REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of February 22, 2007, among National Holdings
Corporation (the “Company”) and each of the purchasers named on the signature
pages hereto (individually, a “Purchaser” and collectively, the
“Purchasers”).
WHEREAS,
in connection with that certain Securities Purchase Agreement dated February
22,
2007 between the Purchasers and the Company (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
Purchasers an aggregate of up to (a) $1,000,000 principal amount of 10%
Promissory Notes (the "Notes") and (b) warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase up
to 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.02 par value per share (the
“Common Stock”),
at an
initial exercise price of $1.40 per share;
WHEREAS,
to induce the Purchasers to execute and deliver the Securities Purchase
Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights with
respect to the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants
(the “Registrable Securities”) on the terms and conditions provided
herein.
NOW,
THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency
of
which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as
follows:
1. Piggyback
Registration Statement.
If,
at
any time, the Company proposes to file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) any
registration statement on Form S-3 or such other appropriate form in accordance
with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) for purposes
of a public offering of securities of the Company (including, but not limited
to, registration statements relating to secondary offerings of securities of
the
Company, but excluding registration statements relating to employee benefit
plans or with respect to corporate reorganizations or other transactions under
Rule 145 of the Securities Act or initial public offerings) it will give written
notice by facsimile or mail, at least five (5) days prior to the filing of
each
registration statement, to the Purchasers of its intention to do so. If the
Purchaser notifies the Company within five (5) days after receipt of any such
notice of its or their desire to include any such securities in such proposed
registration statement, the Company shall afford the Purchasers the opportunity
to have any Registrable Securities registered under such registration
statement.
2. Demand
Registration.
2.1 Request
for Registration Statement.
At any
time commencing after February 22, 2008, the holders of at least 50% of the
Registrable Securities held by the Purchasers may make a written demand for
registration under the 1933 Act of all or part of their Registrable Securities
(a “Demand Registration”). Any demand for a Demand Registration shall specify
the number of shares of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold. The Company
will notify all holders of Registrable Securities of the demand, and each holder
of Registrable Securities who wishes to include all or a portion of such
holder’s Registrable Securities in the Demand Registration (each such holder
including shares of Registrable Securities in such registration, a “Demanding
Holder”) shall so notify the Company within fifteen (15) days after the receipt
by the holder of the notice from the Company. Upon any such request, the
Demanding Holders shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities
included in the Demand Registration. The Company shall not be obligated to
affect more than one Demand Registration under this Section 2.1 in respect
of
Registrable Securities.
2.2 Filing
Registration Statement.
The
Company shall, as expeditiously as possible and in any event on or before 90
days following
the Company’s receipt of a written notice with respect to a Demand
Registration, prepare
and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on any form for which the Company
then qualifies and which form shall be available for the sale of all Registrable
Securities to be registered thereunder. Such
Registration Statement shall include the plan of distribution substantially
in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit
A.
Such
Registration Statement also shall cover, to the extent allowable under the
1933
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 have the right to include in such Registration
Statement shares of Common Stock remaining unsold by the persons who are set
forth in the selling stockholders section of that certain definitive prospectus
of the Company dated November 6, 2006, as supplemented, and certain additional
shares of Common Stock as may be issued subsequent to such date or which persons
may have the right to acquire pursuant to the exercise, conversion or exchange
of securities of the Company. The Registration Statement (and each amendment
or
supplement thereto, and each request for acceleration of effectiveness thereof)
shall be provided in accordance with Section 3.2 to the Purchasers and their
counsel prior to its filing or other submission.
2.3 Effectiveness.
(i) The
Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to have the Demand
Registration declared effective as soon as practicable after filing. The Company
shall notify the Purchasers by facsimile or e-mail as promptly as practicable,
and in any event, within twenty-four (24) hours, after any Demand Registration
is declared effective and shall simultaneously provide the Purchasers with
copies of any related Prospectus to be used in connection with the sale or
other
disposition of the securities covered thereby.
3. Obligations
of the Company.
In
connection with the filing of any registration statement herein, the Company
shall:
3.1 Prepare
and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration
statement and the prospectus used in connection with such registration statement
as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with
respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration
statement.
3.2 Furnish
to the Purchasers such numbers of copies of a prospectus, including a
preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities
Act, and such other documents as they may reasonably request in order to
facilitate the disposition of Registrable Securities owned by them.
2
3.3 Use
its
commercially reasonable efforts to register and qualify the securities covered
by such registration statement under such other securities or “blue sky” laws of
such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the Purchasers;
provided,
however,
that
the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition
thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to service of
process in any such states or jurisdictions.
3.4 Notify
each Purchaser of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement
at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered
under
the Securities Act of the happening of any event as a result of which the
prospectus included in such registration statement, as then in effect, includes
an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing.
3.5 Use
its
commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Registrable Securities covered
by
such registration statement to be listed on each securities exchange, if any,
on
which similar securities listed by the Company are then listed.
4. Obligations
of the Purchasers.
Each
Purchaser of Registrable Securities shall furnish to the Company such
information regarding such Purchaser, the number of Registrable Securities
owned
and proposed to be sold by it, the intended method of disposition of such
securities and any other information as shall be required to effect the
registration of such Purchaser’s Registrable Securities, and cooperate with the
Company in preparing the registration statement and in complying with the
requirements of the Securities Act.
5. Registration
Expenses.
The
Company shall bear and pay all expenses incurred in connection with any
registration, filing or qualification of Registrable Securities, including
without limitation all registration, listing, filing and qualification fees,
printers and accounting fees, but excluding (i) underwriting discounts and
commissions relating to the Registrable Securities and (ii) legal fees and
disbursements of any and all counsel retained by the Purchasers.
6.
Suspension
of Effectiveness.
For
not
more than twenty (20) consecutive days or for a total of not more than sixty
(60) days in any twelve (12) month period, the Company may delay the disclosure
of material non-public information concerning the Company, by suspending the
use
of any Prospectus included in any registration contemplated by this Section
containing such information, the disclosure of which at the time is not, in
the
good faith opinion of the Company, in the best interests of the Company (an
“Allowed Delay”); provided, that the Company shall promptly (a) notify the
Purchasers in writing of the existence of (but in no event, without the prior
written consent of an Investor, shall the Company disclose to such Investor
any
of the facts or circumstances regarding) material non-public information giving
rise to an Allowed Delay, (b) advise the Purchasers in writing to cease all
sales under the Registration Statement until the end of the Allowed Delay and
(c) use commercially reasonable efforts to terminate an Allowed Delay as
promptly as practicable.
3
7.
Indemnification.
7.1 To
the
extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify each Purchaser, its
directors, officers, shareholders, employees, agents and affiliates, legal
counsel for the Purchasers, and each person controlling such Purchaser within
the meaning of the Securities Act, with respect to which registration,
qualification or compliance of Registrable Securities has been effected pursuant
to this Agreement, against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions
in respect thereof (collectively, “Damages”), arising out of or based on any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
a
Registration Statement filed pursuant hereto, prospectus offering circular
or
other document, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, or any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the
Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”), or any state securities laws or any rule or regulation promulgated under
such laws and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in
connection with any such registration, qualification or compliance; and the
Company will pay each such Purchaser any legal and other expenses reasonably
incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such claim,
loss, damage, liability or action; provided,
however,
that
the indemnity contained in this Section 7.1 shall not apply to: (i) amounts
paid
in settlement of any such Damages if settlement is effected without the consent
of the Company (which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld); (ii) any
such
Damages arising out of or a based upon any untrue statement or omission based
upon information furnished to the Company by such Purchaser and stated to be
for
use in connection with the offering of securities of the Company; or (iii)
any
such Damages arising out of or based upon such Purchaser’s failure to deliver a
copy of the registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or
supplements thereto.
7.2 To
the
extent permitted by law, each Purchaser will, if Registrable Securities held
by
such Purchaser are included in the securities as to which such registration,
qualification or compliance is being effected pursuant to this Agreement,
indemnify the Company, each of its directors, officers, shareholders, employees,
agents and affiliates, each legal counsel and independent accountant of the
Company, each person who controls the Company within the meaning of the
Securities Act, and each other such Purchaser, each of its directors, officers,
shareholders, employees, agents and affiliates, legal counsel, and each person
controlling such other Purchaser within the meaning of the Securities Act,
against all Damages arising out of or based upon arising any untrue statement
or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a registration
statement filed pursuant hereto, prospectus offering circular or other document,
or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
or
any violation or alleged violation by such Purchaser of the Securities Act,
the
Exchange Act, or any state securities laws or any rule or regulation promulgated
under such laws and relating to action or inaction required of such Purchaser
in
connection with any such registration, qualification or compliance; and such
Purchaser will pay the Company or such other Purchasers any legal and other
expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such claim, loss, damage, liability or action, in each case,
to
the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission is made in such registration
statement, prospectus, offering circular or other document in reliance on and
in
conformity with information furnished to the Company by such Purchaser and
stated to be for use in connection with the offering of securities of the
Company; provided,
however,
that
the indemnity contained in this Section 7.2 shall not apply to amounts paid
in
settlement of any such Damages if settlement is effected without the consent
of
such Purchaser (which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld).
4
7.3 Promptly
after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the
commencement of any action (including any governmental action), such indemnified
party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying
party under this Section 7, 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 chooses, jointly
with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume the defense
thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties; provided,
however,
that an
indemnified party shall have the right to retain one separate counsel, with
the
reasonable fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if
representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the
indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing
interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by
such
counsel in such proceeding. The failure to deliver written notice to the
indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such
action, if prejudicial to its ability to defend such action, shall relieve
such
indemnifying party of any liability to the indemnified party under this Section
7, but the omission to so deliver written notice to the indemnifying party
will
not relieve it of any liability that it may have to any indemnified party
otherwise than under this Section 7.
7.4 If
the
indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified party with respect to any
loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense referred to therein, then the indemnifying
party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party hereunder, shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such Damages in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party
on
the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such
Damages as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined
by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or
by
the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission.
7.5 The
obligations of the Company and the Purchasers under this Section 7 shall survive
the completion of any offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a
registration statement under this Agreement.
5
8. Notices.
8.1 Any
notice or communication required or permitted hereunder shall be given in
writing and shall be made by hand delivery, by confirmed facsimile, by overnight
courier or by registered or certified mail, addressed (i) if to a Purchaser,
to
such Purchaser’s address as set forth on Schedule A hereto, and (ii) if to the
Company, to National Holdings Corporation, 000 Xxxxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, facsimile number (000) 000-0000, Attn: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx,
with
a copy to Xxxxxxx Krooks LLP, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, facsimile
number (000) 000-0000, Attn: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
8.2 All
such
notices and other communications shall be deemed to have been delivered and
received (i) in the case of personal delivery or facsimile, on the date of
such
delivery, (ii) in the case of overnight courier, on the business day after
the
date when sent, and (iii) in the case of registered or certified mail, on the
third business day following such mailing.
9. Miscellaneous.
9.1 This
Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws
of
the State of New York, without regard to the principles of the conflict of
laws
thereof. The parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consent to submit
to
the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York located in
New
York County and any Federal court located within New York County for any
actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement.
The
parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying
of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Agreement in
the
courts of the State of New York located in New York County or the courts of
the
United States of America located in New York County, and hereby further
irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any
such court that any such action, suit of proceeding brought in any such court
has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
9.2 Any
term
of this Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term of this
Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either
retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company
and the Purchasers of a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding.
Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this paragraph shall be
binding upon each Purchaser of any Registrable Securities then outstanding,
each
future Purchaser of all such Registrable Securities, and the
Company.
9.3 Nothing
in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party
other than the parties hereto any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities
under or by reason of this Agreement, excepts as expressly provided
herein.
9.4 If
one or
more provisions of this Agreement are held to be unenforceable under applicable
law, such provision shall be excluded from this Agreement and the balance of
the
Agreement shall be interpreted as if such provision were so excluded and shall
be enforceable in accordance with its terms.
6
9.5 The
headings of the Sections of this Agreement are for convenience and shall not
by
themselves determine the interpretation of this Agreement.
9.6 This
Agreement constitutes the entire contract among the Company and the Purchasers
relative to the subject matter hereof and supersedes in its entirety any and
all
prior agreements, understandings and discussions with respect thereto.
9.7 This
agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including, in the
case
of the purchasers, financing signature pages), each of which shall be deemed
to
be an original, and all of which shall constitute one and the same document.
In
the event that any signature (including a financing signature page) is
delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format
data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the
party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same
force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original
thereof.
[BALANCE
OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first
above written.
COMPANY:
NATIONAL
HOLDINGS CORPORATION
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By: | /S/ XXXX XXXXXXXXXX | |
Name:
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
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PURCHASERS:
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/S/ XXXXXXXXXXX X. XXXXX | ||
Xxxxxxxxxxx
X. Xxxxx
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ST. CLOUD CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P. | ||
By: SCGP,
LLC, its General Partner
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By: | /S/ XXXXXXXX X. XXXXXX | |
Name:
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Its:
Senior Managing Member
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BEDFORD
OAKS PARTNERS, L.P.
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By: | /S/ XXXXXX XXXXX | |
Name:
Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Title:
Chairman and Managing
Partner
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8
Schedule
A
Purchaser Name | Purchaser Address |
Number
of
Registrable
Securities
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||
Xxxxxxxxxxx
X. Xxxxx
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XX
Xxx 00
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
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125,000
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||
St.
Cloud Capital Partners, L.P.
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00000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx.
Xxxxx
0000
Xxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
|
62,500
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||
Bedford
Oaks Partners, L.P.
|
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xx.
Xxxxx, XX 00000
|
62,500
|
9
Exhibit
A
Plan
of Distribution
The
selling stockholders, which as used herein includes donees, pledgees,
transferees or other successors-in-interest selling shares of common stock
or
interests in shares of common stock received after the date of this prospectus
from a selling stockholder as a gift, pledge, partnership distribution or other
transfer, may, from time to time, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any
or
all of their shares of common stock or interests in shares of common stock
on
any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded
or
in private transactions. These dispositions may be at fixed prices, at
prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to the
prevailing market price, at varying prices determined at the time of sale,
or at
negotiated prices.
The
selling stockholders may use any one or more of the following methods when
disposing of shares or interests therein:
-
ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer
solicits purchasers;
-
block
trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent,
but
may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the
transaction;
-
purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for
its account;
-
an
exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
exchange;
-
privately negotiated transactions;
-
short
sales effected after the date the registration statement of which this
Prospectus is a part is declared effective by the SEC;
-
through
the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether
through an options exchange or otherwise;
-
broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholders to sell a specified
number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
-
a
combination of any such methods of sale; and
-
any
other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
The
selling stockholders may, from time to time, pledge or grant a security interest
in some or all of the shares of common stock owned by them and, if they default
in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties
may offer and sell the shares of common stock, from time to time, under this
prospectus, or under an amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or
other applicable provision of the 1933 Act amending the list of selling
stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest
as selling stockholders under this prospectus. The selling stockholders also
may
transfer the shares of common stock in other circumstances, in which case the
transferees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling
beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.
10
In
connection with the sale of our common stock or interests therein, the selling
stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other
financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the common
stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling
stockholders may also sell shares of our common stock short and deliver these
securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the common
stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling
stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with
broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more
derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other
financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such
broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this
prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such
transaction).
The
aggregate proceeds to the selling stockholders from the sale of the common stock
offered by them will be the purchase price of the common stock less discounts
or
commissions, if any. Each of the selling stockholders reserves the right to
accept and, together with their agents from time to time, to reject, in whole
or
in part, any proposed purchase of common stock to be made directly or through
agents. We will not receive any of the proceeds from this offering. Upon any
exercise of the warrants by payment of cash, however, we will receive the
exercise price of the warrants.
The
selling stockholders also may resell all or a portion of the shares in open
market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, provided
that
they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of that
rule.
The
selling stockholders and any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents that
participate in the sale of the common stock or interests therein may be
"underwriters" within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the 1933 Act. Any
discounts, commissions, concessions or profit they earn on any resale of the
shares may be underwriting discounts and commissions under the 1933 Act. Selling
stockholders who are "underwriters" within the meaning of Section 2(11) of
the
1933 Act will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the 1933
Act.
To
the
extent required, the shares of our common stock to be sold, the names of the
selling stockholders, the respective purchase prices and public offering prices,
the names of any agents, dealer or underwriter, any applicable commissions
or
discounts with respect to a particular offer will be set forth in an
accompanying prospectus supplement or, if appropriate, a post-effective
amendment to the registration statement that includes this
prospectus.
11
In
order
to comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the common
stock may be sold in these jurisdictions only through registered or licensed
brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the common stock may not be
sold
unless it has been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption from
registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied
with.
We
have
advised the selling stockholders that the anti-manipulation rules of Regulation
M under the 1934 Act may apply to sales of shares in the market and to the
activities of the selling stockholders and their affiliates. In addition, we
will make copies of this prospectus (as it may be supplemented or amended from
time to time) available to the selling stockholders for the purpose of
satisfying the prospectus delivery requirements of the 1933 Act. The selling
stockholders may indemnify any broker-dealer that participates in transactions
involving the sale of the shares against certain liabilities, including
liabilities arising under the 1933 Act.
We
have
agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders against liabilities, including
liabilities under the 1933 Act and state securities laws, relating to the
registration of the shares offered by this prospectus.
We
have
agreed with the selling stockholders to keep the registration statement of
which
this prospectus constitutes a part effective until the earlier of (1) such
time
as all of the shares covered by this prospectus have been disposed of pursuant
to and in accordance with the registration statement or (2) the date on which
the shares may be sold pursuant to Rule 144(k) of the 1933 Act.
12