event, the right of any
Holder to registration pursuant to this Section 1.3 shall be conditioned upon
such Holder's participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such
Holder's Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided
herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their securities through such
underwriting shall (together with the Company and the other holders of
securities of the Company with registration rights to participate therein
distributing their securities through such underwriting) enter into an
underwriting agreement in customary form with the representative of the
underwriter or underwriters selected by the Company. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Section 1.3, if the representative of the underwriters advises
the Company in writing that marketing factors require a limitation on the number
of shares to be underwritten, the representative may (subject to the limitations
set forth below) exclude all Registrable Securities from, or limit the number of
Registrable

                                       4
<PAGE>   5

Securities to be included in, the registration and underwriting. The Company
shall so advise all Holders of securities requesting registration, and the
number of shares of securities that are entitled to be included in the
registration and underwriting shall be allocated first to the Company for
securities being sold for its own account and thereafter as set forth in Section
1.10 hereof. If any person does not agree to the terms of any such underwriting,
he shall be excluded therefrom by written notice from the Company or the
underwriter. Any Registrable Securities or other securities excluded or
withdrawn from such underwriting shall be withdrawn from such registration. If
shares are so withdrawn from the registration and if the number of shares of
Registrable Securities to be included in such registration was previously
reduced as a result of marketing factors, the Company shall then offer to all
persons who have retained the right to include securities in the registration
the right to include additional securities in the registration in an aggregate
amount equal to the number of shares so withdrawn, with such shares to be
allocated among the persons requesting additional inclusion in accordance with
Section 1.10 hereof.

         1.4      EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION. All Registration Expenses incurred
in connection with any registration, qualification or compliance pursuant to
Section 1.3 hereof shall be borne by the Company. All Selling Expenses relating
to securities so registered shall be borne by the Holders of such securities pro
rata on the basis of the number of shares of securities so registered on their
behalf.

         1.5      REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. In the case of each registration
effected by the Company pursuant to Section 1.3 hereof, the Company will keep
each Holder advised in writing as to the initiation of each registration and as
to the completion thereof. At its expense, the Company will use its best efforts
to:

                  (a)      prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection
with such registration statement as may be necessary to comply with the
provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all
securities covered by such registration statement;

                  (b)      furnish such number of prospectuses and other
documents incident thereto, including any amendment of or supplement to the
prospectus, as a Holder from time to time may reasonably request;

                  (c)      notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered
by such registration statement at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is
required to be delivered under the Securities Act of the happening of any event
as a result of which the prospectus included 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 or incomplete in the light of the
circumstances then existing, and at the request of any such Holder, prepare and
furnish to such Holder a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an
amendment of such prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter
delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus
shall not include an untrue statement of a material

                                       5
<PAGE>   6

fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading or incomplete in the light of the
circumstances then existing; provided, however, the Company shall not be
obligated to prepare and furnish any such prospectus supplements or amendments
relating to any material nonpublic information at any such time as the Board of
Directors of the Company has determined that, for good business reasons, the
disclosure of such material nonpublic information at that time is contrary to
the best interests of the Company in the circumstances and is not otherwise
required under applicable law (including applicable securities laws);

                  (d)      cause all such Registrable Securities registered
pursuant hereunder to be listed on each securities exchange and/or included in
any national quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company
are then listed or included;

                  (e)      provide a transfer agent and registrar for all
Registrable Securities registered pursuant to such registration statement and a
CUSIP number for all such Registrable Securities, in each case not later than
the effective date of such registration; and

                  (f)      otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and make available to its security
holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the
period of at least twelve (12) months, but not more than eighteen months,
beginning with the first month after the effective date of the registration
statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section
11(a) of the Securities Act.

         1.6      INDEMNIFICATION.

                  (a)      The Company will indemnify each Holder, each of its
officers, directors, partners, legal counsel and accountants and each person
controlling such Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act,
with respect to which registration, qualification, or compliance has been
effected pursuant to this Section 1, and each underwriter, if any, and each
person who controls within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act any
underwriter, against all expenses, claims, losses, damages, and liabilities (or
actions, proceedings, or settlements in respect thereof) arising out of or based
on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact
contained in any prospectus, offering circular, or other document (including any
related registration statement, notification, or the like) incident to any such
registration, qualification, or compliance, or based on any omission (or alleged
omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation by the
Company of the Securities Act or any rule or regulation thereunder applicable to
the Company or relating to action or inaction required of the Company in
connection with any such registration, qualification, or compliance, and will
reimburse each such Holder, each of its officers, directors, partners, legal
counsel and accountants and each person controlling such Holder, each such
underwriter, and each person who controls any such underwriter, for any legal
and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating and
defending or settling any such claim, loss, damage, liability, or action,
provided that the

                                       6
<PAGE>   7

Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such claim,
loss, damage, liability, or expense arises out of or is based on any untrue
statement or omission based upon written information furnished to the Company by
such Holder or underwriter and stated to be specifically for use therein. It is
agreed that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 1.6(a) shall not
apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability,
or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company
(which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).

                  (b)      Each Holder will, if Registrable Securities held by
him are included in the securities as to which such registration, qualification,
or compliance is being effected, indemnify the Company, each of its directors,
officers, partners, legal counsel and accountants and each underwriter, if any,
of the Company's securities covered by such a registration statement, each
person who controls the Company or such underwriter within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act, each other such Holder and Other Stockholder,
and each of their officers, directors, and partners, and each person controlling
such Holder or Other Stockholder, against all claims, losses, damages and
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arising out of or based on any
untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in
any such registration statement, prospectus, offering circular, or other
document, or any 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 such Holders, Other Stockholders,
directors, officers, partners, legal counsel, and accountants, persons,
underwriters, or control persons for any legal or any other expenses reasonably
incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such claim, loss,
damage, liability, or action, in each case to the extent, but only to the
extent, that such untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or
alleged omission) is made in such registration statement, prospectus, offering
circular or other document in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such Holder and stated to be
specifically for use therein; provided, however, (i) that the obligations of
such Holder hereunder shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such
claims, losses, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) if such
settlement is effected without the consent of such Holder (which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld) and (ii) that in no event shall any indemnity
under this Section 1.6(b) exceed the gross proceeds from the offering received
by such Holder.

                  (c)      Each party entitled to indemnification under this
Section 1.6 (the "Indemnified Party") shall give notice to the party required to
provide indemnification (the "Indemnifying Party") promptly after such
Indemnified Party has actual knowledge of any claim as to which indemnity may be
sought, and shall permit the Indemnifying Party to assume the defense of such
claim or any litigation resulting therefrom, provided that counsel for the
Indemnifying Party, who shall conduct the defense of such claim or any
litigation resulting therefrom, shall be approved by the Indemnified Party
(whose approval shall not unreasonably be withheld), and the Indemnified Party
may participate in such defense at such party's expense, 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 under this Section
1.6, to the extent such failure is not prejudicial. No Indemnifying Party, in
the

                                       7
<PAGE>   8

defense of any such claim or litigation, shall, except with the consent of each
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 of a release to such Indemnified Party from all liability
in respect to such claim or litigation. Each Indemnified Party shall furnish
such information regarding itself or the claim in question as an Indemnifying
Party may reasonably request in writing and as shall be reasonably required in
connection with defense of such claim and litigation resulting therefrom.

                  (d)      If the indemnification provided for in this Section
1.6 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an
Indemnified Party with respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense
referred to therein, then the Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such
Indemnified Party hereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, liability, claim, damage, or
expense in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of
the Indemnifying Party on the one hand and of the Indemnified Party on the other
in connection with the conduct, statements or omissions that resulted in such
loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and of
the Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
Indemnifying Party or by the Indemnified Party and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information, and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission.

                  (e)      Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the
provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in the underwriting
agreement entered into by the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party in
connection with the underwritten public offering are in conflict with the
foregoing provisions, the provisions in the underwriting agreement shall
control.

         1.7      INFORMATION BY HOLDER. Each Holder of Registrable Securities
shall furnish to the Company such information regarding such Holder and the
distribution proposed by such Holder as the Company may reasonably request in
writing and as shall be reasonably required in connection with any registration,
qualification, or compliance referred to in this Section 1.

         1.8      RULE 144 REPORTING. With a view to making available the
benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC that may permit the sale of
the Restricted Securities to the public without registration, the Company agrees
to use its best efforts to:

                  (a)      make and keep adequate public information regarding
the Company available as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144;

                  (b)      file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and
other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act; and

                                       8
<PAGE>   9

                  (c)      so long as a Holder owns any Restricted Securities,
furnish to the Holder forthwith upon written request a written statement by the
Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 and of
the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, a copy of the most recent annual or
quarterly report of the Company, and such other reports and documents so filed
as a Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation
of the SEC allowing a Holder to sell any such securities without registration.

         1.9      NOTICE TO DISCONTINUE; NOTICE BY HOLDERS.

                  (a)      Notice to Discontinue. Each Holder agrees by
acquisition of such securities that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company
of any event of the kind described in Section 1.5(c), the Holder will
discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until the Holder receives
copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 1.5(c).
In addition, if the Company requests, the holder will deliver to the Company (at
the Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in the
Holder's possession, of the prospectus covering the Registrable Securities
current at the time of receipt of such notice. If the Company gives any such
notice, the time period mentioned in Section 1.3(a)(iii) shall be extended by
the number of days elapsing between the date of notice and the date that each
Holder who has included Registrable Securities in such registration receives the
copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated in Section 1.5(c).

                  (b)      Notice by Holders. Whenever the Holders have
requested that any Registrable Securities be registered pursuant to this
Agreement, those Holders shall notify the Company, at any time when a prospectus
relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the
happening of any event, which as to any Holder is (i) to its respective
knowledge; (ii) solely within its respective knowledge; and (iii) solely as to
matters concerning that Holder, as a result of which the prospectus included in
the registration statement, then in effect, contains an untrue statement of a
material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading.

         1.10     ALLOCATION OF REGISTRATION OPPORTUNITIES. In any circumstance
in which all of the Registrable Securities and other shares of the Company with
registration rights (the "Other Shares") requested to be included in a
registration on behalf of the Holders or Other Stockholders cannot be so
included as a result of limitations of the aggregate number of shares of
Registrable Securities and Other Shares that may be so included, the number of
shares of Registrable Securities and Other Shares that may be so included shall
be allocated among the Holders and Other Stockholders requesting inclusion of
shares pro rata on the basis of the number of shares of Registrable Securities
and Other Shares held by such Holders and Other Stockholders; provided, however,
that such allocation shall not operate to reduce the aggregate number of
Registrable Securities and Other Shares to be included in such registration, if
any Holder or Other Stockholder does not request inclusion of the maximum number
of shares of Registrable Securities and Other Shares allocated to him

                                       9
<PAGE>   10

pursuant to the above-described procedure, the remaining portion of his
allocation shall be reallocated among those requesting Holders and Other
Stockholders whose allocations did not satisfy their requests pro rata on the
basis of the number of shares of Registrable Securities and Other Shares which
would be held by such Holders and Other Stockholders, assuming conversion, and
this procedure shall be repeated until all of the shares of Registrable
Securities and Other Shares which may be included in the registration on behalf
of the Holders and Other Stockholders have been so allocated.

2.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND THE
         STOCKHOLDERS.

         2.1      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company
represents and warrants to the Stockholders as follows:

                  (a)      The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by the Company have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate
action and will not violate any provision of law, any order of any court or
other agency of government, the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the
Company, or any provision of any material indenture, agreement or other
instrument to which it or any of its properties or assets is bound, or conflict
with, result in a breach of or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or
both) a default under any such material indenture, agreement or other
instrument, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or
encumbrance of any nature whatsoever upon any of the properties or assets of the
Company.

                  (b)      This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered
by the Company and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject
to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and other similar laws affecting the
enforceability of creditors' rights generally, general equitable principles, the
discretion of courts in granting equitable remedies and public policy
considerations.

         2.2      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE STOCKHOLDERS. Each
Stockholder (severally and not jointly) represents and warrants to the Company
as follows:

                  (a)      The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by the Stockholder will not violate any provision of law, any order of
any court or any agency or government, or any provision of any material
indenture or agreement or other instrument to which it or any of its properties
or assets is bound, or conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (with
due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any such material
indenture, agreement or other instrument, or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge, or encumbrance of any nature whatsoever upon any
of the properties or assets of the Stockholder.

                  (b)      This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered
by the Stockholder and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of
the Stockholder,

                                       10
<PAGE>   11

enforceable against the Stockholder in accordance with its terms, subject to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and other similar laws affecting the
enforceability of creditors' rights generally, general equitable principles, the
discretion of courts in granting equitable remedies and public policy
considerations.

3.       MISCELLANEOUS

         3.1      DELAY OF REGISTRATION. No Holder shall have any right to take
any action to restrain, enjoin, or otherwise delay any registration as the
result of any controversy that might arise with respect to the interpretation or
implementation of Section 1 hereof.

         3.2      SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. Except as otherwise expressly provided
herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding
upon, the successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators of the
parties hereto.

         3.3      ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENT; WAIVER. This Agreement
constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties
with regard to the subject hereof. Neither this Agreement nor any term hereof
may be amended, waived, discharged or terminated, except by a written instrument
signed by the Company and the Holders of at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the
Registrable Securities and any such amendment, waiver, discharge or termination
shall be binding on all the Holders, but in no event shall the obligation of any
Holder hereunder be materially increased, except upon the written consent of
such Holder.

         3.4      NOTICES, ETC. All notices and other communications required or
permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed by United States
first-class mail, postage prepaid, or delivered personally by hand or nationally
recognized courier addressed (a) if to a Holder, as indicated in the stock
records of the Company or at such other address as such Holder shall have
furnished to the Company in writing, or (b) if to the Company, at 1000 Abernathy
Road, 400 Northpark, Suite 1000, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, Attn: Chief Financial
Officer, or at such other address as the Company shall have furnished to each
Holder in writing, together with a copy to Rogers & Hardin LLP, 2700
International Tower, 229 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, Attn: Steven
E. Fox, Esq. All such notices and other written communications shall be
effective on the date of mailing or delivery.

         3.5      DELAYS OR OMISSIONS. No delay or omission to exercise any
right, power or remedy accruing to any Holder, upon any breach or default of the
Company under this Agreement shall impair any such right, power or remedy of
such Holder nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach or
default, or an acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar breach or default
thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be
deemed a waiver of any other breach or default therefore or thereafter
occurring. Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on
the part of any Holder of any breach or default under this Agreement or any
waiver on the part of any Holder of any provisions or conditions of this
Agreement must be made in writing and shall

                                       11
<PAGE>   12

be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing. All
remedies, either under this Agreement or by law or otherwise afforded to any
Holder, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

         3.6      RIGHTS; SEVERABILITY. Unless otherwise expressly provided
herein, a Holder's rights hereunder are several rights, not rights jointly held
with any of the other Holders. In case any provision of the Agreement shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

         3.7      INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL. Each Holder acknowledges that the
information received by them pursuant hereto may be confidential and for its use
only, and it will not use such confidential information in violation of the
Exchange Act or reproduce, disclose or disseminate such information to any other
person (other than its employees or agents having a need to know the contents of
such information, and its attorneys), except in connection with the exercise of
rights under this Agreement, unless the Company has made such information
available to the public generally or such Holder is required to disclose such
information by a governmental body.

         3.8      TITLES AND SUBTITLES. The titles of the paragraphs and
subparagraphs of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are
not to be considered in construing this Agreement.

         3.9      COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed and delivered
(including by facsimile transmission) in any number of counterparts, and by the
different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed
and delivered shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.

         3.10     GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION. This Agreement shall be governed
by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State
of Delaware without reference to Delaware's choice of law rules and each of the
parties hereto hereby consents to personal jurisdiction in any federal or state
court in the State of Delaware.

                             [SIGNATURES NEXT PAGE]

                                       12
<PAGE>   13

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this
Agreement or have caused this Agreement to be duly executed on its behalf by an
officer or representative thereto duly authorized, all as of the date first
above written.

                                       CEREUS TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS, INC.

                                       By:      /s/ Steve A. Odom
                                          --------------------------------
                                                Steve A. Odom
                                                Chief Executive Officer

                    [SIGNATURES CONTINUED ON FOLLOWING PAGE]<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.32

                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

         This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of the 15th day of September, 2000, by and among CEREUS
TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and each of
the stockholders listed on the signature pages hereto (each a "Stockholder" and,
collectively, the "Stockholders").

         IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual promises and covenants set forth herein,
and intending to be legally bound, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

1.       RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY OF SECURITIES; REGISTRATION RIGHTS

         1.1      CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

                  (a)      "Common Stock" shall mean the Company's common stock,
$.01 par value per share.

                  (b)      "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended.

                  (c)      "Holder" shall mean any Stockholder who holds
Registrable Securities and any holder of Registrable Securities to whom the
rights conferred by this Agreement have been transferred in compliance with
Section 1.2 hereof.

                  (d)      "Other Stockholders" shall mean persons who, by
virtue of agreements with the Company other than this Agreement, are entitled to
include their securities in certain registrations hereunder.

                  (e)      "Registrable Securities" shall mean the shares of
Common Stock held by the Stockholders listed on the signature pages hereto in
the amount set forth thereon, the Warrants held by the Stockholders listed on
the signature pages hereto and any shares of Common Stock that such Stockholder
has the right to acquire, or does acquire, upon the exercise of the Warrants or,
in either case, their permitted transferees, provided that a Registrable
Security ceases to be a Registrable Security when (i) it is registered under the
Securities Act; (ii) it is sold or transferred in accordance with the
requirements of Rule 144 (or similar provisions then in effect) promulgated by
the SEC under the Securities Act ("Rule 144"); (iii) it is eligible to be sold
or transferred under Rule 144 without holding period or

<PAGE>   2

volume limitations; or (iv) it is sold in a private transaction in which the
transferor's rights under this Agreement are not assigned.

                  (f)      The terms "register," "registered" and "registration"
shall refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration
statement in compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), and applicable rules and regulations thereunder and the
declaration or ordering of the effectiveness of such registration statement.

                  (g)      "Registration Expenses" shall mean all expenses
incurred in effecting any registration pursuant to this Agreement, including,
without limitation, all registration, qualification, and filing fees, printing
expenses, escrow fees, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and one
counsel selected to represent the Holders, which counsel shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Company, blue sky fees and expenses, and expenses of any
regular or special audits incident to or required by any such registration, but
shall not include (i) Selling Expenses; (ii) the compensation of regular
employees of the Company, which shall be paid in any event by the Company; and
(iii) blue sky fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or
qualification of any Registrable Securities in any state, province or other
jurisdiction in a registration pursuant to Section 1.3 hereof to the extent that
the Company shall otherwise be making no offers or sales in such state, province
or other jurisdiction in connection with such registration.

                  (h)      "Restricted Securities" shall mean any Registrable
Securities required to bear the legend set forth in Section 1.2(c) hereof.

                  (i)      "Rule 145" shall mean Rule 145 as promulgated by the
SEC under the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or
any similar successor rule that may be promulgated by the SEC.

                  (j)      "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

                  (k)      "Selling Expenses" shall mean all underwriting
discounts, selling commissions and stock transfer taxes applicable to the sale
of Registrable Securities.

                  (l)      "Warrantholder" shall mean any holder of a Warrant.

                  (m)      "Warrant Shares" shall mean the shares of Common
Stock issuable by the Company upon exercise of the Warrants.

                  (n)      "Warrants" shall mean the warrants to purchase shares
of Common Stock at an exercise price of $10.00 per share dated September 15,
2000 issued in connection with the Company's August 2000 private equity
financing.

         1.2      RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER.

                                       2
<PAGE>   3

                  (a)      Each Holder agrees not to make any disposition of all
or any portion of the Registrable Securities unless and until (i) there is then
in effect a registration statement under the Securities Act covering such
proposed disposition and such disposition is made in accordance with such
registration statement; or (ii) (A) such Holder shall have notified the Company
of the proposed disposition and shall have furnished the Company with a detailed
statement of the circumstances surrounding the proposed disposition and (B) if
reasonably requested by the Company, such Holder shall have furnished the
Company with an opinion of counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that
such disposition will not require registration of such shares under the
Securities Act, it being understood that the Company will not require opinions
of counsel for transactions made pursuant to Rule 144 except in unusual
circumstances.

                  (b)      Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraphs (i)
and (ii) of paragraph (a) above, no such registration statement or opinion of
counsel shall be necessary for a transfer by a Holder which is (i) a partnership
to its partners in accordance with their partnership interests; (ii) a limited
liability company to its members in accordance with their member interests; or
(iii) to the Holder's family member or a trust for the benefit of an individual
Holder or one or more of his family members, provided that the transferee will
be subject to the terms of this Section 1.2 to the same extent as if it were an
original Holder hereunder.

                  (c)      Each certificate representing Registrable Securities
shall (unless otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Agreement) be
stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend substantially similar to the
following (in addition to any legend required under applicable state securities
laws):

         THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED,
ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS AND UNTIL REGISTERED UNDER SUCH ACT OR
UNLESS THE COMPANY HAS RECEIVED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL OR OTHER EVIDENCE,
SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND ITS COUNSEL, THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT
REQUIRED.

                  (d)      The Company shall be obligated to promptly reissue
unlegended certificates at the request of any Holder thereof if the Holder shall
have obtained an opinion of counsel (which counsel may be counsel to the
Company) reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that the securities
proposed to be disposed of may lawfully be so disposed of in compliance with the
Securities Act without registration, qualification or legend.

                  (e)      Any legend endorsed on an instrument pursuant to
applicable state securities laws and the stop-transfer instructions with respect
to such securities shall be removed upon receipt by the Company of an order of
the appropriate blue sky authority authorizing such removal or if the Holder
shall request such removal and shall have obtained

                                       3
<PAGE>   4

and delivered to the Company an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the
Company to the effect that such legend and/or stop-transfer instructions are no
longer required pursuant to applicable state securities laws.

         1.3      COMPANY REGISTRATION.

                  (a)      Right to Piggyback. If at any time prior to the five
(5) year anniversary of the date hereof the Company shall determine to register
any shares of Common Stock for its own account, other than a registration
relating solely to employee benefit plans, or a registration relating solely to
a Rule 145 transaction, or a registration on any registration form that does not
permit secondary sales, the Company will:

                           (i)      promptly give to each Holder written notice
thereof, which notice briefly describes the Holders' rights under this Section
1.3 (including notice deadlines);

                           (ii)     use its best efforts to include in such
registration (and any related filing or qualification under applicable blue sky
laws), except as set forth in Section 1.3(b) below, and in any underwriting
involved therein, all the Registrable Securities specified in a written request
or requests, made by any Holder and received by the Company within ten (10) days
after the written notice from the Company described in clause (i) above is
mailed or delivered by the Company, provided that such Holders shall have
requested for inclusion in such registration at least ten percent (10%) of the
aggregate number of the Registrable Securities which have been issued to the
Holders prior to the date of such written request. Such written request may
specify all or a part of a Holder's Registrable Securities; and

                           (iii)    keep such registration effective for a
period of one hundred eighty (180) days or until the Holder or Holders have
completed the distribution described in the registration statement relating
thereto, whichever first occurs.

                  (b)      Underwriting. If the registration of which the
Company gives notice is for a registered public offering involving an
underwriting, the Company shall so advise the Holders as a part of the written
notice given pursuant to Section 1.3(a)(i). In such event, the right of any
Holder to registration pursuant to this Section 1.3 shall be conditioned upon
such Holder's participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such
Holder's Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided
herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their securities through such
underwriting shall (together with the Company and the other holders of
securities of the Company with registration rights to participate therein
distributing their securities through such underwriting) enter into an
underwriting agreement in customary form with the representative of the
underwriter or underwriters selected by the Company. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Section 1.3, if the representative of the underwriters advises
the Company in writing that marketing factors require a limitation on the number
of shares to be underwritten, the representative may (subject to the limitations
set forth below) exclude all Registrable Securities from, or limit the number of
Registrable

                                       4
<PAGE>   5

Securities to be included in, the registration and underwriting. The Company
shall so advise all Holders of securities requesting registration, and the
number of shares of securities that are entitled to be included in the
registration and underwriting shall be allocated first to the Company for
securities being sold for its own account and thereafter as set forth in Section
1.10 hereof. If any person does not agree to the terms of any such underwriting,
he shall be excluded therefrom by written notice from the Company or the
underwriter. Any Registrable Securities or other securities excluded or
withdrawn from such underwriting shall be withdrawn from such registration. If
shares are so withdrawn from the registration and if the number of shares of
Registrable Securities to be included in such registration was previously
reduced as a result of marketing factors, the Company shall then offer to all
persons who have retained the right to include securities in the registration
the right to include additional securities in the registration in an aggregate
amount equal to the number of shares so withdrawn, with such shares to be
allocated among the persons requesting additional inclusion in accordance with
Section 1.10 hereof.

         1.4      EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION. All Registration Expenses incurred
in connection with any registration, qualification or compliance pursuant to
Section 1.3 hereof shall be borne by the Company. All Selling Expenses relating
to securities so registered shall be borne by the Holders of such securities pro
rata on the basis of the number of shares of securities so registered on their
behalf.

         1.5      REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. In the case of each registration
effected by the Company pursuant to Section 1.3 hereof, the Company will keep
each Holder advised in writing as to the initiation of each registration and as
to the completion thereof. At its expense, the Company will use its best efforts
to:

                  (a)      prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection
with such registration statement as may be necessary to comply with the
provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all
securities covered by such registration statement;

                  (b)      furnish such number of prospectuses and other
documents incident thereto, including any amendment of or supplement to the
prospectus, as a Holder from time to time may reasonably request;

                  (c)      notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered
by such registration statement at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is
required to be delivered under the Securities Act of the happening of any event
as a result of which the prospectus included 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 or incomplete in the light of the
circumstances then existing, and at the request of any such Holder, prepare and
furnish to such Holder a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an
amendment of such prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter
delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus
shall not include an untrue statement of a material

                                       5
<PAGE>   6

fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or incomplete in the
light of the circumstances then existing; provided, however, the Company shall
not be obligated to prepare and furnish any such prospectus supplements or
amendments relating to any material nonpublic information at any such time as
the Board of Directors of the Company has determined that, for good business
reasons, the disclosure of such material nonpublic information at that time is
contrary to the best interests of the Company in the circumstances and is not
otherwise required under applicable law (including applicable securities laws);

                  (d)      cause all such Registrable Securities registered
pursuant hereunder to be listed on each securities exchange and/or included in
any national quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company
are then listed or included;

                  (e)      provide a transfer agent and registrar for all
Registrable Securities registered pursuant to such registration statement and a
CUSIP number for all such Registrable Securities, in each case not later than
the effective date of such registration; and

                  (f)      otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and make available to its security
holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the
period of at least twelve (12) months, but not more than eighteen months,
beginning with the first month after the effective date of the registration
statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section
11(a) of the Securities Act.

         1.6      INDEMNIFICATION.

                  (a)      The Company will indemnify each Holder, each of its
officers, directors, partners, legal counsel and accountants and each person
controlling such Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act,
with respect to which registration, qualification, or compliance has been
effected pursuant to this Section 1, and each underwriter, if any, and each
person who controls within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act any
underwriter, against all expenses, claims, losses, damages, and liabilities (or
actions, proceedings, or settlements in respect thereof) arising out of or based
on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact
contained in any prospectus, offering circular, or other document (including any
related registration statement, notification, or the like) incident to any such
registration, qualification, or compliance, or based on any omission (or alleged
omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation by the
Company of the Securities Act or any rule or regulation thereunder applicable to
the Company or relating to action or inaction required of the Company in
connection with any such registration, qualification, or compliance, and will
reimburse each such Holder, each of its officers, directors, partners, legal
counsel and accountants and each person controlling such Holder, each such
underwriter, and each person who controls any such underwriter, for any legal
and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating and
defending or settling any such claim, loss, damage, liability, or action,
provided that the

                                       6
<PAGE>   7

Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such claim,
loss, damage, liability, or expense arises out of or is based on any untrue
statement or omission based upon written information furnished to the Company by
such Holder or underwriter and stated to be specifically for use therein. It is
agreed that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 1.6(a) shall not
apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability,
or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company
(which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).

                  (b)      Each Holder will, if Registrable Securities held by
him are included in the securities as to which such registration, qualification,
or compliance is being effected, indemnify the Company, each of its directors,
officers, partners, legal counsel and accountants and each underwriter, if any,
of the Company's securities covered by such a registration statement, each
person who controls the Company or such underwriter within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act, each other such Holder and Other Stockholder,
and each of their officers, directors, and partners, and each person controlling
such Holder or Other Stockholder, against all claims, losses, damages and
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arising out of or based on any
untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in
any such registration statement, prospectus, offering circular, or other
document, or any 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 such Holders, Other Stockholders,
directors, officers, partners, legal counsel, and accountants, persons,
underwriters, or control persons for any legal or any other expenses reasonably
incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such claim, loss,
damage, liability, or action, in each case to the extent, but only to the
extent, that such untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or
alleged omission) is made in such registration statement, prospectus, offering
circular or other document in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such Holder and stated to be
specifically for use therein; provided, however, (i) that the obligations of
such Holder hereunder shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such
claims, losses, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) if such
settlement is effected without the consent of such Holder (which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld) and (ii) that in no event shall any indemnity
under this Section 1.6(b) exceed the gross proceeds from the offering received
by such Holder.

                  (c)      Each party entitled to indemnification under this
Section 1.6 (the "Indemnified Party") shall give notice to the party required to
provide indemnification (the "Indemnifying Party") promptly after such
Indemnified Party has actual knowledge of any claim as to which indemnity may be
sought, and shall permit the Indemnifying Party to assume the defense of such
claim or any litigation resulting therefrom, provided that counsel for the
Indemnifying Party, who shall conduct the defense of such claim or any
litigation resulting therefrom, shall be approved by the Indemnified Party
(whose approval shall not unreasonably be withheld), and the Indemnified Party
may participate in such defense at such party's expense, 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 under this Section
1.6, to the extent such failure is not prejudicial. No Indemnifying Party, in
the

                                       7
<PAGE>   8

defense of any such claim or litigation, shall, except with the consent of each
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 of a release to such Indemnified Party from all liability
in respect to such claim or litigation. Each Indemnified Party shall furnish
such information regarding itself or the claim in question as an Indemnifying
Party may reasonably request in writing and as shall be reasonably required in
connection with defense of such claim and litigation resulting therefrom.

                  (d)      If the indemnification provided for in this Section
1.6 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an
Indemnified Party with respect to any loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense
referred to therein, then the Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such
Indemnified Party hereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, liability, claim, damage, or
expense in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of
the Indemnifying Party on the one hand and of the Indemnified Party on the other
in connection with the conduct, statements or omissions that resulted in such
loss, liability, claim, damage, or expense as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and of
the Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
Indemnifying Party or by the Indemnified Party and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information, and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission.

                  (e)      Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the
provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in the underwriting
agreement entered into by the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party in
connection with the underwritten public offering are in conflict with the
foregoing provisions, the provisions in the underwriting agreement shall
control.

         1.7      INFORMATION BY HOLDER. Each Holder of Registrable Securities
shall furnish to the Company such information regarding such Holder and the
distribution proposed by such Holder as the Company may reasonably request in
writing and as shall be reasonably required in connection with any registration,
qualification, or compliance referred to in this Section 1.

         1.8      RULE 144 REPORTING. With a view to making available the
benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC that may permit the sale of
the Restricted Securities to the public without registration, the Company agrees
to use its best efforts to:

                  (a)      make and keep adequate public information regarding
the Company available as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144;

                  (b)      file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and
other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act; and

                                       8
<PAGE>   9

                  (c)      so long as a Holder owns any Restricted Securities,
furnish to the Holder forthwith upon written request a written statement by the
Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 and of
the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, a copy of the most recent annual or
quarterly report of the Company, and such other reports and documents so filed
as a Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation
of the SEC allowing a Holder to sell any such securities without registration.

         1.9      NOTICE TO DISCONTINUE; NOTICE BY HOLDERS.

                  (a)      Notice to Discontinue. Each Holder agrees by
acquisition of such securities that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company
of any event of the kind described in Section 1.5(c), the Holder will
discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until the Holder receives
copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 1.5(c).
In addition, if the Company requests, the holder will deliver to the Company (at
the Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in the
Holder's possession, of the prospectus covering the Registrable Securities
current at the time of receipt of such notice. If the Company gives any such
notice, the time period mentioned in Section 1.3(a)(iii) shall be extended by
the number of days elapsing between the date of notice and the date that each
Holder who has included Registrable Securities in such registration receives the
copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated in Section 1.5(c).

                  (b)      Notice by Holders. Whenever the Holders have
requested that any Registrable Securities be registered pursuant to this
Agreement, those Holders shall notify the Company, at any time when a prospectus
relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the
happening of any event, which as to any Holder is (i) to its respective
knowledge; (ii) solely within its respective knowledge; and (iii) solely as to
matters concerning that Holder, as a result of which the prospectus included in
the registration statement, then in effect, contains an untrue statement of a
material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading.

         1.10     ALLOCATION OF REGISTRATION OPPORTUNITIES. In any circumstance
in which all of the Registrable Securities and other shares of the Company with
registration rights (the "Other Shares") requested to be included in a
registration on behalf of the Holders or Other Stockholders cannot be so
included as a result of limitations of the aggregate number of shares of
Registrable Securities and Other Shares that may be so included, the number of
shares of Registrable Securities and Other Shares that may be so included shall
be allocated among the Holders and Other Stockholders requesting inclusion of
shares pro rata on the basis of the number of shares of Registrable Securities
and Other Shares held by such Holders and Other Stockholders; provided, however,
that such allocation shall not operate to reduce the aggregate number of
Registrable Securities and Other Shares to be included in such registration, if
any Holder or Other Stockholder does not request inclusion of the maximum number
of shares of Registrable Securities and Other Shares allocated to him

                                       9
<PAGE>   10

pursuant to the above-described procedure, the remaining portion of his
allocation shall be reallocated among those requesting Holders and Other
Stockholders whose allocations did not satisfy their requests pro rata on the
basis of the number of shares of Registrable Securities and Other Shares which
would be held by such Holders and Other Stockholders, assuming conversion, and
this procedure shall be repeated until all of the shares of Registrable
Securities and Other Shares which may be included in the registration on behalf
of the Holders and Other Stockholders have been so allocated.

2.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND THE
         STOCKHOLDERS.

         2.1      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company
represents and warrants to the Stockholders as follows:

                  (a)      The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by the Company have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate
action and will not violate any provision of law, any order of any court or
other agency of government, the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the
Company, or any provision of any material indenture, agreement or other
instrument to which it or any of its properties or assets is bound, or conflict
with, result in a breach of or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or
both) a default under any such material indenture, agreement or other
instrument, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or
encumbrance of any nature whatsoever upon any of the properties or assets of the
Company.

                  (b)      This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered
by the Company and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject
to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and other similar laws affecting the
enforceability of creditors' rights generally, general equitable principles, the
discretion of courts in granting equitable remedies and public policy
considerations.

         2.2      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE STOCKHOLDERS. Each
Stockholder (severally and not jointly) represents and warrants to the Company
as follows:

                  (a)      The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement by the Stockholder will not violate any provision of law, any order of
any court or any agency or government, or any provision of any material
indenture or agreement or other instrument to which it or any of its properties
or assets is bound, or conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (with
due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any such material
indenture, agreement or other instrument, or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge, or encumbrance of any nature whatsoever upon any
of the properties or assets of the Stockholder.

                  (b)      This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered
by the Stockholder and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of
the Stockholder,

                                       10
<PAGE>   11

enforceable against the Stockholder in accordance with its terms, subject to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and other similar laws affecting the
enforceability of creditors' rights generally, general equitable principles, the
discretion of courts in granting equitable remedies and public policy
considerations.

3.       MISCELLANEOUS

         3.1      DELAY OF REGISTRATION. No Holder shall have any right to take
any action to restrain, enjoin, or otherwise delay any registration as the
result of any controversy that might arise with respect to the interpretation or
implementation of Section 1 hereof.

         3.2      SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. Except as otherwise expressly provided
herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding
upon, the successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators of the
parties hereto.

         3.3      ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENT; WAIVER. This Agreement
constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties
with regard to the subject hereof. Neither this Agreement nor any term hereof
may be amended, waived, discharged or terminated, except by a written instrument
signed by the Company and the Holders of at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the
Registrable Securities and any such amendment, waiver, discharge or termination
shall be binding on all the Holders, but in no event shall the obligation of any
Holder hereunder be materially increased, except upon the written consent of
such Holder.

         3.4      NOTICES, ETC. All notices and other communications required or
permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed by United States
first-class mail, postage prepaid, or delivered personally by hand or nationally
recognized courier addressed (a) if to a Holder, as indicated in the stock
records of the Company or at such other address as such Holder shall have
furnished to the Company in writing, or (b) if to the Company, at 1000 Abernathy
Road, 400 Northpark, Suite 1000, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, Attn: Chief Financial
Officer, or at such other address as the Company shall have furnished to each
Holder in writing, together with a copy to Rogers & Hardin LLP, 2700
International Tower, 229 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, Attn: Steven
E. Fox, Esq. All such notices and other written communications shall be
effective on the date of mailing or delivery.

         3.5      DELAYS OR OMISSIONS. No delay or omission to exercise any
right, power or remedy accruing to any Holder, upon any breach or default of the
Company under this Agreement shall impair any such right, power or remedy of
such Holder nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach or
default, or an acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar breach or default
thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be
deemed a waiver of any other breach or default therefore or thereafter
occurring. Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on
the part of any Holder of any breach or default under this Agreement or any
waiver on the part of any Holder of any provisions or conditions of this
Agreement must be made in writing and shall

                                       11
<PAGE>   12

be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing. All
remedies, either under this Agreement or by law or otherwise afforded to any
Holder, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

         3.6      RIGHTS; SEVERABILITY. Unless otherwise expressly provided
herein, a Holder's rights hereunder are several rights, not rights jointly held
with any of the other Holders. In case any provision of the Agreement shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

         3.7      INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL. Each Holder acknowledges that the
information received by them pursuant hereto may be confidential and for its use
only, and it will not use such confidential information in violation of the
Exchange Act or reproduce, disclose or disseminate such information to any other
person (other than its employees or agents having a need to know the contents of
such information, and its attorneys), except in connection with the exercise of
rights under this Agreement, unless the Company has made such information
available to the public generally or such Holder is required to disclose such
information by a governmental body.

         3.8      TITLES AND SUBTITLES. The titles of the paragraphs and
subparagraphs of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are
not to be considered in construing this Agreement.

         3.9      COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed and delivered
(including by facsimile transmission) in any number of counterparts, and by the
different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed
and delivered shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.

         3.10     GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION. This Agreement shall be governed
by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State
of Delaware without reference to Delaware's choice of law rules and each of the
parties hereto hereby consents to personal jurisdiction in any federal or state
court in the State of Delaware.

                             [SIGNATURES NEXT PAGE]

                                       12
<PAGE>   13

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this
Agreement or have caused this Agreement to be duly executed on its behalf by an
officer or representative thereto duly authorized, all as of the date first
above written.

                                       CEREUS TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS, INC.

                                       By:      /s/ Steve A. Odom
                                          --------------------------------
                                                Steve A. Odom
                                                Chief Executive Officer

                    [SIGNATURES CONTINUED ON FOLLOWING PAGE]

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00022-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00022-of-00352.parquet"}]]