EXHIBIT 4.4
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), is made as of July
23, 1998, by and between Nanopierce Technologies, Inc., a corporation organized
under the laws of the State of Nevada, U.S.A., with headquarters located at 000
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx (the "Company") and the buyer
set forth on the execution page hereof (the "Buyer").
RECITALS
A. In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement by and between the
parties of even date herewith (the "Securities Purchase Agreement"), the Company
has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Securities
Purchase Agreement, to issue and sell to the Buyer (i) a number of shares of the
Company's Series B Convertible Preferred Stock of Nanopierce Technologies, Inc.
(the "Series B Shares"); (ii) a number of shares of the Company's Series C
Convertible Preferred Stock of Nanopierce Technologies, Inc. (the "Series C
Shares") and (iii) a number of warrants (each a "Warrant" and collectively the
"Warrants") to purchase a number of shares of the Company's common stock, $.0001
par value per share ("Common Stock"). The Series B Shares and the Series C
Shares (collectively, the "Preferred Shares") are each convertible in accordance
with the terms of the Articles of Amendment (as defined in the Securities
Purchase Agreement) into Common Stock. The Common Stock into which the Preferred
Shares are convertible may be referred to herein as the "Conversion Shares." In
accordance with the terms of the Articles of Amendment, shares of Common Stock
may be issued in payment of dividends on the Preferred Shares ("Dividend
Shares").
B. The Buyer has agreed to purchase and pay for the Series B Shares, the
Series C Shares and the Warrants as provided in the Securities Purchase
Agreement. Upon each Closing (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement),
the Company will issue its certificate representing the Preferred Shares, along
with the Warrants, purchased at such Closing by the Buyer.
C. To induce the Buyer to execute and deliver the Securities Purchase
Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the "1933 Act"), and
applicable state securities laws.
AGREEMENTS
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by all parties hereto, the Company
and the Buyer hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
a. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
i. "Investor" or "Investors" means the Buyer and any permitted
transferee(s) or assignee(s) thereof to whom the Buyer assigns this Agreement
and who agrees to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in accordance
with Section 9 hereof.
ii. "Register," "registered," and "registration" refer to a registration
effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or Statements in
compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule 415 under the 1933 Act or any
successor rule providing for offering securities on a continuous basis ("Rule
415"), and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration
Statement by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
iii. "Registrable Securities" means the Conversion Shares, the Warrant
Shares and the Dividend Shares (if any), underlying the certificates
representing the Series B Shares and the Series C Shares, and receivable upon
exercise of the Warrants, and any shares of capital stock issued or issuable,
from time to time (with any adjustments) on or in exchange for or otherwise with
respect to either of the foregoing (including without limitation any shares
issued pursuant to Section 2(b) hereinafter).
iv. "Registration Statement" or "Registration Statements" means a
registration statement or statements of the Company filed under the 0000 Xxx.
b. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall
have the respective meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement.
2. REGISTRATION.
a. Mandatory Registration. (i) The Company shall use its best efforts to
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prepare, and, on or before the date that is sixty (60) business days after the
date of the First Closing, file with the SEC a Registration Statement or
Registration Statements (as necessary) on Form S-3 (or, if such form is
unavailable for such a registration, on such other form as is available for such
a registration of all of the Registrable Securities) (any of which may contain a
combined prospectus with other registrations by the Company), covering the
resale of all of the Registrable Securities, which Registration Statement(s), to
the extent allowable under the 1933 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder
(including without limitation Rule 416), shall state that such Registration
Statement(s) also covers such indeterminate number of additional shares (the
"Indeterminate Shares") of Common Stock as may become issuable upon conversion
of the Preferred Shares to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock
dividends or similar transactions.
(ii) To the extent the Indeterminate Shares for any reason can not be
registered under the Registration Statement(s) required under Section 2(a)(i)
above, then with respect to such Indeterminate Shares, the Company shall use its
best efforts to prepare, and, on or before the date that is fifteen (15) days
after the Indeterminate Shares become issuable, file with the SEC a Registration
Statement or Registration Statements (as necessary) on Form S-3 (or, if such
form is unavailable for such a registration, on such other form as is available
for such a registration of all of the Indeterminate Shares) (any of which may
contain a combined prospectus with other registrations by the Company), covering
the resale of all of the Indeterminate Shares.
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A copy of the Registration Statement(s) (and each amendment or supplement
thereto, and each request for acceleration of effectiveness thereof) shall be
provided to (and subject to the approval of the Buyer, which approval shall not
be unreasonably withheld or denied) the Buyer and its counsel prior to its
filing or other submission.
b. Liquidated Damages. The Company shall use its best efforts to
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obtain effectiveness of the Registration Statement as soon as practicable. If
(i) the Registration Statement(s) covering the Registrable Securities required
to be filed by the Company pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof is not declared
effective by the SEC within one hundred twenty (120) days after the date of the
First Closing (other than by reason of any act or failure to act in a timely
manner by the Investor or its counsel) (the "Registration Deadline") or if,
after the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC, sales
cannot be made pursuant to the Registration Statement (by reason of a
suspension, a stop order, the Company's failure to update the Registration
Statement, or any other reason outside the control of the Investor), or (ii) the
Common Stock is not listed or included for quotation on either the OTC Bulletin
Board Market or the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated
Quotation system Small Cap Market ("NASDAQ Small Cap"), or another United States
national exchange; then in either case (in either case, a "Delay") the Company
will make payments to the Investors, as liquidated damages and in such amounts
and at such times as shall be determined pursuant to this Section 2(b) as relief
and as the sole remedy for the damages to the Investor by reason of any such
delay in or reduction of its ability to sell the Registrable Securities (which
remedy shall be exclusive of any other remedies available at law or in equity),
an amount to be determined as follows. The Company shall pay to the Investor an
amount equal to the purchase price for the Series B Shares purchased at the
First Closing, the Second Closing and the Third Closing (including, without
limitation, any Preferred Shares that have been converted into Conversion Shares
then held by such Investors) (the "Aggregate Share Price") multiplied by: one
and one-half hundredths (.015) times the sum of: (i) the number of months
(prorated for partial months) beginning the day after the Registration Deadline
and ending on the date the Registration Statement is declared effective by the
SEC, provided, however, that there shall be excluded from such period any delays
which are solely attributable to changes required by the Investor in the
Registration Statement with respect to information relating to the Investor,
including, without limitation, changes to the plan of distribution, or to the
failure of the Investor to conduct its review of the registration statement
pursuant to Section 2(a) above in a reasonably prompt manner; (ii) the number of
months (prorated for partial months) that sales cannot be made pursuant to the
Registration Statement after the Registration Statement has been declared
effective; and (iii) the number of months (prorated for partial months) that the
Common Stock is not listed or included for quotation on the OTC Bulletin Board
Market, the NASDAQ Small Cap or another United States national exchange after
the Registration Statement has been declared effective.
For example, if the Registration Statement becomes effective two
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months after the end of the Registration Deadline, the Company would pay
US$22,500 for each month (assuming the Buyer purchases the 150,000 Series B
Shares required under the Securities Purchase Agreement, such that the Aggregate
Share Price equals US$1,500,000.00) until the Registration Statement becomes
effective.
Such amounts shall be paid in cash or, at the Investor's option such
amounts may be convertible into Common Stock at the "Conversion Price" for the
Series B Shares, as defined in
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the Series B Articles. Any shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of such
amounts shall be Registrable Securities. If the Investor desires to convert the
amounts due hereunder into Registrable Securities it shall so notify the Company
in writing within two (2) business days of the date on which such amounts are
first payable in cash and such amounts shall be so convertible (pursuant to the
mechanics set forth in the Articles of Amendment), beginning on the last day
upon which the cash amount would otherwise be due in accordance with the
following sentence. Payments of cash pursuant hereto shall be made within five
(5) days after the end of each period that gives rise to such obligation,
provided that, if any such period extends for more than thirty (30) days,
interim payments shall be made for the full amount owed up to the date of such
interim payment at the end of each thirty (30) day period. At any time after one
(1) year from the date of the First Closing, upon delivery by legal counsel for
the Company to the Buyer and the Company's transfer agent a legal opinion to the
effect that the Conversion Shares may be sold without restriction pursuant to
Rule 144, and so long as the Company permits the conversion of the Preferred
Shares into Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the Securities Purchase
Agreement and the Series B Articles, liquidated damages as called for in this
paragraph shall cease and the Investor may rely upon Rule 144 for conversion of
the Series B Preferred into Common Stock and subsequent sales thereof.
c. Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time prior to the expiration of
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the Registration Period (as hereinafter defined) the Company shall file with the
SEC a Registration Statement relating to an offering for its own account or the
account of others under the 1933 Act of any of its equity securities (other than
on Form S-4 or Form S-8 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 the Investor written notice of such
determination and, if within twenty (20) days after receipt of such notice, such
Investor shall so request in writing, the Company, to the extent permitted by
law, shall include in such Registration Statement all or any part of the
Registrable Securities such Investor requests to be registered, except that if,
in connection with any underwritten public offering for the account of the
Company the managing underwriter(s) thereof shall impose a limitation on the
number of shares of Common Stock which may be included in the Registration
Statement because, in such underwriter(s)' reasonable good faith judgment,
marketing or other factors dictate such limitation is necessary to facilitate
public distribution, then only such limited portion of the Registrable
Securities with respect to which such Investor has requested inclusion hereunder
will be included in the Registration Statement; provided that no portion of the
equity securities which the Company is offering for its own account shall be
excluded; provided, further that the Company shall be entitled to exclude
Registrable Securities to the extent necessary to avoid breaching obligations
existing prior to the date hereof to other stockholders of the Company.
Any exclusion of Registrable Securities shall be made pro rata among the
Investors seeking to include Registrable Securities, in proportion to the number
of Registrable Securities sought to be included by such Investors; provided,
however, that the Company shall not exclude any Registrable Securities unless
the Company has first excluded all outstanding securities, the holders of which
are not entitled to inclusion of such securities in such Registration Statement
or are not entitled to pro rata inclusion with the Registrable Securities; and
provided, further, however, that, after giving effect to the immediately
preceding proviso, any exclusion of Registrable Securities shall be made pro
rata with holders of other securities having the right to include such
securities in the Registration Statement other than holders of securities
entitled to inclusion of their securities in such Registration Statement by
reason of demand registration rights or whose registration rights existed prior
to the date hereof. No right of the Investor to registration of Registrable
Securities under this Section 2(c) shall be construed to limit any
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registration required under Section 2(a) hereof. If an offering in connection
with which an Investor is entitled to registration under this Section 2(c) is an
underwritten offering, then each Investor whose Registrable Securities are
included in such Registration Statement shall, unless otherwise agreed by the
Company, offer and sell such Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering
using the same underwriter or underwriters and, subject to the provisions of
this Agreement, on the same terms and conditions as other shares of Common Stock
included in such underwritten offering.
d. Eligibility for Form S-3. The Company represents and warrants that it
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meets the requirements for the use of Form S-3 for registration of the sale by
the Buyer of the Registrable Securities and the Company shall file all reports
required to be filed by the Company with the SEC in a timely manner so as to
maintain such eligibility for the use of Form S-3. In the event that Form S-3
is not available for registration of the Registrable Securities, the Company
shall register the securities on another appropriate form.
3. RELATED OBLIGATIONS. In connection with the registration of the
Registrable Securities, the Company shall have the following obligations:
a. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause such Registration
Statement(s) relating to Registrable Securities to become effective as soon as
possible after such filing, but in no event later than the Registration
Deadline, and keep the Registration Statement(s) effective pursuant to Rule 415
at all times until the earlier of (i) the date on which all of the Registrable
Securities have been sold (and no further Registrable Securities may be issued
in the future), (ii) the date as of which the Investors may immediately sell
all of the Registrable Securities without restriction pursuant to Rule 144
promulgated under the 1933 Act (or successor thereto) or otherwise, or (iii)
the date on which none of the Preferred Shares or Warrant Shares is outstanding
(the "Registration Period"), which Registration Statement(s) (including any
amendments or supplements thereto and prospectuses contained therein) shall not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
b. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments
(including post-effective amendments) and supplements to the Registration
Statement and the prospectus used in connection with the Registration Statement
as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective at all times
during the Registration Period, and, during such period, comply with the
provisions of the 1933 Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable
Securities of the Company covered by the Registration Statement. In the event
the number of shares available under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to
this Agreement is insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities issued
or issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Shares, the Company shall amend the
Registration Statement, or file a new Registration Statement (on the short form
available therefor, if applicable), or both, so as to cover all of the
Registrable Securities, in each case, as soon as practicable, but in any event
within fifteen (15) days after the need therefor arises (based on the market
price of the Common Stock and other relevant factors on which the Company
reasonably elects to rely). The Company shall use its best efforts to cause such
amendment and/or new Registration Statement to become effective as soon as
practicable following the filing thereof.
c. The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose Registrable Securities
are included in the Registration Statement(s) promptly after the same is
prepared and publicly distributed, filed with the SEC, or received by the
Company, (i) one copy of the Registration
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Statement and any amendment thereto, each preliminary prospectus and prospectus
and each amendment or supplement thereto in each case relating to such
Registration Statement (other than any portion thereof which contains
information for which the Company has sought confidential treatment) and, in the
case of the Registration Statement referred to in Section 2(a), each letter
written by or on behalf of the Company to the SEC or the staff of the SEC, and
each item of correspondence from the SEC or the staff of the SEC, in each case
relating to such Registration Statement; and (ii) such number of copies of a
prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, and all amendments and
supplements thereto and such other documents as such Investor may reasonably
request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities
owned (or to be owned) by such Investor.
d. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to (i) register and qualify
the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement(s) under such
other securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions in the United States
as each Investor who holds (or has the right to hold) Registrable Securities
being offered reasonably requests, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions
such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such
registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the
effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii) take such other
actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and qualifications in
effect at all times during the Registration Period, and (iv) take all other
actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the Registrable Securities
for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (a) qualify to do
business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify
but for this Section 3(d), (b) subject itself to general taxation in any such
jurisdiction, (c) file a general consent to service of process in any such
jurisdiction, (d) provide any undertakings that cause more than nominal expense
or burden to the Company, or (e) make any change in its charter or bylaws,
which in each case the Board of Directors of the Company determines to be
contrary to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
e. As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event, the
Company shall notify each Investor of the happening of any event, of which the
Company has knowledge, as a result of which the prospectus included in a
Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a
material fact or omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, and use its best efforts promptly to
prepare a supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement to correct such
untrue statement or omission, and deliver such number of copies of such
supplement or amendment to each Investor as such Investor may reasonably
request.
f. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any
stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of a Registration Statement,
and, if such an order is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such order at the
earliest possible moment and to notify each Investor who holds Registrable
Securities being sold (or, in the event of an underwritten offering, the
managing underwriters) of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof.
g. [Intentionally omitted.]
h. At the request of the Investor, but no more than three (3) times in any
one ninety (90) day period, the Company shall furnish, on the date of
effectiveness of the Registration Statement and thereafter from time to time on
such dates as the Investor may reasonably request an opinion, dated as of such
requested date, of counsel representing the Company for purposes of
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such Registration Statement, in form, scope and substance as is customarily
given in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the Company's transfer
agent and/or to the Investors. Such opinion shall be substantially as set forth
in Exhibit I attached hereto.
i. The Company shall make available for inspection by (i) any Investor,
(ii) any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to a Registration
Statement, (iii) one firm of attorneys and one firm of accountants or other
agents retained by the Investors, and (iv) one firm of attorneys retained by all
such underwriters (collectively, the "Inspectors") all pertinent financial and
other records, and pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company
(collectively, the "Records"), as shall be reasonably deemed necessary by each
Inspector to enable each Inspector to exercise its due diligence responsibility,
and cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all
information which any Inspector may reasonably request for purposes of such due
diligence; provided, however, that each Inspector shall hold in strict
confidence and shall not make any disclosure (except to an Investor) or use of
any Record or other information which the Company determines in good faith to be
confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors are so notified, unless
(a) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a
misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (b) the release of such
Records is ordered pursuant to a final, non-appealable subpoena or order from a
court or government body of competent jurisdiction, or (c) the information in
such Records has been made generally available to the public other than by
disclosure in violation of this or any other agreement. The Company shall not be
required to disclose any confidential information in such Records to any
Inspector until and unless such Inspector shall have entered into
confidentiality agreements (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Company) with the Company with respect thereto, substantially in the form of
this Section 3(i). Each Investor agrees that it shall, upon learning that
disclosure of such Records is sought in or by a court or governmental body of
competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to the Company
and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to
prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, the Records deemed
confidential.
j. The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure of
information concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless (i)
disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state
securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid
or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii) the
release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other final,
non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of competent
jurisdiction, or (iv) such information has been made generally available to the
public other than by disclosure in violation of this or any other agreement. The
Company agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such information
concerning an Investor is sought in or by a court or governmental body of
competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to such
Investor and allow such Investor, at the Investor's expense, to undertake
appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order
for, such information.
k. The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold Registrable
Securities being offered to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates (not bearing any restrictive legend) representing the Registrable
Securities to be offered pursuant to a Registration Statement and enable such
certificates to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may be, the
Investors may reasonably request and registered in such names as the Investors
may request. Not later than the date on which any Registration Statement
registering the resale of
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Registrable Securities is declared effective, the Company shall deliver (at its
expense) to its transfer agent instructions, accompanied by any required opinion
of counsel, that permit sales of unlegended securities in a timely fashion that
complies with then mandated securities settlement procedures for regular way
market transactions.
l. Upon the First Closing, the Second Closing, the Third Closing and upon
each Additional Closing, the Company shall promptly secure the listing of the
Registrable Securities then underlying the Preferred Shares and the Warrants
purchased by the Buyer (or, if at such time the Common Stock trades on the OTC
Bulletin Board Market, make such Registrable Securities eligible to trade) upon
each national securities exchange or automated quotation system, if any, upon
which shares of Common Stock are then listed or eligible to trade (subject to
official notice of issuance) and shall maintain, so long as any other shares of
Common Stock shall be so listed or eligible to trade, such listing or
eligibility of shares of Registrable Securities from time to time issued under
the terms of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement. As
applicable, the Company shall at all times comply in all respects with the
Company's reporting, filing and other obligations under the by-laws or rules of
the OTC Bulletin Board Market, National Association of Securities Dealers and if
applicable the NASDAQ SmallCap Market (and such other national exchange on which
the Common Stock may be listed or elibible to trade, as applicable).
m. The Company shall provide a transfer agent and registrar, which may be
a single entity, for the Registrable Securities not later than the effective
date of the Registration Statement.
n. The Company shall comply with all applicable laws relating to a
Registration Statement and offering and sale of securities and all applicable
rules and regulations of governmental authorities in connection therewith
(including without limitation the 1933 Act and the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and all the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC).
o. The Company shall take all other reasonable actions necessary to
expedite and facilitate disposition by the Investors of Registrable Securities
pursuant to a Registration Statement.
4. OTHER OBLIGATIONS. In connection with the registration of the
Registrable Securities, the Investors shall have the following obligations:
a. At least fifteen (15) days prior to the first anticipated filing date
of the Registration Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor of the
information the Company requires from each such Investor if such Investor elects
to have any of such Investor's Registrable Securities included in the
Registration Statement. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of
the Company to complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect
to the Registrable Securities of a particular Investor that such Investor shall
furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable
Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable
Securities held by it as shall be reasonably required to effect the registration
of such Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection
with such registration as the Company may reasonably request.
b. Each Investor by such Investor's acceptance of the Registrable
Securities agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the
Company in connection with the
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preparation and filing of the Registration Statement(s) hereunder, unless such
Investor has notified the Company in writing of such Investor's election to
exclude all of such Investor's Registrable Securities from the Registration
Statement.
c. In the event Investors holding a majority of the Registrable Securities
being registered determine to engage the services of an underwriter, each
Investor agrees to enter into and perform such Investor's obligations under an
underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, including, without
limitation, customary indemnification and contribution obligations, with the
managing underwriter of such offering and take such other actions as are
reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the
Registrable Securities, unless such Investor notifies the Company in writing of
such Investor's election to exclude all of such Investor's Registrable
Securities from the Registration Statement(s).
d. Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company
of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(e) or 3(f),
such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Registration Statement(s) covering such Registrable Securities
until such Investor's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended
prospectus contemplated by Section 3(e) or 3(f) and, if so directed by the
Company, such Investor shall deliver to the Company (at the expense of the
Company) or destroy (and deliver to the Company a certificate of destruction)
all copies in such Investor's possession, of the prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.
e. No Investor may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder
unless such Investor (i) agrees to sell such Investor's Registrable Securities
on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Investors
entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements, (ii) completes and executes
all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and
other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting
arrangements, and (iii) agrees to pay its pro rata share of all underwriting
discounts and commissions and any expenses incurred by the Company pursuant to
Section 5 below.
5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION. The Company agrees to pay all reasonable
expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, incurred in
connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Sections 2
and 3, including, without limitation, all registration, listing and
qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, and fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company. If Investors who hold a majority of Registrable
Securities undertake to resell the Registrable Securities in an underwritten
public offering, the Company will reasonably cooperate as is customarily
required in an underwritten public offering. The Investors who participate in
such a public offering shall pay all expenses incurred in connection with such
registration, whether incurred by them or the Company, including without
limitation, underwriting discounts and commissions, all registration, listing
and qualification fees, printing charges, and fees and disbursements of
accountants and counsel for the Company.
6. INDEMNIFICATION. In the event any Registrable Securities are included
in a Registration Statement under this Agreement:
a. To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify, hold
harmless and defend each Investor who holds such Registrable Securities, the
directors, officers and each person who controls any Investor within the meaning
of the 1933 Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934
Act"), if any, and any underwriter (as defined in the 1933
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Act) for the Investors, and the directors and the officers of, and each person,
if any, who controls, any such underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act or
the 1934 Act (each, an "Indemnified Person"), against any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses (joint or several) (collectively, together with
actions, proceedings or inquiries by any regulatory or self regulatory
organization, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof, "Claims") 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 the omission or alleged omission to
state a material fact therein required to be stated or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus if used
prior to the effective date of such Registration Statement, or contained in the
final prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the Company files any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or the omission or alleged omission
to state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements made
therein, in light of the circumstances under which the statements therein were
made, not misleading, or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company
of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law, including, without limitation, any
state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder relating to the offer
or sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement (the
matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) being, collectively,
"Violations"). Subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 6(d) with
respect to the number of legal counsel, the Company shall reimburse the
Investors and each such underwriter or controlling person, promptly as such
expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any legal fees or other
expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (i) shall
not apply to a Claim 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 any Indemnified Person or underwriter 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)
hereof; (ii) with respect to any preliminary prospectus, shall not inure to the
benefit of any such person from whom the person asserting any such Claim
purchased the Registrable Securities that are the subject thereof (or to the
benefit of any person controlling such person) if the untrue statement or
omission of the material fact contained in the preliminary prospectus was
corrected in the prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, if such prospectus
was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(c) hereof; (iii)
shall not be available to the extent such Claim is based on a failure of the
Investor to deliver or to cause to be delivered the prospectus made available by
the Company or the failure of the Investor to comply with federal or state law
relating to the offering or sale of the Registrable Securities; and (iv) 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. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and
effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified
Person and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the
Investors pursuant to Section 9.
b. In connection with any Registration Statement in which an Investor is
participating, each such Investor agrees to indemnify, hold harmless and defend,
to the same extent and in the same manner as is set forth in Section 6(a), the
Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration
Statement, each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of
the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, any underwriter and any other stockholder selling
securities pursuant to the Registration Statement or any of its directors or
officers or any person who controls such stockholder or underwriter within the
meaning of the
10
1933 Act or the 1934 Act (collectively and together with an Indemnified Person,
an "Indemnified Party"), against any Claim to which any of them may become
subject, under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim
arises out of or is based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent (and
only to the extent) that such violation occurs in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Investor
expressly for use in connection with such Registration Statement or to the
extent such Claim is based upon any violation or alleged violation by the
Investor of the 1933 Act, 1934 Act or any other law; and such Investor will
reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection
with investigating or defending any such Claim; provided, however, that the
indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6(b) shall not apply to amounts
paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior
written consent of such Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld; provided, further, however, that the Investor shall be liable under
this Section 6(b) for only that amount of a Claim as does not exceed the net
proceeds to such Investor as a result of the sale of Registrable Securities
pursuant to such Registration Statement. Such indemnity shall remain in full
force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such
Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities
by the Investors pursuant to Section 9. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(b)
with respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any
Indemnified Party if the untrue statement or omission of material fact contained
in the preliminary prospectus was corrected on a timely basis in the prospectus,
as then amended or supplemented.
c. The Company shall be entitled to receive indemnities from underwriters,
selling brokers, dealer managers and similar securities industry professionals
participating in any distribution, to the same extent as provided above, with
respect to information such persons so furnished in writing by such persons
expressly for inclusion in the Registration Statement.
d. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any
governmental action), such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall, if a
Claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this
Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the
commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall have the right to
participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly
with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume control of the
defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party and
the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party, as the case may be; provided,
however, that an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall have the right to
retain its own counsel with the fees and expenses 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. The Company shall pay reasonable fees for only one separate legal
counsel for the Investors, and such legal counsel shall be selected by the
Investors holding a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities included
in the Registration Statement to which the Claim relates; provided, that the
Company shall have the right to approve the selection of counsel and legal fees
and expenses of such firm shall be reasonable. The failure to deliver written
notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of
any such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to
the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6, except to the
extent that the indemnifying party is prejudiced in its ability to defend such
action. The indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be made by
11
periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation
or defense, as such expense, loss, damage or liability is incurred and is due
and payable.
7. CONTRIBUTION. To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying
party is prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the
maximum contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be
liable under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided,
however, that (i) no contribution shall be made under circumstances where the
maker would not have been liable for indemnification under the fault standards
set forth in Section 6, (ii) no seller of Registrable Securities guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 0000
Xxx) shall be entitled to contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities
who was not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation, and (iii) contribution by
any seller of Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount to the net
amount of proceeds received by such seller from the sale of such Registrable
Securities.
8. REPORTS UNDER THE 1934 ACT. With a view to making available to the
Investors the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the 1933 Act or any other
similar rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the investors
to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration ("Rule
144"), the Company agrees to:
a. make and keep public information available, as those terms are
understood and defined in Rule 144;
b. file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents
required of the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so long as the
Company remains subject to such requirements (it being understood that nothing
herein shall limit the Company's obligations under Section 4(c) of the
Securities Purchase Agreement) and the filing of such reports and other
documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
c. furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns Registrable
Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company that
it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the 1933 Act and
the 1934 Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the
Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company, and (iii)
such other information as may be reasonably requested to permit the Investor to
sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.
9. ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS. The rights to have the Company
register Registrable Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be
automatically assignable by the Investors to any transferee of all or any
portion of Registrable Securities if: (i) the Investor agrees in writing with
the transferee or assignee to assign such rights, and a copy of such agreement
is furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such assignment,
(ii) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment,
furnished with written notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or
assignee, and (b) the securities with respect to which such registration rights
are being transferred or assigned, (iii) immediately following such transfer or
assignment the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or
assignee is restricted under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws,
(iv) at or before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated
by clause (ii) of this sentence the transferee or assignee agrees in writing
with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein, (v)
such transfer shall have been made in accordance with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Purchase Agreement, (vi) such transferee shall
submit evidence
12
reasonably satisfactory to the Company that the Transferee is an "accredited
investor" as that term is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under
the 1933 Act; and (vii) in the event the assignment occurs subsequent to the
date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement required to be filed
pursuant to Section 2(a), the transferee agrees to pay all reasonable expenses
of amending or supplementing such Registration Statement to reflect such
assignment. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no assignment of
the rights represented by this Agreement shall be effective unless in compliance
with any applicable securities laws of any applicable jurisdiction.
10. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS. Provisions of this Agreement may be
amended and the observance thereof may be waived (either generally or in a
particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only with the
written consent of the Company and Investors who hold a majority of the
Registrable Securities. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this
Section 10 shall be binding upon each Investor and the Company.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
a. A person or entity is deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities
whenever such person or entity owns of record such Registrable Securities. If
the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or elections from two or
more persons or entities with respect to the same Registrable Securities, the
Company shall act upon the basis of instructions, notice or election received
from the registered owner of such Registrable Securities.
b. Any notices required or permitted to be given under the terms of this
Agreement shall be sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, or delivered personally or by courier and shall be effective five
days after being placed in the mail, if mailed, or upon receipt, if delivered
personally or by courier or facsimile, in each case properly addressed to the
party to receive such notice. The addresses for such communications shall be:
If to the Company: Nanopierce Technologies, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000.0000
Facsimile: (000) 000.0000
Attention: Xx. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, President & CEO
If to the Buyer, at the address on the signature page of the Securities
Purchase Agreement. Each party shall provide written notice to the other party
of any change in address.
c. Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this
Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy,
shall not operate as a waiver thereof.
d. This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with
the laws of the state of Delaware without regard to the principles of conflict
of laws. If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable
in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that
jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of any provision of this
Agreement in any other jurisdiction. The parties each irrevocably consent to
the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of the state of Delaware in any
suit or proceeding arising out of or based on this
13
Agreement and irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of such suit or
proceeding may be determined in such courts. The parties each irrevocably waive
the defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such suit or proceeding.
Service of process in any civil action relating to or arising out of this
Agreement (including also all Exhibits or Addenda hereto) or the transaction(s)
contemplated herein may be accomplished in any manner provided by law.
e. This Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, the Articles of Amendment, the
Warrants, and the Securities Purchase Agreement (including all exhibits and
addenda thereto) constitute the entire agreement between 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 agreements previously
identified supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
f. Subject to the requirements of Section 9 hereof, this Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the permitted successors and assigns
of each of the parties hereto.
g. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only
and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
h. This Agreement may be executed in two or more identical counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one
and the same agreement. This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be
delivered to the other party hereto by facsimile transmission of the signature
page of this Agreement bearing the signature of the party so delivering this
Agreement to the Escrow Agent, with the original executed Agreement to be
delivered to the Escrow Agent via overnight delivery.
i. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all
such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other
agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other party may
reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes
of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
14
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration Rights
Agreement to be duly executed as of day and year first above written.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
15
[SIGNATURE PAGE TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED
JULY 23, 1998]
COMPANY:
NANOPIERCE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By:___________________________________________
Xx. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, President and CEO
BUYER:
_____________________________________________
Mr. Y. L. Xxxxxx, an individual
16
EXHIBIT I TO REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
[DATE]
[NAME AND ADDRESS OF BUYER]
[NAME AND ADDRESS OF COMPANY'S TRANSFER AGENT]
Re: Registration of Certain Securities of Nanopierce Technologies, Inc.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are counsel to Nanopierce Technologies, Inc., a Nevada Corporation (the
"Company"), whose stock is eligible for trading on the OTC Bulletin Board Market
utilizing the symbol "NPCT." We understand that Mr. Y.L. Xxxxxx (the "Holder")
has purchased from the Company (a) a number of shares of the Company's Series B
Convertible Preferred Stock of Nanopierce Technologies, Inc. (the "Series B
Shares"), (b) a number of shares of the Company's Series C Convertible Preferred
Stock of Nanopierce Technologies, Inc. (the "Series C Shares"), and (c) a number
of warrants (the "Warrants") to purchase common stock of the Company, $.0001 par
value per share ("Common Stock"). The Series B Shares and the Series C Shares
(collectively, the "Preferred Shares") are each convertible in accordance with
the terms of the Articles of Amendment (as defined in the Securities Purchase
Agreement, as defined below) into Common Stock. The Warrants are exercisable
into Common Stock. The Series B Shares, Series C Shares and the Warrants were
purchased pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and
the Holder dated as of July 23, 1998 (including all Exhibits and Addenda
thereto, the "Securities Purchase Agreement").
Pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and the Holder
dated as of July ___, 1998, the Company agreed with the Holder, among other
things, to register the Common Stock into which the Series B Shares and the
Series C Shares (and, as applicable, Common Stock issued (i) in payment of
dividends on the Preferred Shares and/or (ii) in payment of certain penalties
for late or non-registration of the said Common Stock) are convertible and the
Common Stock into which the Warrants are exercisable (collectively, the
"Registrable Securities") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"1933 Act"), upon the terms provided in the Registration Rights Agreement. In
connection with the Company's obligations under the Registration Rights
Agreement, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-3, No. 333-
_________, on [DATE S-3 WAS FILED] (the "Registration Statement") with the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the Registrable
Securities, which names the Holder as a selling stockholder thereunder.
[OTHER INTRODUCTORY AND SCOPE OF EXAMINATION LANGUAGE TO BE INSERTED, AS IS
USUAL AND CUSTOMARY FOR SUCH OPINION LETTERS.]
Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Registrable
Securities have been registered under the 1933 Act.
Very truly yours,
______________________
17
