REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
4.3
This
Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”)
is made and entered into as of ______________, 2009, by and among Pressure
BioSciences Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (the “Company”),
and the several purchasers signatory hereto (each such purchaser, a “Purchaser”
and collectively, the “Purchasers”).
This
Agreement is made pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of the
date hereof, between the Company and each Purchaser (the “Purchase
Agreement”).
The
Company and each Purchaser hereby agrees as follows:
1. Definitions. Capitalized
terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined in the Purchase
Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in the Purchase
Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have
the following meanings:
“Advice”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(c).
“Commission”
means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Effectiveness
Date” means the date on which any Registration Statement required to be
filed hereunder is declared effective by the Commission.
“Effectiveness
Period” means, for any particular Registration Statement, the period from
the Effectiveness Date of such Registration Statement until such time as all
Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold, or
may be sold without volume restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 (or any successor
Rule under the Securities Act), as determined by counsel to the Company pursuant
to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to the
Company’s transfer agent and the affected Holders.
“Filing
Date” means the date on which the Company initially files the
Registration Statement with the Commission.
“Holder” or
“Holders”
means the holder or holders, as the case may be, from time to time of
Registrable Securities.
“Indemnified
Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
“Indemnifying
Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
“Losses”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
“Plan of
Distribution” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.
“Preferred
Stock” shall mean the Company’s Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par
value $0.01 per share.
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“Proceeding”
means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including without
limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition),
whether commenced or threatened.
“Prospectus”
means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement (including, without
limitation, a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a
prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon
Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), 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 a Registration Statement, and
all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective
amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
“Registrable
Securities” means, collectively, all of the Common Stock issuable in
connection with any conversion of the Preferred Stock. Upon the sale,
pursuant to a Registration Statement declared effective by the Commission or an
exemption from registration under the Securities Act (such that all transfer
restrictions and restrictive legends with respect thereto are removed upon the
consummation of such sale), of any of the securities described in the preceding
sentence, such securities shall no longer be Registrable
Securities.
“Registration
Statement” means any registration statement that includes any Registrable
Securities, including (in each case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements
to such registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective
amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or
deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration
statement.
“Rule 415”
means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as
such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation
hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and
effect as such Rule.
“Rule 424”
means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as
such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation
hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and
effect as such Rule.
“Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Selling
Stockholder Questionnaire” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
“SEC
Guidance” means (i) any publicly-available written guidance, or rule of
general applicability of the Commission staff, or (ii) written comments,
requirements or requests of the Commission staff to the Company in connection
with the review of the Registration Statements.
2. Piggy Back
Registration.
(a) If
at any time after the date hereof and as long as Registrable Securities remain
outstanding, the Company shall file with the Commission a registration statement
of the Company under the Securities Act, relating to an offering for its own
account or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity
securities (a “Registration”),
the Company shall send to each Holder a written notice of such determination
and, if within fifteen (15) days after the giving of such notice, anyHolder
shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such registration
statement all of the Registrable Securities of such Holder, except that if, in
connection with any underwritten Registration for the account of the Company,
the managing underwriter(s) thereof shall impose a limitation on the number of
shares of Common
Stock which may be included in a registration statement because, in such
underwriter(s)’ judgment, marketing or other factors dictate such limitation is
necessary to facilitate public distribution, then the Company shall be obligated
to include in such registration statement only such limited portion of the
Registrable Securities as the underwriter(s) shall permit, if any. In the event
only a limited portion of the Registrable Securities shall be included in a
registration statement, the number of Registrable Securities to be registered on
such registration statement will be reduced pro rata based on the total number
of Registrable Securities requested to be included held by such
Holders. If a Registration in connection with which a Holder is
entitled to registration under this Section 2(a) is an
underwritten Registration, then each such Holder shall, unless otherwise agreed
by the Company, offer and sell such Registrable Securities in an underwritten
offering using the same underwriter(s) and, subject to the provisions of this
Agreement, on the same terms and conditions as other shares of Common Stock
included in such underwritten offering.
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(b) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, this Section 2 shall not apply to,
and a Holder’s right to participate in a Registration shall not be triggered by,
the filing of a registration statement (i) covering shares of Common Stock
issued pursuant to a stock option, stock incentive or employee benefit plan,
(ii) on Form S-4 (or successor form) under the Securities Act for the purpose of
offering such securities to another business entity or the shareholders of such
entity in connection with the acquisition of assets or shares of capital stock,
respectively, of such entity, or (iii) in connection with a resale shelf
registration filed in connection with an acquisition, reorganization,
recapitalization, merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving the
Company.
(c) The
Registration Statement shall contain (unless otherwise directed by Holders of at
least a majority of the then outstanding
Registrable Securities) the “Plan of
Distribution” with respect to the Holder’s Registrable Securities in
substantially the form attached hereto as Annex A.
3. Registration
Procedures. In connection with the Company’s registration
obligations hereunder, the Company shall:
(a) Not
less than five (5) Trading Days prior to the filing of each Registration
Statement and not less than one (1) Trading Day prior to the filing of any
related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, the Company shall,
(i) furnish to each Holder copies of all such documents proposed to be filed,
which documents (other than those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference) will be subject to the review of such Holders, and (ii) cause its
officers and directors, counsel and independent certified public accountants to
respond to such inquiries as shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of
respective counsel to each Holder, to conduct a reasonable investigation within
the meaning of the Securities Act. The Company shall not file a Registration
Statement or any such Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto to
which the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities shall reasonably
object in good faith, provided that the Company is notified of such objection in
writing no later than five (5) Trading Days after the Holders have been so
furnished copies of a Registration Statement or one (1) Trading Day after the
Holders have been so furnished copies of any related Prospectus or amendments or
supplements thereto. Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Company a completed
questionnaire in the form attached to this Agreement as Annex B (a “Selling
Stockholder Questionnaire”) not less than two (2) Trading Days prior to
the Filing Date or by the end of the fourth (4th)
Trading Day following the date on which such Holder receives draft materials in
accordance with this Section. If any Holder fails to furnish its
Selling Stockholder Questionnaire related to a particular Registration Statement
not less than two (2) Trading Days prior to the Filing Date or by the end of the
fourth (4th)
Trading Day following the date on which such Holder receives draft materials in
accordance with this Section 3 any rights of such
Holder under this Agreement with regard to such Registration Statement,
including without limitation, the right to include such Holder’s Registrable
Securities in such Registration
Statement, shall be tolled as to such Holder until such information is received
by the Company.
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(b) (i)
Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective
amendments, to a Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection
therewith as may be necessary to keep a Registration Statement continuously
effective as to the applicable Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness
Period ; (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any
required Prospectus supplement (subject to the terms of this Agreement), and as
so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; (iii) respond as
promptly as reasonably possible to any comments received from the Commission
with respect to a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and provide as
promptly as reasonably possible to the Holders true and complete copies of all
correspondence from and to the Commission relating to a Registration Statement
(provided that the Company may excise any information contained therein which
would constitute material non-public information as to any Holder which has not
executed a confidentiality agreement with the Company); and (iv) comply in all
material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act
with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by a
Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance (subject to
the terms of this Agreement) with the intended methods of disposition by the
Holders thereof set forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or in
such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) Notify
each Holder of Registrable Securities to be sold as promptly as reasonably
possible (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment to a Registration Statement is proposed to be filed; (B) when the
Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a “review” of such
Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on such
Registration Statement; and (C) with respect to a Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any
request by the Commission or any other Federal or state governmental authority
for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for
additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission or any other
federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of a Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable
Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) of the
receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable
Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any
Proceeding for such purpose; and (v) of the occurrence of any event or passage
of time that makes the financial statements included in a Registration Statement
ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement made in a Registration
Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that
requires any revisions to a Registration Statement, Prospectus or other
documents so that, in the case of a Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as
the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.
(d) Use
its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued, obtain the withdrawal
of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or
(ii) any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of
any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, at the earliest
practicable moment.
(e) Furnish
to each Holder, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each such
Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, including financial
statements and schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference to the extent requested by such Person, and
all exhibits to the extent requested by such Person (including those previously
furnished or incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such
documents with the Commission.
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(f) Prior
to any resale of Registrable Securities by a Holder, use its commercially
reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders
in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from the
Registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for the resale by
a Holder under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the
United States as any Holder reasonably requests in writing, to keep each
registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the
Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or things reasonably
necessary to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable
Securities covered by each Registration Statement; provided, that the Company
shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction
where it is not then so qualified, subject the Company to any material tax in
any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or file a general consent
to service of process in any such jurisdiction.
(g) Upon
the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(c), as promptly as
reasonably possible under the circumstances taking into account the Company’s
good faith assessment of any adverse consequences to the Company and its
stockholders of the premature disclosure of such event, prepare a supplement or
amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to a Registration Statement or
a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so
that, as thereafter delivered, neither a Registration Statement nor such
Prospectus will contain 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading. If the Company notifies the Holders in accordance
with clauses (iii) through (v) of Section 3(c) above to suspend
the use of any Prospectus until the requisite changes to such Prospectus have
been made, then the Holders shall suspend use of such Prospectus. The
Company will use its best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may
be resumed as promptly as is practicable. The Company shall be
entitled to exercise its right under this Section 3(g) to suspend the
availability of a Registration Statement and Prospectus for a period not to
exceed sixty (60) calendar days (which need not be consecutive days) in any
twelve (12) month period.
(h) The
Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the Company a certified
statement as to the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such
Holder and, if required by the Commission, the natural persons thereof that have
voting and dispositive control over the Shares. During any periods
that the Company is unable to meet its obligations hereunder with respect to the
registration of the Registrable Securities solely because any Holder fails to
furnish such information within three Trading Days of the Company’s request, any
rights of such Holder under this Agreement, including without limitation, the
right to include such Holder’s Registrable Securities in a Registration
Statement shall be tolled and any event that may otherwise occur solely because
of such delay shall be suspended as to such Holder only, until such information
is delivered to the Company.
4. Registration
Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the performance of
or compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the Company
whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to a Registration
Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing
sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees
(including, without limitation, fees and expenses) (A) with respect to filings
required to be made with any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then
listed for trading, and (B) in compliance with applicable state securities or
Blue Sky laws reasonably agreed to by the Company in writing (including, without
limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company in connection with
Blue Sky qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities), (ii)
printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing
certificates for Registrable Securities, (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery
expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (v) Securities
Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance, and (vi) fees
and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In
addition, the Company shall be responsible
for all of its internal expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation,
all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or
accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit and the fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any
securities exchange as required hereunder. In no event shall the Company be
responsible for any broker or similar commissions of any Holder or, except to
the extent provided for in the Transaction Documents, any legal fees or other
costs of the Holders.
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5. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the
Company. The Company shall, notwithstanding any termination of
this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the officers,
directors, members, partners, agents, brokers (including brokers who offer and
sell Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or any failure
to perform under a margin call of Common Stock), investment advisors, and
employees (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person
holding such titles, notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) of
each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the
officers, directors, members, stockholders, partners, agents and employees (and
any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such
titles, notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) of each such
controlling Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including,
without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) and expenses (collectively,
“Losses”),
as incurred, arising out of or relating to (i) any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement, any
Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission
or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form
of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made) not misleading, or (ii) any violation or alleged violation by
the Company of the Securities Act, Exchange Act or any state securities law, or
any rule or regulation thereunder, in connection with the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement, except to the extent, but only to the extent,
that (A) such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information
regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder
expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such information relates to
such Holder or such Holder’s proposed method of distribution of Registrable
Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder
expressly for use in a Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of
Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (it being understood that
each Holder has approved Annex A hereto for
this purpose) or (B) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type
specified in Section
3(c)(iii)-(v), the use by
such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has
notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and
prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 6(c). The
Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or
assertion of any Proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement of which the Company is aware.
(b) Indemnification by
Holders. Each Holder shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold
harmless the Company, its directors, officers, agents, and employees, each
Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers,
agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the fullest extent permitted
by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as incurred, to the extent
arising out of or based solely upon: (i) such Holder’s failure to comply with
the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act or (ii) any untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration
Statement, any Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or
relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material factrequired
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
(A) to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or
omission is contained in any information so furnished in writing by such Holder
to the Company specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement or such
Prospectus or (B) to the extent that such information relates to such Holder’s
proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and
expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in a Registration
Statement (it being understood that each Holder has approved Annex A hereto for
this purpose), such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or (C) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type
specified in Section
3(c)(iii)-(v), the use by
such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has
notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated
or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice
contemplated in Section 6(c). In
no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in
amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder upon
the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification
obligation.
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(c) Conduct of Indemnification
Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall be brought or asserted against any
Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an “Indemnified
Party”), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person from
whom indemnity is sought (the “Indemnifying
Party”) in writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to
assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all fees and expenses
incurred in connection with defense thereof; provided, that the failure of
any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying
Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement, except (and
only) to the extent that it shall be finally determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or further review)
that such failure shall have prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.
An
Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such
Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses
of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party or Parties
unless: (i) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such
fees and expenses; (ii) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to
assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (iii) the
named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and counsel to the
Indemnified Party shall reasonably believe that a material conflict of interest
is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party
and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies
the Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at
the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the
right to assume the defense thereof and the reasonable fees and expenses of no
more than one separate counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying
Party). The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement
of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. No Indemnifying Party shall,
without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any
settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party
is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such
Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of
such Proceeding.
Subject
to the terms of this Agreement, all reasonable fees and expenses of the
Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred
in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a
manner not inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified
Party, as incurred, within ten Trading Days of written notice thereof to the
Indemnifying Party, provided that the Indemnified Party shall promptly reimburse
the Indemnifying Party for that portion of such fees and expenses applicable to
such actions for which such Indemnified Party is judicially determined to be not
entitled to indemnification hereunder.
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(d) Contribution. If
the indemnification under Section 5(a) or 5(b) is unavailable
to an Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold an Indemnified Party harmless
for any Losses, then each Indemnifying Party shall contribute to the amount paid
or payable by such Indemnified Party, in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party in
connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such
Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any
untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged
omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to
information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the
parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount
paid or payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include,
subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, any reasonable
attorneys’ or other fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with
any Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such
fees or expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 was available to
such party in accordance with its terms.
The
parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined
by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take
into account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), no Holder shall
be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount
by which the net proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the
Registrable Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any
damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission, except in
the case of fraud by such Holder.
The
indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 5 are in addition to
any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the Indemnified
Parties.
6. Miscellaneous.
(a) Remedies. In
the event of a breach by the Company or by a Holder of any of their respective
obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the Company, as the case may
be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law and
under this Agreement, including recovery of damages, shall be entitled to
specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company
and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate
compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the
provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any
action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall not assert
or shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) Compliance. Each
Holder covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to it in connection with sales
of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement. Each Holder
shall also promptly notify the Company at such time when all of such Holder’s
Registrable Securities have been sold.
(c) Discontinued
Disposition. By its acquisition of Registrable Securities,
each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the
occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section 3(c), such Holder
will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under a
Registration Statement until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”)
by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus (as it may have been
supplemented or amended) may be resumed. The Company will use its
best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly
as it practicable. The Company may provide appropriate stop orders to
enforce the provisions of this Section 6(c).
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(d) Amendments and
Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of
this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or
consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the
same shall be in writing and signed by the Company and the Holders of at least a
majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities. If a Registration
Statement does not register all of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a
waiver or amendment done in compliance with the previous sentence, then the
number of Registrable Securities to be registered for each Holder shall be
reduced pro rata among all Holders and
each Holder shall have the right to designate which of its Registrable
Securities shall be omitted from such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with
respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders and that
does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given
by Holders of all of the Registrable Securities to which such waiver or consent
relates; provided,
however, that the
provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except
in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding
sentence.
(e) Notices. Any and all
notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be
provided hereunder shall be delivered as set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.
(f) Successors and
Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties and shall inure to
the benefit of each Holder. The Company may not assign its rights (except by
merger) or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of Holders
holding at least a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities. Each
Holder may assign their respective rights hereunder in the manner and to the
Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
(g) Execution and
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the
same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by
each party and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that each of
the parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any
signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a
“.pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding
obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is
executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf”
signature page were an original thereof.
(h) Governing
Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity,
enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be determined in
accordance with the provisions of the Purchase Agreement.
(i) Cumulative
Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not
exclusive of any other remedies provided by law.
(j) Severability. If any
term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the
remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein
shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their commercially reasonable
efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or
substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision,
covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be
the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be
hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(k) Headings. The
headings in this Agreement are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of
this Agreement, and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions
hereof.
- 9
-
(l) Independent Nature of
Holders’ Obligations and Rights. The obligations of each
Holder hereunder are several and not joint with the obligations of any other
Holder hereunder, and no Holder shall be responsible in any way for the
performance of the obligations of any other Holder hereunder. Nothing
contained herein or in any other agreement or document delivered at any closing,
and no action taken by any Holder pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to
constitute the Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any
other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Holders are in any way
acting in concert with respect to such obligations or the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. Each Holder shall be entitled to
protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation the rights arising
out of this Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Holder to be
joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.
[signature
page follows]
- 10
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as
of the date first written above.
| PRESSURE BIOSCIENCES INC. |
|
By:__________________________________________
Name: Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Title: President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
[SIGNATURE
PAGE OF HOLDERS FOLLOWS]
- 11
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[SIGNATURE
PAGE OF HOLDERS TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT]
For
Individuals:
Name of
Holder:
Signature
of Holder:
|
|
For
Entities:
Name of
Holder:
Signature
of Authorized Signatory of Holder:
Name of
Authorized Signatory:
Title of
Authorized Signatory:
[SIGNATURE
PAGES CONTINUE]
- 12
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ANNEX
A
Plan of
Distribution
Each
selling stockholder (the “Selling
Stockholders”) of the Registrable Securities and any of their pledgees,
assignees, and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of
their Registrable Securities on any stock exchange, market or trading facility
on which the shares of common stock are traded or in private
transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated
prices. A Selling Stockholder may use any one or more of the
following methods when selling shares:
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·
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ordinary
brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer
solicits purchasers;
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·
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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;
|
|
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·
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purchases
by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its
account;
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·
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an
exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
exchange;
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·
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privately
negotiated transactions;
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|
·
|
settlement
of short sales entered into after the effective date of the registration
statement of which this prospectus is a
part;
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·
|
broker-dealers
may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a specified number of such
shares at a stipulated price per
share;
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|
·
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through
the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions,
whether through an options exchange or
otherwise;
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|
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·
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a
combination of any such methods of sale;
or
|
|
|
·
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any
other method permitted pursuant to applicable
law.
|
The
Selling Stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), if
available, rather than under this prospectus.
Broker-dealers
engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to
participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or
discounts from the Selling Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent
for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated,
but, except as set forth in a supplement to the Prospectus, in the case of an
agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in
compliance with NASDR Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a
markup or markdown in compliance with NASDR IM-2440.
The
Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in
selling the shares may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the
Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any
commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the
resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting
commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Each Selling
Stockholder has informed the Company that it does not have any written or oral
agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to
distribute the Registrable
Securities. In no event shall any broker-dealer receive fees, commissions and
markups which, in the aggregate, would exceed eight percent (8%).
The
Company is required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the Company
incident to the registration of the shares. The Company has agreed to
indemnify the Selling Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
Because
Selling Stockholders may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of
the Securities Act, they will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements
of the Securities Act including Rule 172 thereunder. In addition, any
securities covered by the Prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144
under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than under the
Prospectus. There is no underwriter or coordinating broker acting in
connection with the proposed sale of the resale shares by the Selling
Stockholders.
The
Company has agreed to keep the Prospectus effective until the earlier of (i) the
date on which the shares may be resold by the Selling Stockholders without
registration and without regard to any volume limitations by reason of Rule 144
under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect or (ii) all of the
shares have been sold pursuant to this prospectus or Rule 144 under the
Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect. The resale shares
will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required
under applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the
resale shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for
sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or
qualification requirement is available and is complied with.
Under
applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in
the distribution of the resale shares may not simultaneously engage in market
making activities with respect to the common stock for the applicable restricted
period, as defined in Regulation M, prior to the commencement of the
distribution. In addition, the Selling Stockholders will be subject
to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and
sales of shares of the common stock by the Selling Stockholders or any other
person. The Company will make copies of the Prospectus available to
the Selling Stockholders and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of
the Prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including
by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).
ANNEX
B
Selling
Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire
The
undersigned beneficial owner of Registrable Securities (as defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement) of Pressure BioSciences Inc., a Massachusetts
corporation (the “Company”),
understands that the Company has filed or intends to file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”)
a registration statement (the “Registration
Statement”) for the registration and resale under Rule 415 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act”), of the Registrable Securities, in accordance with the terms of the
Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration
Rights Agreement”) to which this document is annexed. A copy
of the Registration Rights Agreement is available from the Company upon request
at the address set forth below. All capitalized terms not otherwise
defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Registration
Rights Agreement.
Certain
legal consequences arise from being named as a selling securityholder in the
Registration Statement and the related prospectus. Accordingly,
holders and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised to consult
their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or
not being named as a selling securityholder in the Registration Statement and
the related prospectus.
NOTICE
The
undersigned (the “Selling
Securityholder”) hereby elects to include the Registrable Securities
owned by it in the Registration Statement.
The
undersigned hereby provides the following information to the Company and
represents and warrants that such information is accurate:
1. Name.
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|
(a)
|
Full
Legal Name of Selling
Securityholder:
|
|
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(b)
|
Full
Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as (a) above) through
which Registrable Securities are
held:
|
|
|
(c)
|
Full
Legal Name of Natural Control Person (which means a natural person who
directly or indirectly alone or with others has power to vote or dispose
of the securities covered by the
questionnaire):
|
2. Address
for Notices to Selling Securityholder.
|
Telephone:
|
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Fax:
|
|
Contact
Person:
|
3. Broker-Dealer
Status.
|
|
(a)
|
Are
you a broker-dealer?
|
Yes
No
|
|
(b)
|
If
“yes” to Section 3(a), did you receive your Registrable Securities as
compensation for investment banking services to the
Company?
|
Yes
No
|
Note:
|
If
no, the Commission’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as
an underwriter in the Registration
Statement.
|
|
(c)
|
Are
you an affiliate of a
broker-dealer?
|
Yes
No
|
|
(d)
|
If
you are an affiliate of a broker-dealer, do you certify that you bought
the Registrable Securities in the ordinary course of business, and at the
time of the purchase of the Registrable Securities to be resold, you had
no agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person
to distribute the Registrable
Securities?
|
Yes
No
|
Note:
|
If
no, the Commission’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as
an underwriter in the Registration
Statement.
|
|
4.
|
Beneficial
Ownership of Other Securities of the Company Owned by the Selling
Securityholder.
|
Except as
set forth below in this Item 4, the undersigned is not the beneficial or
registered owner of any securities of the Company other than the
securities.
|
|
(a)
|
Type
and amount of other securities beneficially owned by the Selling
Securityholder:
|
|
|
(b)
|
Shared
or sole ownership? If shared, please indicate the name and
relationship of the party with whom ownership is
shared:
|
5. Relationships
with the Company.
Except as
set forth below, neither the undersigned nor any of its affiliates, officers,
directors or principal equity holders (owners of 5% of more of the equity
securities of the undersigned) has held any position or office or has had any
other material relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or affiliates)
during the past three years.
|
State
any exceptions here:
|
The
undersigned agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies or changes
in the information provided herein that may occur subsequent to the date hereof
at any time while the Registration Statement remains effective.
By
signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the information
contained herein in its answers to Items 1 through 5 and the inclusion of such
information in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus and any
amendments or supplements thereto. The undersigned understands that
such information will be relied upon by the Company in connection with the
preparation or amendment of the Registration Statement and the related
prospectus.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Notice
and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its duly
authorized agent.
Dated:
Beneficial Owner:
For
Individuals:
Signature:
Name:
For
Entities:
By: ________________________________
Name:
Title:
PLEASE
FAX A COPY OF THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE, AND RETURN
THE ORIGINAL BY OVERNIGHT MAIL, TO:
[INSERT
CONTACT DETAILS BELOW]
