REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
10.4
This
Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made
and entered into as of September 5, 2008, by and between OptimizeRx Corporation,
a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and Vicis
Capital Master Fund, a sub-trust of Vicis Capital Series Master Trust, a unit
trust organized and existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Purchaser”).
This
Agreement is being entered into pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement
dated as of September 5, 2008, by and between the Company and the Purchaser (the
“Purchase
Agreement”).
The
Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
Capitalized
terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given such
terms in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Advice” shall have
meaning set forth in Section 3(m).
“Affiliate” means,
with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly
controls or is controlled by or under common control with such
Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control,” when used
with respect to any Person, means the possession, direct or indirect, of the
power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such
Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise; and the terms of “affiliated,” “controlling” and
“controlled”
have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“Board” shall have
meaning set forth in Section 3(n).
“Business Day” means
any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day which shall be a legal holiday or a
day on which banking institutions in the state of New York generally are
authorized or required by law or other government actions to close.
“Closing Date” means
the date of the closing of the purchase and sale of the Preferred Shares and the
Warrants pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
“Commission” means the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Stock” means
the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share.
“Effectiveness Date”
means, subject to Section 2(b) hereof, with respect to the Registration
Statement the earlier of (A) the sixtieth (60th) day
following the Filing Date or (B) the date which is within five (5) Business Days
after the date on which the Commission informs the Company (i) that the
Commission will not review the Registration Statement or (ii) that the Company may
request the acceleration of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and
the Company makes such request; provided that, if the
Effectiveness Date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or any other day which shall be a
legal holiday or a day on which the Commission is authorized or required by law
or other government actions to close, the Effectiveness Date shall be the
following Business Day.
“Effectiveness Period”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.
“Event” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 7(e).
“Event Date” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 7(e).
“Exchange Act” means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Filing Date” means,
subject to Section 2(b) hereof, the date that is 60 days after the Closing
Date.
“Holder” or “Holders” means the
holder or holders, as the case may be, from time to time of Registrable
Securities.
“Indemnified Party”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
“Indemnifying Party”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
“Losses” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
“Person” means an
individual or a corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated
association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company,
government (or an agency or political subdivision thereof) or other entity of
any kind.
“Preferred Shares”
means shares of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock held by a
Holder.
“Proceeding” means an
action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation,
an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced
or threatened.
“Prospectus” means the
prospectus included in the Registration Statement (including, without
limitation, a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a
prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon
Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by
any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any
portion of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement, and
all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective
amendments, and all material incorporated by reference in such
Prospectus.
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“Registrable
Securities means (i) the Shares (as hereinafter defined); (iii) the
Series A Warrant (as hereinafter defined); (iv) shares of Common Stock issued as
dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock; and (v) shares of Common
Stock issued in payment of liquidated damages under this Registration Rights
Agreement, and no other securities.
“Registration
Statement” means the registration statements and any additional
registration statements contemplated by Section 2, including (in each case) the
Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement or
Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto,
and all material incorporated by reference in such registration
statement.
“Rule 144” means Rule
144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule
may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter
adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such
Rule.
“Rule 158” means Rule
158 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule
may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter
adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such
Rule.
“Rule 415” means Rule
415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule
may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter
adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such
Rule.
“Rule 424” means Rule
424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule
may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter
adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such
Rule.
“Securities Act” means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Series A Preferred
Stock” means the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company, par
value $.001 per share.
“Series A Warrant”
means the Series A Warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock issued to the
Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
“Shares” means the
Shares of Common Stock underlying the Series A Preferred Stock, and the shares
of Common Stock underlying the Series A Warrant pursuant to Section 7(e)
herein.
“Special Counsel”
means the counsel identified by Holders to the Company, for which the Holders
will be reimbursed by the Company pursuant to Section 4.
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2. Resale
Registration.
(a) On or prior
to the Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a
“resale” Registration Statement providing for the resale of all Registrable
Securities for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule
415. The Registration Statement shall be on Form S-1 (except if the
Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities
on Form S-1, in which case such registration shall be on another appropriate
form in accordance herewith and with the Securities Act and the rules
promulgated thereunder). Such Registration Statement shall cover to
the extent allowable under the Securities Act and the rules promulgated
thereunder (including Rule 416), such indeterminate number of additional shares
of Common Stock resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar
transactions with respect to the Registrable Securities. The Company
shall (i) not permit any securities other than the Registrable Shares to be
included in the Registration Statement and (ii) use its best efforts to cause
the Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act on
or before the Effectiveness Date, and to keep such Registration Statement
continuously effective under the Securities Act until such date as is the
earlier of (x) the date when all Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement have been sold or (y) the date on which the Registrable
Securities may be sold without any restriction pursuant to Rule 144 without
restriction as to volume or manner of sale as determined by the counsel to the
Company pursuant to a written opinion letter, addressed to the Company’s
transfer agent to such effect (the “Effectiveness
Period”). The Company shall request that the effective time of
the Registration Statement is 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the effective
date. If at any time and for any reason, an additional Registration
Statement is required to be filed because at such time the actual number of
shares of Common Stock into which the Preferred Shares are convertible and the
Warrants are exercisable plus the number of shares of Common Stock exceeds the
number of shares of Registrable Securities remaining under the Registration
Statement, the Company shall have twenty (20) Business Days or such longer
period required by the Commission to file such additional Registration
Statement, and the Company shall use its best efforts to cause such additional
Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as
possible, but in no event later than ninety (90) days after filing.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in
this Section 2, in the event the Commission does not permit the Company to
register all of the Registrable Securities in the Registration Statement because
of the Commission’s application of Rule 415, the Company shall register in
the Registration Statement such number of Registrable Securities as is permitted
by the Commission, provided, however, that the number of Registrable Securities to be
included in such Registration Statement or any subsequent registration statement
shall be determined in the following order: (i) first, the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon conversion of the
Preferred Shares shall be registered, and
(ii) second, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants
shall be registered on a pro rata basis among the holders of the
Warrants. In the event the Commission does not permit the Company to
register all of the Registrable Securities in the initial Registration
Statement, the Company shall use its best efforts to file subsequent
Registration Statements to register the Registrable Securities that were not
registered in the initial Registration Statement as promptly as possible and in
a manner permitted by the Commission. For purposes of this Section
2(b), “Filing Date” means
with respect to each subsequent Registration Statement filed pursuant hereto,
the later of (i) sixty (60) days following the
sale of substantially all of the Registrable Securities included in the initial
Registration Statement or any subsequent Registration Statement and (ii) six (6)
months following the effective date of the initial Registration Statement or any
subsequent Registration Statement, as applicable, or such earlier date as
permitted by the Commission. For purposes of this Section
2(b),
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“Effectiveness Date”
means with respect to each subsequent Registration Statement filed pursuant
hereto, the earlier of (A) the sixtieth (60th) day
following the filing date of such Registration Statement or (B) the
date which is within five (5) Business Days after the date on which the
Commission informs the Company (i) that the Commission will not review such
Registration Statement or (ii) that the Company may
request the acceleration of the effectiveness of such Registration Statement and
the Company makes such request; provided that, if the
Effectiveness Date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or any other day which shall be a
legal holiday or a day on which the Commission is authorized or required by law
or other government actions to close, the Effectiveness Date shall be the
following Business Day.
3. Registration
Procedures.
In
connection with the Company’s registration obligations hereunder, the Company
shall:
(a) Prepare and
file with the Commission, on or prior to the Filing Date, a Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (or if the Company is not then eligible to register for
resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-1 such registration shall be on
another appropriate form in accordance herewith and the Securities Act and the
rules promulgated thereunder) in accordance with the plan of distribution as set
forth on Exhibit
A hereto and in accordance with applicable law, and cause the
Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective as provided
herein; provided, however, that not
less than five (5) Business Days prior to the filing of the Registration
Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, the
Company shall (i) furnish to the Holders and any Special Counsel, copies of all
such documents proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the
review of such Holders and such Special Counsel, and (ii) cause its officers and
directors, counsel and independent certified public accountants to respond to
such inquiries as shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of Special
Counsel, to conduct a reasonable review of such documents. The
Company shall not file the Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any
amendments or supplements thereto to which the Holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities or any Special Counsel shall reasonably object in writing
within three (3) Business Days of their receipt thereof.
(b) (i) Prepare
and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective
amendments, to the Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep the
Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable
Securities for the Effectiveness Period and prepare and file with the Commission
such additional Registration Statements as necessary in order to register for
resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities; (ii) cause
the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus
supplement, and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424
(or any similar provisions then in force) promulgated under the Securities Act;
(iii) respond as promptly as possible, but in no event later than ten (10)
Business Days, to any comments received from the Commission with respect to
the
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Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto and as promptly as possible provide the
Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to the
Commission relating to the Registration Statement; (iv) file the final
prospectus pursuant to Rule 424 of the Securities Act no later than 9:00 a.m.
Eastern Time on the Business Day following the date the Registration Statement
is declared effective by the Commission; and (v) comply in all material respects
with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to
the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by the Registration
Statement during the Effectiveness Period in accordance with the intended
methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in the Registration
Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) Notify the
Holders of Registrable Securities and any Special Counsel as promptly as
possible (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than five (5) Business Days
prior to such filing, and in the case of (iii) below, on the same day of receipt
by the Company of such notice from the Commission) and (if requested by any such
Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than one (1) Business Day
following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is filed; (B) when the
Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a “review” of such
Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on such
Registration Statement and (C) with respect to the Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any
request by the Commission or any other Federal or state governmental authority
for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for
additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement covering any or
all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation or threatening of any
Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) if at any time any of the representations and
warranties of the Company contained in any agreement contemplated hereby ceases
to be true and correct in all material respects; (v) of the receipt by the
Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification
or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in
any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such
purpose; and (vi) of the occurrence of any event that makes any statement made
in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or
that requires any revisions to the Registration Statement, Prospectus or other
documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
(d) Use its best
efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued, obtain the withdrawal of, as
promptly as possible, (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or exemption
from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in
any jurisdiction.
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(e) If requested
by the Holders of a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities, (i)
promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to
the Registration Statement such information as the Company reasonably agrees
should be included therein and (ii) make all required filings of such Prospectus
supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after the
Company has received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment.
(f) If
requested by any Holder, furnish to such Holder and any Special Counsel, without
charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and each
amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and all exhibits
to the extent requested by such Person (including those previously furnished or
incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such documents with the
Commission.
(g) Promptly
deliver to each Holder and any Special Counsel, without charge, as many copies
of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each
amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request; and
subject to the provisions of Sections 3(m) and 3(n), the Company hereby consents
to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each
of the selling Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the
Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto.
(h) Prior to
any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to register
or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders and any Special Counsel in
connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from such
registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale
under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United
States as any Holder requests in writing, to keep each such registration or
qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period
and to do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the
disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by a
Registration Statement; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any
jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action that would
subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is
not then so subject or subject the Company to any material tax in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(i) Cooperate
with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to a
Registration Statement, which certificates, to the extent permitted by the
Purchase Agreement and applicable federal and state securities laws, shall be
free of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be
in such denominations and registered in such names as any Holder may request in
connection with any sale of Registrable Securities.
(j) Upon the
occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(c)(vi), as promptly as
possible, prepare a supplement or amendment, including a post-effective
amendment, to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related
Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by
reference, and file any other required document so that, as thereafter
delivered, neither the Registration Statement nor such Prospectus will contain
an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
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(k) Use its best
efforts to cause all Registrable Securities relating to the Registration
Statement to be listed or quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board or any other
securities exchange, quotation system or market, if any, on which similar
securities issued by the Company are then listed or traded as and when required
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
(l) Comply in all
material respects with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission
and make generally available to its security holders all documents filed or
required to be filed with the Commission, including, but not limited, to,
earning statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities
Act and Rule 158 not later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month period (or
90 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a fiscal year)
commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company after the
effective date of the Registration Statement, which statement shall conform to
the requirements of Rule 158.
(m) The Company
may require each selling Holder to furnish to the Company information regarding
such Holder and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as is required
by law to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, Prospectus, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, and the Company may exclude from such
registration the Registrable Securities of any such Holder who unreasonably
fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such
request.
If the
Registration Statement refers to any Holder by name or otherwise as the holder
of any securities of the Company, then such Holder shall have the right to
require (if such reference to such Holder by name or otherwise is not required
by the Securities Act or any similar federal statute then in force) the deletion
of the reference to such Holder in any amendment or supplement to the
Registration Statement filed or prepared subsequent to the time that such
reference ceases to be required.
Each
Holder covenants and agrees that it will not sell any Registrable Securities
under the Registration Statement until the Company has electronically filed the
Prospectus as then amended or supplemented as contemplated in Section 3(g) and
notice from the Company that the Registration Statement and any post-effective
amendments thereto have become effective as contemplated by Section
3(c).
Each
Holder agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable Securities that, upon
receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind
described in Section 3(c)(ii), 3(c)(iii), 3(c)(iv), 3(c)(v), 3(c)(vi) or 3(n),
such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable
Securities under the Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the
copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement
contemplated by Section 3(j), or until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the
Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either
case, has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or
Registration Statement.
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(n) If (i) there
is material non-public information regarding the Company which the Company’s
Board of Directors (the “Board”) determines
not to be in the Company’s best interest to disclose and which the Company is
not otherwise required to disclose, (ii) there is a significant business
opportunity (including, but not limited to, the acquisition or disposition of
assets (other than in the ordinary course of business) or any merger,
consolidation, tender offer or other similar transaction) available to the
Company which the Board determines not to be in the Company’s best interest to
disclose, or (iii) the Company is required to file a post-effective amendment to
the Registration Statement to incorporate the Company’s quarterly and annual
reports and audited financial statements on Forms 10-Q and 10-K, then the
Company may (x) postpone or suspend filing of a registration statement for a
period not to exceed thirty (30) consecutive days or (y) postpone or suspend
effectiveness of a registration statement for a period not to exceed twenty (15)
consecutive days; provided that the Company may not postpone or suspend
effectiveness of a registration statement under this Section 3(n) for more than
sixty (60) days in the aggregate during any three hundred sixty (360) day
period; provided, however, that no such
postponement or suspension shall be permitted for consecutive fifteen (15) day
periods arising out of the same set of facts, circumstances or
transactions.
4. Registration
Expenses.
All fees
and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement by
the Company, except as and to the extent specified in this Section 4, shall be
borne by the Company whether or not the Registration Statement is filed or
becomes effective and whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold
pursuant to the Registration Statement. The fees and expenses
referred to in the foregoing sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all
registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses
(A) with respect to filings required to be made with the OTC Bulletin Board and each securities
exchange or other market on which Registrable Securities are required hereunder
to be listed, if any (B) with respect to filing fees required to be paid to the
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and (C) in compliance with
state securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation, fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Holders in connection with Blue Sky
qualifications of the Registrable Securities and determination of the
eligibility of the Registrable Securities for investment under the laws of such
jurisdictions as the Holders of a majority of Registrable Securities may
designate)), (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of
printing certificates for Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses if
the printing of prospectuses is requested by the holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement), (iii) messenger,
telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Company and Special Counsel for the Holders, in the case of the Special Counsel,
up to a maximum amount of $3,500, (v) Securities Act liability insurance, if the
Company so desires such insurance, and (vi) fees and expenses of all other
Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the
Company’s independent public accountants (including the expenses of any comfort
letters or costs associated with the delivery by independent public accountants
of a comfort letter or comfort letters). In addition, the Company
shall be responsible for all of its internal expenses incurred in connection
with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and
employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual
audit, the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the
Registrable Securities on any securities exchange as required
hereunder. The Company shall not be responsible for any discounts,
commissions, transfer taxes or other similar fees incurred by the Holders in
connection with the sale of the Registrable Securities.
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5. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the
Company. The Company shall, notwithstanding any termination of
this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the officers,
directors, managers, partners, members, shareholders, agents, brokers,
investment advisors and employees of each of them, each Person who controls any
such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section
20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, agents and employees of
each such controlling Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law,
from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs
(including, without limitation, costs of preparation and attorneys’ fees) and
expenses (collectively, “Losses”), as
incurred, arising out of or relating to any violation of securities laws or
untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out
of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of
any Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except to the extent,
but only to the extent, that such untrue statements or omissions are based
solely upon information regarding such Holder or such other Indemnified Party
furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use
therein. The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the
institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding of which the Company is aware
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Indemnification by
Holders. Each Holder shall, severally and not jointly,
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers, agents and
employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section
15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors,
officers, agents and employees of such controlling Persons, to the fullest
extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses (as determined
by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment not subject to appeal
or review or a judgment not appealed in the requisite time period), as incurred,
arising solely out of or based solely upon any untrue statement of a material
fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or any form of
prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or arising solely out of
or based solely upon any omission of a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any
Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, to the extent, but
only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any
information so furnished in writing by such Holder or other Indemnifying Party
to the Company specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or such
Prospectus. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, each Holder shall be liable under this Section 5(b) for only that amount
as does not exceed the net proceeds to such Holder as a result of the sale of
Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.
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(c) Conduct of Indemnification
Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall be brought or asserted
against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an “Indemnified Party”),
such Indemnified Party promptly shall notify the Person from whom indemnity is
sought (the “Indemnifying Party”)
in writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to assume the defense
thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Party and the payment of all fees and expenses incurred in
connection with defense thereof; provided, that the failure of any Indemnified
Party to give such notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its
obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement, except (and only) to the
extent that it shall be finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction
(which determination is not subject to appeal or further review) that such
failure shall have proximately and materially adversely prejudiced the
Indemnifying Party.
An
Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such
Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses
of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party or Parties
unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and
expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to assume the
defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such
Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named parties to any such
Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party
and the Indemnifying Party, and such parties shall have been advised by counsel
that a conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to
represent such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if
such Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects
to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the
Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and
such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party). The
Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding
effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior
written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending
or threatened Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party
and indemnity has been sought hereunder, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.
All fees
and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to
the extent incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such
Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the
Indemnified Party, as incurred, within ten (10) Business Days of written notice
thereof to the Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately
determined that an Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification
hereunder; provided, that the
Indemnified Party shall reimburse all such fees and expenses to the extent it is
finally judicially determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to
indemnification hereunder).
11
(d) Contribution. If a
claim for indemnification under Section 5(a) or 5(b) is due but unavailable to
an Indemnified Party because of a failure or refusal of a governmental authority
to enforce such indemnification in accordance with its terms (by reason of
public policy or otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of
indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Indemnifying
Party on the one hand and the Indemnified Party on the other from the offering
of the Preferred Shares and the Warrants. If, but only if, the
allocation provided by the foregoing sentence is not permitted by applicable
law, the allocation of contribution shall be made in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in the
foregoing sentence but also the relative fault, as applicable, of the
Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party in connection with the actions,
statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such
Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to,
among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a
material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by,
such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties’ relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a
party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the
limitations set forth in Section 5(c), any reasonable attorneys’ or other
reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any
Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or
expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section was available to
such party in accordance with its terms. In no event shall any
selling Holder be required to contribute an amount under this Section 5(d) in
excess of the net proceeds received by such Holder upon sale of such Holder’s
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement giving rise to
such contribution obligation.
The
parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any
other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable
considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. No
Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
The
indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section are in addition
to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the Indemnified
Parties pursuant to the law.
6. Rule
144.
As long
as any Holder owns the Preferred Shares, Warrants or Registrable Securities, the
Company covenants to timely file (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and
file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the
Company after the date hereof pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act. As long as any Holder owns the Preferred Shares, Warrants or
Registrable Securities, if the Company is not required to file reports pursuant
to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, it will prepare
12
and
furnish to the Holders and make publicly available in accordance with Rule 144
promulgated under the Securities Act annual and quarterly financial statements,
together with a discussion and analysis of such financial statements in form and
substance substantially similar to those that would otherwise be required to be
included in reports required by Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as
well as any other information required thereby, in the time period that such
filings would have been required to have been made under the Exchange
Act. The Company further covenants that it will take such further
action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from
time to time to enable such Person to sell Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares
without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the
exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, including
providing any legal opinions relating to such sale pursuant to Rule
144. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to
such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether
it has complied with such requirements.
7. Miscellaneous.
(a) Remedies. In
the event of a breach by the Company or by a Holder, of any of their obligations
under this Agreement, such Holder or the Company, as the case may be, in
addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law and under this
Agreement, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific
performance of its rights under this Agreement. The
Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation
for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of
this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for
specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that
a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent
Agreements. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
has, as of the date hereof entered into and currently in effect, nor shall the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, on or after the date of this Agreement,
enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent
with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts
with the provisions hereof. Except as disclosed in the Schedules to
the Purchase Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
previously entered into any agreement currently in effect granting any
registration rights with respect to any of its securities to any
Person. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, without the
written consent of the Holders of a majority of the then-outstanding Series A
Preferred Stock, the Company shall not grant to any Person the right to request
the Company to register any securities of the Company under the Securities Act
unless the rights so granted are subject in all respects to the prior rights in
full of the Holders set forth herein, and are not otherwise in conflict with the
provisions of this Agreement.
13
(c) No Piggyback on
Registrations. Neither the Company nor any of its security
holders (other than as disclosed in the Schedules to the Purchase Agreement) may
include securities of the Company in the Registration Statement other than the
Registrable Securities. Without the consent of the Majority Holders,
the Company shall not file any other registration statement with the Commission
until the earlier of: (i) 60 Trading Days following the date that a Registration
Statement or Registration Statements registering all the Registrable Securities
is declared effective by the Commission; and (ii) the date the Registrable
Securities are saleable under Rule 144 under the Securities Act without
restriction as to volume or manner of sale; provided that this Section shall not
prohibit the Company from filing a post-effective amendment to registration
statements that was declared effective prior to the date hereof or to a
registration statement filed with the Commission on Forms S-4 or
S-8.
(d) Piggy-Back
Registrations. If at any time when there is not an effective
Registration Statement covering (i) Conversion Shares or (ii) Warrant Shares,
the Company shall determine to prepare and file with the Commission a
registration statement relating to an offering for its own account or the
account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity securities,
other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the Securities
Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely
in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or equity
securities issuable in connection with stock option or other employee benefit
plans, the Company shall send to each holder of Registrable Securities written
notice of such determination and, if within twenty (20) days after receipt of
such notice, or within such shorter period of time as may be specified by the
Company in such written notice as may be necessary for the Company to comply
with its obligations with respect to the timing of the filing of such
registration statement, any such holder shall so request in writing, (which
request shall specify the Registrable Securities intended to be disposed of by
the Purchaser), the Company will cause the registration under the Securities Act
of all Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to
register by the holder, to the extent requisite to permit the disposition of the
Registrable Securities so to be registered, provided that if at any time after
giving written notice of its intention to register any securities and prior to
the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection with such
registration, the Company shall determine for any reason not to register or to
delay registration of such securities, the Company may, at its election, give
written notice of such determination to such holder and, thereupon, (i) in the
case of a determination not to register, shall be relieved of its obligation to
register any Registrable Securities in connection with such registration (but
not from its obligation to pay expenses in accordance with Section 4 hereof),
and (ii) in the case of a determination to delay registering, shall be permitted
to delay registering any Registrable Securities being registered pursuant to
this Section 7(d) for the same period as the delay in registering such other
securities. The Company shall include in such registration statement all or any
part of such Registrable Securities such holder requests to be registered; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to
this Section 7(d) that are eligible for sale without regard to volume or manner
of sale limitations pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act. In
the case of an underwritten public offering, if the managing underwriter(s) or
underwriter(s) should reasonably object to the inclusion of
14
the
Registrable Securities in such registration statement, then if the Company after
consultation with the managing underwriter should reasonably determine that the
inclusion of such Registrable Securities would materially adversely affect the
offering contemplated in such registration statement, and based on such
determination recommends inclusion in such registration statement of fewer or
none of the Registrable Securities of the Holders, then (x) the number of
Registrable Securities of the Holders included in such registration statement
shall be reduced pro-rata among such Holders (based upon the number
of Registrable Securities requested to be included in the registration), if the
Company after consultation with the underwriter(s) recommends the inclusion of
fewer Registrable Securities, or (y) none of the Registrable Securities of the
Holders shall be included in such registration statement, if the Company after
consultation with the underwriter(s) recommends the inclusion of none of such
Registrable Securities; provided, however, that if
securities are being offered for the account of other persons or entities as
well as the Company, such reduction shall not represent a greater fraction of
the number of Registrable Securities intended to be offered by the Holders than
the fraction of similar reductions imposed on such other persons or entities
(other than the Company).
(e) Failure to File Registration
Statement and Other Events. The Company and the Purchaser
agree that the Holders will suffer damages if the Registration Statement is not
filed on or prior to the Filing Date and not declared effective by the
Commission on or prior to the Effectiveness Date and maintained in the manner
contemplated herein during the Effectiveness Period or if certain other events
occur. The Company and the Holders further agree that it would not be
feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages with
precision. Accordingly, if (A) the Registration Statement is not
filed on or prior to the Filing Date, or (B) the Registration Statement is not
declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the Effectiveness Date, or
(C) the Company fails to file with the Commission a request for acceleration in
accordance with Rule 461 promulgated under the Securities Act within five (5)
Business Days of the date that the Company is notified (orally or in writing,
whichever is earlier) by the Commission that a Registration Statement will not
be “reviewed,” or not subject to further review, or (D) the Registration
Statement is filed with and declared effective by the Commission but thereafter
ceases to be effective as to all Registrable Securities at any time prior to the
expiration of the Effectiveness Period, without being succeeded immediately by a
subsequent Registration Statement filed with and declared effective by the
Commission, or (E) the Company has breached Section 3(n) hereof, or (F) trading
in the Common Stock shall be suspended or if the Common Stock is no longer
quoted on or is delisted from the principal exchange or market on which the
Common Stock is then traded for any reason for more than three (3) Business Days
in the aggregate (any such failure or breach being referred to as an “Event,” and for
purposes of clauses (A) and (B) the date on which such Event occurs, or for
purposes of clause (C) the date on which such five (5) Business Day period is
exceeded, or for purposes of clause (D) after more than fifteen (15) Business
Days, or for purposes of clause (F) the date on which such three (3) Business
Day period is exceeded, being referred to as an “Event Date”), then
and only then, the Company shall pay an amount in cash as liquidated damages to
each Holder equal to one percent (1.0%) of the Face Value of the Preferred
Shares then held by such Holder on such Event Date and one-half percent (0.5%)
of the Face Value of the Preferred Shares then held by such Holder
for
15
each
calendar month or portion thereof thereafter from the Event Date until the
applicable Event is cured; provided, however, that in no
event shall the amount of liquidated damages payable at any time and from time
to time to any Holder pursuant to this Section 7(e) exceed an aggregate of six
percent (6.0%) of the Face Value of the Preferred Shares then held by such
Holder. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph
(e), if (a) any of the Events described in clauses (A), (B), (C), (D) or (F)
shall have occurred, (b) on or prior to the applicable Event Date, the Company
shall have exercised its rights under Section 3(n) hereof and (c) the
postponement or suspension permitted pursuant to such Section 3(n) shall remain
effective as of such applicable Event Date, then the applicable Event Date shall
be deemed instead to occur on the second Business Day following the termination
of such postponement or suspension. Liquidated damages payable by the
Company pursuant to this Section 7(e) shall be payable on the first (1st)
Business Day of each thirty (30)-day period following the Event
Date.
(f) Amendments and
Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the
provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and
waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given,
unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company and the Holders of
seventy-five percent (75%) of the Registrable Securities
outstanding.
(g) Notices. Any
notice, demand, request, waiver or other communication required or permitted to
be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be effective (a) upon hand
delivery, telecopy or facsimile at the address or number designated below (if
delivered on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is to
be received), or the first business day following such delivery (if delivered
other than on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is
to be received) or (b) on the second business day following the date of mailing
by express courier service, fully prepaid, addressed to such address, or upon
actual receipt of such mailing, whichever shall first occur. The
addresses for such communications shall be:
If
to the Company:
|
OptimizeRx
Corporation
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Phone:
(000) 000-0000
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
|
|
with
copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
|
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Sichenzia
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx LLP
00
Xxxxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Phone:
(000) 000-0000
Fax:
(000) 000-0000
|
|
If
to Purchaser:
|
Vicis
Capital Master Fund
000
Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Tower
56, Suite 700
New
York, New York 10022
Attention:
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Tel
No.: (000) 000-0000
Fax
No.: (000) 000-0000
|
16
with
copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
|
Xxxxxxx
& Xxxxx LLP
000
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Tel
No.: (000) 000-0000
Fax
No.: (000) 000-0000
|
Any party
hereto may from time to time change its address for notices by giving at least
ten (10) days written notice of such changed address to the other party
hereto.
(h) Successors and
Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted assigns and shall
inure to the benefit of each Holder and its successors and
assigns. The Company may not assign this Agreement or any of its
rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each
Holder. Each Purchaser may assign its rights hereunder in the manner
and to the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
(i) Assignment of Registration
Rights. The rights of each Holder hereunder, including the
right to have the Company register for resale Registrable Securities in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, shall be automatically assignable
by each Holder to any Person of all or a portion of the Preferred Shares
or the Registrable Securities if: (i) the Holder 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) following such transfer or assignment
the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignees is
restricted under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, (iv)
at or before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by
clause (ii) of this Section, the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with
the Company to be bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement, and (v) such
transfer shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of
the Purchase Agreement. The rights to assignment shall apply to the
Holders (and to subsequent) successors and assigns.
(j) Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so
executed shall be deemed to be an original and, all of which taken together
shall constitute one and the same Agreement and shall become effective when
counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other parties
hereto, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same
counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by
facsimile transmission, such signature shall create a valid binding obligation
of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) the same
with the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature were the original
thereof.
17
(k) Governing Law;
Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Florida, without
giving effect to any of the conflicts of law principles which would result in
the application of the substantive law of another jurisdiction. This
Agreement shall not be interpreted or construed with any presumption against the
party causing this Agreement to be drafted. The Company and the
Holders agree that venue for any dispute arising under this Agreement will lie
exclusively in the state or federal courts located in the state of Florida, and
the parties irrevocably waive any right to raise forum non conveniens or any
other argument that Florida is not the proper venue. The Company and
the Holders irrevocably consent to personal jurisdiction in the state and
federal courts of the state of Florida. The Company and the Holders
consent to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by
mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address in effect for notices to it
under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and
sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing in this
Section 7(k) shall affect or limit any right to serve process in any other
manner permitted by law. The Company and the Holders hereby agree
that the prevailing party in any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or the Purchase Agreement, shall be entitled to
reimbursement for reasonable legal fees from the non-prevailing party. The
Company agrees to pay all costs and expenses of enforcement of the Transaction
Documents, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and
expenses. The parties hereby waive all rights to a trial by
jury.
(l) Cumulative
Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not
exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(m) Severability. If any
term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held to be
invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable in any respect, the remainder of the
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated,
and the parties hereto shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an
alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that
contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is
hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of
the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter
declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(n) Headings. The
headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this
Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions
hereof.
(o) Shares Held by the Company
and its Affiliates. Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a
specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder,
Registrable Securities held by the Company or its Affiliates (other than any
Holder or transferees or successors or assigns thereof if such Holder is deemed
to be an Affiliate solely by reason of its holdings of such Registrable
Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval
was given by the Holders of such required percentage.
18
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
19
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Registration Rights
Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized persons as of the
date first indicated above.
OPTIMIZERx CORPORATION | |
By:_____________________________________
Name: Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Title: Chief
Executive Officer
PURCHASER:
VICIS
CAPITAL MASTER FUND,
a
sub-trust of Vicis Capital Series Master Trust
By:
Vicis Capital LLC
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title:
Managing Director
|
20
Exhibit
A
Plan of
Distribution
The
selling security holders and any of their pledgees, donees, assignees and
successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their shares
of common stock being offered under this prospectus on any stock exchange,
market or trading facility on which shares of our common stock are traded or in
private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated
prices. The selling security holders may use any one or more of the
following methods when disposing of shares:
·
|
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 resales by the broker-dealer for its
account;
|
·
|
an
exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
exchange;
|
·
|
privately
negotiated transactions;
|
·
|
to
cover short sales made after the date that the registration statement of
which this prospectus is a part is declared effective by the
Commission;
|
·
|
broker-dealers
may agree with the selling security holders to sell a specified number of
such shares at a stipulated price per
share;
|
·
|
a
combination of any of these methods of sale;
and
|
·
|
any
other method permitted pursuant to applicable
law.
|
The
shares may also be sold under Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (“Securities Act”), if available, rather than under this
prospectus. The selling security holders have the sole and absolute
discretion not to accept any purchase offer or make any sale of shares if they
deem the purchase price to be unsatisfactory at any particular
time.
The
selling security holders may pledge their shares to their brokers under the
margin provisions of customer agreements. If a selling security
holder defaults on a margin loan, the broker may, from time to time, offer and
sell the pledged shares.
Broker-dealers
engaged by the selling security holders may arrange for other broker-dealers to
participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from
the selling security holders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the
purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, which
commissions as to a particular broker or dealer may be in excess of customary
commissions to the extent permitted by applicable law.
21
If sales
of shares offered under this prospectus are made to broker-dealers as
principals, we would be required to file a post-effective amendment to the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. In the
post-effective amendment, we would be required to disclose the names of any
participating broker-dealers and the compensation arrangements relating to such
sales.
The
selling security holders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in
selling the shares offered under this prospectus may be deemed to be
“underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with these
sales. Commissions received by these broker-dealers or agents and any
profit on the resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be
underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Any
broker-dealers or agents that are deemed to be underwriters may not sell shares
offered under this prospectus unless and until we set forth the names of the
underwriters and the material details of their underwriting arrangements in a
supplement to this prospectus or, if required, in a replacement prospectus
included in a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which
this prospectus is a part.
The
selling security holders and any other persons participating in the sale or
distribution of the shares offered under this prospectus will be subject to
applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations under
that act, including Regulation M. These provisions may restrict
activities of, and limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the shares
by, the selling security holders or any other person. Furthermore,
under Regulation M, persons engaged in a distribution of securities are
prohibited from simultaneously engaging in market making and other activities
with respect to those securities for a specified period of time prior to the
commencement of such distributions, subject to specified exceptions or
exemptions. All of these limitations may affect the marketability of
the shares.
If any of
the shares of common stock offered for sale pursuant to this prospectus are
transferred other than pursuant to a sale under this prospectus, then subsequent
holders could not use this prospectus until a post-effective amendment or
prospectus supplement is filed, naming such holders. We offer no
assurance as to whether any of the selling security holders will sell all or any
portion of the shares offered under this prospectus.
We have
agreed to pay all fees and expenses we incur incident to the registration of the
shares being offered under this prospectus. However, each selling
security holder and purchaser is responsible for paying any discounts,
commissions and similar selling expenses they incur.
We and
the selling security holders have agreed to indemnify one another against
certain losses, damages and liabilities arising in connection with this
prospectus, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
22