REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit
4.4
This
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”),
dated as of _______, 2008, is by and between VeruTEK Technologies, Inc., a
Nevada corporation (the “Company”),
and each of the entities whose names appear on the signature pages
hereof. Such entities are each referred to herein as “Subscriber”
and, collectively, as the “Subscribers.”
WHEREAS:
A. The
Company has agreed, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the
Subscription Agreements, dated various dates on and after April 18, 2008 (the
“Subscription Agreements”), to issue and sell to each Subscriber named therein
Units (the “Units”) each consisting of two (2) shares of common stock of
the Company, par value $.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and a warrant to
purchase one (1) share of Common Stock (a “Warrant”) at an exercise price of
$1.30 per share. The shares of Common Stock issuable as part of the
Units to be issued pursuant to the Subscription Agreements are referred to
herein as the “Unit Shares” and the warrants issuable as part of the Units to be
issued pursuant to the Subscription Agreements are referred to herein as the
“Warrants.”
B. The
Warrants are exercisable, subject to the terms and conditions specified therein
and in the Subscription Agreement, into shares of Common Stock (the “Warrant
Shares”).
C. In
order to induce each Subscriber to enter into a Subscription Agreement, the
Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities
Act”), and under applicable state securities laws.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of each Subscriber entering into a Subscription
Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as
follows:
1.
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DEFINITIONS.
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For
purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings
specified:
“Business
Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which the
Commission is closed or on which banks in the City of New York are authorized by
law to be closed.
“Commission”
means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Effective
Date” means the date on which the Registration Statement is declared
effective by the Commission.
“Filing
Deadline” means the date that is the one hundred and fiftieth (150th)
calendar day following the Closing Date.
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“Holder”
means any person owning or having the right to acquire, through exercise of the
Warrants or otherwise, Registrable Securities, including initially each
Subscriber and thereafter any permitted assignee thereof.
“Registrable
Securities” means the Unit Shares, the Warrant Shares, and any other
shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the terms of the Warrants, and any
shares of capital stock issued or issuable from time to time (with any
adjustments) in replacement of, in exchange for or otherwise in respect of the
Warrant Shares.
“Registration
Deadline” means the earliest of the following: (i) the one
hundred eightieth (180th) calendar day following the Closing Date, and (ii) the
tenth (10th) Business Day after the Company learns that no review of the
Registration Statement will be made by the staff of the Commission or that the
staff of the Commission has no further comments on the Registration
Statement.
“Registration
Statement” means a registration statement or statements of the Company
prepared in compliance with the Securities Act and covering the Registrable
Securities.
Capitalized
terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings
specified in the Subscription Agreements.
2.
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REGISTRATION
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(a) Filing of Registration
Statement. On or before the Filing Deadline, the Company shall
prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement covering the
resale of a number of shares of the Registrable Securities. Such
Registration Statement shall include the Plan of Distribution attached hereto as
Exhibit A. Such Registration Statement shall also state, to the
extent permitted by Rule 416 under the Securities Act (“Rule
416”), that it also covers such indeterminate number of additional shares
of Common Stock as may become issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants in
order to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or
similar events.
(b) Effectiveness. The
Company shall use reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to
become effective as soon as practicable following the filing thereof, but in no
event later than the Registration Deadline. The Company shall respond
promptly to any and all comments made by the staff of the Commission on with
respect to a Registration Statement, and shall submit to the Commission, within
five (5) Business Days after the Company learns that no review of such
Registration Statement will be made by the staff of the Commission or that the
staff of the Commission has no further comments on such Registration Statement,
as the case may be, a request for acceleration of the 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 will maintain the
effectiveness of each Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement
until the earliest to occur of (i) the date on which all of the Registrable
Securities eligible for resale thereunder have been publicly sold pursuant to
either the Registration Statement or Rule 144 under the Securities Act (“Rule
144”), (ii) the date on which all of the Registrable Securities remaining
to be sold under such Registration Statement (in the reasonable opinion of
counsel to the Company) may be immediately sold to the public under Rule 144
under the Securities Act (“Rule 144”)
or any successor provision and (iii) the date that is the second (2nd)
anniversary of the Effective Date (the period beginning on the Closing Date and
ending on the earliest to occur of (i), (ii) or (iii) above being referred to
herein as the “Registration
Period”).
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(c) Registration
Default. If (i) the Registration Statement is not filed on or
before the Filing Deadline or declared effective by the Commission on or before
the Registration Deadline, (ii) after a Registration Statement has been declared
effective by the Commission, sales of Registrable Securities (other than such
Registrable Securities as are then freely saleable pursuant to Rule 144) cannot
be made by a Holder under a Registration Statement for any reason not within the
exclusive control of such Holder (except during the period that the Company is
updating a Registration Statement due to information required to be provide
regarding the Company’s annual financial information), or (iii) an amendment or
supplement to a Registration Statement, or a new registration statement,
required to be filed pursuant to the terms of Section 3(j) below, is not filed
on or before the date required by such section (each of the foregoing clauses
(i), (ii) and (iii) being referred to herein as a “Registration
Default”), the Company shall make cash payments to each Holder who
provides to the Company reasonable written evidence of its ownership of
Registrable Securities at the time of each such Registration Default (including
the number of Registrable Securities held by such Holder as of each such date)
equal to such Holder’s pro rata share (based on the aggregate number of
Registrable Securities then held by or issuable to such Holder as of the
occurrence of the Registration Deadline) equal to ¾ of one percent (0.75%) of
the aggregate Purchase Price paid by such Holder for such Unit Shares for each
thirty (30) day period (but not pro rated for partial periods) in which a
Registration Default exists, but up to a maximum payment of 5% of the aggregate
Purchase Price paid by such Holder for such Unit Shares for each thirty (30) day
period (but not pro rated for partial periods). Notwithstanding any
provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall be permitted to
suspend the Registration Statement for one or more periods (provided that the
aggregate length of such suspension shall not exceed ten (10) consecutive
Business Days or an aggregate of twenty (20) Business Days in any 365 day
period, with at least thirty (30) calendar days between each such suspension)
the actions required under Section 2(a) of this Agreement to the extent that the
Board of Directors of the Company concludes reasonably and in good faith that
the disclosure of information in the prospectus is not in the best interest of
the Company. Each such payment required to be made under this Section
2(c) shall be made within ten (10) Business Days following the last day of each
calendar month in which a Registration Default exists; provided that the Holder
has provided written evidence of its ownership as specified
above. Any such payment made following such ten (10) Business Day
window shall be subject to interest at the lower of ten percent (10%) and the
maximum rate permitted by applicable law. Any such payment shall be
in addition to any other remedies available to each Holder at law or in equity,
whether pursuant to the terms hereof, the Subscription Agreements or
otherwise.
(d) Allocation of Unit Shares
and Warrant Shares. The initial number of Unit Shares and
Warrant Shares included in any Registration Statement and each increase in the
number thereof included therein shall be allocated pro rata among the Holders
based on the aggregate number of Registrable Securities issuable to each Holder
at the time the Registration Statement covering such initial number of
Registrable Securities or increase thereof is declared effective by the
Commission. In the event that a Holder sells or otherwise transfers
any of such Holder’s Registrable Securities, each transferee shall be allocated
the portion of the then remaining number of Registrable Securities included in
such Registration Statement allocable to the transferor.
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(e) Additional Registration
Statements. The Subscribers acknowledge that the Commission
has recently given enhanced scrutiny to registration statements attempting to
register the resale of shares and warrant shares obtained by purchasers in
private placements and that such Commission reviews have resulted in registrants
being denied the use of Rule 415(a)(1)(i) under the Securities
Act. Accordingly, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
the Subscribers agree that (i) the Company shall not be obligated to pay any
amount of liquidated damages under Section 2(c) in the event the Registration
Statement is not declared effective on or prior to the Registration Deadline
solely as a result of or in connection with a determination by the Commission
that either the Company or the Subscribers are ineligible to rely on Rule
415(a)(1)(i) under the Securities Act with respect to the registration of any of
the Registrable Securities for resale by the Subscribers on a continuous or
delayed basis; provided, that the Company shall thereafter use its commercially
reasonable efforts to find alternative methods to register the Registrable
Securities with the Commission for resale; and (ii) in the event the Company,
after conducting a pre-filing conference with the Commission, if possible,
reasonably determines that it is unable to, or it is inadvisable for the Company
to attempt to, register all of the Registrable Securities in a single
Registration Statement, the Company may elect to fulfill the registration
requirements of this Section 2 by registering the Registrable Securities in two
or more Registration Statements, provided that the Company shall use its
reasonable efforts to file each subsequent Registration Statement no later than
the later of (A) 60 days following the date on which the last of the Registrable
Securities registered under the preceding Registration Statement were sold or
(B) six (6) months following the date on which the preceding Registration
Statement was declared effective.
3.
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OBLIGATIONS OF THE
COMPANY.
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In
addition to performing its obligations hereunder, including without limitation
those pursuant to Section 2 above, the Company shall, with respect to each
Registration Statement:
(a) prepare
and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such
Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection with such
Registration Statement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the
Securities Act or to maintain the effectiveness of such Registration Statement
during the Registration Period, or as may be reasonably requested by a Holder in
order to incorporate information concerning such Holder or such Holder’s
intended method of distribution and further incorporating such additional
information as may be reasonably requested by such Holder;
(b) at such
time following the Closing that the Company is eligible to do so, use
commercially reasonable efforts to secure the listing on the Principal Market of
the Unit Shares and all other Registrable Securities issuable upon exercise of
the Warrants, and at any Holder’s request, provide such Holder with reasonable
evidence thereof;
(c) so long
as a Registration Statement is effective covering the resale of the applicable
Registrable Securities owned by a Holder, furnish to each Holder such number of
copies of the prospectus included in such Registration Statement, including a
preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities
Act, and such other documents as such Holder may reasonably request in order to
facilitate the disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Securities;
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(d) use
commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Registrable
Securities under the securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions within
the United States as shall be reasonably requested from time to time by a
Holder, and do any and all other acts or things which may reasonably be
necessary or advisable to enable such Holder to consummate the public sale or
other disposition of the Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided
that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition
thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to service of
process in any such jurisdiction;
(e) notify
each Holder immediately after becoming aware of the occurrence of (i) any
request by the Commission or any other federal/state governmental authority
during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement for amendments
or supplements to a Registration Statement or related prospectus or for
additional information or (ii) any other event (but shall not, without the prior
written consent of such Holder, disclose to such Holder any facts or
circumstances constituting material non-public information) as a result of which
the prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect,
contains an untrue statement of material fact or omits 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, and as
promptly as practicable prepare and file with the Commission and furnish to each
Holder a reasonable number of copies of a supplement or an amendment to such
prospectus as may be necessary so that such prospectus does not contain an
untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in
light of the circumstances then existing. The parties hereto
acknowledge that the Company shall be permitted to suspend the Registration
Statement for one or more periods (provided that the aggregate length of such
suspension shall not exceed ten (10) consecutive Business Days or an aggregate
of thirty (30) Business Days in any 365 day period) the actions required under
Section 2(a) of this Agreement to the extent that the Board of Directors of the
Company concludes reasonably and in good faith that the disclosure of
information in the prospectus is not in the best interest of the
Company;
(f) use
commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or
other order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement and, if
such an order is issued, to notify each Holder immediately after becoming aware
thereof and to use commercially reasonable efforts obtain the withdrawal thereof
at the earliest possible time and to notify each Holder in writing of the
issuance of such order and the resolution thereof. The parties hereto
acknowledge that the Company shall be permitted to suspend the Registration
Statement for one or more periods (provided that the aggregate length of such
suspension shall not exceed ten (10) consecutive Business Days or an aggregate
of thirty (30) Business Days in any 365 day period) the actions required under
Section 2(a) of this Agreement to the extent that the Board of Directors of the
Company concludes reasonably and in good faith that the disclosure of
information in the prospectus is not in the best interest of the
Company;
(g) furnish
to each Holder, on the date that such Registration Statement, or any successor
registration statement, becomes effective, a letter, dated such date, signed by
an officer of or counsel to the Company and addressed to such Holder, confirming
such effectiveness and, to the knowledge of such counsel, the absence of any
stop order;
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(h) provide
to each Holder and its representatives the reasonable opportunity to conduct a
reasonable inquiry of the Company’s financial and other records during normal
business hours and make available during normal business hours and with
reasonable advance notice its officers, directors and employees for questions
regarding information which such Holder may reasonably request in order to
fulfill any due diligence obligation on its part;
(i) permit
counsel for each Holder to review such Registration Statement and all amendments
and supplements thereto, and any comments made by the staff of the Commission
concerning such Holder and/or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction
Documents and the Company’s responses thereto, within a reasonable period of
time prior to the filing thereof with the Commission (or, in the case of
comments made by the staff of the Commission, within a reasonable period of time
following the receipt thereof by the Company);
(j) in the
event that, at any time, the number of shares available under the Registration
Statement is insufficient to cover the Registrable Securities (such number to be
determined using the Exercise Price in effect at such time and without regard to
any restriction on the ability of any Holder to exercise such Holder’s Warrant)
the Company shall promptly amend such Registration Statement or file a new
registration statement, in any event as soon as practicable, but not later than
the tenth (10th) Business Day following notice from a Holder of the occurrence
of such event, so that such Registration Statement or such new registration
statement, or both, covers the Registrable Securities eligible for resale
thereunder and issuable under the Warrants (such number to be determined using
the Exercise Price in effect at the time of such amendment or filing and without
regard to any restriction on the ability of any Holder to exercise such Holder’s
Warrant). The Company shall use its reasobale efforts to cause such
amendment and/or new Registration Statement to become effective as soon as
practicable following the filing thereof. Unless and until such
amendment or new Registration Statement becomes effective, each Holder shall
have the rights described in Section 2(d) above; and
(k) cause to
be timely furnished to each Holder, earnings statements of the Company
conforming to the requirements of Rule 158 under the Securities
Act.
4.
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OBLIGATIONS OF EACH
HOLDER.
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In
connection with the registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement, each Holder shall:
(a) timely
furnish to the Company (i) a completed Selling Shareholder Questionnaire
attached hereto as Exhibit B and (ii) such information in writing regarding
itself and the intended method of disposition of such Registrable Securities as
the Company shall reasonably request in order to effect the registration
thereof;
(b) upon
receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind
described in Sections 3(e) or 3(f), immediately discontinue any sale or other
disposition of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration
Statement until the filing of an amendment or supplement as described in Section
3(e) or withdrawal of the stop order referred to in Section 3(f), and use
commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the confidentiality of such notice
and its contents;
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(c) to the
extent required by applicable law, deliver a prospectus to the purchaser of such
Registrable Securities;
(d) notify
the Company when it has sold all of the Registrable Securities held by it;
and
(e) notify
the Company in the event that any information supplied by such Holder in writing
for inclusion in such Registration Statement or related prospectus is untrue or
omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make such information not misleading in light of the circumstances then
existing; immediately discontinue any sale or other disposition of such
Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement until the filing
of an amendment or supplement to such prospectus as may be necessary so that
such prospectus does not contain an untrue statement of material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;
and use commercially reasonable efforts to assist the Company as may be
appropriate to make such amendment or supplement effective for such
purpose.
5.
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INDEMNIFICATION.
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In the
event that 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 Holder, the directors, officers, members,
partners, employees, agents, representatives of, and each Person, if any, who
controls any Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
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 Commission, 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 Commission) or the omission or alleged omission to state
therein any material fact necessary to make the statements made therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which the statements therein were made, not
misleading, (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any other 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 5(c), the Company shall reimburse the Indemnified Persons, promptly
as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any reasonable 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 5(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(c) and (ii) shall not be available to the extent
such Claim is based on a failure of the Holder to deliver or to cause to be
delivered the prospectus made available by the Company, including a corrected
prospectus, if such prospectus or corrected prospectus was timely made available
by the Company pursuant to Section 3(c); and (iii) 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 Holders
pursuant to Section 7(d).
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(b) In
connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder is participating,
each such Holder 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
5(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 Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each, an “Indemnified
Party”), against any Claim or Indemnified Damages to which any of them
may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange 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 Holder expressly for use in connection with
such Registration Statement; and, subject to Section 5(c), such Holder will
reimburse 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 5(b) shall not
apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected
without the prior written consent of such Holder, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided, further, however, that the Holder
shall be liable under this Section 5(b) for only that amount of a Claim or
Indemnified Damages as does not exceed the net proceeds to such Holder 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 Holders
pursuant to Section 7(d).
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(c) Promptly
after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 5
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 5, 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 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 Holders 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
fully 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
reasonably 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 5, except to the
extent that the indemnifying party is prejudiced in its ability to defend such
action.
(d) The
indemnification required by this Section 5 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.
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6.
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REPORTS.
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With a
view to making available to each Holder the benefits of Rule 144 and any other
similar rule or regulation of the Commission that may at any time permit such
Holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration, the
Company agrees that until the earliest to occur of (i) the date on which all of
the Registrable Securities eligible for resale thereunder have been publicly
sold pursuant to either the Registration Statement or Rule 144 under the
Securities Act (“Rule 144”)
and (ii) the date that is the second (2nd) anniversary of the date hereof, the
Company shall:
(a) make and
keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in
Rule 144;
(b) file with
the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of
the Company under the Exchange Act; and
(c) furnish
to such Holder, so long as such Holder owns any Registrable Securities, promptly
upon written request (i) a written statement by the Company, if true, that it
has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 and the Exchange Act,
(ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and
such other reports and documents so filed by the Company with the Commission,
and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested by such Holder
in connection with such Holder’s compliance with any rule or regulation of the
Commission which permits the selling of any such securities without
registration.
7.
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MISCELLANEOUS.
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(a) Expenses
of Registration; Additional Covenants of the Company. Except as
otherwise provided in the Subscription Agreements, all reasonable expenses,
other than underwriting discounts and commissions and fees and expenses of
counsel and other advisors to each Holder, incurred in connection with the
registrations, filings or qualifications described herein, including (without
limitation) all registration, filing and qualification fees, printers’ and
accounting fees, the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, and the
fees and disbursements incurred in connection with the opinion and letter
described in Section 3(g) hereof, shall be borne by the
Company. Except as otherwise agreed to by such Holder, the Company
shall maintain in strict confidence, all information with respect to such
Holder.
(b) Amendment;
Waiver. Except as expressly provided herein, neither this Agreement
nor any term hereof may be amended or waived except pursuant to a written
instrument executed by the Company and the Holders of at least two-thirds (2/3)
of the Registrable Securities. Any amendment or waiver effected in
accordance with this Section 7(b) shall be binding upon each Holder, each future
Holder and the Company. The failure of any party to exercise any
right or remedy under this Agreement or otherwise, or the delay by any party in
exercising such right or remedy, shall not operate as a waiver
thereof.
10
(c) Notices. 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 an overnight courier
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:
00 Xxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
Attention: Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, Chief Executive Officer
with a
copy (for informational purposes only) to:
Mintz,
Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
Xxx
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx,
XX 00000
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
Attention: Sahir
C. Surmeli, Esq.
and if to
the Holder, to the address and facsimile number as to which the Holder has
notified the Company in writing.
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 an
overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service,
receipt by facsimile or receipt from an overnight courier service in accordance
with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.
(d) Assignment. Upon
the transfer of any Warrant or Registrable Securities by a Holder, the rights of
such Holder hereunder with respect to such securities so transferred shall be
assigned automatically to the transferee thereof, and such transferee shall
thereupon be deemed to be a “Holder” for purposes of this Agreement, as long
as: (i) the Company is, within a reasonable period of time following
such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such
transferee, (ii) the transferee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound
by all of the provisions hereof, (iii) such transfer is made in accordance with
the applicable requirements of the Subscription Agreements or the Warrants, as
applicable and (iv) such transfer is not made pursuant to Rule 144 or a
Registration Statement.
(e) Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original, and all of which together shall be deemed one and the same
instrument. This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be
delivered to any other party hereto by facsimile transmission.
11
(f) Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made
and to be performed entirely within the State of New York.
(g) Holder of
Record. A person is deemed to be a Holder 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 the record
owner of such Registrable Securities.
(h) Entire
Agreement. This Agreement and the other Transaction Documents
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 and the other Transaction
Documents supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
(i) Headings. The
headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not
limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(j) Third Party
Beneficiaries. 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.
[Signature Pages to
Follow]
12
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date
first-above written.
VERUTEK TECHNOLOGIES, INC. | |||
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By:
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/s/ | |
Name | |||
Title | |||
[Signature
Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
13
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date
indicated below.
SUBSCRIBER:
Name of
Subscriber
By:
Name:
_____________________________
Title:
_____________________________
Date:
_____________________________
[Signature
Page to Registration Rights Agreement]
14
EXHIBIT
A
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
We are
registering the shares of common stock issued in a private placement and shares
of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants issued in a private placement
to permit the resale of these shares of common stock by the holders of the
shares and warrants 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,
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on
any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the
securities may be listed or quoted at the time of
sale;
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in
the over-the-counter market;
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in
transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the
over-the-counter market;
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through
the writing of options, whether such options are listed on an options
exchange or otherwise;
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ordinary
brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer
solicits purchasers;
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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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purchases
by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its
account;
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an
exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
exchange;
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privately
negotiated transactions;
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short
sales;
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15
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sales
pursuant to Rule 144;
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broker-dealers
may agree with the selling securityholders to sell a specified number of
such shares at a stipulated price per
share;
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a
combination of any such methods of sale;
and
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any
other method permitted pursuant to applicable
law.
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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 or warrants 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, 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.
16
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 Exchange Act, 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, 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.
17
EXHIBIT
B
SELLING
SHAREHOLDER QUESTIONNAIRE
The
undersigned beneficial owner of common stock, $______ par value per share (the
“Common Stock”), of VeruTEK Technologies, Inc. (the “Company”), (the
“Registrable Securities”) 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 the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of
the Registrable Securities, in accordance with the terms of the Registration
Rights Agreement, dated as of ____, 2008 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”),
among the Company and the Subscribers named therein. The purpose of
this Questionnaire is to facilitate the filing of the Registration Statement
under the Securities Act that will permit you to resell the Registrable
Securities in the future. The information supplied by you will be
used in preparing the Registration Statement. A copy of the
Registration Rights Agreement is available from the Company upon request as
follows: VeruTEK Technologies, Inc., 00 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx
000, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000, Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Chief
Executive Officer, Telephone: (000) 000-0000. 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 shareholder 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 shareholder in the Registration Statement and the
related prospectus.
NOTICE
The
undersigned beneficial owner (the “Selling
Shareholder”) of Registrable Securities hereby elects to include the
Registrable Securities owned by it and listed below in Item 3 (unless otherwise
specified under such Item 3) in the Registration Statement.
QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Name.
(a) Full
Legal Name of Selling Shareholder:
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(b)
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Full
Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as (a) above) through
which Registrable Securities Listed in Item 3 below are
held:
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18
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(c)
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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):
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2. Address
for Notices to Selling Shareholder:
Telephone:
Fax:
Contact
Person:
E-mail
address of Contact
Person:
3.
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Beneficial
Ownership of Registrable Securities Issuable Pursuant to the Subscription
Agreements:
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(a)
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Type
and Number of Registrable Securities beneficially owned and issued
pursuant to the Subscription
Agreements:
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4. Broker-Dealer
Status:
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(a)
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Are
you a broker-dealer?
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oYes o No
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(b)
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If
“yes” to Section 4(a), did you receive your Registrable Securities as
compensation for investment banking services to the
Company?
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oYes oNo
Note:
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If
no, the Commission’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as
an underwriter in the Registration
Statement.
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19
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(c)
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Are
you an affiliate of a
broker-dealer?
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oYes oNo
Note: If
yes, provide a narrative explanation below:
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(c)
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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?
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o
Yes o No
Note:
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If
no, the Commission’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as
an underwriter in the Registration
Statement.
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5.
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Beneficial
Ownership of Other Securities of the Company Owned by the Selling
Shareholder.
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Except
as set forth below in this Item 5, the undersigned is not the beneficial or
registered owner of any securities of the Company other than the securities
issuable pursuant to the Subscription Agreements.
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(a)
Type and Amount of other securities beneficially owned by the selling
shareholder:
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6. 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:
7. Plan
of Distribution:
The
undersigned has reviewed the form of Plan of Distribution attached as Exhibit A
to the Registration Rights Agreement, and hereby confirms that, except as set
forth below, the information contained therein regarding the undersigned and its
plan of distribution is correct and complete.
State any
exceptions here:
20
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
and prior to the effective date of any applicable Registration Statement filed
pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.
By
signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the information
contained herein in its answers to Items 1 through 7 and the inclusion of such
information in each Registration Statement filed pursuant to the Registration
Rights Agreement and each related prospectus. The undersigned
understands that such information will be relied upon by the Company in
connection with the preparation or amendment of any such Registration Statement
and the related prospectus.
By
signing below, the undersigned acknowledges that it understands its obligation
to comply, and agrees that it will comply, with the provisions of the Exchange
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, particularly Regulation
M. The undersigned also acknowledges that it understands that the
answers to this Questionnaire are furnished for use in connection with
Registration Statements filed pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and
any amendments or supplements thereto filed with the Commission pursuant to the
Securities Act.
The
undersigned hereby acknowledges and is advised of the following Compliance and
Disclosure Interpretation of the Staff of the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission from its Publicly Available Telephone Interpretations
regarding short selling:
“An Issuer filed a Form S-3
registration statement for a secondary offering of common stock which is not yet
effective. One of the selling shareholders wanted to do a short sale
of common stock “against the box” and cover the short sale with registered
shares after the effective date. The issuer was advised that the
short sale could not be made before the registration statement become effective,
because the shares underlying the short sale are deemed to be sold at the time
such sale is made. There would, therefore, be a violation of Section
5 if the shares were effectively sold prior to the effective
date.”
By
returning this Questionnaire, the undersigned will be deemed to be aware of the
foregoing interpretation.
I confirm
that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the foregoing statements
(including without limitation the answers to this Questionnaire) are
correct.
21
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this
Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its duly
authorized agent.
Beneficial Owner: | |||
Dated:
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By:
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/s/ | |
Name | |||
Title | |||
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