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EXHIBIT 4.2
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT"), dated as of August 27,
1998, by and among HEARx LTD., a corporation organized under the laws of the
State of Delaware (the "COMPANY"), and the undersigned (together with
affiliates, the "INITIAL INVESTORS").
WHEREAS:
A. In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement of even date
herewith by and between the Company and the Initial Investors (the "SECURITIES
PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions contained therein, to issue and sell to the Initial Investors (i)
shares of its 1997 Convertible Preferred Stock (the "PREFERRED STOCK") that are
convertible into shares (the "CONVERSION SHARES") of the Company's common stock,
par value $.10 per share (the "COMMON STOCK"), upon the terms and subject to the
limitations and conditions set forth in the Certificate of Designations, Rights
and Preferences with respect to such Preferred Stock (the "CERTIFICATE OF
DESIGNATION") and (ii) warrants (the "INVESTOR WARRANTS") to acquire shares (the
"WARRANT SHARES") of Common Stock;
B. To induce the Initial Investors to execute and deliver the Securities
Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration
rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the
"SECURITIES ACT"), and applicable state securities laws; and
C. The Company has agreed to issue to The Zanett Securities Corporation
(the "PLACEMENT AGENT") warrants (the "PLACEMENT WARRANTS") and, collectively
with the Investor Warrants, (the "WARRANTS") to purchase shares of Common Stock
pursuant to that certain Placement Agency Agreement dated as of even date
herewith, by and between the Company and the Placement Agent, and has agreed to
provide the Placement Agent the rights set forth herein. For purposes of this
Agreement, the Placement Agent shall be deemed an "INITIAL INVESTOR" and the
shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of, or otherwise pursuant to,
the Placement Agent Warrants shall be deemed "WARRANT SHARES".
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Initial
Investors hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
a. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
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(i) "INVESTORS" means the Initial Investors and any transferees
or assignees who agree to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in
accordance with Section 9 hereof.
(ii) "REGISTER," "REGISTERED," and "REGISTRATION" refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or
Statements in compliance with the Securities Act and pursuant to Rule 415 under
the Securities Act or any successor rule providing for offering securities on a
continuous basis ("RULE 415"), and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness
of such Registration Statement by the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC").
(iii) "REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means the Conversion Shares and
the Warrant Shares (including any Conversion Shares issuable in redemption of
any Preferred Stock and any Warrant Shares issuable with respect to Exercise
Default Payments under the Warrants) issued or issuable with respect to the
Preferred Stock and the Warrants and any shares of capital stock issued or
issuable, from time to time (with any adjustments), as a distribution on or in
exchange for or otherwise with respect to any of the foregoing.
(iv) "REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means a registration statement of
the Company under the Securities Act.
b. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein
shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase
Agreement.
2. REGISTRATION.
a. Mandatory Registration. The Company shall prepare, and, on or
before that date which is sixty (60) days after the date hereof (the "FILING
DATE"), file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or, if Form S-3
is not then available, on such form of Registration Statement as is then
available to effect a registration of all of the Registrable Securities, subject
to the consent of the Initial Investors (as determined pursuant to Section 11(j)
hereof)) covering the resale of at least 11,850,000 Registrable Securities. The
Registration Statement filed hereunder, to the extent allowable under the
Securities Act and the Rules promulgated thereunder (including Rule 416), shall
state that the Registration Statement also covers such indeterminate number of
additional shares of Common Stock as may become issuable upon conversion of the
Preferred Stock and exercise of the Warrants to prevent dilution resulting from
stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions. The Registrable
Securities included in the Registration Statement filed hereunder shall be
allocated to the Investors as set forth in Section 11(k) hereof. The
Registration Statement filed hereunder (and each amendment or supplement
thereto, and each request for acceleration of effectiveness thereof) shall be
provided to (and subject to the approval of) the Initial Investors and their
counsel prior to its filing or other submission.
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b. Underwritten Offering. If any offering pursuant to the
Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof involves an underwritten
offering, the Investors who hold a majority in interest of the Registrable
Securities subject to such underwritten offering shall have the right to select
one legal counsel to represent the Investors and an investment banker or bankers
and manager or managers to administer the offering, which investment banker or
bankers or manager or managers shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company.
In the event that any Investors elect not to participate in such underwritten
offering, the Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities
shall contain appropriate plans of distribution reasonably satisfactory to the
Investors participating in such underwritten offering and the Investors electing
not to participate in such underwritten offering (including, without limitation,
the ability of nonparticipating Investors to sell from time to time and at any
time during the effectiveness of such Registration Statement).
c. Payments by the Company. The Company shall cause the Registration
Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof to become
effective as soon as practicable, but in no event later than the one hundred and
twentieth (120th) day following the date hereof (the "REGISTRATION DEADLINE").
If (i) (A) the Registration Statement required to be filed by the Company
pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof is not declared effective by the SEC on or
before the Registration Deadline or (B) any Registration Statement required to
be filed by the Company pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof is not declared
effective by the SEC within sixty (60) days after the applicable Registration
Trigger Date (as defined in Section 3(b) hereof), or (ii) if, after any such
Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC, sales of all of
the Registrable Securities required to be covered by such Registration Statement
(including any Registrable Securities required to be registered pursuant to
Section 3(b) hereof) cannot be made pursuant to such Registration Statement (by
reason of a stop order or the Company's failure to update the Registration
Statement or any other reason outside the control of the Investors) or (iii) the
Common Stock is not listed or included for quotation on the Nasdaq SmallCap
Market ("SMALLCAP") , the American Stock Exchange (the "AMEX"), the New York
Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") or the Nasdaq National Market ("NNM") at any time
after the initial Registration Deadline hereunder, then the Company will make
payments to the Investors in such amounts and at such times as shall be
determined pursuant to this Section 2(c) as partial relief for the damages to
the Investors by reason of any such delay in or reduction of their ability to
sell the Registrable Securities (which remedy shall not be exclusive of any
other remedies available at law or in equity). The Company shall pay to each
Investor an amount equal to the product of (i) the aggregate Purchase Price of
the Preferred Stock and Warrants held by such Investor (including, without
limitation, Preferred Stock that has been converted into Conversion Shares and
Warrants that have been exercised for Warrant Shares then held by such Investor)
(the "AGGREGATE SHARE PRICE"), multiplied by (ii) fifteen thousandths (.015),
for the first thirty (30) day period (or portion thereof) and twenty-five
thousandths (.025) for each additional thirty (30) day period (or portion
thereof) thereafter, (A) after the Registration Deadline and prior to the date
the Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) is declared effective
by the SEC, (B) after
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the sixtieth (60th) day following a Registration Trigger Date (as defined in
Section 3(b)) and prior to the date the Registration Statement filed pursuant to
Section 3(b) hereof is declared effective by the SEC, and (c) during which sales
of any Registrable Securities cannot be made pursuant to any such Registration
Statement after the Registration Statement has been declared effective or the
Common Stock is not listed or included for quotation on the AMEX, NYSE or NNM;
provided, however, that there shall be excluded from each such period any delays
which are solely attributable to changes (other than corrections of Company
mistakes with respect to information previously provided by the Investors)
required by the Investors in the Registration Statement with respect to
information relating to the Investors, including, without limitation, changes to
the plan of distribution. (For example, if the Registration Statement is not
effective by the Registration Deadline, the Company would pay $15,000 for the
first thirty (30) day period and $25,000 for each additional thirty (30) day
period thereafter with respect to each $1,000,000 of Aggregate Share Price until
the Registration Statement becomes effective.) Such amounts shall be paid in
cash or, at each Investor's option, may be convertible into Common Stock at the
"CONVERSION PRICE" (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) then in
effect. Any shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of such amounts shall
be Registrable Securities. If the Investor desires to convert the amounts due
hereunder into Registrable Securities it shall so notify the Company in writing
within two (2) business days after the date on which such amounts are first
payable in cash and such amounts shall be so convertible (pursuant to the
mechanics set forth under Article IV of the Certificate of Designation),
beginning on the last day upon which the cash amount would otherwise be due in
accordance with the following sentence. Payments of cash pursuant hereto shall
be made within five (5) days after the end of each period that gives rise to
such obligation, provided that, if any such period extends for more than thirty
(30) days, interim payments shall be made for each such thirty (30) day period.
d. Piggy-Back Registrations. If the Registration Statement required
to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof has not become effective on or
before the Registration Deadline and, at any time after the Registration
Deadline and prior to the expiration of the Registration Period (as hereinafter
defined) the Company shall file with the SEC a Registration Statement relating
to an offering for its own account or the account of others under the Securities
Act of any of its equity securities (other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or their
then equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in connection
with any acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities issuable in
connection with stock option or other employee benefit plans), the Company shall
send to each Investor who is entitled to registration rights under this Section
2(d) written notice of such determination and, if within fifteen (15) days after
the date of such notice, such Investor shall so request in writing, the Company
shall include in such Registration Statement all or any part of the Registrable
Securities such Investor requests to be registered, except that if, in
connection with any underwritten public offering, the managing underwriter(s)
thereof shall impose a limitation on the number of shares of Common Stock which
may be included in the Registration Statement because, in such underwriter(s)'
judgment, marketing or other factors dictate such limitation is necessary to
facilitate public distribution, then the Company shall be obligated to include
in such Registration Statement only such limited
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portion of the Registrable Securities with respect to which such Investor has
requested inclusion hereunder as the underwriter shall permit. Any exclusion of
Registrable Securities shall be made pro rata among the Investors seeking to
include Registrable Securities, in proportion to the number of Registrable
Securities sought to be included by such Investors; provided, however, that the
Company shall not exclude any Registrable Securities unless the Company has
first excluded all outstanding securities, the holders of which are not entitled
to inclusion of such securities in such Registration Statement or are not
entitled to pro rata inclusion with the Registrable Securities; and provided,
further, however, that, after giving effect to the immediately preceding
proviso, any exclusion of Registrable Securities shall be made pro rata with
holders of other securities having the right to include such securities in the
Registration Statement other than holders of securities entitled to inclusion of
their securities in such Registration Statement by reason of demand registration
rights. No right to registration of Registrable Securities under this Section
2(d) shall be construed to limit any registration required under Section 2(a)
hereof. If an offering in connection with which an Investor is entitled to
registration under this Section 2(d) is an underwritten offering, then each
Investor whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration
Statement shall, unless otherwise agreed by the Company, offer and sell such
Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering using the same underwriter or
underwriters and, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, on the same terms
and conditions as other shares of Common Stock included in such underwritten
offering.
e. Eligibility for Form S-3. The Company represents and warrants
that it meets the requirements for the use of Form S-3 for registration of the
sale by the Initial Investors and any other Investor of the Registrable
Securities and the Company shall file all reports required to be filed by the
Company with the SEC in a timely manner so as to maintain such eligibility for
the use of Form S-3.
f. If at any time prior to the expiration of the Registration Period
(as defined below), the Company has determined in good faith that (i) the filing
of a Registration Statement or compliance by the Company with its disclosure
obligations in connection with the Registration Statement would require the
disclosure of material information which the Company has a bona fide business
purpose for preserving as confidential or (ii) the Company then is unable to
comply with its disclosure obligations or SEC requirements in connection with
the Registration Statement, then in either such case the Company may delay the
filing of the Registration Statement (if not then filed) and shall not be
required to maintain the effectiveness thereof or amend or supplement the
Registration Statement for a period (a "DELAY PERIOD") expiring upon the earlier
to occur of (A) the date on which such material information is disclosed to the
public or ceases to be material or the Company is able to so comply with its
disclosure obligations and SEC requirements or (B) 30 days after the Company
makes such good faith determination. The Company will give prompt written
notice, in the manner prescribed by Section 11(b) hereof, to the Investors of
each Delay Period. Advance notice shall be given to the extent practicable. Such
notice shall state an estimate of the duration of such Delay Period. Each
Investor, by its acceptance of any share of Common Stock, agrees that, upon
receipt of such notice it will
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forthwith discontinue disposition of the Common Stock pursuant to the
Registration Statement, and will not deliver any prospectus forming a part
thereof in connection with any sale of Common Stock, until the expiration of
such Delay Period. In addition, the provisions of Section 2(c) shall not apply
to the Delay Periods. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2(f) to the
contrary, there shall not be (i) more than four (4) Delay Periods in any twelve
(12) month period or (ii) more than an aggregate of 30 calendar days of Delay
Period in any twelve (12) month period.
3. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY.
In connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities, the
Company shall have the following obligations:
a. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC the Registration
Statement required by Section 2(a) (but in no event later than the Filing Date),
and cause such Registration Statement relating to Registrable Securities to
become effective as soon as practicable after such filing (but in no event later
than the Registration Deadline), and keep such Registration Statement effective
pursuant to Rule 415 at all times until such date as is the earlier of (i) the
date on which all of the Registrable Securities have been sold and (ii) the date
on which all of the Registrable Securities (in the reasonable opinion of counsel
to the Initial Investors) may be immediately sold to the public without
registration or restriction pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act or
any successor provision (the "REGISTRATION PERIOD"), which Registration
Statement (including any amendments or supplements thereto and prospectuses
contained therein and all documents incorporated by reference therein) shall not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading.
b. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments
(including post-effective amendments) and supplements to the Registration
Statement and the prospectus used in connection with the Registration Statement
as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective at all times
during the Registration Period, and, during such period, comply with the
provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all
Registrable Securities of the Company covered by the Registration Statement
until such time as all of such Registrable Securities have been disposed of in
accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers
thereof as set forth in the Registration Statement. In the event (i) the Company
delivers a Rule 416 Notice to the Investors or the Investors who hold a majority
in interest of the Registrable Securities shall reasonably determine, or the SEC
shall state formally or informally, that Rule 416 under the Securities Act does
not permit a registration statement to cover securities which may become
issuable upon conversion or exercise of convertible or exercisable securities by
reason of reductions in the conversion or exercise price of such securities and
(ii) the number of shares available under a Registration Statement filed
pursuant to this Agreement is, for any three (3) consecutive trading days (the
last of such three
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(3) trading days being the "REGISTRATION TRIGGER DATE"), insufficient to cover
one hundred thirty-five percent (135%) of the Registrable Securities issued or
issuable upon conversion (without giving effect to any limitations on conversion
contained in Article IV.C of the Certificate of Designation) of the Preferred
Stock and exercise of the Warrants (without giving effect to any limitations on
exercise contained in Section 7 of the Warrants), the Company shall amend the
Registration Statement, or file a new Registration Statement (on the short form
available therefor, if applicable), or both, so as to cover two hundred percent
(200%) of the Registrable Securities issued or issuable (without giving effect
to any limitations on conversion or exercise contained in the Certificate of
Designation or the Warrants) as of the Registration Trigger Date, in each case,
as soon as practicable, but in any event within fifteen (15) days after the
Registration Trigger Date (based on the market price then in effect of the
Common Stock and other relevant factors on which the Company reasonably elects
to rely). The Company shall cause such amendment(s) and/or new Registration
Statement to become effective as soon as practicable following the filing
thereof. In the event the Company fails to obtain the effectiveness of any such
Registration Statement within sixty (60) days after a Registration Trigger Date,
each Investor shall thereafter have the option, exercisable in whole or in part
at any time and from time to time by delivery of a written notice to the Company
(a "MANDATORY REDEMPTION NOTICE"), to require the Company to purchase for cash,
at an amount per share equal to the Redemption Amount (as defined in Article
VIII.B of the Certificate of Designation), a portion of the Investor's Preferred
Stock such that the total number of Registrable Securities included on the
Registration Statements for resale by such Investor exceeds 135% of the
Registrable Securities issued or issuable upon conversion (without giving effect
to any limitations on conversion contained in Article IV.C of the Certificate of
Designation) of such Investor's Preferred Stock and exercise of such Investor's
Warrants. If the Corporation fails to redeem any of such shares within five (5)
business days after its receipt of a Mandatory Redemption Notice, then such
Investor shall be entitled to the remedies provided in Article VIII.C of the
Certificate of Designation.
c. The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose Registrable
Securities are included in the Registration Statement and its legal counsel (i)
promptly after the same is prepared and publicly distributed, filed with the
SEC, or received by the Company, one copy of the Registration Statement and any
amendment thereto, each preliminary prospectus and prospectus and each amendment
or supplement thereto, and, in the case of the Registration Statement referred
to in Section 2(a), each letter written by or on behalf of the Company to the
SEC or the staff of the SEC (including, without limitation, any request to
accelerate the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or amendment
thereto), and each item of correspondence from the SEC or the staff of the SEC,
in each case relating to the Registration Statement (other than any portion, if
any, thereof which contains information for which the Company has sought
confidential treatment), (ii) on the date of effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto, a notice stating that the Registration
Statement or amendment has been declared effective, and (iii) such number of
copies of a prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, and all amendments
and supplements thereto and such other
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documents as such Investor may reasonably request in order to facilitate the
disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor.
d. The Company shall use its best efforts to (i) register and
qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under
such other securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions in the United
States as each Investor who holds Registrable Securities being offered
reasonably requests, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions such
amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such
registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the
effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii) take such other
actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and qualifications in
effect at all times during the Registration Period, and (iv) take all other
actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the Registrable Securities
for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (a) qualify to do
business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify
but for this Section 3(d), (b) subject itself to general taxation in any such
jurisdiction, (c) file a general consent to service of process in any such
jurisdiction, (d) provide any undertakings that cause the Company undue expense
or burden, or (e) make any change in its charter or bylaws, which in each case
the Board of Directors of the Company determines to be contrary to the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders.
e. In the event the Investors who hold a majority in interest of the
Registrable Securities being offered in an offering select underwriters for the
offering, the Company shall enter into and perform its obligations under an
underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, including, without
limitation, customary indemnification and contribution obligations, with the
underwriters of such offering.
f. As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event,
the Company shall notify each Investor of the happening of any event, of which
the Company has knowledge, as a result of which the prospectus included in the
Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a
material fact or omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and use its best
efforts promptly to prepare a supplement or amendment to the Registration
Statement to correct such untrue statement or omission, and deliver such number
of copies of such supplement or amendment to each Investor as such Investor may
reasonably request.
g. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of
any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of a Registration Statement,
and, if such an order is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such order at the
earliest practicable moment (including in each case by amending or supplementing
such Registration Statement) and to notify each Investor who holds Registrable
Securities being sold (or, in the event of an underwritten offering, the
managing underwriters) of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof
(and if such Registration Statement is supplemented or amended, deliver such
number of copies of such
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supplement or amendment to each Investor as such Investor may reasonably
request).
h. The Company shall permit a single firm of counsel designated by
the Initial Investors to review the Registration Statement and all amendments
and supplements thereto a reasonable period of time prior to its filing with the
SEC, and not file any document in a form to which such counsel reasonably
objects and will not request acceleration of the effectiveness of any
Registration Statement without prior notice to such counsel.
i. The Company shall make generally available to its security
holders as soon as practical, but not later than ninety (90) days after the
close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying
with the provisions of Rule 158 under the Securities Act) covering a
twelve-month period beginning not later than the first day of the Company's
fiscal quarter next following the effective date of the Registration Statement.
j. At the request of any Investor in an underwritten offering, the
Company shall furnish, on the date of effectiveness of the Registration
Statement (i) an opinion, dated as of such date, from counsel representing the
Company addressed to the Investors and in form, scope and substance as is
customarily given in an underwritten public offering and (ii) a letter, dated
such date, from the Company's independent certified public accountants in form
and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public
accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the
underwriters, if any, and the Investors.
k. The Company shall make available for inspection by (i) any
Investor, (ii) any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to the
Registration Statement, (iii) one firm of attorneys and one firm of accountants
or other agents retained by the Investors, and (iv) one firm of attorneys
retained by all such underwriters (collectively, the "INSPECTORS") all pertinent
financial and other records, and pertinent corporate documents and properties of
the Company (collectively, the "RECORDS"), as shall be reasonably deemed
necessary by each Inspector to enable each Inspector to exercise its due
diligence responsibility, and cause the Company's officers, directors and
employees to supply all information which any Inspector may reasonably request
for purposes of such due diligence; provided, however, that each Inspector shall
hold in confidence and shall not make any disclosure (except to an Investor) of
any Record or other information which the Company determines in good faith to be
confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors are so notified, unless
(a) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a
misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (b) the release of such
Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court or
government body of competent jurisdiction, or (c) the information in such
Records has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure
in violation of this or any other agreement. The Company shall not be required
to disclose any confidential information in such Records to any Inspector until
and unless such Inspector shall have entered into confidentiality agreements (in
form and substance satisfactory to the Company) with the Company with respect
thereto, substantially in the form of this Section 3(k). Each Investor agrees
that it shall, upon
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learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in or by a court or
governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt
notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake
appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order
for, the Records deemed confidential. Nothing herein shall be deemed to limit
the Investors' ability to sell Registrable Securities in a manner which is
otherwise consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
l. The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure
of information concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless (i)
disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state
securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid
or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii) the
release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order
from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, (iv) such
information has been made generally available to the public other than by
disclosure in violation of this or any other agreement, or (v) such Investor
consents to the form and content of any such disclosure. The Company agrees that
it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such information concerning an
Investor is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent
jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to such Investor prior
to making such disclosure, and allow the Investor, at its expense, to undertake
appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order
for, such information.
m. The Company shall use its best efforts to promptly either (i)
cause all of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to
be listed on the SmallCap, AMEX, NNM or the NYSE or another national securities
exchange and on each additional national securities exchange on which securities
of the same class or series issued by the Company are then listed, if any, if
the listing of such Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules of
such exchange, or (ii) secure the designation and quotation of all of the
Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement on the NNM and,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to arrange for or maintain at
least two market makers to register with the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") as such with respect to such Registrable Securities.
n. The Company shall provide a transfer agent and registrar, which
may be a single entity, for the Registrable Securities not later than the
effective date of the Registration Statement.
o. The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold
Registrable Securities being offered and the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing Registrable
Securities to be offered pursuant to the Registration Statement and enable such
certificates to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may be, as the
managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or the Investors may reasonably
request and registered in
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such names as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or the Investors
may request, and, within three (3) business days after the Registration
Statement which includes Registrable Securities is ordered effective by the SEC,
the Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal counsel selected by the Company
to deliver, to the transfer agent for the Registrable Securities (with copies to
the Investors whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration
Statement) an opinion of such counsel in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT 1.
p. At the request of any Investor, the Company shall prepare and
file with the SEC such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and
supplements to a Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection
with such Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to change the plan
of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement.
q. The Company shall comply with all applicable laws related to a
Registration Statement and offering and sale of securities and all applicable
rules and regulations of governmental authorities in connection therewith
(including, without limitation, the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC.)
r. The Company shall take all such other actions as any Investor or
the underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate
the disposition of the Registrable Securities.
s. From and after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not,
and shall not agree to, allow the holders of any securities of the Company to
include any of their securities in the Registration Statement under Section 2(a)
hereof or any amendment or supplement thereto under Section 3(b) hereof without
the consent of the holders of a majority in interest of the Registrable
Securities.
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTORS.
In connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities, the
Investors shall have the following obligations:
a. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the
Company to complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect to
the Registrable Securities of a particular Investor that such Investor shall
furnish 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 the Registration
Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor of the information the Company
requires from each such Investor.
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b. Each Investor, by such Investor's acceptance of the Registrable
Securities, agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the
Company in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration
Statement hereunder, unless such Investor has notified the Company in writing of
such Investor's election to exclude all of such Investor's Registrable
Securities from such Registration Statement.
c. In the event Investors holding a majority in interest of the
Registrable Securities being offered determine to engage the services of an
underwriter, each Investor agrees to enter into and perform such Investor's
obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form,
including, without limitation, customary indemnification and contribution
obligations, with the managing underwriter of such offering and take such other
actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the
disposition of the Registrable Securities, unless such Investor has notified the
Company in writing of such Investor's election not to participate in such
underwritten distribution.
d. Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the
Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Sections 3(f) or
3(g), such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable
Securities until such Investor's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or
amended prospectus contemplated by Sections 3(f) or 3(g) and, if so directed by
the Company, such Investor shall deliver to the Company (at the expense of the
Company) or destroy (and deliver to the Company a certificate of destruction)
all copies in such Investor's possession, of the prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.
e. No Investor may participate in any underwritten distribution
hereunder unless such Investor (i) agrees to sell such Investor's Registrable
Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements in usual and
customary form entered into by the Company, (ii) completes and executes all
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and
other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting
arrangements, and (iii) agrees to pay its pro rata share of all underwriting
discounts and commissions and any expenses in excess of those payable by the
Company pursuant to Section 5 below.
5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.
All reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and
commissions, incurred in connection with registrations, filings or
qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, including, without limitation, all
registration, listing and qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, the
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company (but not the fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Investors) and the fees and disbursements
contemplated by Section 3(k) hereof
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shall be borne by the Company. In addition, the Company shall pay all of the
Investors' costs and expenses (including legal fees) incurred in connection with
the enforcement of the rights of the Investors hereunder.
6. INDEMNIFICATION.
In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a Registration
Statement under this Agreement:
a. To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify, hold
harmless and defend (i) each Investor who holds such Registrable Securities, and
(ii) the directors, officers, partners, members, employees, agents and each
person who controls any Investor within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "EXCHANGE ACT"), if any, and underwriters for Investors and such
underwriters' directors, officers, partners, members, employees, agents and each
person who controls any such underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Exchange Act (each, an "INDEMNIFIED PERSON"), against any joint or several
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (collectively, together with
actions, proceedings or inquiries by any regulatory or self-regulatory
organization, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof, "CLAIMS") to
which any of them may become subject insofar as such Claims arise out of or are
based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact in a Registration Statement or any filing made in connection with
qualification under state securities laws or the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus if used
prior to the effective date of such Registration Statement, or contained in the
final prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the Company files any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or the omission or alleged omission
to state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements made
therein, in light of the circumstances under which the statements therein were
made, not misleading, (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of
the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any other applicable securities law,
including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or
regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable
Securities or (iv) any material breach of this Agreement (the matters in the
foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) being, collectively, "VIOLATIONS"). Subject
to the restrictions set forth in Section 6(c) with respect to the number of
legal counsel, the Company shall reimburse the Investors and each other
Indemnified Person, promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and
payable, for any reasonable legal fees or other reasonable out of pocket
expenses incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such
Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (i) shall not apply to
a Claim arising out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon
and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such
Indemnified Person expressly for use in the Registration Statement or any such
amendment thereof or supplement thereto; (ii) shall not
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apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected
without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld; and (iii) with respect to any preliminary prospectus,
shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Person if the untrue statement
or omission of material fact contained in the preliminary prospectus was
corrected on a timely basis in the prospectus, as then amended or supplemented,
if such corrected prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant
to Section 3(c) hereof, and the Indemnified Person was promptly advised in
writing not to use the incorrect prospectus prior to the use giving rise to a
Violation and such Indemnified Person, notwithstanding such advice, used it.
Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person and shall survive
the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section
9 hereof.
b. In connection with any Registration Statement in which an
Investor is participating, each such Investor agrees severally and not jointly
to indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same
manner set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of
its officers who signs the Registration Statement, its employees, agents and
each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15
of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively and
together with an Indemnified Person, an "INDEMNIFIED PARTY"), against any Claim
to which any of them may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim arises out of or is based upon any
Violation, in each case to the extent (and only to the extent) that such
Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by such Investor expressly for use in connection with
such Registration Statement; and subject to Section 6(c) such Investor will
reimburse any legal or other out of pocket expenses (promptly as such expenses
are incurred and are due and payable) reasonably incurred by them in connection
with investigating or defending any such Claim; provided, however, that the
indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6(b) shall not apply to amounts
paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior
written consent of such Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld; provided, further, however, that the Investor shall be liable under
this Agreement (including this Section 6(b) and Section 7) for only that amount
as does not exceed the net proceeds actually received by such Investor as a
result of the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration
Statement. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of
any investigation made by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party and shall
survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to
Section 9 hereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(b) with respect to any
preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Party
if the untrue statement or omission of material fact contained in the
preliminary prospectus was corrected on a timely basis in the prospectus, as
then amended or supplemented, and the Indemnified Party failed to utilize such
corrected prospectus.
c. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified
Party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action
(including any governmental
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action), such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall, if a Claim in
respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section
6, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement
thereof, and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and,
to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other
indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume control of the defense thereof
with counsel mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party and the Indemnified
Person or the Indemnified Party, as the case may be; provided, however, that
such indemnifying party shall not be entitled to assume such defense and an
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own
counsel with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if, in
the reasonable opinion of counsel retained by the indemnifying party, the
representation by such counsel of the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
and the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
conflicts of interest between such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and
any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding or the actual or
potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the
Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party and the indemnifying party and any
such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party reasonably determines that there
may be legal defenses available to such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
which are different from or in addition to those available to such indemnifying
party. The indemnifying party shall pay for only one separate legal counsel for
the Indemnified Persons or the Indemnified Parties, as applicable, and such
legal counsel shall be selected by Investors holding a majority-in-interest of
the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement to which the
Claim relates (with the approval of the Initial Investors if they hold
Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement), if the
Investors are entitled to indemnification hereunder, or by the Company, if the
Company is entitled to indemnification hereunder, as applicable. The failure to
deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the
commencement of any such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any
liability to the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6,
except to the extent that the indemnifying party is actually prejudiced in its
ability to defend such action. The indemnification required by this Section 6
shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of
the investigation or defense, as such expense, loss, damage or liability is
incurred and is due and payable.
7. CONTRIBUTION.
To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is prohibited
or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum
contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable
under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that
(i) no contribution shall be made under circumstances where the maker would not
have been liable for indemnification under the fault standards set forth in
Section 6, (ii) no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of
such fraudulent misrepresentation, and (iii) contribution (together with any
indemnification or other obligations under this Agreement) by any seller of
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Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds
received by such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities pursuant
to the Registration Statement.
8. REPORTS UNDER THE EXCHANGE ACT.
With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule 144
promulgated under the Securities Act or any other similar rule or regulation of
the SEC that may at any time permit the Investors to sell securities of the
Company to the public without registration ("RULE 144"), the Company agrees to:
a. file with the SEC in a timely manner and make and keep available
all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act so long as the Company remains subject to such requirements
(it being understood that nothing herein shall limit the Company's obligations
under Section 4(c) of the Securities Purchase Agreement) and the filing and
availability of such reports and other documents is required for the applicable
provisions of Rule 144; and
b. furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns shares of
Preferred Stock, Warrants or Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (i)
a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting
requirements of Rule 144, the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, (ii) a copy
of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other
reports and documents so filed by the Company, and (iii) such other information
as may be reasonably requested to permit the Investors to sell such securities
under Rule 144 without registration.
9. ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
The rights of the Investors hereunder, including the right to have the
Company register Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement, shall be
automatically assignable by each Investor to any transferee of all or any
portion of the shares of Preferred Stock, the Warrants or the Registrable
Securities if: (i) the Investor agrees in writing with the transferee or
assignee to assign such rights, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the
Company after such assignment, (ii) the Company is furnished with written notice
of (a) the name and address of such transferee or assignee, and (b) the
securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred
or assigned, (iii) following such transfer or assignment, the further
disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is restricted under
the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, (iv) the transferee or
assignee agrees in writing for the benefit of the Company to be bound by all of
the provisions contained herein, and (v) such transfer shall have been made in
accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Purchase
Agreement.
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10. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may
be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively
or prospectively), only with written consent of the Company and Investors who
hold a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities; provided, however,
that no amendment hereto which restricts the ability of an Investor to elect not
to participate in an underwritten offering shall be effective against any
Investor which does not consent in writing to such amendment; provided, further,
however, that no consideration shall be paid to an Investor by the Company in
connection with an amendment hereto unless each Investor similarly affected by
such amendment receives a pro-rata amount of consideration from the Company.
Unless an Investor otherwise agrees, each amendment hereto must similarly affect
each Investor. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section
10 shall be binding upon each Investor and the Company.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
a. A person or entity is deemed to be a holder of Registrable
Securities whenever such person or entity owns of record such Registrable
Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or
elections from two or more persons or entities with respect to the same
Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions,
notice or election received from the registered owner of such Registrable
Securities.
b. Any notices required or permitted to be given under the terms of
this Agreement shall be sent by certified or registered mail (return receipt
requested) or delivered personally or by courier or by confirmed telecopy, and
shall be effective upon receipt or refusal of receipt, if delivered personally
or by courier or confirmed telecopy, in each case addressed to a party. The
addresses for such communications shall be:
If to the Company:
HEARx Ltd.
0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxx, M.D.
Chairman of the Board
and if to any Investor, at such address as such Investor shall have provided in
writing to the Company, or at such other address as each such party furnishes by
notice given in accordance with this Section 11(b).
c. Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this
Agreement
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or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy, shall not
operate as a waiver thereof.
d. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be
performed in the State of Delaware without regard to principles of choice of law
or conflicts of law that would defer to the substantive law of another
jurisdiction. The Company irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of the United
States federal courts and the state courts located in the State of New York in
any suit or proceeding based on or arising under this Agreement and irrevocably
agrees that all claims in respect of such suit or proceeding shall be determined
exclusively in such courts. The Company irrevocably waives the defense of an
inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such suit or proceeding. The Company
further agrees that service of process upon the Company, mailed by first class
mail shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the
Company in any such suit or proceeding. Nothing herein shall affect the
Investors' right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. The
Company agrees that a final non-appealable judgment in any such suit or
proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by
suit on such judgment or in any other lawful manner.
e. This Agreement, the Securities Purchase Agreement (including all
schedules and exhibits thereto) and the Warrants constitute the entire agreement
among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
This Agreement, the Securities Purchase Agreement and the Warrants supersede all
prior agreements and understandings among the parties hereto with respect to the
subject matter hereof and thereof.
f. Subject to the requirements of Section 9 hereof, this Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of
each of the parties hereto.
g. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference
only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
h. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and
the same agreement. This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be delivered
to the other party hereto by facsimile transmission of a copy of this Agreement
bearing the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.
i. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and
performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all
such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other
party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the
purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
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j. All consents, approvals and other determinations to be made by
the Investors or the Initial Investors pursuant to this Agreement shall be made
by the Investors or the Initial Investors holding a majority in interest of the
Registrable Securities (determined as if all shares of Preferred Stock and
Warrants then outstanding had been converted into or exercised for Registrable
Securities) held by all Investors or Initial Investors, as the case may be.
k. The initial number of Registrable Securities included on any
Registration Statement and each increase (if any) to the number of Registrable
Securities included thereon shall be allocated pro rata among the Investors
based on the number of Registrable Securities held by each Investor at the time
of such establishment or increase, as the case may be. In the event an Investor
shall sell or otherwise transfer any of such holder's Registrable Securities,
each transferee shall be allocated a pro rata portion of the number of
Registrable Securities included on a Registration Statement for such transferor.
Any shares of Common Stock included on a Registration Statement and which remain
allocated to any person or entity which does not hold any Registrable Securities
shall be allocated to the remaining Investors, pro rata based on the number of
shares of Registrable Securities then held by such Investors. For the avoidance
of doubt, the number of Registrable Securities held by any Investor shall be
determined as if all shares of Preferred Stock and Warrants then outstanding
were converted into or exercised for Registrable Securities.
l. Each party to this Agreement has participated in the negotiation
and drafting of this Agreement. As such, the language used herein shall be
deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual
intent, and no rule of strict construction will be applied against any party to
this Agreement.
m. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "business day" means any
day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in
the State of New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or
executive order to close.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed as of the date first above written.
HEARx LTD.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx, MD
---------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxx, MD
Its: Chairman and CEO
INITIAL INVESTORS:
ZANETT LOMBARDIER, LTD.
By: /s/ G.A. Cicaogna
-----------------
Name: G.A. Cicogna
Its: Director to Advisor
XXXXXXX XXXXX PERFORMANCE
PARTNERS, L.P.
Commodities Corporation LLC, General Partner
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Judge
------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Judge
Its: Vice President
XXXXXXX SACHS PERFORMANCE
PARTNERS (OFFSHORE), L.P.
Commodities Corporation LLC, General Partner
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Judge
------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Judge
Its: Vice President
21
[Signatures continued from prior page.]
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
--------------------------------
XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
/s/ Xxxxx XxXxxxxx
--------------------------------
XXXXX XxXXXXXX
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx
--------------------------------
XXXX XXXXXXX
22
EXHIBIT 1
TO
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS
AGREEMENT
[Date]
[Name and address
of transfer agent]
RE: HEARx LTD.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are counsel to HEARx LTD., a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Delaware (the "COMPANY"), and we understand that [Name of Investor]
(the "HOLDER") has purchased from the Company (i) shares of the Company's 1997
Convertible Preferred Stock (the "PREFERRED STOCK") that are convertible into
shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.10 per share (the "COMMON
STOCK"), and (ii) warrants (the "WARRANTS") to acquire shares of Common Stock.
Pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of ________ __, 1998, by
and among the Company and the signatories thereto (the "REGISTRATION RIGHTS
AGREEMENT"), the Company agreed with the Holder, among other things, to register
the Registrable Securities (as that term is defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"),
upon the terms provided in the Registration Rights Agreement. In connection with
the Company's obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, on __________
__, 1998, the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form S-___ (File No.
333- _____________) (the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT") with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") relating to the Registrable Securities, which
names the Holder as a selling stockholder thereunder. The Registration Statement
was declared effective by the SEC on _____________, 1998.
[Other customary introductory and scope of examination language to be
inserted]
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the resale of the
Registrable Securities have been registered under the Securities Act.
[Other customary language to be included.]
Very truly yours,
cc: [Name of Investor]
