REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
(this "Agreement"),
dated as of December 11, 2009, by and among Gulf Resources, Inc. a Delaware
corporation, with headquarters located at Chenming Industrial Park, Shouguang
City, Shandong, China 262714 (the "Company"), and the undersigned
buyers (each, a "Buyer",
and collectively, the "Buyers").
WHEREAS:
A. In
connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the parties
hereto of even date herewith (the "Securities Purchase
Agreement"), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of the Securities Purchase Agreement, to issue and sell to each Buyer
shares (the "Shares") of
the Company's common stock, par value $0.0005 per share (the "Common Stock").
B. In
accordance with the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company has
agreed to provide the Buyers certain registration rights under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or any
similar successor statute (collectively, the "1933 Act"), and applicable
state securities laws.
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein and
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the Company and each of the Buyers hereby agree as
follows:
1. Definitions.
Capitalized
terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective
meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement. As used in
this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
a. "Additional Effective Date"
means the date the Additional Registration Statement is declared effective by
the SEC.
b. "Additional Effectiveness
Deadline" means the date which is sixty (60) calendar days after the
earlier of the Additional Filing Date and the Additional Filing
Deadline.
c. "Additional Filing Date" means
the date on which the Additional Registration Statement is filed with the
SEC.
d. "Additional Filing Deadline"
means if Cutback Shares are required to be included in any Additional
Registration Statement, the later of (i) the date sixty (60) days after the date
substantially all of the Registrable Securities registered under the immediately
preceding Registration Statement are sold and (ii) the date six (6) months from
the Initial Effective Date or the most recent Additional Effective Date, as
applicable.
e. "Additional Registrable
Securities" means, (i) any Cutback Shares not previously included on a
Registration Statement and (ii) any capital stock of the Company issued or
issuable with respect to the Shares or the Cutback Shares as a result of any
stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, exchange or similar event or
otherwise.
f. "Additional Registration
Statement" means a registration statement or registration statements of
the Company filed under the 1933 Act covering any Additional Registrable
Securities.
g. "Additional Required Registration
Amount" means any Cutback Shares not previously included on a
Registration Statement, all subject to adjustment as provided in Section
2(f).
h. "Bloomberg" means Bloomberg
Financial Markets.
i. "Business Day" means any day
other than Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks in the
City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain
closed.
j. "Closing Date" shall have the
meaning set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement.
k. "Cutback Shares" means any of
the Initial Required Registration Amount (without regard to clause (II) in the
definition thereof) of Registrable Securities not included in all Registration
Statements previously declared effective hereunder as a result of a limitation
on the maximum number of shares of Common Stock of the Company permitted to be
registered by the staff of the SEC pursuant to Rule 415.
l. "Effective Date" means the
Initial Effective Date and the Additional Effective Date, as
applicable.
m. "Effectiveness Deadline" means
the Initial Effectiveness Deadline and the Additional Effectiveness Deadline, as
applicable.
n. "Filing Deadline" means the
Initial Filing Deadline and the Additional Filing Deadline, as
applicable.
o. "Initial Effective Date" means
the date that the Initial Registration Statement has been declared effective by
the SEC.
p. "Initial Effectiveness
Deadline" means the date ninety (90) calendar days after the Closing
Date, or in the event there is a “full review,” the date which is one hundred
twenty (120) calendar days after the Closing Date.
q. "Initial Filing Deadline" means
the date which is thirty (30) calendar days after the Closing Date.
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r. "Initial Registrable
Securities" for the Initial Registration Statement means (i) the Shares,
and (ii) any capital stock of the Company issued or issuable, with respect to
the Shares, a result of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization,
exchange or similar event or otherwise.
s. "Initial Registration
Statement" means a registration statement or registration statements of
the Company filed under the 1933 Act covering the Initial Registrable
Securities.
t. "Initial Required Registration
Amount" means (I) the number of Shares issued, subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 2(f) or (II) such other amount as may be required by the
staff of the SEC pursuant to Rule 415 with any cutback applied pro rata to all
Investors.
u. "Investor" means a Buyer or any
transferee or assignee thereof to whom a Buyer assigns its rights under this
Agreement and who agrees to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in
accordance with Section 9 and any transferee or assignee thereof to whom a
transferee or assignee assigns its rights under this Agreement and who agrees to
become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with Section
9.
v. "Person" means an individual, a
limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a
trust, an unincorporated organization and a government or any department or
agency thereof.
w. "register," "registered," and "registration" refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing one or more Registration
Statements in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule 415 and the
declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement(s) by
the SEC.
x. "Registrable Securities" means
the Initial Registrable Securities and the Additional Registrable
Securities.
y. "Registration Statement" means
the Initial Registration Statement and the Additional Registration Statement, as
applicable.
z. "Required Holders" means the
holders of at least two-thirds of the Registrable Securities.
aa. "Required Registration Amount"
means either the Initial Required Registration Amount or the Additional Required
Registration Amount, as applicable.
bb. "Rule 415" means Rule 415
promulgated under the 1933 Act or any successor rule providing for offering
securities on a continuous or delayed basis.
cc. "SEC" means the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission.
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dd. "Weighted Average Price" means,
for any security as of any date, the dollar volume-weighted average price for
such security on the Trading Market during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m.,
New York Time (or such other time as the Principal Market publicly announces is
the official open of trading), and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York Time (or
such other time as the Principal Market publicly announces is the official close
of trading) as reported by Bloomberg through its "Volume at Price" functions,
or, if the foregoing does not apply, the dollar volume-weighted average price of
such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board
for such security during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York Time (or
such other time as such market publicly announces is the official open of
trading), and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York Time (or such other time as such
market publicly announces is the official close of trading) as reported by
Bloomberg, or, if no dollar volume-weighted average price is reported for such
security by Bloomberg for such hours, the average of the highest closing bid
price and the lowest closing ask price of any of the market makers for such
security as reported in the "pink sheets" by Pink Sheets LLC (formerly the
National Quotation Bureau, Inc.). If the Weighted Average Price
cannot be calculated for a security on a particular date on any of the foregoing
bases, the Weighted Average Price of such security on such date shall be the
fair market value as mutually determined by the Company and the Required
Holders. If the Company and the Required Holders are unable to agree
upon the fair market value of such security, then such dispute shall be resolved
pursuant to Section 11(p). All such determinations are to be
appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination or
other similar transaction during the applicable calculation period.
2. Registration.
a. Initial Mandatory
Registration. The Company shall prepare, and, as soon as
practicable, but in no event later than the Initial Filing Deadline, file with
the SEC the Initial Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the resale of
all of the Initial Registrable Securities. In the event that Form S-3
is unavailable for such a registration, the Company shall use such other form as
is available for such a registration on another appropriate form reasonably
acceptable to the Required Holders, subject to the provisions of Section
2(e). The Initial Registration Statement prepared pursuant hereto
shall register for resale at least the number of shares of Common Stock equal to
the Initial Required Registration Amount determined as of the date the Initial
Registration Statement is initially filed with the SEC. The Initial
Registration Statement shall contain (except if otherwise directed by the
Required Holders) the "Selling Stockholders"
and "Plan of
Distribution" sections in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit
B. The Company shall use its best efforts to have the Initial
Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable, but
in no event later than the Initial Effectiveness Deadline. By 9:30
a.m. New York time on the Business Day following the Initial Effective Date, the
Company shall file with the SEC in accordance with Rule 424 under the 1933 Act
the final prospectus to be used in connection with sales pursuant to such
Initial Registration Statement.
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b. Additional Mandatory
Registrations. The Company shall prepare, and, as soon as
practicable but in no event later than the Additional Filing Deadline, file with
the SEC an Additional Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the resale of
all of the Additional Registrable Securities not previously registered on an
Additional Registration Statement hereunder. To the extent the staff
of the SEC does not permit the Additional Required Registration Amount to be
registered on an Additional Registration Statement, the Company shall file
Additional Registration Statements successively trying to register on each such
Additional Registration Statement the maximum number of remaining Additional
Registrable Securities until the Additional Required Registration Amount has
been registered with the SEC. In the event that Form S-3 is
unavailable for such a registration, the Company shall use such other form as is
available for such a registration on another appropriate form reasonably
acceptable to the Required Holders, subject to the provisions of Section
2(e). Each Additional Registration Statement prepared pursuant hereto
shall register for resale at least that number of shares of Common Stock equal
to the Additional Required Registration Amount determined as of the date such
Additional Registration Statement is initially filed with the
SEC. Each Additional Registration Statement shall contain (except if
otherwise directed by the Required Holders) the "Selling Stockholders"
and "Plan of
Distribution" sections in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit
B. The Company shall use its best efforts to have each
Additional Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC as soon as
practicable, but in no event later than the Additional Effectiveness
Deadline. By 9:30 a.m. New York time on the Business Day following
the Additional Effective Date, the Company shall file with the SEC in accordance
with Rule 424 under the 1933 Act the final prospectus to be used in connection
with sales pursuant to such Additional Registration Statement.
c. Allocation of Registrable
Securities. The initial number of Registrable Securities
included in any Registration Statement and any increase in the number of
Registrable Securities included therein shall be allocated pro rata among the
Investors based on the number of Registrable Securities held by each Investor at
the time the Registration Statement covering such initial number of Registrable
Securities or increase thereof is declared effective by the SEC. In
the event that an Investor sells or otherwise transfers any of such Investor's
Registrable Securities, each transferee shall be allocated a pro rata portion of
the then remaining number of Registrable Securities included in such
Registration Statement for such transferor. Any shares of Common
Stock included in a Registration Statement and which remain allocated to any
Person which ceases to hold any Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement shall be allocated to the remaining Investors, pro rata
based on the number of Registrable Securities then held by such Investors which
are covered by such Registration Statement. In no event shall the
Company include any securities other than Registrable Securities on any
Registration Statement without the prior written consent of the Required
Holders.
d. Legal
Counsel. Subject to Section 5 hereof, the Required Holders
shall have the right to select one legal counsel to review and oversee any
registration pursuant to this Section 2 ("Legal Counsel"), which shall
be _________ or such other counsel as thereafter designated by the Required
Holders. The Company and Legal Counsel shall reasonably cooperate
with each other in performing the Company's obligations under this
Agreement.
e. Ineligibility for Form
S-3. In the event that Form S-3 is not available for the
registration of the resale of Registrable Securities hereunder, the Company
shall (i) register the resale of the Registrable Securities on another
appropriate form reasonably acceptable to the Required Holders and (ii)
undertake to register the Registrable Securities on Form S-3 as soon as such
form is available, provided that the Company shall maintain the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement then in effect until such time as a Registration
Statement on Form S-3 covering the Registrable Securities has been declared
effective by the SEC.
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f. Sufficient Number of Shares
Registered. In the event the number of shares available under
a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b) is
insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities required to be covered
by such Registration Statement or an Investor's allocated portion of the
Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(c), the Company shall amend the
applicable Registration Statement, or file a new Registration Statement (on the
short form available therefor, if applicable), or both, so as to cover at least
the Required Registration Amount as of the Trading Day immediately preceding the
date of the filing of such amendment or new Registration Statement, in each
case, as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than fifteen (15) days
after the necessity therefor arises. The Company shall use its best
efforts to cause such amendment and/or new Registration Statement to become
effective as soon as practicable following the filing thereof. For
purposes of the foregoing provision, the number of shares available under a
Registration Statement shall be deemed "insufficient to cover all of the
Registrable Securities" if at any time the number of shares of Common Stock
available for resale under the Registration Statement is less than the product
determined by multiplying (i) the Required Registration Amount as of such time
by (ii) 0.90.
g. Effect of Failure to File
and Obtain and Maintain Effectiveness of Registration
Statement. If (i) a Registration Statement covering all of the
Registrable Securities required to be covered thereby and required to be filed
by the Company pursuant to this Agreement is (A) not filed with the SEC on or
before the respective Filing Deadline (a "Filing Failure") or (B) not
declared effective by the SEC on or before the respective Effectiveness Deadline
(an "Effectiveness
Failure") or (ii) on any day after the Effective Date sales of all of the
Registrable Securities required to be included on such Registration Statement
cannot be made (other than during an Allowable Grace Period (as defined in
Section 3(r)) pursuant to such Registration Statement or otherwise (including,
without limitation, because of a failure to keep such Registration Statement
effective, to disclose such information as is necessary for sales to be made
pursuant to such Registration Statement, to register a sufficient number of
shares of Common Stock or to maintain the listing of the Common Stock) (a "Maintenance Failure") then, as
partial relief for the damages to any holder by reason of any such delay in or
reduction of its ability to sell the underlying shares of Common Stock (which
remedy shall not be exclusive of any other remedies available at law or in
equity), the Company shall pay to each holder of Registrable Securities relating
to such Registration Statement an amount equal to two percent (2.0%) of the
aggregate purchase price of such Investor's Registrable Securities, payable
fifty percent (50%) in cash and fifty percent (50%) in Common Stock, whether or
not included in such Registration Statement, on each of the following
dates: (i) the day of a Filing Failure; (ii) the day of an
Effectiveness Failure; (iii) the initial day of a Maintenance Failure; (iv) on
every thirtieth day after the day of a Filing Failure and thereafter (pro rated
for periods totaling less than thirty days) until such Filing Failure is cured;
(v) on every thirtieth day after the day of an Effectiveness Failure and
thereafter (pro rated for periods totaling less than thirty days) until such
Effectiveness Failure is cured; and (vi) on every thirtieth day after the
initial day of a Maintenance Failure and thereafter (pro rated for periods
totaling less than thirty days) until such Maintenance Failure is
cured. The payments to which a holder shall be entitled pursuant to
this Section 2(g) are referred to herein as "Registration Delay
Payments". Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Registration
Delay Payments shall accrue after 180 days from the Closing
Date. Registration Delay Payments shall be paid on the earlier of (I)
the dates set forth above and (II) the third Business Day after the event or
failure giving rise to the Registration Delay Payments is cured. In
the event the Company fails to make Registration Delay Payments in a timely
manner, such Registration Delay Payments shall bear interest at the rate of one
and one-half percent (1.5%) per month (prorated for partial months) until paid
in full. The number of shares of Common Stock issuable to the Buyers
as the Common Stock portion of any Registration Delay Payments shall be equal to
the quotient determined by dividing the cash portion of such Registration Delay
Payments by ninety percent (90%) of the arithmetic average of the Weighted
Average Prices of the Common Stock for the five (5) Trading Days immediately
preceding the date that the applicable Registration Delay Payment is actually
accrued. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Registration Delay
Payments shall be due pursuant to this Section 2(g) as a result of and solely to
the extent of an Effectiveness Failure (i) caused solely by the application of a
limitation on the maximum number of shares of Common Stock of the Company
permitted to be registered by the staff of the SEC pursuant to Rule 415 if the
Initial Registrable Securities exceeds one-third of the Company’s public float,
or (ii) with respect to any Investor, caused solely by such Investor's exercise
of its rights pursuant to Section 3(h).
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3. Related
Obligations.
At such
time as the Company is obligated to file a Registration Statement with the SEC
pursuant to Section 2(a), 2(b), 2(e) or 2(f), the Company will use its best
efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance
with the intended method of disposition thereof and, pursuant thereto, the
Company shall have the following obligations:
a. The
Company shall promptly prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement
with respect to the Registrable Securities and use its best efforts to cause
such Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Securities to become
effective as soon as practicable after such filing (but in no event later than
the Effectiveness Deadline). The Company shall keep each Registration
Statement effective pursuant to Rule 415 at all times until the earlier of (i)
the date as of which the Investors may sell all of the Registrable Securities
covered by such Registration Statement without restriction pursuant to Rule 144
(or any successor thereto) promulgated under the 1933 Act or (ii) the date on
which the Investors shall have sold all of the Registrable Securities covered by
such Registration Statement (the "Registration
Period"). The Company shall ensure that each Registration
Statement (including any amendments or supplements thereto and prospectuses
contained therein) shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to
make the statements therein (in the case of prospectuses, in the light of the
circumstances in which they were made) not misleading. The term "best
efforts" shall mean, among other things, that the Company shall submit to the
SEC, within two (2) Business Days after the later of the date that (i) the
Company learns that no review of a particular Registration Statement will be
made by the staff of the SEC or that the staff has no further comments on a
particular Registration Statement, as the case may be, and (ii) the approval of
Legal Counsel pursuant to Section 3(c) (which approval is immediately sought), a
request for acceleration of effectiveness of such Registration Statement to a
time and date not later than two (2) Business Days after the submission of such
request. The Company shall respond in writing to comments made by the
SEC in respect of a Registration Statement as soon as practicable, but in no
event later than fifteen (15) days after the receipt of comments by or notice
from the SEC that an amendment is required in order for a Registration Statement
to be declared effective.
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b. The
Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including
post-effective amendments) and supplements to a Registration Statement and the
prospectus used in connection with such Registration Statement, which prospectus
is to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated under the 1933 Act, as may be
necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective at all times during the
Registration Period, and, during such period, comply with the provisions of the
1933 Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities of the
Company covered by such Registration Statement until such time as all of such
Registrable Securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with the
intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth in
such Registration Statement. In the case of amendments and
supplements to a Registration Statement which are required to be filed pursuant
to this Agreement (including pursuant to this Section 3(b)) by reason of the
Company filing a report on Form 10-Q, Form 10-K or any analogous report under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), the Company shall
have incorporated such report by reference into such Registration Statement, if
applicable, or shall file such amendments or supplements with the SEC on the
same day on which the 1934 Act report is filed which created the requirement for
the Company to amend or supplement such Registration Statement.
c. The
Company shall (A) permit Legal Counsel to review and comment upon (i) a
Registration Statement at least five (5) Business Days prior to its filing with
the SEC and (ii) all amendments and supplements to all Registration Statements
(except for Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current
Reports on Form 8-K, and any similar or successor reports) within a reasonable
number of days prior to their filing with the SEC, and (B) not file any
Registration Statement or amendment or supplement thereto in a form to which
Legal Counsel reasonably objects. The Company shall not submit a
request for acceleration of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or any
amendment or supplement thereto without the prior approval of Legal Counsel,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company shall
furnish to Legal Counsel, without charge, (i) copies of any correspondence from
the SEC or the staff of the SEC to the Company or its representatives relating
to any Registration Statement, (ii) promptly after the same is prepared and
filed with the SEC, one copy of any Registration Statement and any amendment(s)
thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents
incorporated therein by reference, if requested by an Investor, and all exhibits
and (iii) upon the effectiveness of any Registration Statement, one copy of the
prospectus included in such Registration Statement and all amendments and
supplements thereto. The Company shall reasonably cooperate with
Legal Counsel in performing the Company's obligations pursuant to this Section
3.
d. The
Company shall furnish to each Investor whose Registrable Securities are included
in any Registration Statement, without charge, (i) promptly after the same is
prepared and filed with the SEC, at least one copy of such Registration
Statement and any amendment(s) thereto, including financial statements and
schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference, if requested by an
Investor, all exhibits and each preliminary prospectus, (ii) upon the
effectiveness of any Registration Statement, ten (10) copies of the prospectus
included in such Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements
thereto (or such other number of copies as such Investor may reasonably request)
and (iii) such other documents, including copies of any preliminary or final
prospectus, as such Investor may reasonably request from time to time in order
to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such
Investor.
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e. The
Company shall use its best efforts to (i) register and qualify, unless an
exemption from registration and qualification applies, the resale by Investors
of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement under such
other securities or "blue sky" laws of all applicable jurisdictions in the
United States, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions, such amendments
(including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registrations and
qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the effectiveness thereof during
the Registration Period, (iii) take such other actions as may be necessary to
maintain such registrations and qualifications in effect at all times during the
Registration Period, and (iv) take all other actions reasonably necessary or
advisable to qualify the Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection
therewith or as a condition thereto to (x) qualify to do business in any
jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this
Section 3(e), (y) subject itself to general taxation in any such jurisdiction,
or (z) file a general consent to service of process in any such
jurisdiction. The Company shall promptly notify Legal Counsel and
each Investor who holds Registrable Securities of the receipt by the Company of
any notification with respect to the suspension of the registration or
qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale under the securities
or "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction in the United States or its receipt of
actual notice of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such
purpose.
f. The
Company shall notify Legal Counsel and each Investor in writing of the happening
of any event, as promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event, as
a result of which the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as then
in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omission to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading (provided that in no event shall such notice contain any
material, nonpublic information), and, subject to Section 3(r), promptly prepare
a supplement or amendment to such Registration Statement to correct such untrue
statement or omission and deliver ten (10) copies of such supplement or
amendment to Legal Counsel and each Investor (or such other number of copies as
Legal Counsel or such Investor may reasonably request). The Company
shall also promptly notify Legal Counsel and each Investor in writing (i) when a
prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been
filed, and when a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment has
become effective (notification of such effectiveness shall be delivered to Legal
Counsel and each Investor by facsimile or e-mail on the same day of such
effectiveness and by overnight mail), (ii) of any request by the SEC for
amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related prospectus or
related information, and (iii) of the Company's reasonable determination that a
post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be
appropriate.
g. The
Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or
other suspension of effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or the suspension
of the qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction and, if such an order or suspension is issued, to obtain the
withdrawal of such order or suspension at the earliest possible moment and to
notify Legal Counsel and each Investor who holds Registrable Securities being
sold of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof or its receipt of
actual notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such
purpose.
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h. If
any Investor is required under applicable securities laws to be described in the
Registration Statement as an underwriter or an Investor believes that it could
reasonably be deemed to be an underwriter of Registrable Securities, at the
reasonable request of such Investor, the Company shall furnish to such Investor,
on the date of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and thereafter
from time to time on such dates as an Investor may reasonably request (i) a
letter, dated such date, from the Company's independent certified public
accountants in form and substance as is customarily given by independent
certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering,
addressed to the Investors, and (ii) an opinion, dated as of such date, of
counsel representing the Company for purposes of such Registration Statement, in
form, scope and substance as is customarily given in an underwritten public
offering, addressed to the Investors.
i. If
any Investor is required under applicable securities laws to be described in the
Registration Statement as an underwriter or an Investor believes that it could
reasonably be deemed to be an underwriter of Registrable Securities, the Company
shall make available for inspection by (i) such Investor, (ii) Legal Counsel and
(iii) one firm of accountants or other agents retained by the Investors
(collectively, the "Inspectors"), all pertinent
financial and other records, and pertinent corporate documents and properties of
the Company (collectively, the "Records"), as shall be
reasonably deemed necessary by each Inspector, and cause the Company's officers,
directors and employees to supply all information which any Inspector may
reasonably request; provided, however, that each Inspector shall agree to hold
in strict confidence and shall not make any disclosure (except to an Investor)
or use of any Record or other information which the Company determines in good
faith to be confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors are so
notified, unless (a) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or
correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement or is otherwise
required under the 1933 Act, (b) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant
to a final, non-appealable subpoena or order from a court or government body of
competent jurisdiction, or (c) the information in such Records has been made
generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this
Agreement. Each Investor agrees that it shall, upon learning that
disclosure of such Records is sought in or by a court or governmental body of
competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to the Company
and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to
prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, the Records deemed
confidential. Nothing herein (or in any other confidentiality
agreement between the Company and any Investor) shall be deemed to limit the
Investors' ability to sell Registrable Securities in a manner which is otherwise
consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
j. The
Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure of information
concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless (i) disclosure of such
information is necessary to comply with federal or state securities laws, (ii)
the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid or correct a
misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii) the release of
such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other final,
non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of competent
jurisdiction, or (iv) such information has been made generally available to the
public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement or any other
agreement. The Company agrees that it shall, upon learning that
disclosure of such information concerning an Investor is sought in or by a court
or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give
prompt written notice to such Investor and allow such Investor, at the
Investor's expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or
to obtain a protective order for, such information.
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k. The
Company shall use its best efforts either to (i) cause all of the Registrable
Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be listed on each securities
exchange on which securities of the same class or series issued by the Company
are then listed, if any, if the listing of such Registrable Securities is then
permitted under the rules of such exchange or (ii) secure the inclusion for
quotation of all of the Registrable Securities on The NASDAQ Global Select
Market or (iii) if, despite the Company's best efforts, the Company is
unsuccessful in satisfying the preceding clauses (i) and (ii), to secure the
inclusion for quotation on The NASDAQ Global Market, The New York Stock
Exchange, The NASDAQ Capital Market or the NYSE Amex Equities for such
Registrable Securities and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to
use its best efforts to arrange for at least two market makers to register with
the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") as such with respect
to such Registrable Securities. The Company shall pay all fees and
expenses in connection with satisfying its obligation under this Section
3(k).
l. The
Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold Registrable Securities being
offered and, to the extent applicable, facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legend) representing the
Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to a Registration Statement and
enable such certificates to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may
be, as the Investors may reasonably request and registered in such names as the
Investors may request.
m. If
requested by an Investor, the Company shall as soon as practicable (i)
incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such
information as an Investor reasonably requests to be included therein relating
to the sale and distribution of Registrable Securities, including, without
limitation, information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities
being offered or sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other
terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering;
(ii) make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such
prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; and (iii) supplement or make
amendments to any Registration Statement if reasonably requested by an Investor
holding any Registrable Securities.
n. The
Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered
by a Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other
governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to consummate the
disposition of such Registrable Securities.
11
o. The
Company shall make generally available to its security holders as soon as
practical, but not later than ninety (90) days after the close of the period
covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying with, and in the
manner provided by, the provisions of Rule 158 under the 0000 Xxx) covering a
twelve-month period beginning not later than the first day of the Company's
fiscal quarter next following the applicable Effective Date of a Registration
Statement.
p. The
Company shall otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all applicable rules
and regulations of the SEC in connection with any registration
hereunder.
q. Within
two (2) Business Days after a Registration Statement which covers Registrable
Securities is ordered effective by the SEC, the Company shall deliver, and shall
cause legal counsel for the Company to deliver, to the transfer agent for such
Registrable Securities (with copies to the Investors whose Registrable
Securities are included in such Registration Statement) confirmation that such
Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit
A.
r. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, at any time after the Effective Date, the
Company may 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 Board of Directors of the Company and its counsel, in the best
interest of the Company and, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, otherwise
required (a "Grace
Period"); provided, that the Company shall promptly (i) notify the
Investors in writing of the existence of material, non-public information giving
rise to a Grace Period (provided that in each notice the Company will not
disclose the content of such material, non-public information to the Investors)
and the date on which the Grace Period will begin, and (ii) notify the
Investors in writing of the date on which the Grace Period ends; and, provided
further, that no Grace Period shall exceed five (5) consecutive days and during
any three hundred sixty five (365) day period such Grace Periods shall not
exceed an aggregate of twenty (20) days and the first day of any Grace Period
must be at least five (5) Trading Days after the last day of any prior Grace
Period (each, an "Allowable
Grace Period"). For purposes of determining the length of a
Grace Period above, the Grace Period shall begin on and include the date the
Investors receive the notice referred to in clause (i) and shall end on and
include the later of the date the Investors receive the notice referred to in
clause (ii) and the date referred to in such notice. The provisions
of Section 3(g) hereof shall not be applicable during the period of any
Allowable Grace Period. Upon expiration of the Grace Period, the
Company shall again be bound by the first sentence of Section 3(f) with respect
to the information giving rise thereto unless such material, non-public
information is no longer applicable. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary, the Company shall cause its transfer agent to deliver unlegended
shares of Common Stock to a transferee of an Investor in accordance with the
terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement in connection with any sale of
Registrable Securities with respect to which an Investor has entered into a
contract for sale, prior to the Investor's receipt of the notice of a Grace
Period and for which the Investor has not yet settled.
s. Neither
the Company nor any Subsidiary or affiliate thereof shall identify any Buyer as
an underwriter in any public disclosure or filing with the SEC or any Principal
Market (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) or Eligible Market and
any Buyer being deemed an underwriter by the SEC shall not relieve the Company
of any obligations it has under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document
(as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement); provided, however, that the
foregoing shall not prohibit the Company from including the disclosure found in
the "Plan of Distribution" section attached hereto as Exhibit B in the
Registration Statement.
12
4. Obligations of the
Investors.
a. At
least five (5) Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of a
Registration Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor in writing of the
information the Company requires from each such Investor if such Investor elects
to have any of such Investor's Registrable Securities included in such
Registration Statement. It shall be a condition precedent to the
obligations of the Company to complete the registration pursuant to this
Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities of a particular Investor
that such Investor shall furnish to the Company such information regarding
itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of
disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it, as shall be reasonably
required to effect and maintain the effectiveness of the registration of such
Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection with such
registration as the Company may reasonably request.
b. Each
Investor, by such Investor's acceptance of the Registrable Securities, agrees to
cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection
with the preparation and filing of any Registration Statement hereunder, unless
such Investor has notified the Company in writing of such Investor's election to
exclude all of such Investor's Registrable Securities from such Registration
Statement.
c. Each
Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the
happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(g) or the first
sentence of 3(f), such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of
Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement(s) covering such
Registrable Securities until such Investor's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(g) or the first
sentence of 3(f) or receipt of notice that no supplement or amendment is
required. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Company shall
cause its transfer agent to deliver unlegended shares of Common Stock to a
transferee of an Investor in accordance with the terms of the Securities
Purchase Agreement in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with
respect to which an Investor has entered into a contract for sale prior to the
Investor's receipt of a notice from the Company of the happening of any event of
the kind described in Section 3(g) or the first sentence of 3(f) and for which
the Investor has not yet settled.
d. Each
Investor covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery
requirements of the 1933 Act as applicable to it or an exemption therefrom in
connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration
Statement.
5. Expenses of
Registration.
All
reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, incurred
in connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Sections
2 and 3, including, without limitation, all registration, listing and
qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, and fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company shall be paid by the Company. The Company shall also
reimburse the Investors for the fees and disbursements of Legal Counsel in
connection with registration, filing or qualification pursuant to Sections 2 and
3 of this Agreement.
13
6. Indemnification.
In the
event any Registrable Securities are included in a Registration Statement under
this Agreement:
a. To
the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will, and hereby does,
indemnify, hold harmless and defend each Investor, the directors, officers,
members, partners, employees, agents, representatives of, and each Person, if
any, who controls any Investor within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934
Act (each, an "Indemnified
Person"), against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments,
fines, penalties, charges, costs, reasonable attorneys' fees, amounts paid in
settlement or expenses, joint or several, (collectively, "Claims") incurred in
investigating, preparing or defending any action, claim, suit, inquiry,
proceeding, investigation or appeal taken from the foregoing by or before any
court or governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency, body or the
SEC, whether pending or threatened, whether or not an indemnified party is or
may be a party thereto ("Indemnified Damages"), to
which any of them may become subject insofar as such Claims (or actions or
proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of
or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact in a Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment thereto or in any filing made in connection with the qualification of
the offering under the securities or other "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction
in which Registrable Securities are offered ("Blue Sky Filing"), or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
preliminary prospectus if used prior to the effective date of such Registration
Statement, or contained in the final prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if
the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or
the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary to
make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which the
statements therein were made, not misleading, (iii) any violation or alleged
violation by the Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law,
including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or
regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement or (iv) any violation of this
Agreement (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) being,
collectively, "Violations"). Subject
to Section 6(c), the Company shall reimburse the Indemnified Persons, promptly
as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any legal fees or
other reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section
6(a): (i) shall not apply to a Claim by an Indemnified Person arising
out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished in writing to the Company by such Indemnified Person
for such Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with the preparation
of the Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement
thereto, if such prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to
Section 3(d); and (ii) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any
Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the
Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person
and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Investors
pursuant to Section 9.
14
b. In
connection with any Registration Statement in which an Investor is
participating, each such Investor agrees to severally and not jointly indemnify,
hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same manner as is set
forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers
who signs the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (each, an "Indemnified Party"), against
any Claim or Indemnified Damages to which any of them may become subject, under
the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim or Indemnified
Damages arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case to the
extent, and only to the extent, that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and
in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Investor
expressly for use in connection with such Registration Statement; and, subject
to Section 6(c), such Investor shall reimburse the Indemnified Party, promptly
as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by an Indemnified Party in connection with
investigating or defending any such Claim; provided, however, that the indemnity
agreement contained in this Section 6(b) and the agreement with respect to
contribution contained in Section 7 shall not apply to amounts paid in
settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written
consent of such Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed; provided, further, however, that the Investor shall be liable under
this Section 6(b) for only that amount of a Claim or Indemnified Damages as does
not exceed the net proceeds to such Investor as a result of the sale of
Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Such
indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of
the Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 9.
15
c. Promptly
after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6
of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including any
governmental action or proceeding) involving a Claim, such Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against any
indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party a
written notice of the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall
have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so
desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume
control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the
indemnifying party and the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party, as the
case may be; provided, however, that an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the fees and expenses of not
more than one counsel for all such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party to be
paid by the indemnifying party, if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel
retained by the indemnifying party, the representation by such counsel of the
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and the indemnifying party would be
inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such
counsel in such proceeding. In the case of an Indemnified Person,
legal counsel referred to in the immediately preceding sentence shall be
selected by the Investors holding at least a majority in interest of the
Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement to which the Claim
relates. The Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person shall cooperate
reasonably with the indemnifying party in connection with any negotiation or
defense of any such action or Claim by the indemnifying party and shall furnish
to the indemnifying party all information reasonably available to the
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person which relates to such action or
Claim. The indemnifying party shall keep the Indemnified Party or
Indemnified Person fully apprised at all times as to the status of the defense
or any settlement negotiations with respect thereto. No indemnifying
party shall be liable for any settlement of any action, claim or proceeding
effected without its prior written consent, provided, however, that the
indemnifying party shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition its
consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person, consent to entry of any
judgment or enter into any settlement or other compromise which does not include
as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person of a release from all liability in
respect to such Claim or litigation, and such settlement shall not include any
admission as to fault on the part of the Indemnified Party. Following
indemnification as provided for hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be
subrogated to all rights of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person with
respect to all third parties, firms or corporations relating to the matter for
which indemnification has been made. The failure to deliver written
notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of
any such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to
the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6, except to the
extent that the indemnifying party is prejudiced in its ability to defend such
action.
d. The
indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be made by periodic payments of
the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as and
when bills are received or Indemnified Damages are incurred.
e. The
indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in addition to (i) any
cause of action or similar right of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person
against the indemnifying party or others, and (ii) any liabilities the
indemnifying party may be subject to pursuant to the law.
7. Contribution.
To the
extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is prohibited or limited by
law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum contribution with respect
to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable under Section 6 to the
fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that: (i) no
Person involved in the sale of Registrable Securities which Person is guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 0000
Xxx) in connection with such sale shall be entitled to contribution from any
Person involved in such sale of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation; and (ii) contribution by any seller of Registrable
Securities shall be limited in amount to the amount of net proceeds received by
such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement.
16
8. Reports Under the 1934
Act.
With a
view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated
under the 1933 Act or any other similar rule or regulation of the SEC that may
at any time permit the Investors to sell securities of the Company to the public
without registration ("Rule
144"), the Company agrees to:
a. make
and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined
in Rule 144;
b. file
with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the
Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so long as the Company remains
subject to such requirements and the filing of such reports and other documents
is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
c. furnish
to each Investor so long as such Investor owns Registrable Securities, promptly
upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company, if true, that it has
complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the 1933 Act and the 1934
Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company
and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company, and (iii) such
other information as may be reasonably requested to permit the Investors to sell
such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.
9. Assignment of Registration
Rights.
The
rights under this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by the Investors
to any transferee of all or any portion of such Investor's Registrable
Securities if: (i) the Investor agrees in writing with the transferee
or assignee to assign such rights, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to
the Company within a reasonable time after such assignment; (ii) the Company is,
within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with
written notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or assignee, and
(b) the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being
transferred or assigned; (iii) immediately following such transfer or assignment
the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is
restricted under the 1933 Act or applicable state securities laws; (iv) at or
before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause
(ii) of this sentence the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the
Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein; and (v) such
transfer shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of
the Securities Purchase Agreement.
10. Amendment of Registration
Rights.
Provisions
of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may be waived
(either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or
prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and the Required
Holders. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this
Section 10 shall be binding upon each Investor and the Company. No
such amendment shall be effective to the extent that it applies to less than all
of the holders of the Registrable Securities. No consideration shall
be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification
of any provision of this Agreement unless the same consideration also is offered
to all of the parties to this Agreement.
17
11. Miscellaneous.
a. A
Person is deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities whenever such Person
owns or is deemed to own of record such Registrable Securities. If
the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or elections from two or
more Persons with respect to the same Registrable Securities, the Company shall
act upon the basis of instructions, notice or election received from such record
owner of such Registrable Securities.
b. Any
notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be
given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to
have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally;
(ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission
is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending
party); or (iii) one Business Day after deposit with a nationally recognized
overnight delivery service, in each case properly addressed to the party to
receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such
communications shall be:
If to the Company:
Chenming
Industrial Park,
Shouguang
City, Shandong,
China
262714207 South Street
Phone: x00
(000) 000-0000
Fax: __________________
Attention:
With a
copy (for informational purposes only) to:
_________________________
__________________________
___________________________
Telephone:
(____) ____________
Facsimile: (____)
____________
Attention: ___________________
If to the
Transfer Agent:
__________________________
___________________________
Telephone:
(____) ____________
Facsimile: (____)
____________
Attention: ___________________
18
If to
Legal Counsel:
__________________________
___________________________
Telephone:
(____) ____________
Facsimile: (____)
____________
Attention: ___________________
If to a
Buyer, to its address and facsimile number set forth on the Schedule of Buyers
attached hereto, with copies to such Buyer's representatives as set forth on the
Schedule of Buyers, or to such other address and/or facsimile number and/or to
the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by
written notice given to each other party five (5) days prior to the
effectiveness of such change. Written confirmation of receipt (A)
given by the recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication,
(B) mechanically or electronically generated by the sender's facsimile machine
containing the time, date, recipient facsimile number and an image of the first
page of such transmission or (C) provided by a courier or overnight courier
service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by facsimile
or receipt from a nationally recognized overnight delivery service in accordance
with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.
c. Failure
of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or otherwise,
or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy, shall not operate as a
waiver thereof.
d. All
questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation
of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New
York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or
rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would
cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of
New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York,
Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in
connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed
herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit,
action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the
jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought
in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is
improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of
process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or
proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such
notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute
good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing
contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process
in any manner permitted by law. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES
ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE
ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR ARISING OUT
OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
19
e. If
any provision of this Agreement is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to
be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision
that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed
amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable,
and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the
validity of the remaining provisions of this Agreement so long as this Agreement
as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original
intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited
nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not
substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of
the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be
conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith
negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s)
with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to
that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).
f. This
Agreement, the other Transaction Documents (as defined in the Securities
Purchase Agreement) and the instruments referenced herein and therein constitute
the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof and thereof. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties
or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein and
therein. This Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and the
instruments referenced herein and therein supersede all prior agreements and
understandings among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof and thereof.
g. Subject
to the requirements of Section 9, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the permitted successors and assigns of each of the parties
hereto.
h. The
headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not
limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
i. This
Agreement may be executed in identical counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same
agreement. This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be delivered
to the other party hereto by facsimile transmission of a copy of this Agreement
bearing the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.
j. Each
party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further
acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements,
certificates, instruments and documents as any other party may reasonably
request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
k. All
consents and other determinations required to be made by the Investors pursuant
to this Agreement shall be made, unless otherwise specified in this Agreement,
by the Required Holders.
20
l. The
language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the
parties to express their mutual intent and no rules of strict construction will
be applied against any party.
m. This
Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any
provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.
n. The
obligations of each Investor hereunder are several and not joint with the
obligations of any other Investor, and no provision of this Agreement is
intended to confer any obligations on any Investor vis-à-vis any other
Investor. Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any
Investor pursuant hereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Investors as a
partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or
create a presumption that the Investors are in any way acting in concert or as a
group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated
herein.
o. Unless
otherwise indicated, all dollar amounts referred to in this Agreement are in
United States Dollars. All amounts owing under this Agreement shall
be paid in US dollars. All amounts denominated in other currencies
shall be converted in the US dollar equivalent amount in accordance with the
Exchange Rate on the date of calculation. "Exchange Rate" means, in
relation to any amount of currency to be converted into US dollars pursuant to
this Agreement, the US dollar exchange rate as published in the Wall Street
Journal on the relevant date of calculation.
p. In
the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Weighted Average Price, the
Company shall submit the disputed determinations via facsimile within two (2)
Business Days of receipt of a notice giving rise to such dispute to the Required
Holders. If the Required Holders and the Company are unable to agree
upon such determination or calculation of the Weighted Average Price within
three (3) Business Days of such disputed determination being submitted to the
Required Holders, then the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days submit
via facsimile the disputed determination of the Weighted Average Price to an
independent, reputable investment bank selected by the Company and approved by
the Required Holders. The Company shall cause at its expense the
investment bank to perform the determinations or calculations and notify the
Company and the Required Holders of the results no later than ten (10) Business
Days from the time it receives the disputed determinations or
calculations. Such investment bank's determination shall be binding
upon all parties absent demonstrable error.
q. Judgment
Currency.
i. If
for the purpose of obtaining or enforcing judgment against the Company in any
court in any jurisdiction it becomes necessary to convert into any other
currency (such other currency being hereinafter in this Section 11(p) referred
to as the "Judgment
Currency") an amount due in US Dollars under this Agreement, the
conversion shall be made at the Exchange Rate prevailing on the Business Day
immediately preceding:
21
(a) the
date of actual payment of the amount due, in the case of any proceeding in the
courts of New York or in the courts of any other jurisdiction that will give
effect to such conversion being made on such date: or
(b) the
date on which the foreign court determines, in the case of any proceeding in the
courts of any other jurisdiction (the date as of which such conversion is made
pursuant to this Section being hereinafter referred to as the "Judgment Conversion
Date").
ii. If
in the case of any proceeding in the court of any jurisdiction referred to in
Section 11(p)(i)(b) above, there is a change in the Exchange Rate prevailing
between the Judgment Conversion Date and the date of actual payment of the
amount due, the applicable party shall pay such adjusted amount as may be
necessary to ensure that the amount paid in the Judgment Currency, when
converted at the Exchange Rate prevailing on the date of payment, will produce
the amount of US Dollars which could have been purchased with the amount of
Judgment Currency stipulated in the judgment or judicial order at the Exchange
Rate prevailing on the Judgment Conversion Date.
iii. Any
Amount due from the Company under this provision shall be due as a separate debt
and shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other amounts due
under or in respect of this Agreement.
* * * * *
*
[Signature
Page Follows]
22
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer
and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written
above.
COMPANY:
|
||||
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxx | ||
Name: |
Xxxxxxx
Xxx
|
|||
Title: |
Chief
Executive Officer
|
|||
1
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer
and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written
above.
BUYERS:
|
|||
Alder Capital Partners I. L.P. | |||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | ||
Name:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title:
Managing Partner
|
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer
and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written
above.
BUYERS:
|
|||
Ancora Greater China Fund
LP
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx | ||
Name:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Title:
Managing Partner
|
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer
and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written
above.
BUYERS:
|
|||
Guerrilla Partners,
LP
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
Name:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title:
Administrative Director
|
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer
and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written
above.
BUYERS:
|
|||
Hua-Mei 21st Century Partners,
LP
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
Name:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title:
Administrative Director
|
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer
and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written
above.
BUYERS:
|
|||
Jayhawk Private Equity Fund II,
LP
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||
Name:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title:
Chief Financial Officer
|
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer
and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written
above.
BUYERS:
|
|||
Fidelity Advisor Series I: Fidelity Advisor Value
Strategies Fund
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx | ||
Name:
Xxxx Xxxxxx
Title:
Assistant Treasurer
|
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer
and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written
above.
BUYERS:
|
|||
Fidelity Securities Fund: Fidelity Dividend Growth
Fund
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx | ||
Name:
Xxxx Xxxxxx
Title:
Assistant Treasurer
|
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer
and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written
above.
BUYERS:
|
|||
Variable Insurance Products Fund III: Balanced
Portfolio
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx | ||
Name:
Xxxx Xxxxxx
Title:
Assistant Treasurer
|
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer
and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written
above.
BUYERS:
|
|||
Variable Insurance Products Fund III: Value
Strategies
Portfolio
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx | ||
Name:
Xxxx Xxxxxx
Title:
Assistant Treasurer
|
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer
and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written
above.
BUYERS:
|
|||
Fidelity Advisor Series I: Fidelity Advisor Dividend Growth
Fund
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx | ||
Name:
Xxxx Xxxxxx
Title:
Assistant Treasurer
|
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer
and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written
above.
BUYERS:
|
|||
Xxxxxx Partners,
L.P.
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
Name:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title:
Managing Principal
|
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer
and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written
above.
BUYERS:
|
|||
Xxxxxx-GEPT Partners,
L.P.
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
Name:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title:
Managing Principal
|
SCHEDULE
OF BUYERS
Buyer
|
Buyer
Address
and Facsimile Number
|
Buyer's
Representative's Address
and Facsimile Number
|
Alder
Capital Partners I. L.P.
|
Alder
Capital, LLC
1200
Xxxxxx Xxx Xxx
Xxx
Xxx, XX 00000
Xax:
000-000-0000
|
|
Ancora
Greater China Fund LP
|
2000
Xxxxxx Xx.
Xxxxx
000
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Xax:
000-000-0000
|
|
Guerrilla
Partners, LP
|
230
Xxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Xax:
000-000-0000
|
|
Hua-Mei
21st Century Partners, LP
|
230
Xxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Xax:
000-000-0000
|
|
Jayhawk
Private Equity Fund II, LP
|
930
Xxxxx Xxxx 000-000
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Xax:
000-000-0000
|
|
Fidelity
Advisor Series I: Fidelity Advisor Value Strategies Fund
|
||
Fidelity
Securities Fund: Fidelity Dividend Growth Fund
|
||
Variable
Insurance Products Fund III: Balanced Portfolio
|
||
Variable
Insurance Products Fund III: Value Strategies Portfolio
|
||
Fidelity
Advisor Series I: Fidelity Advisor Dividend Growth
Fund
|
||
Xxxxxx
Partners, X.X.
|
Xxxxxx
Asset Management
320
Xxxx Xxxxxx
00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Xax:
000-000-0000
|
|
Xxxxxx-GEPT
Partners, X.X.
|
Xxxxxx
Asset Management
320
Xxxx Xxxxxx
00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Xax:
000-000-0000
|
EXHIBIT
A
FORM OF NOTICE OF
EFFECTIVENESS
OF REGISTRATION
STATEMENT
[insert
name of Company’s transfer agent]
Attention:
|
[
]
|
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
[We
are][I am] counsel to Gulf Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and have
represented the Company in connection with that certain Securities Purchase
Agreement (the "Securities
Purchase Agreement") entered into by and among the Company and the buyers
named therein (collectively, the "Holders") pursuant to which
the Company issued to the Holders shares (the "Shares") of the Company's
common stock, par value $0.0005 per share (the "Common
Stock"). Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the
Company also has entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Holders
(the "Registration Rights
Agreement") pursuant to which the Company agreed, among other things, to
register the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement), including the Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "1933
Act"). In connection with the Company's obligations under the
Registration Rights Agreement, on ____________ ___, 200_, the Company filed a
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-_____________) (the "Registration Statement") with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") relating to the
Registrable Securities which names each of the Holders as a selling stockholder
thereunder.
In
connection with the foregoing, [we][I] advise you that a member of the SEC's
staff has advised [us][me] by telephone that the SEC has entered an order
declaring the Registration Statement effective under the 1933 Act at [ENTER TIME OF
EFFECTIVENESS] on [ENTER DATE OF
EFFECTIVENESS] and
[we][I] have no knowledge, after telephonic inquiry of a member of the SEC's
staff, that any stop order suspending its effectiveness has been issued or that
any proceedings for that purpose are pending before, or threatened by, the SEC
and the Registrable Securities are available for resale under the 1933 Act
pursuant to the Registration Statement.
1
This
letter shall serve as our standing instruction to you that the shares of Common
Stock are freely transferable by the Holders pursuant to the Registration
Statement. You need not require further letters from us to effect any
future legend-free issuance or reissuance of shares of Common Stock to the
Holders as contemplated by the Company's Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions
dated _______ __, 20__.
Very
truly yours,
[ISSUER'S
COUNSEL]
By:_____________________
CC: [LIST NAMES OF
HOLDERS]
2
EXHIBIT
B
SELLING
STOCKHOLDERS
The
shares of common stock being offered by the selling stockholders are those
previously issued to the Selling Stockholders.. For additional
information regarding the issuances of common stock, see "Private Placement of
Shares" above. We are registering the shares of common stock in order
to permit the selling stockholders to offer the shares for resale from time to
time. Except for the ownership of the shares of common stock issued
pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the selling stockholders have not
had any material relationship with us within the past three years.
The table
below lists the selling stockholders and other information regarding the
beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock by each of the selling
stockholders. The second column lists the number of shares of common
stock beneficially owned by each selling stockholder, based on its ownership of
common stock and warrants, as the case may be, as of ________, 20__, by the
selling stockholders on that date.
The third
column lists the shares of common stock being offered by this prospectus by the
selling stockholders.
In
accordance with the terms of a registration rights agreement with the selling
stockholders, this prospectus generally covers the resale of at least the number
of shares of Common Stock issued, as of the Trading Day immediately preceding
the date this registration statement is initially filed with the
SEC. The fourth column assumes the sale of all of the shares offered
by the selling stockholders pursuant to this prospectus.. The selling
stockholders may sell all, some or none of their shares in this
offering. See "Plan of Distribution."
3
Name of Selling Stockholder
|
Number of Shares of Common Stock Owned Prior to
Offering
|
Maximum Number of Shares of Common Stock to be
Sold Pursuant to this Prospectus
|
Number of Shares of Common Stock Owned After
Offering
|
1
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
We are
registering the shares of common stock previously issued to permit the resale of
such shares of common stock by the holders from time to time after the date of
this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the
sale by the selling stockholders of the shares of common stock. We
will bear all fees and expenses incident to our obligation to register the
shares of common stock.
The
selling stockholders may sell all or a portion of the shares of common stock
beneficially owned by them and offered hereby from time to time directly or
through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. If the
shares of common stock are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the
selling stockholders will be responsible for underwriting discounts or
commissions or agent's commissions. The shares of common stock may be
sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at
the time of the sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at
negotiated prices. These sales may be effected in transactions, which
may involve crosses or block transactions,
|
·
|
on
any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the
securities may be listed or quoted at the time of
sale;
|
|
·
|
in
the over-the-counter market;
|
|
·
|
in
transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the
over-the-counter market;
|
|
·
|
through
the writing of options, whether such options are listed on an options
exchange or otherwise;
|
|
·
|
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;
|
|
·
|
sales
pursuant to Rule 144;
|
|
·
|
broker-dealers
may agree with the selling securityholders to sell a specified number of
such shares at a stipulated price per
share;
|
|
·
|
a
combination of any such methods of sale;
and
|
|
·
|
any
other method permitted pursuant to applicable
law.
|
If the
selling stockholders effect such transactions by selling shares of common stock
to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, such underwriters,
broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions in the form of discounts,
concessions or commissions from the selling stockholders or commissions from
purchasers of the shares of common stock for whom they may act as agent or to
whom they may sell as principal (which discounts, concessions or commissions as
to particular underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may be in excess of those
customary in the types of transactions involved). In connection with
sales of the shares of common stock or otherwise, the selling stockholders may
enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in
short sales of the shares of common stock in the course of hedging in positions
they assume. The selling stockholders may also sell shares of common
stock short and deliver shares of common stock covered by this prospectus to
close out short positions and to return borrowed shares in connection with such
short sales. The selling stockholders may also loan or pledge shares
of common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such
shares.
The
selling stockholders may 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 pursuant to this prospectus or any
amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, amending, if necessary, 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 and donate the shares of common stock in other
circumstances in which case the transferees, donees, pledgees or other
successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of
this prospectus.
The
selling stockholders and any broker-dealer participating in the distribution of
the shares of common stock may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning
of the Securities Act, and any commission paid, or any discounts or concessions
allowed to, any such broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting commissions
or discounts under the Securities Act. At the time a particular
offering of the shares of common stock is made, a prospectus supplement, if
required, will be distributed which will set forth the aggregate amount of
shares of common stock being offered and the terms of the offering, including
the name or names of any broker-dealers or agents, any discounts, commissions
and other terms constituting compensation from the selling stockholders and any
discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to
broker-dealers.
Under the
securities laws of some states, the shares of common stock may be sold in such
states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In
addition, in some states the shares of common stock may not be sold unless such
shares have been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption
from registration or qualification is available and is complied
with.
2
There can
be no assurance that any selling stockholder will sell any or all of the shares
of common stock registered pursuant to the registration statement, of which this
prospectus forms a part.
The
selling stockholders and any other person participating in such distribution
will be subject to applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without
limitation, Regulation M of the Exchange Act, which may limit the timing of
purchases and sales of any of the shares of common stock by the selling
stockholders and any other participating person. Regulation M may
also restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the
shares of common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to the
shares of common stock. All of the foregoing may affect the
marketability of the shares of common stock and the ability of any person or
entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of
common stock.
We will
pay all expenses of the registration of the shares of common stock pursuant to
the registration rights agreement, estimated to be
$[ ] in total, including, without limitation,
Securities and Exchange Commission filing fees and expenses of compliance with
state securities or "blue sky" laws; provided, however, that a selling
stockholder will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if
any. We will indemnify the selling stockholders against liabilities,
including some liabilities under the Securities Act, in accordance with the
registration rights agreements, or the selling stockholders will be entitled to
contribution. We may be indemnified by the selling stockholders
against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, that
may arise from any written information furnished to us by the selling
stockholder specifically for use in this prospectus, in accordance with the
related registration rights agreement, or we may be entitled to
contribution.
Once sold
under the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, the
shares of common stock will be freely tradable in the hands of persons other
than our affiliates.
3