REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit 99.2
Execution Version
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of February 13, 2018 by and among Merus N.V., a public company with limited liability (naamloze vennootschap) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands (the “Company”), and the “Investors” named in the Securities Purchase Agreement of even date herewith by and among the Company and the Investors identified on Exhibit A attached thereto (the “Purchase Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Purchase Agreement unless otherwise defined herein.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Certain Definitions.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Investors” means the Investors identified in the Purchase Agreement and any Affiliate or permitted transferee of any such Investor who is a subsequent holder of Registrable Securities.
“Prospectus” means (i) the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement and by all other amendments and supplements to the prospectus, including post-effective amendments and all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus, and (ii) any “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act.
“Register,” “registered” and “registration” refer to a registration made by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or similar document in compliance with the 1933 Act, and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement or document.
“Registrable Securities” means (i) the Shares and (ii) any other Common Shares issued pursuant to a stock split, as a dividend or other distribution with respect to, in exchange for or in replacement of the Shares; provided, however, that any such Registrable Securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities (and the Company shall not be required to maintain the effectiveness of any, or file another, Registration Statement hereunder with respect thereto) upon the first to occur of (A) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale all of such Registrable Securities being declared effective by the SEC under the 1933 Act and such Registrable Securities having been disposed of or transferred by the holder thereof in accordance with such effective Registration Statement, (B) such Registrable Securities having been previously sold or transferred in accordance with Rule 144 (or another exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act), (C) such securities becoming eligible for resale without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions and without current public information requirements pursuant to Rule 144 and (D) the third anniversary of the Closing Date.
“Registration Statement” means any registration statement of the Company under the 1933 Act that covers the resale of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement.
“Required Investors” means the Investors holding a majority of the Registrable Securities outstanding from time to time.
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“SEC Guidance” means (i) any publicly-available written or oral guidance of the SEC staff, or any comments, requirements or requests of the SEC staff and (ii) the 1933 Act.
2. Registration.
(a) Registration Statement.
(i) By May 15, 2018 (the “Filing Deadline”), the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC one Registration Statement covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities which, for the avoidance of doubt, may also register the sale of primary securities. Subject to any SEC comments, such Registration Statement shall include the plan of distribution, substantially in the form and substance, set forth in Part III of each Investor’s Selling Stockholder Notice and Questionnaire. Such Registration Statement also shall cover, to the extent allowable under the 1933 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder (including Rule 416), such indeterminate number of additional Common Shares resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions with respect to the Registrable Securities. Upon request, such Registration Statement (and each amendment or supplement thereto, and each request for acceleration of effectiveness thereof) shall be provided in accordance with Section 3(c) to the Investors prior to its filing or other submission. If a Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities is not filed with the SEC on or prior to the fifth Business Day following the Filing Deadline, at the election of each Investor, the Company will make pro rata payments to each electing Investor, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, in an amount equal to 1% of the aggregate amount paid pursuant to the Purchase Agreement by such Investor for such Registrable Securities then held by such Investor for each 30-day period or pro rata for any portion thereof following the Filing Deadline for which no Registration Statement is filed with respect to the Registrable Securities. For each Investor that elects to receive such liquidated damages, such payments shall constitute such Investors’ exclusive monetary remedy for such events, and shall be in addition to any other rights the Investors may have hereunder or under applicable law and shall not affect the right of the Investors to seek injunctive relief. Such payments shall be made to each electing Investor in cash no later than five (5) Business Days after the end of each 30-day period (the “Payment Date”). Interest shall accrue at the rate of 1% per month on any such liquidated damages payments that shall not be paid by the Payment Date until such amount is paid in full.
(ii) The Company shall take reasonable best efforts to register the Registrable Securities on Form F-3 following the date such form is available for use by the Company, provided that if at such time the Registration Statement is on Form F-1, the Company shall maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement then in effect until such time as a Registration Statement on Form F-3 covering the Registrable Securities has been declared effective by the SEC.
(b) Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses associated with each Registration Statement, including filing and printing fees, the Company’s counsel and accounting fees and expenses, costs associated with clearing the Registrable Securities for sale under applicable state securities laws and listing fees, but excluding discounts, commissions, fees of underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers or similar securities industry professionals with respect to the Registrable Securities being sold. Except as provided in Section 6 hereof, the Company shall not be responsible for legal fees incurred by holders of Registrable Securities in connection with the performance of its rights and obligations under the Transaction Documents.
(c) Effectiveness.
(i) The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to have the Registration Statements declared effective as soon as practicable. The Company shall notify the Investors by facsimile or e-mail as promptly as practicable, and in any event, within forty-eight (48) hours, after (x) the SEC notified the Company that it has no further comments to the Registration Statement and (y) any Registration Statement is declared effective, and shall simultaneously provide the Investors with access to a copy of any related Prospectus to be used in connection with the sale or other disposition of the securities covered thereby. Subject to Section 2(d), if (A) a Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities is not declared effective by the SEC prior to the 120th day after the Closing Date (or the 150th day if the SEC reviews such Registration Statement) (the “Effectiveness Deadline”), or (B) after a Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC, sales cannot be made pursuant to such Registration Statement for any reason (including without limitation by reason of a stop order, or the Company’s failure to update such Registration Statement), but excluding any Allowed Delay (as defined below) or, if the Registration Statement is on Form F-1, for a period of twenty (20) days following the date on which the Company files a post-effective amendment to incorporate the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F (a “Maintenance Failure”), then, at the election of each Investor, the Company will make pro rata payments to each electing Investor then holding Registrable Securities, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, in an amount equal to 1% of the aggregate amount paid pursuant to the Purchase Agreement by such Investor for such Registrable Securities then held by such Investor for each 30-day period or pro rata for any portion thereof following the date by which such Registration Statement should have been effective (the “Blackout Period”). For each Investor that elects to receive liquidated damages, such payments shall constitute such Investors’ exclusive monetary remedy for such events and shall be in addition to any other rights the Investors may have hereunder or under applicable law and shall not affect the right of the Investors to seek injunctive relief. The amounts payable as liquidated damages pursuant to this paragraph shall be paid no later than five (5) Business Days after each such 30-day period following the commencement of the Blackout Period until the termination of the Blackout Period. Such payments shall be made to each electing Investor in cash. Interest shall accrue at the rate of 1% per month on any such liquidated damages payments that shall not be paid by the Blackout Payment Date until such amount is paid in full.
(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Company may, upon written notice to any holder of Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement, suspend the use of any Registration Statement, including any Prospectus that forms a part of a Registration Statement, if the Company (X) determines that it would be required to make disclosure of material information in the Registration Statement that the
Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential, (Y) the Company determines it must amend or supplement the Registration Statement or the related Prospectus so that such Registration Statement or Prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the case of the Prospectus in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (Z) the Company has experienced or is experiencing some other material non-public event, including a pending transaction involving the Company, the disclosure of which at such time, in the good faith judgment of the Company, would adversely affect the Company; provided, however, in no event shall holders of Registrable Securities be suspended from selling Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement for a period that exceeds 120 calendar days (which need not be consecutive) in any 360-day period (any such suspension contemplated by this Section 2(c)(ii), an “Allowed Delay”). Upon disclosure of such information or the termination of the condition described above, the Company shall provide prompt notice to holders whose Registrable Securities are included in the Registration Statement, and shall promptly terminate any suspension of sales it has put into effect and shall take such other reasonable actions to permit registered sales of Registrable Securities as contemplated hereby.
(d) Rule 415; Cutback. If at any time the SEC takes the position that the offering of some or all of the Registrable Securities in a Registration Statement is not eligible to be made on a delayed or continuous basis under the provisions of Rule 415 under the 1933 Act (provided, however, the Company shall be obligated to use diligent efforts to advocate with the SEC for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the SEC Guidance, including without limitation, Compliance and Disclosure Interpretation 612.09) or requires any Investor to be named as an “underwriter,” the Company shall (i) promptly notify each holder of Registrable Securities thereof and (ii) make reasonable best efforts to persuade the SEC that the offering contemplated by such Registration Statement is a valid secondary offering and not an offering “by or on behalf of the issuer” as defined in Rule 415 and that none of the Investors is an “underwriter.” The Investors shall have the right to select one legal counsel designated by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to review and oversee any registration or matters pursuant to this Section 2(d), including participation in any meetings or discussions with the SEC regarding the SEC’s position and to comment on any written submission made to the SEC with respect thereto. No such written submission with respect to this matter shall be made to the SEC to which the Investors’ counsel reasonably objects. In the event that, despite the Company’s reasonable best efforts and compliance with the terms of this Section 2(d), the SEC refuses to alter its position, the Company shall (i) remove from such Registration Statement such portion of the Registrable Securities (the “Cut Back Shares”) and/or (ii) agree to such restrictions and limitations on the registration and resale of the Registrable Securities as the SEC may require to assure the Company’s compliance with the requirements of Rule 415 (collectively, the “SEC Restrictions”); provided, however, that the Company shall not agree to name any Investor as an “underwriter” in such Registration Statement without the prior written consent of such Investor. In the event of a cutback hereunder, the Company shall give the Investor at least five (5) Business Days prior written notice along with the calculations as to such Investor’s allotment. Any cut-back imposed on the Investors pursuant to this Section 2(d) shall be allocated among the Investors on a pro rata basis and shall be applied first to any of the Registrable Securities of such Investor as such Investor shall designate, unless the SEC Restrictions otherwise require or provide or the Investors otherwise agree. No liquidated damages shall accrue as to any Cut Back Shares until such date as the Company is able to effect the registration of such Cut Back Shares in accordance with any SEC
Restrictions applicable to such Cut Back Shares (such date, the “Restriction Termination Date”). In furtherance of the foregoing, each Investor shall provide the Company with prompt written notice of its sale of substantially all of the Registrable Securities under such Registration Statement such that the Company will be able to file one or more additional Registration Statements covering the Cut Back Shares. From and after the Restriction Termination Date applicable to any Cut Back Shares, all of the provisions of this Section 2 (including the Company’s obligations with respect to the filing of a Registration Statement and its obligations to use reasonable best efforts to have such Registration Statement declared effective within the time periods set forth herein and the liquidated damages provisions relating thereto) shall again be applicable to such Cut Back Shares; provided, however, that (i) the Filing Deadline for such Registration Statement including such Cut Back Shares shall be ten (10) Business Days after such Restriction Termination Date, and (ii) the date by which the Company is required to obtain effectiveness with respect to such Cut Back Shares shall be the 60th day immediately after the Restriction Termination Date (or the 90th day if the SEC reviews such Registration Statement).
(e) Other Limitations. Notwithstanding any other provision herein or in the Purchase Agreement, (i) the Filing Deadline and each Effectiveness Deadline for a Registration Statement shall be extended and any Maintenance Failure shall be automatically waived by no action of the Investors, in each case, without default by or liquidated damages payable by the Company hereunder in the event that the Company’s failure to make such filing or obtain such effectiveness or a Maintenance Failure results from the failure of an Investor to timely provide the Company with information requested by the Company and necessary to complete a Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of the 1933 Act (in which case any such deadline would be extended, and a Maintenance Failure waived, with respect to all Registrable Securities until such time as the Investor provides such requested information) and (ii) in no event shall the aggregate amount of liquidated damages (or interest thereon) paid hereunder exceed, in the aggregate, 8% of the aggregate purchase price of the Shares purchased by the Investors under the Purchase Agreement.
3. Company Obligations. The Company will use reasonable best efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, and pursuant thereto the Company will, as expeditiously as possible:
(a) use reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and to remain continuously effective until such time as there are no longer Registrable Securities held by the Investors (the “Effectiveness Period”) and advise the Investors promptly in writing when the Effectiveness Period has expired;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement and the related Prospectus as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period and to comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act with respect to the distribution of all of the Registrable Securities covered thereby;
(c) permit, upon request, any counsel designated by the Investors to review each Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto prior to their filing with the SEC and shall use reasonable best efforts to reflect in such documents any comments as such counsel may reasonably propose;
(d) furnish to each Investor whose Registrable Securities are included in any Registration Statement (i) promptly after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC, if requested by the Investor, one (1) copy of any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, each preliminary prospectus and Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto, and each letter written by or on behalf of the Company to the SEC or the staff of the SEC, and each item of correspondence from the SEC or the staff of the SEC, in each case relating to such Registration Statement (other than any portion thereof which contains information for which the Company has sought confidential treatment), and (ii) such number of copies of a Prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto and such other documents as each Investor may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor (it being understood and agreed that such documents, or access thereto, may be provided electronically);
(e) use reasonable best efforts to (i) prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness and, (ii) if such order is issued, obtain the withdrawal of any such order at the earliest possible moment;
(f) prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use reasonable best efforts to assist or cooperate with the Investors and their counsel in connection with their registration or qualification of such Registrable Securities for the offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions reasonably requested by the Investors; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (i) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(f), (ii) subject itself to general taxation in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be so subject but for this Section 3(f), or (iii) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction;
(g) use reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be listed on the Nasdaq Global Market (or the primary securities exchange, interdealer quotation system or other market on which the Common Shares are then listed);
(h) promptly notify the Investors, at any time prior to the end of the Effectiveness Period, upon discovery that, or upon the happening of any event as a result of which, the Prospectus includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing, and promptly prepare, file with the SEC and furnish to such holder a supplement to or an amendment of such Prospectus as may be necessary so that such Prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;
(i) otherwise use reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act, including, without limitation, Rule 172 under the 1933 Act, file any final Prospectus, including any supplement or amendment thereof, with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act, promptly inform the Investors in writing if, at any time during the Effectiveness Period, the Company does not satisfy the conditions specified in Rule 172 and, as a result thereof, the Investors are required to deliver a Prospectus in connection with any disposition of Registrable Securities and take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to facilitate the registration of the Registrable Securities hereunder;
(j) with a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule 144 (or its successor rule) and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Investors to sell Common Shares to the public without registration, the Company covenants and agrees to: (i) make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144, until the earlier of (A) six months after such date as all of the Registrable Securities may be sold without restriction by the holders thereof pursuant to Rule 144 or any other rule of similar effect or (B) such date as there are no longer Registrable Securities; (ii) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the 1934 Act; and (iii) furnish electronically to each Investor upon request, as long as such Investor owns any Registrable Securities, (A) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of the 1934 Act, (B) a copy of or electronic access to the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F or Current Report on Form 6-K in which the Company has furnished its quarterly financial statements, and (C) such other information as may be reasonably requested in order to avail such Investor of any rule or regulation of the SEC that permits the selling of any such Registrable Securities without registration; and
(k) if requested by an Investor, cooperate with such Investor to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee pursuant to an effective Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free, to the extent permitted by applicable law, of all restrictive legends, and to enable such certificates to be in such denominations and registered in such names as any such Investor may request.
4. Due Diligence Review; Information. If any Investor is required under applicable securities laws to be described in a Registration Statement as an “underwriter,” the Company shall, upon reasonable prior notice, make available, during normal business hours, for inspection and review by the Investors, advisors to and representatives of the Investors (who may or may not be affiliated with the Investors and who are reasonably acceptable to the Company) (collectively, the “Inspectors”), all pertinent financial and other records, and all other corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the “Records”) as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose of such review, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees, within a reasonable time period, to supply all such information reasonably requested by the Inspectors (including, without limitation, in response to all questions and other inquiries reasonably made or submitted by any of them), prior to and from time to time after the filing and effectiveness of such Registration Statement for the sole purpose of enabling such Investor and its accountants and attorneys to conduct such due diligence solely for the purpose of establishing a due diligence defense to underwriter liability under the 1933 Act; provided, however, that each Inspector shall agree to hold in strict confidence and shall not make any disclosure (except to such Investor) or use 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 or is otherwise required under the 1933 Act, (b) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a final, non-appealable subpoena or 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 Section 4 or the Purchase Agreement. Each Investor agrees that it shall, upon 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 (or in any other confidentiality agreement between the Company and any Investor) shall be deemed to limit the Investors’ ability to sell Registrable Securities in a manner which is otherwise consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not disclose material nonpublic information to the Investors, or to advisors to or representatives of the Investors, unless prior to disclosure of such information the Company identifies such information as being material nonpublic information and provides the Investors, such advisors and representatives with the opportunity to accept or refuse to accept such material nonpublic information for review and any Investor wishing to obtain such information enters into an appropriate confidentiality agreement with the Company with respect thereto.
5. Obligations of the Investors.
(a) Each Investor shall execute and deliver a Selling Stockholder Questionnaire prior to the Closing Date. Each Investor shall additionally furnish in writing to the Company such other information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it, as shall be reasonably required to effect the registration of such Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request. At least five (5) Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of any Registration Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor of the additional information the Company requires from such Investor if such Investor elects to have any of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (the “Registration Information Notice”). An Investor shall provide such information to the Company no later than two (2) Business Days following receipt of a Registration Information Notice if such Investor elects to have any of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement. It is agreed and understood that 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 (i) such Investor 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 effectiveness of the registration of such Registrable Securities, and (ii) the Investor execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request, including, without limitation, a waiver of its registration rights hereunder to the extent an Investor elects not to have any of its Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement.
(b) Each Investor, by its acceptance of the Registrable Securities, agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of a Registration Statement hereunder, unless such Investor has notified the Company in writing of its election to exclude all of its Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement.
(c) Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of either (i) the commencement of an Allowed Delay pursuant to Section 2(c)(ii) or (ii) the happening of an event pursuant to Section 3(h) hereof, such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities, until the Investor is advised by the Company that such dispositions may again be made.
(d) Each Investor covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the 1933 Act as applicable to it or an exemption therefrom in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement.
6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Investor and its officers, directors, members, employees and agents, successors and assigns, and each other person, if any, who controls such Investor within the meaning of the 1933 Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they may become subject under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any preliminary Prospectus or final Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon (i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in conformity with information furnished by such Investor or any such controlling person in writing specifically for use in such Registration Statement or Prospectus, (ii) the use by an Investor of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Investor in writing that such Prospectus is outdated or defective or (iii) an Investor’s failure to send or give a copy of the Prospectus or supplement (as then amended or supplemented), if required (and not exempted) to the Persons asserting an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of Registrable Securities.
(b) Indemnification by the Investors. Each Investor agrees, severally but not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company, its directors, officers, employees, stockholders and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the 0000 Xxx) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expense (including reasonable attorney fees) resulting from any untrue statement of a material fact or any omission of a material fact required to be stated in any Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information regarding such Investor and furnished in writing by such Investor to the Company specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto. In no event shall the liability of an Investor be greater than the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such Investor upon the sale of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Any person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided, that any person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such person unless (A) the indemnifying party has agreed to pay such fees or expenses, (B) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such person or (C) in the reasonable judgment of any such person, based upon written advice of its counsel, a conflict of interest exists between such person and the indemnifying party with respect to such claims (in which case, if the person notifies the indemnifying party in writing that such person elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such claim on behalf of such person); and provided, further that the failure of any indemnified party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations hereunder, except to the extent that such failure to give notice shall materially adversely affect the indemnifying party in the defense of any such claim or litigation. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for fees or expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all such indemnified parties. No indemnifying party will, except with the consent of the indemnified party, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or conditioned, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect of such claim or litigation.
(d) Contribution. If for any reason the indemnification provided for in the preceding paragraphs (a) and (b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient to hold it harmless, other than as expressly specified therein, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act shall be entitled to contribution from any person not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. In no event shall the contribution obligation of a holder of Registrable Securities be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds received by it upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such contribution obligation.
7. Miscellaneous.
(a) Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement may be amended only by a writing signed by the Company and the Required Investors. The Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, only if the Company shall have obtained the written consent to such amendment, action or omission to act, of the Required Investors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may not be amended and the observance of any term hereof may not be waived with respect to any Investor without the written consent of such Investor, unless such amendment or waiver applies to all Investors in the same fashion.
(b) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made as set forth in Section 9.4 of the Purchase Agreement.
(c) Assignments and Transfers by Investors. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Investors and their respective successors and assigns. An Investor may transfer or assign, in whole or from time to time in part, to one or more persons its rights hereunder in connection with the transfer of Registrable Securities by such Investor to such person, provided that (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 within a reasonable time after such assignment; (ii) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment, 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) immediately following such transfer or assignment the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is restricted under the 1933 Act or applicable state securities laws; (iv) at or before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this sentence the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with 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 Purchase Agreement.
(d) Assignments and Transfers by the Company. This Agreement may not be assigned by the Company (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the Required Investors, provided, however, that in the event that the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, share exchange or similar business combination transaction in which the Common Shares are converted into the equity securities of another Person, from and after the effective time of such transaction, such Person shall, by virtue of such transaction, be deemed to have assumed the obligations of the Company hereunder, the term “Company” shall be deemed to refer to such Person and the term “Registrable Securities” shall be deemed to include the securities received by the Investors in connection with such transaction unless such securities are otherwise freely tradable by the Investors after giving effect to such transaction.
(e) Benefits of the Agreement. The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective permitted successors and assigns of the parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
(f) Counterparts; Faxes. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may also be executed via facsimile or e-mail, which shall be deemed an original.
(g) Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
(h) Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof but shall be interpreted as if it were written so as to be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the parties hereby waive any provision of law which renders any provisions hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any respect.
(i) Further Assurances. The parties shall execute and deliver all such further instruments and documents and take all such other actions as may reasonably be required to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and to evidence the fulfillment of the agreements herein contained.
(j) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
(k) Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York without regard to the choice of law principles thereof (other than sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 of the General Obligations Law). Each of the parties hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York located in New York County and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York for the purpose of any suit, action, proceeding or judgment relating to or arising out of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Service of process in connection with any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on each party hereto anywhere in the world by the same methods as are specified for the giving of notices under this Agreement. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit, action or proceeding and to the laying of venue in such court. Each party hereto irrevocably waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such courts and irrevocably waives any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO REQUEST A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND REPRESENTS THAT COUNSEL HAS BEEN CONSULTED SPECIFICALLY AS TO THIS WAIVER.
(l) Filing Restrictions. The Company will register the resale of Registrable Securities representing Cut Back Shares on an effective Registration Statement prior to or concurrent with registering the resale of its securities by a selling security holder not holding Registrable Securities; provided, however, that this Section 7(l) shall not apply to Registrable Securities representing Cut Back Shares that were excluded from any such Registration Statement on account of the failure of a holder of such Registrable Securities to comply with the provisions hereof, including, but not limited to, the requirement of a holder to provide information required to be included in a Registration Statement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.
| COMPANY: | MERUS N.V. | |||||||
| By: | /s/ Ton Logtenberg | |||||||
| Name: Ton Logtenberg | ||||||||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.
INVESTOR:
| BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND, L.P. | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx | |
| Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
| Title: President BVF Inc., General Partner of BVF Partners L.P., itself GP of Biotechnology Value Fund, L.P. | ||
| Address: | ||
| 0 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx #00 Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 | ||
| BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE FUND II, LP | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx | |
| Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
| Title: President BVF Inc., General Partner of BVF Partners L.P., itself GP of Biotechnology Value Fund II, L.P. | ||
| Address: | ||
| 0 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx #00 Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 | ||
| BIOTECHNOLOGY VALUE TRADING FUND OS, L.P. | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx | |
| Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
| Title: President BVF Inc., General Partner of BVF Partners L.P., itself sole member of BVF Partners OS Ltd., itself GP of Biotechnology Trading Fund OS, L.P. | ||
| Address: | ||
| XX Xxx 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX0-0000, Cayman Islands | ||
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement for Merus N.V.]
| INVESTMENT 10, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx | |
| Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
| Title: President BVF Inc., General Partner of BVF Partners L.P., itself investment advisor of Investment 10, LLC | ||
| Address: | ||
| 00 X Xxxxxxxx Xxx Xxxxx 0000 Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 | ||
| MSI BVF SPV, L.L.C. | ||
| c/o Magnitude Capital | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx | |
| Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
| Title: President BVF Inc., itself General Partner of BVF Partners L.P., itself attorney-in-fact for MSI BVF SPV, L.L.C. | ||
| Address: | ||
| 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 | ||
With a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxxx, Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxx
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement for Merus N.V.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.
INVESTOR:
| SOFINNOVA VENTURE PARTNERS IX, L.P. | ||
| By: | Sofinnova Management IX, L.L.C. | |
| Its: | General Partner | |
| By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxx | |
| Title: | Managing Member | |
| Address for Notices: | ||
| 0000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxx. 0 Xxxxx 000 Xxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000 Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxx Email: xxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx | ||
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.
INVESTOR:
| AQUILO CAPITAL II, L.P. | ||
| By: | Aquilo Capital Management, LLC | |
| Its: | General Partner | |
| By: | /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx | |
| Title: | Manager |
| Address for Notices: |
| Xxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx X0000 |
| Building D, The Presidio |
| Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 |
| Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx |
| Email: XXxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx |
| AQUILO CAPITAL, L.P. | ||
| By: | Aquilo Capital Management, LLC | |
| Its: | General Partner | |
| By: | /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx | |
| Title: | Manager |
| Address for Notices: |
| Xxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx X0000 |
| Building D, The Presidio |
| Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 |
| Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx |
| Email: XXxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx |
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.
INVESTOR:
| LSP Life Sciences Fund NV | ||
| /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxx X’Xxxxxx | ||
| By: | LSP Advisory BV | |
| Title: | Director | |
| By: | Xxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxx X’Xxxxxx | |
| Title: | Director | |
| Address for Notices: |
| Johannes Xxxxxxxxxxxx 0 |
| 0000 XX Xxxxxxxxx |
| The Netherlands |
| Attn: Bas Vaessen, General Counsel |
| Email: xxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx |
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
