EXHIBIT 2.4
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of November 2, 2000 between
Townsbury Investments Limited ("Purchaser") and Calypte Biomedical
Corporation (the "Company").
WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, pursuant to a Common Stock Purchase Agreement dated the date hereof
(the "Purchase Agreement") the Purchaser has committed to purchase up to
$25,000,000 of the Company's Common Stock (terms not defined herein shall have
the meanings ascribed to them in the Purchase Agreement) and Warrants; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to grant to the Purchaser the registration
rights set forth herein with respect to the Shares and the shares issuable
upon exercise of the Warrants from time to time (collectively, the
"Securities").
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto mutually agree as follows:
Section 1. REGISTRABLE SECURITIES. As used herein the term "Registrable
Security" means the Securities until (i) all Securities have been disposed of
pursuant to the Registration Statement, (ii) all Securities have been sold under
circumstances under which all of the applicable conditions of Rule 144 (or any
similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act ("Rule 144") are met,
(iii) all Securities have been otherwise transferred to persons who may trade
such Securities without restriction under the Securities Act, and the Company
has delivered a new certificate or other evidence of ownership for such
Securities not bearing a restrictive legend or (iv) such time as, in the opinion
of counsel to the Company, all Securities may be sold without any time, volume
or manner limitations pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar provision then in
effect) under the Securities Act. The term "Registrable Securities" means any
and/or all of the securities falling within the foregoing definition of a
"Registrable Security." In the event of any merger, reorganization,
consolidation, recapitalization or other change in corporate structure affecting
the Common Stock, such adjustment shall be deemed to be made in the definition
of "Registrable Security" as is appropriate in order to prevent any dilution or
enlargement of the rights granted pursuant to this Agreement.
Section 2. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. The Purchaser acknowledges and
understands that in the absence of an effective Registration Statement
authorizing the resale of the Securities as provided herein, the Securities are
"restricted securities" as defined in Rule 144. The Purchaser understands that
no disposition or transfer of the Securities may be made by Purchaser in the
absence of (i) an opinion of counsel to the Purchaser, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Company, that such transfer may be made without
registration under the Securities Act or (ii) such registration.
With a view to making available to the Purchaser the benefits of Rule
144, the Company agrees to:
(a) comply with the provisions of paragraph (c)(1) of Rule 144; and
(b) file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and
other documents required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13 or
15(d) under the Exchange Act; and, if at any time it is not required to file
such reports but in the past had been required to or did file such reports, it
will, upon the request of the Purchaser, make available other information as
required by, and so long as necessary to permit sales of, its Registrable
Securities pursuant to Rule 144.
Section 3. REGISTRATION RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES.
(a) The Company agrees that it will prepare and file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission"), within forty-five (45) days
after the date hereof, a registration statement (on Form S-3 and/or S-1, or
other appropriate form of registration statement) under the Securities Act
(the "Registration Statement"), at the sole expense of the Company (except as
provided in Section 3(c) hereof), in respect of Purchaser, so as to permit a
public offering and resale of the Securities under the Securities Act by
Purchaser.
The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registration
Statement to become effective within ninety (90) days of the date hereof or
five (5) days of SEC clearance and will within said five (5) days request
acceleration of effectiveness. The Company will notify Purchaser of the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement within one Trading Day of such
event.
(b) The Company will maintain the Registration Statement or
post-effective amendment filed under this Section 3 hereof effective under the
Securities Act until the earliest of (i) the date that all the Securities have
been disposed of pursuant to the Registration Statement, (ii) the date that
all of the Securities have been sold pursuant to the Registration Statement,
(iii) the date that the Securities may be sold under the provisions of Rule
144 without limitation as to volume, (iv) all Securities have been otherwise
transferred to persons who may trade such shares without restriction under the
Securities Act, and the Company has delivered a new certificate or other
evidence of ownership for such securities not bearing a restrictive legend, or
(v) all Securities may be sold without any time, volume or manner limitations
pursuant to Rule 144(k) or any similar provision then in effect under the
Securities Act (the "Effectiveness Period").
(c) All fees, disbursements and out-of-pocket expenses and costs
incurred by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of the
Registration Statement under subparagraph 3(a) and in complying with
applicable securities and Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation, all
attorneys' fees of the Company) shall be borne by the Company. The Purchaser
shall bear the cost of underwriting and/or brokerage discounts, fees and
commissions, if any, applicable to the Securities being registered and the
fees and expenses of its counsel. The Purchaser and its counsel shall have a
reasonable period, not to exceed three (3) Trading Days, to review the
proposed Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, prior to filing with
the Commission, and the Company shall provide the Purchaser with copies of any
comment letters received from the Commission with respect thereto within two
(2) Trading
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Days of receipt thereof. The Company shall make reasonably available for
inspection by Purchaser, any underwriter participating in any disposition
pursuant to the Registration Statement, and any attorney, accountant or other
agent retained by the Purchaser or any such underwriter all relevant financial
and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company
and its subsidiaries, and cause the Company's officers, directors and
employees to supply all information reasonably requested by the Purchaser or
any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with the
Registration Statement, in each case, as is customary for similar due
diligence examinations; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that all records, information and
documents that are designated in writing by the Company, in good faith, as
confidential, proprietary or containing any material non-public information
shall be kept confidential by the Purchaser and any such underwriter,
attorney, accountant or agent (pursuant to an appropriate confidentiality
agreement in the case of the Purchaser, underwriter, attorney, accountant or
agent), unless such disclosure is made pursuant to judicial process in a court
proceeding (after first giving the Company an opportunity promptly to seek a
protective order or otherwise limit the scope of the information sought to be
disclosed) or is required by law, or such records, information or documents
become available to the public generally or through a third party not in
violation of an accompanying obligation of confidentiality; and PROVIDED
FURTHER that, if the foregoing inspection and information gathering would
otherwise disrupt the Company's conduct of its business, such inspection and
information gathering shall, to the maximum extent possible, be coordinated on
behalf of the Purchaser and the other parties entitled thereto by one firm of
counsel designed by and on behalf of the majority in interest of Purchaser and
other parties. The Company shall qualify any of the securities for sale in
such states as the Purchaser reasonably designates and shall furnish
indemnification in the manner provided in Section 6 hereof. However, the
Company shall not be required to qualify in any state which will require an
escrow or other restriction relating to the Company and/or the sellers, or
which will require the Company to qualify to do business in such state or
require the Company to file therein any general consent to service of process.
The Company at its expense will supply the Purchaser with copies of the
Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein and other related
documents in such quantities as may be reasonably requested by the Purchaser.
(d) The Company shall not be required by this Section 3 to include
a Purchaser's Securities in any Registration Statement which is to be filed
if, in the opinion of counsel for both the Purchaser and the Company (or,
should they not agree, in the opinion of another counsel experienced in
securities law matters acceptable to counsel for the Purchaser and the
Company) the proposed offering or other transfer as to which such registration
is requested is exempt from applicable federal and state securities laws and
would result in all purchasers or transferees obtaining securities which are
not "restricted securities", as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
If at any time or from time to time after the effective date of the Registration
Statement, the Company notifies the Purchaser in writing of the existence of a
Potential Material Event (as defined in Section 3(f) below), the Purchaser shall
not offer or sell any Securities or engage in any other transaction involving or
relating to Securities, from the time of the giving of notice with respect to a
Potential Material Event until the Purchaser receives written notice from the
Company that such Potential Material Event either has been disclosed to the
public or no longer
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constitutes a Potential Material Event (the "Suspension Period"); PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that, if a Suspension Period occurs during any periods commencing on
a Trading Day a Draw Down Notice is deemed delivered and ending ten (10)
Trading Days following the end of the corresponding Draw Down Pricing Period,
then the Company must compensate the Purchaser for any net decline in the
market value of any Securities committed to be purchased by the Purchaser
through the end of such Suspension Period. Net decline shall be calculated as
the difference between the highest VWAP during the applicable Suspension
Period and the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately following a properly
delivered notice to the Purchaser that such Suspension Period has ended. If a
Potential Material Event shall occur prior to the date the Registration
Statement is filed, then the Company's obligation to file the Registration
Statement shall be delayed without penalty for not more than thirty (30)
calendar days. The Company must give Purchaser notice in writing at least two
(2) Trading Days prior to the first day of the blackout period, if lawful to
do so.
(e) "Potential Material Event" means any of the following: (a) the
possession by the Company of material information that is not ripe for
disclosure in a registration statement, as determined in good faith by the
Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of the Company or that
disclosure of such information in the Registration Statement would be
detrimental to the business and affairs of the Company; or (b) any material
engagement or activity by the Company which would, in the good faith
determination of the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of the
Company, be adversely affected by disclosure in a registration statement at
such time, which determination shall be accompanied by a good faith
determination by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of the
Company that the Registration Statement would be materially misleading absent
the inclusion of such information.
Section 4. COOPERATION WITH COMPANY. Purchaser will cooperate with the
Company in all respects in connection with this Agreement, including timely
supplying all information reasonably requested by the Company (which shall
include all information regarding the Purchaser and proposed manner of sale of
the Registrable Securities required to be disclosed in the Registration
Statement) and executing and returning all documents reasonably requested in
connection with the registration and sale of the Registrable Securities and
entering into and performing its obligations under any underwriting agreement,
if the offering is an underwritten offering, in usual and customary form, with
the managing underwriter or underwriters of such underwritten offering. The
Purchaser shall consent to be named as an underwriter in the Registration
Statement. Purchaser acknowledges that in accordance with current Commission
policy, the Purchaser will be named as the underwriter of the Securities in
the Registration Statement.
Section 5. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. If and whenever the Company is
required by any of the provisions of this Agreement to effect the registration
of any of the Registrable Securities under the Act, the Company shall (except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement), as expeditiously as possible,
subject to the Purchaser's assistance and cooperation as reasonably required:
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(a) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
supplements to the Registration Statement and the prospectus used in
connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement
effective and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect
to the sale or other disposition of all securities covered by such
registration statement whenever the Purchaser of such Registrable Securities
shall desire to sell or otherwise dispose of the same (including prospectus
supplements with respect to the sales of securities from time to time in
connection with a registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 promulgated
under the Securities Act) and (ii) take all lawful action such that each of
(A) the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it
becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading and (B) the prospectus forming part of the
Registration Statement, and any amendment or supplement thereto, does not at
any time during the Registration Period include an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.
(b) prior to the filing with the Commission of any Registration
Statement (including any amendments thereto) and the distribution or delivery
of any prospectus (including any supplements thereto), provide draft copies
thereof to the Purchaser and reflect in such documents all such comments as
the Purchaser (and its counsel) reasonably may propose and (ii) furnish to the
Purchaser such numbers of copies of a prospectus including a preliminary
prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any prospectus, as applicable, in
conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other
documents, as the Purchaser may reasonably request in order to facilitate the
public sale or other disposition of the securities owned by the Purchaser;
(c) register and qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the
Registration Statement under the applicable blue sky laws (subject to the
limitations set forth in Section 3(c) above), and do any and all other acts
and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the
Purchaser to consummate the public sale or other disposition in such
jurisdiction of the securities owned by the Purchaser, except that the Company
shall not for any such purpose be required to qualify to do business as a
foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it is not so qualified or to
file therein any general consent to service of process;
(d) list such Registrable Securities on the Principal Market, and
any other exchange on which the Common Stock of the Company is then listed, if
the listing of such Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules
of such exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market;
(e) notify the Purchaser at any time when a prospectus relating
thereto covered by the Registration Statement is required to be delivered
under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event of which it has
knowledge as a result of which the prospectus included in the 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
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therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing, and
the Company shall prepare and file a curative amendment under Section 5(a) as
quickly as commercially possible;
(f) as promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event,
notify the Purchaser who holds Registrable Securities being sold (or, in the
event of an underwritten offering, the managing underwriters) of the issuance
by the Commission or any state authority of any stop order or other suspension
of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement at the earliest possible
time and take all lawful action to effect the withdrawal, recission or removal
of such stop order or other suspension;
(g) cooperate with the Purchaser to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates for the Registrable Securities to be
offered pursuant to the Registration Statement and enable such certificates
for the Registrable Securities to be in such denominations or amounts, as the
case may be, as the Purchaser reasonably may request and registered in such
names as the Purchaser may request; and, within three (3) Trading Days after a
Registration Statement which includes Registrable Securities is declared
effective by the Commission, deliver and cause legal counsel selected by the
Company to deliver to the transfer agent for the Registrable Securities (with
copies to the Purchaser whose Registrable Securities are included in such
Registration Statement) an appropriate instruction and, to the extent
necessary, an opinion of such counsel;
(h) take all such other lawful actions reasonably necessary to
expedite and facilitate the disposition by the Purchaser of their Registrable
Securities in accordance with the intended methods therefor provided in the
prospectus which are customary for issuers to perform under the circumstances;
(i) in the event of an underwritten offering, promptly include or
incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement such information as the managing underwriters
reasonably agree should be included therein and to which the Company does not
reasonably object and make all required filings of such prospectus supplement
or post-effective amendment as soon as practicable after it is notified of the
matters to be included or incorporated in such prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment; and
(j) maintain a transfer agent for its Common Stock.
Section 6. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser
and each person, if any, who controls the Purchaser within the meaning of the
Securities Act ("Distributing Purchaser") against any losses, claims, damages
or liabilities, joint or several (which shall, for all purposes of this
Agreement, include, but not be limited to, all reasonable costs of defense and
investigation and all reasonable attorneys' fees), to which the Distributing
Purchaser may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar
as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in the
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Registration Statement, or any related preliminary prospectus, final
prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based
upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such
case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out
of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, preliminary
prospectus, final prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto in reliance
upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by
the Distributing Purchaser specifically for use in the preparation thereof.
This Section 6(a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Distributing Purchaser
with respect to any person asserting such loss, claim, damage or liability who
purchased the Registrable Securities which are the subject thereof if the
Distributing Purchaser failed to send or give (in violation of the Securities
Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) a copy of the
prospectus contained in such Registration Statement to such person at or prior
to the written confirmation to such person of the sale of such Registrable
Securities, where the Distributing Purchaser was obligated to do so under the
Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may
otherwise have.
(b) Each Distributing Purchaser agrees that it will indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, and each officer, director of the Company or
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities
Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (which shall, for all
purposes of this Agreement, include, but not be limited to, all reasonable
costs of defense and investigation and all reasonable attorneys' fees) to
which the Company or any such officer, director or controlling person may
become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or
are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any
material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or any related
preliminary prospectus, final prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto,
or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the
extent that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, preliminary
prospectus, final prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto in reliance
upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by
such Distributing Purchaser specifically for use in the preparation thereof.
This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the
Distributing Purchaser may otherwise have. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary herein, the Distributing Purchaser shall not be liable under this
Section 6(b) for any amount in excess of the net proceeds to such Distributing
Purchaser as a result of the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Registration Statement.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying
party under this Section 6, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement
thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve
the indemnifying party from any liability which it may have to any
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indemnified party except to the extent of actual prejudice demonstrated by the
indemnifying party. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified
party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the
indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that
it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified,
assume the defense thereof, subject to the provisions herein stated and after
notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election
so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to
such indemnified party under this Section 6 for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation, unless the indemnifying
party shall not pursue the action to its final conclusion. The indemnified
party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and
to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such
counsel shall not be at the expense of the indemnifying party if the
indemnifying party has assumed the defense of the action with counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided that if the
indemnified party is the Distributing Purchaser, the fees and expenses of such
counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party if (i) the
employment of such counsel has been specifically authorized in writing by the
indemnifying party, or (ii) the named parties to any such action (including
any impleaded parties) include both the Distributing Purchaser and the
indemnifying party and the Distributing Purchaser shall have been advised by
such counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to the
indemnifying party different from or in conflict with any legal defenses which
may be available to the Distributing Purchaser (in which case the indemnifying
party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf
of the Distributing Purchaser, it being understood, however, that the
indemnifying party shall, in connection with any one such action or separate
but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising
out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable only for the
reasonable fees and expenses of one separate firm of attorneys for the
Distributing Purchaser, which firm shall be designated in writing by the
Distributing Purchaser and be approved by the indemnifying party). No
settlement of any action against an indemnified party shall be made without
the prior written consent of the indemnified party, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld.
All fees and expenses of the indemnified party (including reasonable
costs of defense and investigation in a manner not inconsistent with this
Section and all reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) shall be paid to the
indemnified party, as incurred, within ten (10) Trading Days of written notice
thereof to the indemnifying party; provided, that the indemnifying party may
require such indemnified party to undertake to reimburse all such fees and
expenses to the extent it is finally judicially determined that such
indemnified party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder).
Section 7. CONTRIBUTION. In order to provide for just and equitable
contribution under the Securities Act in any case in which (i) the indemnified
party makes a claim for indemnification pursuant to Section 6 hereof but is
judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court
of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial
of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in
such case notwithstanding the fact that the express provisions of Section 6
hereof provide for
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indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Securities Act
may be required on the part of any indemnified party, then the Company and the
applicable Distributing Purchaser shall contribute to the aggregate losses,
claims, damages or liabilities to which they may be subject (which shall, for
all purposes of this Agreement, include, but not be limited to, all reasonable
costs of defense and investigation and all reasonable attorneys' fees), in
either such case (after contribution from others) on the basis of relative
fault as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
fault 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 Company on the one hand or the applicable Distributing Purchaser on the
other hand, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company
and the Distributing Purchaser agree that it would not be just and equitable
if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 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 this Section 7. The amount paid or
payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this Section
7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any
such action or claim. 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.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 7, in no event shall
any (i) Purchaser be required to undertake liability to any person under this
Section 7 for any amounts in excess of the dollar amount of the net proceeds
to be received by the Purchaser from the sale of the Purchaser's Registrable
Securities (after deducting any fees, discounts and commissions applicable
thereto) pursuant to any Registration Statement under which such Registrable
Securities are to be registered under the Securities Act and (ii) underwriter
be required to undertake liability to any person hereunder for any amounts in
excess of the aggregate discount, commission or other compensation payable to
such underwriter with respect to the Registrable Securities underwritten by it
and distributed pursuant to the Registration Statement.
Section 8. NOTICES. All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals,
and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing
and, unless otherwise specified herein, shall be delivered as set forth in the
Purchase Agreement.
Section 9. ASSIGNMENT. Neither this Agreement nor any rights of the
Purchaser or the Company hereunder may be assigned by either party to any
other person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) the provisions of this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, any transferee
of any of the Common Stock purchased by the Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement other than through open-market sales, and (b) upon the prior written
consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed in the case of an assignment to an affiliate of the Purchaser, the
Purchaser's interest in this Agreement may be assigned at any time, in whole
or in part, to any other person or entity (including any affiliate of the
Purchaser) who agrees to be bound hereby.
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Section 10. COUNTERPARTS/FACSIMILE. This Agreement may be executed in two
or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of
which, when together shall constitute but one and the same instrument, and
shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each
party hereto and delivered to the other party. In lieu of the original, a
facsimile transmission or copy of the original shall be as effective and
enforceable as the original.
Section 11. REMEDIES AND SEVERABILITY. The remedies provided in this
Agreement are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law. If
any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable,
the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth
herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected,
impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their best efforts
to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially
the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or
restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the
parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter
declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
Section 12. CONFLICTING AGREEMENTS. The Company shall not enter into any
agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights
granted to the holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or
otherwise prevents the Company from complying with all of its obligations
hereunder.
Section 13. HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for reference
purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement.
Section 14. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to
contracts made in New York by persons domiciled in New York City and without
regard to its principles of conflicts of laws. Any action may be brought as
set forth in the Purchase Agreement. Any party shall have the right to seek
injunctive relief from any court of competent jurisdiction in any case where
such relief is available. Any dispute under this Agreement shall be submitted
to arbitration under the American Arbitration Association (the "AAA") in New
York City, New York, and shall be finally and conclusively determined by the
decision of a board of arbitration consisting of three (3) members
(hereinafter referred to as the "Board of Arbitration") selected as according
to the rules governing the AAA. The Board of Arbitration shall meet on
consecutive business days in New York City, New York, and shall reach and
render a decision in writing (concurred in by a majority of the members of the
Board of Arbitration) with respect to the amount, if any, which the losing
party is required to pay to the other party in respect of a claim filed. In
connection with rendering its decisions, the Board of Arbitration shall adopt
and follow the laws of the State of New York. To the extent practical,
decisions of the Board of Arbitration shall be rendered no more than thirty
(30) calendar days following commencement of proceedings with respect thereto.
The Board of Arbitration shall cause its written decision to be delivered to
all parties involved in the dispute. The Board of Arbitration shall be
authorized and is directed to enter a default judgment against any
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party refusing to participate in the arbitration proceeding within thirty days
of any deadline for such participation. Any decision made by the Board of
Arbitration (either prior to or after the expiration of such thirty (30)
calendar day period) shall be final, binding and conclusive on the parties to
the dispute, and entitled to be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by
law and entered in any court of competent jurisdiction. The prevailing party
shall be awarded its costs, including attorneys' fees, from the non-prevailing
party as part of the arbitration award. Any party shall have the right to seek
injunctive relief from any court of competent jurisdiction in any case where
such relief is available. The prevailing party in such injunctive action shall
be awarded its costs, including attorney's fees, from the non-prevailing party.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed, on this 2nd day of November, 2000
CALYPTE BIOMEDICAL CORPORATION
By: /s/ XXXXX XXXX
---------------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxx, President & CEO
TOWNSBURY INVESTMENTS LIMITED
By: /s/ XXXX XXXXXXX
---------------------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Director
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