FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.3
FINAL FORM
FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of [•], 2023 (the “Effective Date”) by and among (i) Oxus Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (including its successors, the “Purchaser”), and (ii) and the undersigned parties listed on Exhibit A hereto (each such party, together with any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.2 of this Agreement, a “Holder” and collectively, the “Holders”).
WHEREAS, on February 23, 2023, the Purchaser, 1000397116 Ontario Inc., an Ontario corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Purchaser (“Newco”), and Borealis Foods Inc., an Ontario corporation (the “Company”), entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement (as amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, the “Business Combination Agreement”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby (the “Closing”), among other matters, (a) the Purchaser will domesticate and continue as a corporation existing under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada (the “Continuance”) and deregister as an exempted company incorporated under the Laws of the Cayman Islands, pursuant to which, among other things, each share of capital stock of the Purchaser Share outstanding immediately prior to the Continuance effective time will, at such time, be automatically exchanged for and converted into one New SPAC Common Share, and (b) the Purchaser and the Company intend to complete a plan of arrangement (the “Plan of Arrangement”) under Section 182 of the Business Corporations Act (Ontario), which contemplates, among other things, that Newco and the Company will amalgamate (the “Company Amalgamation”; and Newco and the Company as so amalgamated, “Amalco”), with Amalco surviving the Company Amalgamation as a wholly-owned subsidiary of New SPAC, and pursuant to the Company Amalgamation, (i) all of the issued and outstanding Company Shares shall be exchanged for New SPAC Common Shares and (ii) Newco Shares held by New SPAC shall be exchanged for Amalco Shares on a one-for-one basis, all upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Business Combination Agreement and in accordance with the provisions of the Plan of Arrangement and applicable law;
WHEREAS, the Purchaser is a party to that certain Founder Registration Rights Agreement with Initial Holders regard to the Founder Securities (each as such term defined below) (the “Existing Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, the parties desire to enter into this Agreement, and terminate the Existing Agreement, to provide the Holders and the Initial Holders with certain rights relating to the registration of the Amalco Shares and the Founder Securities.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS. The following capitalized terms used herein have the following meanings:
“Adverse Disclosure” means any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer, the President, or the Chief Financial Officer or any other principal executive officer of the Company, after consultation with counsel to the Company, (a) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (b) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, declared effective or used, as the case may be, and (c) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more entities, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person. The term “control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by Contract or otherwise.
“Agreement” means this Agreement, as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Amalco” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Amalco Shares” means common shares of Amalco.
“Business Combination” means the acquisition of direct or indirect ownership through a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, binding share exchange, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization, or other similar type of transaction, of one or more businesses or entities.
“Business Combination Agreement” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Business Day” means any day on which the principal offices of the SEC in Washington, D.C. are open to accept filings or, in the case of determining a date when any payment is due, any day on which banks are not required or authorized to close in New York, NY.
“Closing” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Commission” or “SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other United States Federal agency then administering the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.
“Company” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Company Amalgamation” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Continuance” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Demand Registration” is defined in Section 2.2.1.
“Demanding Holder” is defined in Section 2.2.1.
“Effective Date” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Effectiveness Date” means, with respect to the Initial Registration Statement, the 90th calendar day following the Filing Date (or in the event the Registration Statement receives a “full review” by the Commission, the 120th day following the Filing Date) and with respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be required pursuant to Sections 2.2 and 2.3, the 90th calendar day following the date on which an additional Registration Statement is required to be filed hereunder; provided, however, that in the event the Purchaser is notified by the Commission that one or more of the above Registration Statements will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further review and comments, the Effectiveness Date as to such Registration Statement shall be the fifth Business Day following the date on which the Purchaser is so notified if such date precedes the dates otherwise required above; provided, further, that, if the Effectiveness Date falls on a Saturday or 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 2.1.1.
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“Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.
“Filing Date” means, with respect to the Initial Registration Statement required hereunder, the 30th calendar day following the date hereof and, with respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be required pursuant to Sections 2.2 and 2.3, the earliest practical date on which the Purchaser is permitted by Commission Guidance to file such additional Registration Statement related to the Registrable Securities; provided, however, that, if the Filing Date falls on a Saturday or 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 Filing Date shall be the following Business Day.
“Form S-3” is defined in Section 2.3.5.
“Founder Registration Rights Agreement” means that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September 2, 2021, by and among the Purchaser, Oxus Capital PTE. Ltd (the “Sponsor”) and certain other stockholders of the Purchaser.
“Founder Securities” means all Ordinary Shares and all securities convertible into or exercisable for Ordinary Shares, held by the Initial Holders as of the Effective Date of this Agreement.
“Holder” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Indemnified Party” is defined in Section 4.3.
“Indemnifying Party” is defined in Section 4.3.
“Initial Holders” means the Sponsor, EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. and XXXX Capital Limited, and any successors in interest thereto with respect to any Founder Securities.
“Initial Registration Statement” means the Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2.1.
“Holder Indemnified Party” is defined in Section 4.1.
“Maximum Number of Shares” is defined in Section 2.2.4.
“Misstatement” shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus (in the case of a Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.
“Newco” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Notices” is defined in Section 6.3.
“Ordinary Shares” means Class A and Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Purchaser, along with any equity securities paid as dividends or distributions after the Closing with respect to such shares or into which such shares are exchanged or converted before or after the Closing.
“Piggy-Back Registration” is defined in Section 2.3.1.
“Private Placement Warrants” means each one warrant of the Purchaser entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Ordinary Share in accordance with terms described in the final Prospectus for the Purchaser’s initial public offering with respect to the private warrants of the Purchaser.
“Pro Rata” is defined in Section 2.1.2.
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“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.
“Purchaser” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Register,” “Registered”, and “Registration” mean a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.
“Registrable Securities” means (i) the Shares and any Ordinary Shares held by the Holders and Initial Holders immediately following the closing of the Business Combination, (ii) the Private Placement Warrants (including any Amalco Shares issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such Private Placement Warrants), (iii) any equity securities (including the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise or conversion of any such equity security) of the Company issuable upon conversion of any working capital loans in an amount up to $1,500,000 made to the Purchaser by the Sponsor; (iv) any other Shares or Ordinary Shares held by a Holder or Initial Holder; or (v) any other equity security of the Purchaser or any of its subsidiaries issued or issuable with respect to any securities referenced in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above by way of a share dividend or share split or in connection with a recapitalization, merger, amalgamation, binding share exchange, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization or similar transaction. As to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (a) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of, or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (b) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for them not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered and subsequent public distribution of them shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (c) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; or (d) such securities are freely saleable under Rule 144 of the Commission (or any successor rule thereto) without volume limitations.
“Registration Statement” means a registration statement filed by the Purchaser with the Commission in compliance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder for a public offering and sale of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, equity securities (other than a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8, or their successors, or any registration statement covering only securities proposed to be issued in exchange for securities or assets of another entity).
“Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.
“Shares” means the Amalco Shares and the Founder Securities.
“Underwriter” means, solely for the purposes of this Agreement, a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an underwritten offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.
2. REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
2.1 Shelf Registration.
2.1.1 On or prior to each Filing Date, the Purchaser shall prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement covering the resale of all or such maximum portion of the Registrable Securities as permitted by SEC Guidance (provided that, the Purchaser shall use diligent efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the SEC Guidance, including without limitation, the Manual of Publicly Available Telephone Interpretations D.29) that are not then registered on an effective Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. Each Registration Statement filed hereunder shall be on Form S-1 (except if the Purchaser is then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-3, such registration shall be on Form F-3 in accordance herewith). If the Purchaser shall qualify as a Foreign Private Issuer, the Purchaser shall use commercially reasonable efforts to convert the Form S-1 Registration Statement or Form S-3 Registration Statement, as applicable, to a Registration Statement for a Registration on Form F-1 or F-3, as soon as practicable thereafter. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Purchaser shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause a Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after the filing thereof, but in any event prior to the applicable Effectiveness Date, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold, or may be sold without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 of the Commission (or any successor rule thereto), without the requirement for the Purchaser to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144 (or any successor rule thereto), as determined by the counsel to the Purchaser pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to the transfer agent and the affected Holders (the “Effectiveness Period”). The Purchaser shall telephonically request effectiveness of a Registration Statement as of 5:00 p.m. New York City time on a Business Day. The Purchaser shall promptly notify the Holders by e-mail of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement on the same Business Day that the Purchaser telephonically confirms effectiveness with the Commission. The Purchaser shall, no later than the second Business Day after the effective date of such Registration Statement, file a final Prospectus with the Commission as required by Rule 424.
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2.1.2 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any SEC Guidance sets forth a limitation on the number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered on a particular Registration Statement (and notwithstanding that the Purchaser used diligent efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all or a greater portion of Registrable Securities), the number of Registrable Securities to be registered shall be reduced on a on a pro rata basis based on the total number of Registrable Securities held by such Holders (such proportion is referred to herein as “Pro Rata”). In the event of a reduction hereunder, the Purchaser shall give the Holder, as applicable, at least five (5) Business Days prior written notice along with the calculations as to such Holder’s allotment. Promptly after such SEC Guidance is no longer applicable with respect to some or all of the remaining unregistered Registrable Securities, the Purchaser shall file an additional Registration Statement in accordance with this Section 2 to with respect to such shares.
2.1.3 Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Purchaser a completed Selling Stockholder Questionnaire within five (5) Business Days following the date of this Agreement. Each Holder further acknowledges and agrees that it shall not be entitled to be named as a selling security holder in the Registration Statement or use the Prospectus for offers and resales of Registrable Securities at any time unless such Xxxxxx has returned to the Purchaser a completed and signed Selling Stockholder Questionnaire. If a Holder of Registrable Securities returns a Selling Stockholder Questionnaire after the deadline specified in the previous sentence, the Purchaser shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to take such actions as are required to name such Holder as a selling security holder in the Registration Statement or any pre-effective or post-effective amendment thereto and to include (to the extent not theretofore included) in the Registration Statement the Registrable Securities identified in such late Selling Stockholder Questionnaire; provided that the Purchaser shall not be required to file an additional Registration Statement solely for such shares.
2.2 Demand Registration.
2.2.1 Request for Registration. At any time and from time to time on or after the date of this Agreement, the Holders of twenty-five percent (25%) of the Registrable Securities may make a written demand for registration under the Securities Act of all or part of their Registrable Securities, as the case may be (a “Demand Registration”); provided, however, that the Sponsor shall have one Demand Registration, exercisable in its sole discretion, to register all or part of its Registrable Securities. Any demand for a Demand Registration shall specify the number of shares of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. The Purchaser will within twenty (20) days of the Purchaser’s receipt of the Demand Registration 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 Purchaser within ten (10) days after the receipt by the holder of the notice from the Purchaser. Upon any such request, the Demanding Holders shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in the Demand Registration, subject to Section 2.2.4 and the provisos set forth in Section 3.1.1. The Purchaser shall not be obligated to effect no more than an aggregate of three (3) Demand Registrations under this Section 2.2.1 in respect of all Registrable Securities, including any Demand Registration from the Sponsor.
2.2.2 Effective Registration. A registration will not count as a Demand Registration until the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Demand Registration has been declared effective and the Purchaser has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto; provided, however, that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Demand Registration is interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission or any other governmental agency or court, the Registration Statement with respect to such Demand Registration will be deemed not to have been declared effective, unless and until, (i) such stop order or injunction is removed, rescinded, or otherwise terminated, and (ii) a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders thereafter elect to continue the offering; provided, further, that the Purchaser shall not be obligated to file a second Registration Statement until a Registration Statement that has been filed is counted as a Demand Registration or is terminated.
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2.2.3 Underwritten Offering. If a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders so elect and such holders so advise the Purchaser as part of their written demand for a Demand Registration, the offering of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an underwritten offering; provided that the total offering price is reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, $50 million. In such event, the right of any holder to include its Registrable Securities in such registration shall be conditioned upon such holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Demanding Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through such underwriting shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter or Underwriters selected for such underwriting by a majority-in-interest of the holders initiating the Demand Registration.
2.2.4 Reduction of Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters for a Demand Registration that is to be an underwritten offering, in good faith, advises the Purchaser and the Demanding Holders in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Registrable Securities which the Demanding Holders desire to sell, taken together with all other Amalco Shares or other securities which the Purchaser desires to sell and the Amalco Shares, if any, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by other shareholders of the Purchaser who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of shares that can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of shares, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Shares” ), then the Purchaser shall include in such registration: (i) first, the Registrable Securities as to which Demand Registration has been requested by the Demanding Holders (Pro Rata in accordance with the number of shares that each such Person has requested be included in such registration, regardless of the number of shares held by each such Person) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), Amalco Shares or other securities that the Purchaser desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares.
2.2.5 Withdrawal. If, prior to filing of the applicable “red xxxxxxx prospectus” or prospectus supplement used for marketing such registration, a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders disapprove of the terms of any underwriting or are not entitled to include all of their Registrable Securities in any offering, such majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders may elect to withdraw from such offering by giving written notice to the Purchaser and the Underwriter or Underwriters of their request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Demand Registration. If the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders withdraws from a proposed offering relating to a Demand Registration, then such registration shall not count as a Demand Registration provided for in Section 2.2.
2.3 Piggy-Back Registration.
2.3.1 Piggy-Back Rights. If at any time on or after the date of this Agreement the Purchaser proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, equity securities, by the Purchaser for its own account or for shareholders of the Purchaser for their account (or by the Purchaser and by shareholders of the Purchaser including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.2), other than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Purchaser’s existing shareholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Purchaser, or (iv) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Purchaser shall (x) give written notice of such proposed filing to the holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but in no event less than twenty (20) days before the anticipated filing date, which notice shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, of the offering, and (y) offer to the holders of Registrable Securities in such notice the opportunity to register the sale of such number of shares of Registrable Securities as such holders may request in writing within ten (10) days following receipt of such notice (a “Piggy-Back Registration” ). The Purchaser shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such registration and shall use its best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of a proposed underwritten offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested to be included in a Piggy-Back Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Purchaser and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All holders of Registrable Securities proposing to distribute their securities through a Piggy-Back Registration that involves an Underwriter or Underwriters shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter or Underwriters selected for such Piggy-Back Registration.
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2.3.2 Reduction of Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters for a Piggy-Back Registration that is to be an underwritten offering advises the Purchaser and the holders of Registrable Securities in writing that the dollar amount or number of Ordinary Shares which the Purchaser desires to sell, taken together with the Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which registration has been demanded pursuant to written contractual arrangements with persons other than the holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested under this Section 2.3, and the Ordinary Shares, if any, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the terms hereof exceeds the Maximum Number of Shares, then the Purchaser shall include in any such registration:
(a) If the registration is undertaken for the Purchaser’s account: (A) first, the Ordinary Shares or other securities that the Purchaser desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Ordinary Shares or other securities, if any, comprised of Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the terms hereof, Pro Rata, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of other persons that the Purchaser is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual piggy-back registration rights with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares;
(b) If the registration is a “demand” registration undertaken at the demand of persons other than the holders of Registrable Securities, (A) first, the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of the demanding persons that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Ordinary Shares or other securities comprised of Registrable Securities, Pro Rata, as to which registration has been requested pursuant to the terms hereof, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the Ordinary Shares or other securities that the Purchaser desires to sell that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Shares has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of other persons that the Purchaser is obligated to register pursuant to written contractual arrangements with such persons, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Shares.
2.3.3 Withdrawal. Any holder of Registrable Securities may elect to withdraw such holder’s request for inclusion of Registrable Securities in any Piggy-Back Registration by giving written notice to the Purchaser of such request to withdraw prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement. The Purchaser (whether on its own determination or as the result of a withdrawal by persons making a demand pursuant to written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding any such withdrawal, the Purchaser shall pay all expenses incurred by the holders of Registrable Securities in connection with such Piggy-Back Registration as provided in Section 3.3.
2.3.4 No Counting Against Section 2.2. For purposes of clarity, any Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof shall not be counted as a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration effected under Section 2.2 hereof.
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2.3.5 Registrations on Form F-3. The holders of Registrable Securities may at any time and from time to time, request in writing that the Purchaser register the resale of any or all of such Registrable Securities on Form F-3 or any similar short-form registration which may be available at such time (“Form F-3”); provided, however, that the Purchaser shall not be obligated to effect such request through an underwritten offering. Upon receipt of such written request, the Purchaser will promptly give written notice of the proposed registration to all other holders of Registrable Securities, and, as soon as practicable thereafter, effect the registration of all or such portion of such holder’s or holders’ Registrable Securities as are specified in such request, together with all or such portion of the Registrable Securities or other securities of the Purchaser, if any, of any other holder or holders joining in such request as are specified in a written request given within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such written notice from the Purchaser; provided, however, that the Purchaser shall not be obligated to effect any such registration pursuant to this Section 2.3: (i) if Form F-3 is not available for such offering; or (ii) if the holders of the Registrable Securities, together with the holders of any other securities of the Purchaser entitled to inclusion in such registration, propose to sell Registrable Securities and such other securities (if any) at any aggregate price to the public of less than $50,000,000. Registrations effected pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall not be counted as Demand Registrations effected pursuant to Section 2.2.
2.4 Block Trades; Other Coordinated Offerings.
2.4.1 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.4, at any time and from time to time when an effective Shelf Registration is on file with the Commission, if a Demanding Holder wishes to engage in (a) an underwritten registered offering (whether firm commitment or otherwise) not involving a “road show” or other substantial marketing efforts prior to pricing (commonly referred to as a “Block Trade”) or (b) an otherwise coordinated “at the market” or similar registered offering through a broker, sales agent or distribution agent, whether as agent or principal (an “Other Coordinated Offering”), in each case, with a total offering price reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, either (x) $10 million or (y) all remaining Registrable Securities held by the Demanding Holder, then such Demanding Holder shall notify the Purchaser of the Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering at least five (5) business days prior to the day such offering is expected to commence, and the Purchaser shall as expeditiously as possible use its commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering; provided that the Demanding Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering shall use commercially reasonable efforts to work with the Purchaser and any Underwriters, brokers, sales agents, or placement agents prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of the Registration Statement, Prospectus, and other offering documentation related to the Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering.
2.4.2 The Purchaser may facilitate a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering if it determines that sufficient shares shall be traded by any Holder or Holders that would be more efficiently traded as a block trade.
2.4.3 Prior to the filing of the applicable “red xxxxxxx” prospectus or prospectus supplement used in connection with a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering, a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering shall have the right to submit a notice to the Purchaser and the Underwriter(s) if any, of their intention to withdraw from such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Purchaser shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a block trade prior to its withdrawal under this Section 2.4.3.
2.4.4 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Section 2.3 shall not apply to a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering initiated by a Demanding Holder pursuant to this Section 2.4.
2.4.5 The Purchaser shall have the right to select the Underwriters, and brokers, sale agents, or placement agents (if any) for such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering, in each case, which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment bank.
2.4.6 A Holder in the aggregate may demand no more than two (2) Block Trades or Other Coordinated Offerings pursuant to this Section 2.4.
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3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.
3.1 Filings; Information. Whenever the Purchaser is required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2, the Purchaser shall use its best efforts to effect the registration and sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof as expeditiously as practicable, and in connection with any such request:
3.1.1 Filing Registration Statement. The Purchaser shall use its best efforts to, as expeditiously as possible after receipt of a request for a Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.2, prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement on any form for which the Purchaser then qualifies or which counsel for the Purchaser shall deem appropriate and which form shall be available for the sale of all Registrable Securities to be registered thereunder in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and use its reasonable best efforts to keep it effective for the period required by Section 3.1.3; provided, however, that the Purchaser shall have the right to defer any Demand Registration for up to ninety (90) days, and any Piggy-Back Registration for such period as may be applicable to deferment of any demand registration to which such Piggy-Back Registration relates, in each case if the Purchaser shall furnish to the holders a certificate signed by Chief Executive Officer or Chairman of the Purchaser stating that, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Purchaser, it would be materially detrimental to the Purchaser and its shareholders for such Registration Statement to be effected at such time; provided further, however, that the Purchaser shall not have the right to exercise the right set forth in the foregoing proviso more than twice in any 365 day period in respect of a Demand Registration hereunder.
3.1.2 Copies. The Purchaser shall, prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration, and such holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration or legal counsel for any such holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such holders.
3.1.3 Amendments and Supplements. The Purchaser shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements to such Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until all Registrable Securities and other securities covered by such Registration Statement have been disposed of in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or such securities have been withdrawn.
3.1.4 Notification. After the filing of a Registration Statement, the Purchaser shall promptly, and in no event more than two (2) business days after such filing, notify the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement of such filing, and shall further notify such holders promptly and confirm such advice in writing in all events within two (2) business days of the occurrence of any of the following: (i) when such Registration Statement becomes effective; (ii) when any post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement becomes effective; (iii) the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order (and the Purchaser shall take all actions required to prevent the entry of such stop order or to remove it if entered); and (iv) any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or any Prospectus relating thereto or for additional information or of the occurrence of an event requiring the preparation of a supplement or amendment to such Prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the securities covered by such Registration Statement, such Prospectus will not contain an 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 not misleading, and promptly make available to the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement any such supplement or amendment; except that before filing with the Commission a Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, including documents incorporated by reference, the Purchaser shall furnish to the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement and to the legal counsel for any such holders, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed sufficiently in advance of filing to provide such holders and legal counsel with a reasonable opportunity to review such documents and comment thereon, and the Purchaser shall not file any Registration Statement or Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, including documents incorporated by reference, to which such holders or their legal counsel shall object.
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3.1.5 State Securities Laws Compliance. The Purchaser shall use its reasonable best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Purchaser and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Purchaser shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this paragraph or subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction.
3.1.6 Agreements for Disposition. The Purchaser shall enter into customary agreements (including, if applicable, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take such other actions as are reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities. The representations, warranties, and covenants of the Purchaser in any underwriting agreement which are made to or for the benefit of any Underwriters, to the extent applicable, shall also be made to and for the benefit of the holders of Registrable Securities included in such registration statement. No holder of Registrable Securities included in such registration statement shall be required to make any representations or warranties in the underwriting agreement except, if applicable, with respect to such holder’s organization, good standing, authority, title to Registrable Securities, lack of conflict of such sale with such holder’s material agreements and organizational documents, and with respect to written information relating to such holder that such holder has furnished in writing expressly for inclusion in such Registration Statement.
3.1.7 Cooperation. The principal executive officer of the Purchaser, the principal financial officer of the Purchaser, the principal accounting officer of the Purchaser, and all other officers and members of the management of the Purchaser shall cooperate fully in any offering of Registrable Securities hereunder, which cooperation shall include, without limitation, the preparation of the Registration Statement with respect to such offering and all other offering materials and related documents, and participation in meetings with Underwriters, attorneys, accountants, and potential Holders.
3.1.8 Records. The Purchaser shall make available for inspection by the holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement, any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney, accountant, or other professional retained by any holder of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement or any Underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents, and properties of the Purchaser, as shall be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Purchaser’s officers, directors, and employees to supply all information requested by any of them in connection with such Registration Statement.
3.1.9 Opinions and Comfort Letters. Upon request, the Purchaser shall furnish to each holder of Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement a signed counterpart, addressed to such holder, of (i) any opinion of counsel to the Purchaser delivered to any Underwriter and (ii) any comfort letter from the Purchaser’s independent public accountants delivered to any Underwriter. In the event no legal opinion is delivered to any Underwriter, the Purchaser shall furnish to each holder of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement, at any time that such holder elects to use a Prospectus, an opinion of counsel to the Purchaser to the effect that the Registration Statement containing such Prospectus has been declared effective and that no stop order is in effect.
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3.1.10 Earnings Statement. The Purchaser shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and the Securities Act, and make available to its shareholders, as soon as practicable, an earnings statement covering a period of twelve (12) months, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder.
3.1.11 Listing. The Purchaser shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities included in any registration to be listed on such exchanges or otherwise designated for trading in the same manner as similar securities issued by the Purchaser are then listed or designated or, if no such similar securities are then listed or designated.
3.1.12 Road Show. If the registration involves the registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $50,000,000, the Purchaser shall use its reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Purchaser to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in any underwritten offering.
3.2 Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure; Restrictions on Registration Rights.
3.2.1 Upon receipt of written notice from the Purchaser that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until it has received copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that the Purchaser hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement or amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after the time of such notice), or until it is advised in writing by the Purchaser that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed.
3.2.2 Subject to Section 3.2.4, if the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of any Registration at any time would (a) require the Purchaser to make an Adverse Disclosure, (b) require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Purchaser’s control, or (c) in the good faith judgment of the majority of the Board such Registration, be seriously detrimental to the Purchaser and the majority of the Board concludes as a result that it is essential to defer such filing, initial effectiveness or continued use at such time, the Purchaser may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders (which notice shall not specify the nature of the event giving rise to such delay or suspension), delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time determined in good faith by the Purchaser to be necessary for such purpose. In the event the Purchaser exercises its rights under this Section 3.2.2, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities until such Holder receives written notice from the Purchaser that such sales or offers of Registrable Securities may be resumed, and in each case maintain the confidentiality of such notice and its contents. The Purchaser shall notify the Holders within two (2) business days of the expiration of any period during which it exercised its rights under this Section 3.2.2.
3.2.3 Subject to Section 3.2.4, (a) during the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Purchaser’s good faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending on a date one hundred twenty (120) days after the effective date of, a Purchaser -initiated Registration and provided that the Purchaser continues to actively employ, in good faith, all commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the applicable Shelf Registration Statement, or (b) if, pursuant to Section 2.2.1, Holders have requested a Demand Registration and the Purchaser and Holders are unable to obtain the commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite such offering, the Purchaser may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay any other registered offering pursuant to Section 2.2.1 or 2.4.
3.2.4 The right to delay or suspend any filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement pursuant to Section 3.2.2 or a registered offering pursuant to Section 3.2.3 shall be exercised by the Purchaser, in the aggregate, not more than two (2) occasions or for not more than sixty (60) consecutive calendar days or more than ninety (90) total calendar days in each case, during any twelve (12)-month period.
3.2.5 Nothing in this Agreement shall diminish, modify or impair any applicable obligation of any Holder to comply with any agreement or policy applicable to such Holder with respect to the Purchaser’s securities or any transactions or options, warrants, rights or other securities linked to the Purchaser’s securities, including any applicable provision of an xxxxxxx xxxxxxx or similar policy.
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3.3 Registration Expenses. The Purchaser shall bear all costs and expenses incurred in connection with any Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.2, any Piggy-Back Registration pursuant to Section 2.3, and any registration on Form F-3 effected pursuant to Section 2.3.5, and all expenses incurred in performing or complying with its other obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the Registration Statement becomes effective, including, without limitation: (i) all registration and filing fees; (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or “blue sky” laws (including fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with blue sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities); (iii) printing expenses; (iv) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities as required by Section 3.1.11; (v) Financial Industry Regulatory Authority fees; (vi) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Purchaser and fees and expenses for independent certified public accountants retained by the Purchaser (including the expenses or costs associated with the delivery of any opinions or comfort letters required pursuant to Section 3.1.9); and (viii) the reasonable fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Purchaser in connection with such registration. The Purchaser shall have no obligation to pay (i) any underwriting discounts or selling commissions attributable to the Registrable Securities being sold by the holders thereof, which underwriting discounts or selling commissions shall be borne by such holders, or (ii) the fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing any Holders (other than the reasonable fees and expenses of one legal counsel selected by the majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities requested to be registered by the Demanding Holders or the Sponsor, as the case may be, in an underwritten offering (not to exceed $30,000 without the prior written consent of the Purchaser). Additionally, in an underwritten offering, all selling shareholders and the Purchaser shall bear the expenses of the Underwriter pro rata in proportion to the respective amount of shares each is selling in such offering.
3.4 Information. The holders of Registrable Securities shall provide such information as may reasonably be requested by the Purchaser, or the managing Underwriter, if any, in connection with the preparation of any Registration Statement, including amendments and supplements thereto, in order to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 2 and in connection with the Purchaser’s obligation to comply with Federal and applicable state securities laws. In addition, the holders of Registrable Securities shall comply with all prospectus delivery requirements under the Securities Act and applicable SEC regulations.
3.5 Legend Removal Obligations. In connection with the written request of any Holder, the Purchaser shall remove any restrictive legend included on the certificates (or, in the case of book-entry shares, any other instrument or record) representing such Holder’s and/or its affiliates’ or permitted transferee’s ownership of Registrable Securities, and promptly issue a certificate (or evidence of the issuance of securities in book-entry form) without such restrictive legend or any other restrictive legend to the holder of the applicable shares of Registrable Securities upon which it is stamped, if (i) such Registrable Securities are registered for resale under the Securities Act and such Registration Statement for such Registrable Securities has not been suspended under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, (ii) such Registrable Securities are sold or transferred pursuant to Rule 144, or (iii) such Registrable Securities are eligible for sale pursuant to Section 4(a)(1) of the Securities Act or Rule 144 without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions. Following the earlier of (A) the effective date of a Registration Statement registering such Registrable Securities or (B) Rule 144 becoming available for the resale of such Registrable Securities without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions, the Purchaser upon the written request of the Holder or its permitted transferee, shall instruct the Purchaser’s transfer agent to remove the legend from such Registrable Securities (in whatever form) and shall cause the Purchaser’s counsel to issue any legend removal opinion required by the transfer agent. Any reasonable and documented fees (with respect to the transfer agent, the Purchaser’s counsel, or otherwise) associated with the removal of such legend shall be borne by the Purchaser. If a legend is no longer required pursuant to the foregoing, the Purchaser will, as soon as practicable following the delivery by any Holder or its permitted transferee to the Purchaser or the transfer agent (with notice to the Purchaser) of a legended certificate (if applicable) representing such Registrable Securities and, to the extent such sale is not pursuant to an effective registration statement, such other documentation as reasonably requested by the Purchaser, deliver or cause to be delivered to the holder of such Registrable Securities a certificate representing such Registrable Securities (or evidence of the issuance of such Registrable Securities in book-entry form) that is free from all restrictive legends; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Purchaser will not be required to deliver any opinion, authorization, certificate, or direction to remove the restrictive legend pursuant to this Section 3.5 if (x) removal of the legend would result in or facilitate transfer of securities in violation of applicable law or (y) following receipt of instruction from the Purchaser, the transfer agent refuses to remove the legend.
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4. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.
4.1 Indemnification by the Purchaser. The Purchaser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder and each other holder of Registrable Securities, and each of their respective officers, employees, affiliates, directors, partners, members, and agents, and each person, if any, who controls an Holder and each other holder of Registrable Securities (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) (each, an “Holder Indemnified Party” ), from and against any expenses, losses, judgments, claims, damages, or liabilities, whether joint or several, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement (or allegedly untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the sale of such Registrable Securities was registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary Prospectus, final Prospectus or summary Prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement, or arising out of or based upon any omission (or alleged omission) to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation by the Purchaser of the Securities Act or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Purchaser and relating to action or inaction required of the Purchaser in connection with any such registration; and the Purchaser shall promptly reimburse the Holder Indemnified Party for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred by such Holder Indemnified Party in connection with investigating and defending any such expense, loss, judgment, claim, damage, liability, or action; provided, however, that the Purchaser will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such expense, loss, claim, damage, or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such Registration Statement, preliminary Prospectus, final Prospectus, or summary Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Purchaser, in writing, by such selling Holder expressly for use therein. The Purchaser also shall indemnify any Underwriter of the Registrable Securities, their officers, affiliates, directors, partners, members, and agents and each person who controls such Underwriter on substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification provided above in this Section 4.1.
4.2 Indemnification by Holders of Registrable Securities. Each selling Holder will, in the event that any registration is being effected under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement of any Registrable Securities held by such selling Holder, indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser, each of its directors and officers and each Underwriter (if any), and each other selling Holder and each other person, if any, who controls another selling Holder or such Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, judgments, damages, or liabilities, whether joint or several, insofar as such losses, claims, judgments, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which the sale of such Registrable Securities was registered under the Securities Act, any preliminary Prospectus, final Prospectus, or summary Prospectus contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, or arise out of or are based upon any omission or the alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement therein not misleading, if the statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Purchaser by such selling Holder expressly for use therein, and shall reimburse the Purchaser, its directors and officers, and each other selling holder or controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with investigation or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action. Each selling Holder’s indemnification obligations hereunder shall be several and not joint and shall be limited to the amount of any net proceeds actually received by such selling Holder.
4.3 Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Promptly after receipt by any person of any notice of any loss, claim, damage, or liability or any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 4.1 or 4.2, such person (the “Indemnified Party”) shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any other person for indemnification hereunder, notify such other person (the “Indemnifying Party” ) in writing of the loss, claim, judgment, damage, liability, or action; provided, however, that the failure by the Indemnified Party to notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability which the Indemnifying Party may have to such Indemnified Party hereunder, except and solely to the extent the Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by such failure. If the Indemnified Party is seeking indemnification with respect to any claim or action brought against the Indemnified Party, then the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate in such claim or action, and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with all other Indemnifying Parties, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Party. After notice from the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party of its election to assume control of the defense of such claim or action, the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable to the Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that in any action in which both the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party are named as defendants, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (but no more than one such separate counsel) to represent the Indemnified Party and its controlling persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought by the Indemnified Party against the Indemnifying Party, with the fees and expenses of such counsel to be paid by such Indemnifying Party if, based upon the written opinion of counsel of such Indemnified Party, representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, consent to entry of judgment or effect any settlement of any claim or pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which the Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party, unless such judgment or settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such claim or proceeding.
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4.4 Contribution.
4.4.1 If the indemnification provided for in the foregoing Sections 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3 is unavailable to any Indemnified Party in respect of any loss, claim, damage, liability, or action referred to herein, then each such 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 loss, claim, damage, liability, or action in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnified Parties and the Indemnifying Parties in connection with the actions or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability, or action, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of any Indemnified Party and any Indemnifying 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 such Indemnified Party or such Indemnifying Party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information, and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
4.4.2 The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4.4 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding Section 4.4.1.
4.4.3 The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of any loss, claim, damage, liability, or action referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4.4, no holder of Registrable Securities shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the dollar amount of the net proceeds (after payment of any underwriting fees, discounts, commissions, or taxes) actually received by such holder from the sale of Registrable Securities which gave rise to such contribution obligation. 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.
4.5 Survival. The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party or any officer, director, or controlling person of such Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of securities.
5. RULE 144.
5.1 Rule 144. The Purchaser covenants to file any reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and shall take such further action as the holders of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such holders to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such Rules may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission.
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6. MISCELLANEOUS.
6.1 Other Registration Rights. The Purchaser represents and warrants that no person, other than the holders of the Registrable Securities, has any right to require the Purchaser to register any shares of the Purchaser’s capital stock for sale or to include shares of the Purchaser’s capital stock in any registration filed by the Purchaser for the sale of shares of capital stock for its own account or for the account of any other person, other than the Existing Agreement, which is hereby terminated. Further, the Purchaser represents and warrants that this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions and in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.
6.2 Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement and the rights, duties, and obligations of the Purchaser hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Purchaser in whole or in part. This Agreement and the rights, duties, and obligations of the holders of Registrable Securities hereunder may be freely assigned or delegated by such holder of Registrable Securities in conjunction with and to the extent of any transfer of Registrable Securities by any such holder. This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties, to the permitted assigns of the Holders or holder of Registrable Securities or of any assignee of the Holders or holder of Registrable Securities. This Agreement is not intended to confer any rights or benefits on any persons that are not party hereto other than as expressly set forth in Article 4 and this Section 6.2.
6.3 Notices. All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals, or other communications (collectively, “Notices” ) required or permitted to be given hereunder or which are given with respect to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be personally served, delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or transmitted by hand delivery, telegram, telex, or facsimile, addressed as set forth below, or to such other address as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice. Notice shall be deemed given on the date of service or transmission if personally served or transmitted by telegram, telex, or facsimile; provided, that if such service or transmission is not on a business day or is after normal business hours, then such notice shall be deemed given on the next business day. Notice otherwise sent as provided herein shall be deemed given on the next business day following timely delivery of such notice to a reputable air courier service with an order for next-day delivery.
To the Purchaser before the Closing:
7F 77/2 AL-FARABI AVENUE
ALMATY 1P 050040
Kazakhstan
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Email: xxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
with a copy to:
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, P.A.
000 XX 0xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Miami, FL 33131
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxx; Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Email: xxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx; xxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx
To the Purchaser after the Closing:
Borealis Foods Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Suite 104
Oakville, Ontario L6J 7W5
Canada
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Email: xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xx
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with a copy to:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx LLP
Tower 46, 00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
New York, NY 10036-4120
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx.; Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Email: xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx; xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
and with a copy to:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx LLP
0000, 000-0xx Xxxxxx XX
Calgary, Alberta T2P 4K7
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxx; Xxxxx XxXxxxx
Email: XxxxxxxX@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx; XxXxxxxX@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
To a Holder, to the address set forth below such Xxxxxx’s name on Exhibit A hereto.
6.4 Severability. This Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible that is valid and enforceable.
6.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
6.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including all agreements entered into pursuant hereto and all certificates and instruments delivered pursuant hereto and thereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements, representations, understandings, negotiations, and discussions between the parties, whether oral or written, including, but not limited to, the Existing Agreement.
6.7 Modifications and Amendments; Termination. No amendment, modification, or termination of this Agreement shall be binding upon the Purchaser unless executed in writing by the Purchaser. No amendment, modification, or termination of this Agreement shall be binding upon the holders of the Registrable Securities unless executed in writing by the holders of the majority Registrable Securities; provided, however, that in the event any such amendment, modification or termination would be adverse in any material respect to the material rights or obligations hereunder of a Holder of the Registrable Securities, the written consent of such Holder will also be required. This Agreement shall terminate with respect to any Holder on the date that such Holder no longer holds any Registrable Securities. The provisions of Article IV shall survive any termination.
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6.8 Titles and Headings. Titles and headings of sections of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of any provision of this Agreement.
6.9 Waivers and Extensions. Any party to this Agreement may waive any right, breach, or default which such party has the right to waive, provided that such waiver will not be effective against the waiving party unless it is in writing, is signed by such party, and specifically refers to this Agreement. Waivers may be made in advance or after the right waived has arisen or the breach or default waived has occurred. Any waiver may be conditional. No waiver of any breach of any agreement or provision herein contained shall be deemed a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach thereof nor of any other agreement or provision herein contained. No waiver or extension of time for performance of any obligations or acts shall be deemed a waiver or extension of the time for performance of any other obligations or acts.
6.10 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, interpreted under, and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed within the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice-of-law provisions thereof that would compel the application of the substantive laws of any other jurisdiction.
6.11 Waiver of Trial by Jury. Each party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives the right to a trial by jury in any action, suit, counterclaim, or other proceeding (whether based on contract, tort, or otherwise) arising out of, connected with, or relating to this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby, or the actions of the Holder in the negotiation, administration, performance, or enforcement hereof.
6.12 Termination of Existing Agreement. The Existing Agreement is hereby terminated in its entirety and shall be null and void and of no further force or effect, without any action or notice on the part of the parties hereto.
6.13 Holder Information. Each Holder agrees, if requested in writing, to represent to the Purchaser the total number of Registrable Securities held by such Holder in order for the Company to make determinations hereunder.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration Rights Agreement to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first written above.
PURCHASER: | ||
OXUS ACQUISITION CORP. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
HOLDERS: | ||
[_______________________]
|
Exhibit A
Schedule of Holders
[Exhibit A to Registration Rights Agreement]