REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This
Registration Rights Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of
this 18th day of December, 2009 by and among Axion Power International, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the “Investors” named in that certain
Purchase Agreement by and among the Company and the Investors (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:
“Common Stock” means
the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and any securities into
which such shares may hereinafter be reclassified.
“Investors” means the
Investors identified in the Purchase Agreement and any Affiliate or permitted
transferee of any Investor who is a subsequent holder of any Registrable
Securities.
“Prospectus” means (i)
the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as amended or
supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the
offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement and by all other amendments and supplements to the
prospectus, including post-effective amendments and all material incorporated by
reference in such prospectus, and (ii) any “free writing prospectus” as defined
in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act.
“Register,” “registered” and
“registration”
refer to a registration made by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or
similar document in compliance with the 1933 Act (as defined below), and the
declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement or
document.
“Registrable
Securities” means (i) the Shares and (ii) any other securities issued or
issuable with respect to or in exchange for Registrable Securities, whether by
merger, charter amendment or otherwise; provided, that, a security shall cease
to be a Registrable Security upon (A) sale pursuant to a Registration Statement
or Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, or (B) such security becoming eligible for sale
without restriction by the Investors pursuant to Rule 144.
“Registration
Statement” means any registration statement of the Company filed under
the 1933 Act that covers the resale of any of the Registrable Securities
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, amendments and supplements to such
Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and
all material incorporated by reference in such Registration
Statement.
“Required Investors”
means (i) any Investor who, together with its Affiliates, holds at least
2,000,000 Shares (subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits, stock
dividends and similar recapitalization or reclassification transactions) and
(ii) the Investors holding a majority of the Registrable
Securities.
“SEC” means the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Shares” means the
shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
“1933 Act” means the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
“1934 Act” means the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
2. Registration.
(a)
Registration
Statements.
(i) Promptly
following the closing of the purchase and sale of the securities contemplated by
the Purchase Agreement (the “Closing Date”) but no later than thirty (30) days
after the Closing Date (the “Filing Deadline”), the Company shall prepare and
file with the SEC one Registration Statement on Form S-1 (or, if Form S-1 is not
then available to the Company, on such form of registration statement as is then
available to effect a registration for resale of the Registrable Securities),
covering the resale of the Registrable Securities. Subject to any SEC
comments, such Registration Statement shall include the plan of distribution
attached hereto as Exhibit A; provided,
however, that no Investor shall be named as an “underwriter” in the Registration
Statement without the Investor’s prior written consent. Such
Registration Statement also shall cover, to the extent allowable under the 1933
Act and the rules promulgated thereunder (including Rule 416), such
indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock resulting from stock
splits, stock dividends or similar transactions with respect to the Registrable
Securities. Such Registration Statement shall not include any shares
of Common Stock or other securities for the account of any other holder without
the prior written consent of the Required Investors. The Registration
Statement (and each amendment or supplement thereto, and each request for
acceleration of effectiveness thereof) shall be provided in accordance with
Section 3(c) to the Investors and their counsel prior to its filing or other
submission. If a Registration Statement covering the Registrable
Securities is not filed with the SEC on or prior to the Filing Deadline, the
Company will make pro rata payments to each Investor, as liquidated damages and
not as a penalty, in an amount equal to 1.5% of the aggregate amount invested 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. Such payments shall constitute
the Investors’ exclusive monetary remedy for such events, but shall not affect
the right of the Investors to seek injunctive relief. Such payments
shall be made to each Investor in cash no later than three (3) Business Days
after the end of each 30-day period.
(ii) S-3
Qualification. Promptly following the date (the “Qualification
Date”) upon which the Company becomes eligible to use a registration statement
on Form S-3 to register the Registrable Securities for resale, but in no event
more than thirty (30) days after the Qualification Date (the “Qualification
Deadline”), the Company shall file a registration statement on Form S-3 covering
the Registrable Securities (or a post-effective amendment on Form S-3 to the
registration statement on Form S-1) (a “Shelf Registration Statement”) and shall
use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement
to be declared effective as promptly as practicable thereafter. If a
Shelf Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities is not filed
with the SEC on or prior to the Qualification Deadline, the Company will make
pro rata payments to each Investor, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty,
in an amount equal to 1.5% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such Investor
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement attributable to those Registrable Securities
that remain unsold at that time for each 30-day period or pro rata for any
portion thereof following the date by which such Shelf Registration Statement
should have been filed for which no such Shelf Registration Statement is filed
with respect to the Registrable Securities. Such payments shall
constitute the Investors’ exclusive monetary remedy for such events, but shall
not affect the right of the Investors to seek injunctive relief. Such
payments shall be made to each Investor in cash no later than three (3) Business
Days after the end of each 30-day period.
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(b)
Expenses. The
Company will pay all expenses associated with each registration, including
filing and printing fees, the Company’s counsel and accounting fees and
expenses, costs associated with clearing the Registrable Securities for sale
under applicable state securities laws, listing fees, reasonable fees and
expenses of one counsel to the Investors and the Investors’ reasonable expenses
in connection with the registration, but excluding discounts, commissions, fees
of underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers or similar securities industry
professionals with respect to the Registrable Securities being
sold.
(c)
Effectiveness.
(i) The
Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration
Statement 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 twenty-four (24) hours, after any Registration
Statement is declared effective and shall simultaneously provide the Investors
with copies of any related Prospectus to be used in connection with the sale or
other disposition of the securities covered thereby. If (A)(x) a
Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities is not declared
effective by the SEC prior to the earlier of (i) five (5) Business Days after
the SEC shall have informed the Company that no review of the Registration
Statement will be made or that the SEC has no further comments on the
Registration Statement or (ii) the 90th day
after the Closing Date (the 120th day if
the Registration Statement is reviewed by the SEC) or (y) a Shelf Registration
Statement is not declared effective by the SEC prior to the earlier of (i) five
(5) Business Days after the SEC shall have informed the Company that no review
of the Registration Statement will be made or that the SEC has no further
comments on the Registration Statement or (ii) the 90th day
after the Qualification Deadline (the 120th day if
the Registration Statement is reviewed by the SEC), or (B) after a Registration Statement has been declared
effective by the SEC, sales cannot be made pursuant to such Registration
Statement for any reason (including without limitation by reason of a stop
order, or the Company’s failure to update the Registration Statement), but
excluding any Allowed Delay (as defined below) or the inability of any Investor
to sell the Registrable Securities covered thereby due to market conditions,
then the Company will make pro rata payments to each Investor, as
liquidated damages and not as a penalty, in an amount equal to 1.5% of the
aggregate amount invested 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”). Such payments
shall constitute the Investors’ exclusive monetary remedy for such events, but
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 monthly within three (3) Business Days of the last day
of each 30-day period following the commencement of the Blackout Period until
the termination of the Blackout Period. Such payments shall be made
to each Investor in cash.
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(ii) For
not more than twenty (20) consecutive days or for a total of not more than
forty-five (45) days in any twelve (12) month period, the Company may suspend
the use of any Prospectus included in any Registration Statement contemplated by
this Section in the event that the Company determines in good faith that such
suspension is necessary to (A) delay the disclosure of material non-public
information concerning the Company, the disclosure of which at the time is not,
in the good faith opinion of the Company, in the best interests of the Company
or (B) amend or supplement the affected Registration Statement or the related
Prospectus so that such Registration Statement or Prospectus shall not include
an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the case of
the Prospectus in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading (an “Allowed Delay”); provided, that the Company shall promptly (a)
notify each Investor in writing of the commencement of and the reasons for an
Allowed Delay, but shall not (without the prior written consent of an Investor)
disclose to such Investor any material non-public information giving rise to an
Allowed Delay, (b) advise the Investors in writing to cease all sales under the
Registration Statement until the end of the Allowed Delay and (c) use
commercially reasonable efforts to terminate an Allowed Delay as promptly as
practicable.
(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 or requires any Investor to be named
as an “underwriter”, the Company shall use its best efforts to persuade the SEC
that the offering contemplated by the Registration Statement is a valid
secondary offering and not an offering “by or on behalf of the issuer” as
defined in Rule 415 and that none of the Investors is an
“underwriter”. The Investors shall have the right to participate or
have their counsel participate in any meetings or discussions with the SEC
regarding the SEC’s position and to comment or have their counsel comment on any
written submission made to the SEC with respect thereto. No such
written submission shall be made to the SEC to which the Investors’ counsel
reasonably objects. In the event that, despite the Company’s 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 the Registration Statement
such portion of the Registrable Securities (the “Cut Back Shares”) and/or (ii)
agree to such restrictions and limitations on the registration and resale of the
Registrable Securities as the SEC may require to assure the Company’s compliance
with the requirements of Rule 415 (collectively, the “SEC Restrictions”);
provided, however, that the Company shall not agree to name any Investor as an
“underwriter” in such Registration Statement without the prior written consent
of such Investor. Any cut-back imposed on the Investors pursuant to
this Section 2(d) shall be allocated among the Investors on a pro rata basis,
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 (such date, the
“Restriction Termination Date” of such Cut Back Shares). From and
after the Restriction Termination Date applicable to any Cut Back Shares, all of
the provisions of this Section 2 (including the liquidated damages provisions)
shall again be applicable to such Cut Back Shares; provided, however, that (i)
the Filing Deadline and/or the Qualification Deadline, as applicable, for the
Registration Statement including such Cut Back Shares shall be ten (10) Business
Days after such Restriction Termination Date, and (ii) the date by which the
Company is required to obtain effectiveness with respect to such Cut Back Shares
under Section 2(c) shall be the 90th day
immediately after the Restriction Termination Date.
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3. Company
Obligations. The Company will use commercially reasonable
efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance
with the terms hereof, and pursuant thereto the Company will, as expeditiously
as possible:
(a) use
commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become
effective and to remain continuously effective for a period that will terminate
upon the earlier of (i) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by
such Registration Statement as amended from time to time, have been sold, and
(ii) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration
Statement may be sold without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 (the
“Effectiveness Period”) and advise the Investors in writing when the
Effectiveness Period has expired;
(b) prepare
and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus as may be necessary to keep the
Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period and to comply with
the provisions of the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act with respect to the distribution
of all of the Registrable Securities covered thereby;
(c) provide
copies to and permit counsel designated by the Investors to review each
Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto no fewer than
seven (7) days prior to their filing with the SEC and not file any document to
which such counsel reasonably objects;
(d) furnish
to the Investors and their legal counsel (i) promptly after the same is prepared
and publicly distributed, filed with the SEC, or received by the Company (but
not later than two (2) Business Days after the filing date, receipt date or
sending date, as the case may be) one (1) copy of any Registration Statement and
any amendment thereto, each preliminary prospectus and Prospectus and each
amendment or supplement thereto, and 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 of any 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 that are covered by the related Registration
Statement;
(e) use
commercially reasonable efforts to (i) prevent the issuance of any stop order or
other suspension of effectiveness and, (ii) if such order is issued, obtain the
withdrawal of any such order at the earliest possible moment;
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(f) prior
to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use commercially reasonable
efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the Investors and their counsel
in connection with the registration or qualification of such Registrable
Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such
jurisdictions requested by the Investors and do any and all other commercially
reasonable acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the distribution in
such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration
Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (i) qualify to do
business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify
but for this Section 3(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
commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Registrable Securities covered by a
Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange, interdealer
quotation system or other market on which similar securities issued by the
Company are then listed;
(h) immediately
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;
and
(i) otherwise
use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and
regulations of the SEC under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act, including, without
limitation, Rule 172 under the 1933 Act, file any final Prospectus, including
any supplement or amendment thereof, with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424 under the
1933 Act, promptly inform the 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; and make available to its security
holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than the Availability
Date (as defined below), an earnings statement covering a period of at least
twelve (12) months, beginning after the effective date of each Registration
Statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section
11(a) of the 1933 Act, including Rule 158 promulgated thereunder (for the
purpose of this subsection 3(i), “Availability Date” means the 45th day
following the end of the fourth fiscal quarter that includes the effective date
of such Registration Statement, except that, if such fourth fiscal quarter is
the last quarter of the Company’s fiscal year, “Availability Date” means the
90th day after the end of such fourth fiscal quarter).
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(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 shares of Common Stock to the public without
registration, the Company covenants and agrees to: (i) make and keep
public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule
144, until the earlier of (A) six months after such date as all of the
Registrable Securities may be sold without restriction by the holders thereof
pursuant to Rule 144 or any other rule of similar effect or (B) such date as all
of the Registrable Securities shall have been resold; (ii) file with the SEC in
a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under
the 1934 Act; and (iii) furnish to each 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 the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q, and (C) such other information as may be reasonably requested in
order to avail such Investor of any rule or regulation of the SEC that permits
the selling of any such Registrable Securities without
registration.
4. Due Diligence Review;
Information. The Company shall 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), all financial and
other records, all SEC Filings (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) and other
filings with the SEC, and all other corporate documents and properties of the
Company as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose of such review, and cause
the Company’s officers, directors and employees, within a reasonable time
period, to supply all such information reasonably requested by the Investors or
any such representative, advisor or underwriter in connection with such
Registration Statement (including, without limitation, in response to all
questions and other inquiries reasonably made or submitted by any of them),
prior to and from time to time after the filing and effectiveness of the
Registration Statement for the sole purpose of enabling the Investors and such
representatives, advisors and underwriters and their respective accountants and
attorneys to conduct initial and ongoing due diligence with respect to the
Company and the accuracy of such Registration Statement.
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 furnish in writing to the Company such information regarding
itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of
disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it, as shall be reasonably
required to effect the registration of such Registrable Securities and shall
execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may
reasonably request. At least five (5) Business Days prior to the
first anticipated filing date of any Registration Statement, the Company shall
notify each Investor of the information the Company requires from such Investor
if such Investor elects to have any of the Registrable Securities included in
the Registration Statement. An Investor shall provide such
information to the Company at least two (2) Business Days prior to the first
anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement if such Investor elects
to have any of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration
Statement.
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(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 the
Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities, until the Investor
is advised by the Company that such dispositions may again be made.
6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the
Company. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each
Investor and its officers, directors, members, managers, 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: (i) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission of any
material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any preliminary
Prospectus or final Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof; (ii) any
blue sky application or other document executed by the Company specifically for
that purpose or based upon written information furnished by the Company filed in
any state or other jurisdiction in order to qualify any or all of the
Registrable Securities under the securities laws thereof (any such application,
document or information herein called a “Blue Sky Application”); (iii) the
omission or alleged omission to state in a Blue Sky Application a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading; (iv) any violation by the Company or its agents of any rule or
regulation promulgated under the 1933 Act applicable to the Company or its
agents and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection
with such registration; or (v) any failure to register or qualify the
Registrable Securities included in any such Registration Statement in any state
where the Company or its agents has affirmatively undertaken or agreed in
writing that the Company will undertake such registration or qualification on an
Investor’s behalf and will reimburse such Investor, and each such officer,
director or member and each such controlling person for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the
Company will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that any such
loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon 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.
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(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 the 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
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 in
amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of all expense paid by such
Investor in connection with any claim relating to this Section 6 and the amount
of any damages such Investor has otherwise been required to pay by reason of
such untrue statement or omission) received by such Investor upon the sale of
the Registrable Securities included in the 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, or (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, 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.
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(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 (net of all expenses paid by such holder in connection with any
claim relating to this Section 6 and the amount of any damages such holder has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission) received by it upon the sale of the
Registrable Securities giving rise to such contribution 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.
(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 such Investor complies with all laws applicable thereto and
provides written notice of assignment to the Company promptly after such
assignment is effected.
(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 Stock is converted into the equity
securities of another Person, from and after the effective time of such
transaction, such Person shall, by virtue of such transaction, be deemed to have
assumed the obligations of the Company hereunder, the term “Company” shall be
deemed to refer to such Person and the term “Registrable Securities” shall be
deemed to include the securities received by the 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.
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(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, 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. 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.
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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.
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The
Company:
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By:
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| Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | ||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
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The
Investors:
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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Exhibit
A
Plan
of Distribution
The selling stockholders, which as used
herein includes donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors-in-interest
selling shares of common stock or interests in shares of common stock received
after the date of this prospectus from a selling stockholder as a gift, pledge,
partnership distribution or other transfer, may, from time to time, sell,
transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of their shares of common stock or
interests in shares of common stock on any stock exchange, market or trading
facility on which the shares are traded or in private
transactions. These dispositions may be at fixed prices, at
prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to the
prevailing market price, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at
negotiated prices.
The selling stockholders may use any
one or more of the following methods when disposing of shares or interests
therein:
- ordinary brokerage transactions and
transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
- block trades in which the
broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent, but may position and
resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the
transaction;
- purchases by a broker-dealer as
principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;
- an exchange distribution in
accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;
- privately negotiated
transactions;
- short sales effected after the date
the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part is declared
effective by the SEC;
- through the writing or settlement of
options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or
otherwise;
- broker-dealers may agree with the
selling stockholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated
price per share; and
- a combination of any such methods of
sale.
The selling stockholders may, from time
to time, pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares of
common stock owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their
secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the
shares of common stock, from time to time, under this prospectus, or under an
amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision
of the Securities Act amending the list of selling stockholders to include the
pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling stockholders
under this prospectus. The selling stockholders also may transfer the
shares of common stock in other circumstances, in which case the transferees,
pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners
for purposes of this prospectus.
In connection with the sale of our
common stock or interests therein, the selling stockholders may enter into
hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which
may in turn engage in short sales of the common stock in the course of hedging
the positions they assume. The selling stockholders may also sell
shares of our common stock short and deliver these securities to close out their
short positions, or loan or pledge the common stock to broker-dealers that in
turn may sell these securities. The selling stockholders may also
enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial
institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require
the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares
offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial
institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended
to reflect such transaction).
The aggregate proceeds to the selling
stockholders from the sale of the common stock offered by them will be the
purchase price of the common stock less discounts or commissions, if
any. Each of the selling stockholders reserves the right to accept
and, together with their agents from time to time, to reject, in whole or in
part, any proposed purchase of common stock to be made directly or through
agents. We will not receive any of the proceeds from this
offering.
The selling stockholders also may
resell all or a portion of the shares in open market transactions in reliance
upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, provided that they meet the
criteria and conform to the requirements of that rule.
The selling stockholders and any
underwriters, broker-dealers or agents that participate in the sale of the
common stock or interests therein may be "underwriters" within the meaning of
Section 2(11) of the Securities Act. Any discounts, commissions,
concessions or profit they earn on any resale of the shares may be underwriting
discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Selling
stockholders who are "underwriters" within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the
Securities Act will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act.
To the extent required, the shares of
our common stock to be sold, the names of the selling stockholders, the
respective purchase prices and public offering prices, the names of any agents,
dealer or underwriter, any applicable commissions or discounts with respect to a
particular offer will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement or,
if appropriate, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement that
includes this prospectus.
In order to comply with the securities
laws of some states, if applicable, the common stock may be sold in these
jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or
dealers. In addition, in some states the common stock may not be sold
unless it has been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption from
registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied
with.
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We have advised the selling
stockholders that the anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Exchange
Act may apply to sales of shares in the market and to the activities of the
selling stockholders and their affiliates. In addition, to the extent
applicable we will make copies of this prospectus (as it may be supplemented or
amended from time to time) available to the selling stockholders for the purpose
of satisfying the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act. The selling stockholders may indemnify any broker-dealer that
participates in transactions involving the sale of the shares against certain
liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities
Act.
We have agreed to indemnify the selling
stockholders against liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act
and state securities laws, relating to the registration of the shares offered by
this prospectus.
We have agreed with the selling
stockholders to keep the registration statement of which this prospectus
constitutes a part effective until the earlier of (1) such time as all of the
shares covered by this prospectus have been disposed of pursuant to and in
accordance with the registration statement or (2) the date on which the shares
may be sold without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities
Act.
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