REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
10.2
This
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”)
is
made and entered into as of June __, 2006, among NEPHROS, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”),
and
holders of securities of the Company listed as Investors on Schedule
1
(collectively, the “Holders”).
WHEREAS, the
Holders are the beneficial owners of certain securities issued by the Company;
and
WHEREAS,
the Company and the Holders deem it to be in their respective best interests
to
set forth the rights of the Holders in connection with Registrable Securities
(as defined below).
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants and obligations
hereinafter set forth, the Company and the Holders, intending legally to be
bound, hereby agree as follows.
Section
1. Definitions.
As used
in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
“Affiliate”
of any person means any other person who either directly or indirectly is in
control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with such
person.
“Business
Day” shall mean any Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is not a
day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized by
law,
regulation or executive order to close.
“Common
Stock” shall mean the common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the
Company.
“Exchange
Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (or any similar
successor federal statute), and the rules and regulations thereunder, as the
same are in effect from time to time.
“Holder”
shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble
hereof.
“Other
Securities” shall mean at any time those shares of Common Stock which do not
constitute Primary Securities or Registrable Securities.
“Person”
shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company,
joint venture trust or unincorporated organization, a government or agency
or
political subdivision thereof or any other entity.
“Primary
Securities” shall mean at any time the authorized but unissued shares of Common
Stock and shares of Common Stock held by the Company in its
treasury.
“Prospectus”
shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as amended
or
supplemented by a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the
offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement and by all other amendments and supplements to the
prospectus, including post-effective amendments and all material incorporated
by
reference in such prospectus.
“Registrable
Securities” shall mean (i) shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of 6%
Secured Convertible Notes due 2012 of the Company or exercise of Warrants issued
pursuant to 6% Secured Convertible Notes due 2012 of the Company, (ii) any
other
shares of Common Stock that are designated as such by the Board of Directors
of
the Company and are issued, or issuable upon conversion or exercise of
securities issued, to a Person that executes a counterpart signature page hereto
in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit
A
which
counterpart is then countersigned by the Company, and (iii) any other securities
issued as a result of, or in connection with, any stock dividend, stock split
or
reverse stock split, combination, recapitalization, reclassification, merger
or
consolidation, exchange or distribution in respect of the Common Stock referred
to above.
“Registration
Statement” shall mean any registration statement which covers any of the
Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including
the Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements to such
Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and
all material incorporated by reference in such Registration
Statement.
“Restricted
Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2 hereof.
“Rule
144” shall mean Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as amended from
time to time, or any similar successor rule thereto that may be promulgated
by
the SEC.
“Rule
415” shall mean Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, as amended from
time to time, or any similar successor rule thereto that may be promulgated
by
the SEC.
“Rule
903” shall mean Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act, as amended from
time to time, or any similar successor rule thereto that may be promulgated
by
the SEC.
“Rule
904” shall mean Rule 904 promulgated under the Securities Act, as amended from
time to time, or any similar successor rule thereto that may be promulgated
by
the SEC.
“SEC”
shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other federal agency
at the time administering the Securities Act.
“Securities
Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (or any similar successor
federal statute), and the rules and regulations thereunder, as the same are
in
effect from time to time.
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“Series
D
Restricted Shares” shall mean shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of
the Company’s previously existing Series D Convertible Preferred Stock, $.001
par value per share, or any other securities of the Company issued from time
to
time to the holders thereof or their successors or assignees.
“Underwritten
Offering” shall mean a registered offering in which securities of the Company
are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.
Section
2. Securities
Subject to this Agreement.
The
securities entitled to the benefits of this Agreement are the Registrable
Securities but, with respect to any particular Registrable Security, only so
long as such security continues to be a Restricted Security. A Registrable
Security that has ceased to be a Restricted Security cannot thereafter become
a
Restricted Security. As used herein, a Restricted Security shall cease to be
a
Restricted Security when: (i) it has been registered under the Securities Act,
the registration statement in connection therewith has been declared effective
and it has been disposed of pursuant to such effective registration statement;
(ii) it is eligible to be sold or distributed pursuant to Rule 144 within any
consecutive three month period (including, without limitation, Rule 144(k))
without volume limitations; or (iii) they shall have ceased to be outstanding.
Section
3. Demand
Registration.
(a) Demand
(i) Upon
the
written request of a Holder or Holders of a majority of the then outstanding
Registrable Securities requesting that the Company effect a registration under
the Securities Act of Registrable Securities (a “Demand”), the Company will use
its reasonable efforts to effect, as expeditiously as reasonably possible,
and
in any case to file a Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 3 within
90 Business Days of delivery of a Demand, the registration (the “Demand
Registration”) under the Securities Act of the Registrable Securities which the
Company has been so requested to register by such Holders of the Registrable
Securities; provided,
however,
that
the Company shall not be obligated to effect more than two (2) Demand
Registrations pursuant to this Section 3(a)(i). Except as provided in Section
3(a)(v), a registration will not count as a requested registration under this
Section 3(a)(i) unless and until the registration statement relating to such
registration has been declared effective by the Commission at the request of
the
initiating Holders and remained effective for the Registration
Period.
(ii) The
Company shall not be obligated to effect any Demand Registration the anticipated
aggregate offering price of which, net of underwriting discounts and
commissions, if any, would not equal or exceed $3,000,000.
(iii) Anything
to the contrary in this Agreement notwithstanding, the Company’s obligation to
effect the Demand Registration, as described in paragraph 3(a)(i) shall be
deemed to have been met in the event that the Company has filed any Registration
Statement on or before the effectiveness of Demand pursuant to which
the
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Holders
were given the opportunity to have 90% or more of the then outstanding
Registrable Securities registered for sale.
(iv) Upon
receipt of any request for registration pursuant to this Section 3 from any
Holders of Registrable Securities, the Company shall, within 10 Business Days
give written notice of such request to all other Holders. The Company shall
include in the requested registration all Registrable Securities requested
to be
included by such of the other Holders who shall make such request by written
notice to the Company delivered within 10 Business Days of their receipt of
the
Company’s notice. If the Company shall receive a request for inclusion in the
registration of the Registrable Securities of additional Holders, it shall
promptly so inform the Holders who made the initial request for
registration.
(v) A
Holder
or Holders requesting a registration pursuant to Section 3(a)(i) may, at any
time prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement relating to
such
registration, revoke such request by providing a written notice to the Company
revoking such request. If a Holder or Holders shall revoke any demand for
registration made pursuant to Section 3(a)(i) or such Demand Registration
otherwise fails to become effective primarily as a result of any action or
inaction by the Holder or Holders, such Holder or Holders, at their option,
shall either pay all Registration Expenses with respect to such revoked demand
or count such revoked demand as the completed Company-paid demand for
registration to which Holders are entitled pursuant to Section
3(a)(i).
(b) Effectiveness
of Registration Statement.
The
Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts (i) to cause the Registration
Statement relating to any Demand Registration pursuant to this Section 3 to
become effective as promptly as practicable and (ii) thereafter to keep such
Registration Statement effective continuously for the period specified in the
next succeeding paragraph (the “Registration Period”).
A
Demand
Registration requested pursuant to this Section 3 will not be deemed to have
been effected unless the Registration Statement relating thereto has become
effective under the Securities Act and remained effective (except as otherwise
permitted under this Agreement) for a period ending on the earlier of (i) one
hundred eighty (180) days following the effective date of such Registration
Statement (subject to extension as provided in Subsection 6(b) and Subsection
7(b)) and (ii) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement have been sold and the distribution contem-plated thereby
has been completed.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, at the Company’s election, the Company may cease to keep such
registration, qualification or compliance effective with respect to any
Registrable Securities, and the registration rights of a Holder shall expire,
at
such time as the Holder may sell under Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act
(or
other exemption from registration acceptable to the Company) in a three-month
period all Registrable Securities then held by such Holder.
The
Company shall be entitled to effect such registration on any available form
and,
if the Company is initially required to file such Registration Statement on
Form
S-1, the
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Holders
agree to cooperate fully to assist the Company in converting such Registration
Statement on Form S-1 to a Registration Statement on Form S-3 when such Form
S-3
is available for use by the Company.
(c) Inclusion
of Other Securities.
The
Company, and any other holder of the Company’s securities who has registration
rights, may include its securities in any Demand Registration effected pursuant
to Section 3(a)(i); provided,
however,
that if
the managing underwriter or underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering
contemplated thereby advise the Holder or Holders in writing that the total
amount or kind of securities which the Company or any such holder intends to
include in such proposed public offering is sufficiently large to adversely
affect the success of the proposed public offering requested by the Holder
or
Holders exercising their rights under Section 3(a)(i) (the “Demanding Holders”),
then the amount or kind of securities to be offered for the account of the
Company shall be reduced to the extent necessary to reduce the total amount
or
kind of securities to be included in such proposed public offering to the amount
or kind recommended by such managing underwriter or underwriters; provided,
further,
that if
such managing underwriter or underwriters advise the Holder or Holders in
writing that the total amount or kind of securities which the Holders (other
than the Demanding Holders) or other Persons holding registration rights similar
to the rights of Holders under this Agreement (together with the Holders, the
“Registration Rights Holders”) intend to include in such proposed public
offering is sufficiently large, even without any securities for the account
of
the Company, to adversely affect the success of the proposed public offering
requested by the Demanding Holders, then the amount or kind of securities to
be
offered for the account of the Registration Rights Holders (other than the
Demanding Holders) shall be reduced pro rata,
in
accordance with the respective numbers of shares such Registration Rights
Holders (other than the Demanding Holders) had requested to include in such
proposed public offering; and provided,
further,
that if
such managing underwriter or underwriters advise the Holder or Holders in
writing that the total amount or kind of securities which the Demanding Holders
intend to include in such proposed public offering is sufficiently large, even
without any additional securities, to adversely affect the success of the
proposed public offering requested by such Demanding Holders, then the amount
or
kind of securities to be offered for the account of the Demanding Holders shall
be reduced pro rata,
in
accordance with the respective numbers of shares such Demanding Holders had
requested to include in such proposed public offering.
Section
4. Piggyback
Registration.
(a) If
the
Company at any time proposes to file a registration statement with respect
to
any Primary Securities or Other Securities (other than in connection with a
Registration Statement on Form S-4 or S-8 (or any successor or substantially
similar form), or of (i) an employee stock option, stock purchase or
compensation plan or of securities issued or issuable pursuant to any such
plan,
or (ii) a dividend reinvestment plan), then the Company shall in each case
give
written notice of such proposed filing to the Holder of Registrable Securities
at least thirty (30) days before the anticipated filing date of any such
registration statement by the Company, and such notice shall offer to the Holder
the opportunity to have any or all of the Registrable Securities held by the
Holder included in such registration statement. The Holder of Registrable
Securities desiring to have its Registrable Securities registered under this
Section 4 shall so advise the Company in writing within twenty (20) days after
the date such notice is given (which request shall set forth the amount of
Registrable Securities for which registration is
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requested),
and the Company shall use its best reasonable efforts to include in such
Registration Statement all such Registrable Securities so requested to be
included therein.
(b) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if the managing underwriter or underwriters of any such proposed
public offering advise the Company that the total amount or kind of securities
which the Holder of Registrable Securities, the Company and any other persons
or
entities intended to be included in such proposed public offering is
sufficiently large to adversely affect the success of such proposed public
offering, then the amount or kind of securities to be offered for the account
of
the Holder of Registrable Securities shall be included in the following
order:
(i) If
the
Company proposed to register Primary Securities:
(A) first,
the
Primary Securities;
(B) second,
the
Series D Restricted Shares requested by the holders thereof to be included
in
such registration (or, if necessary, such Series D Restricted Shares
pro rata
among
the holders thereof based upon the number of such Series D Restricted Shares
requested to be registered by each such holder); and
(C) third,
the
Registrable Securities that are not Series D Restricted Shares requested by
the
holders thereof to be included in such registration, together with Other
Securities held by parties exercising similar piggy-back registration rights
(or
if necessary, such Registrable Securities and Other Securities pro rata
among
the holders thereof based upon the number of such Registrable Securities that
are not Series D Restricted Shares and Other Securities requested to be
registered by each such holder).
(ii) If
the
Company proposed to register Other Securities:
(A) first,
the
Other Securities requested to be included in such registration by holders
exercising such demand registration rights;
(B) second,
the
Series D Restricted Shares requested by the holders thereof to be included
in
such registration (or, if necessary, such Series D Restricted Shares
pro rata
among
the holders thereof based upon the number of such Series D Restricted Shares
requested to be registered by each such holder); and
(C) third,
the
Registrable Securities that are not Series D Restricted Shares requested by
the
holders thereof to be included in such registration, together with Other
Securities held by parties exercising similar piggy-back registration rights
(or
if necessary, such Registrable Securities and Other Securities pro rata
among
the holders thereof based upon the number of such Registrable
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Securities
that are not Series D Restricted Shares and Other Securities requested to be
registered by each such holder).
Anything
to the contrary in this Agreement notwithstanding, the Company may withdraw
or
postpone a Registration Statement referred to herein at any time before it
becomes effective or withdraw, postpone or terminate the offering after it
becomes effective without obligation to the Holder of the Registrable
Securities.
(c) In
connection with its obligation under this Section 4, the Company will
(i) furnish to the Holder of Registrable Securities without charge, at
least one copy of any effective Registration Statement and any post-effective
amendments thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if the
Holder so requests in writing, all documents incorporated therein by reference
and all exhibits (including those incorporated by reference) in the form filed
with the SEC; and (ii) deliver to the Holder of Registrable Securities and
the
underwriters, if any, without charge, as many copies of the then effective
Prospectus (including each prospectus subject to completion) and any amendments
or supplements thereto as such Persons may reasonably request.
(d) As
a
condition to the inclusion of its Registrable Securities, Holder shall furnish
to the Company such information regarding the Holder and the distribution
proposed by the Holder as the Company may request in writing or as shall be
required in connection with any registration, qualification or compliance
referred to in this Agreement.
(e) Holder
of
Registrable Securities agrees by acquisition of such Registrable Securities
that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event
that, in the good faith judgment of the Company’s Board of Directors, requires
the suspension of the Holder’s rights under this Section 4, the Holder will
forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the
then
current Prospectus until the Holder is advised in writing by the Company that
the use of the Prospectus may be resumed. If the Company shall have given any
such notice during a period when a Registration Statement is in effect, the
Company shall extend the period during which such registration statement shall
be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during
which any such disposition of Registrable Securities is discontinued pursuant
to
this Agreement. If so directed by the Company, on the happening of such event,
the Holder will deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies,
other than permanent file copies then in the Holder’s possession, of the
prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt
of such notice.
(f) Holder
hereby covenants with the Company (i) not to make any sale of the
Registrable Securities without effectively causing the prospectus delivery
requirements under the Securities Act to be satisfied, and (ii) if such
Registrable Securities are to be sold by any method or in any transaction other
than on a national securities exchange, the Nasdaq National Market, Nasdaq
SmallCap Market or in the over-the-counter market, in privately negotiated
transactions, or in a combination of such methods, to notify the Company at
least 5 Business Days prior to the date on which the Holder first offers to
sell
any such Registrable Securities.
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(g) Holder
acknowledges and agrees that the Registrable Securities sold pursuant to the
Registration Statement described in this Agreement are not transferable on
the
books of the Company unless the stock certificate submitted to the transfer
agent evidencing such Registrable Securities is accompanied by a certificate
reasonably satisfactory to the Company to the effect that (i) the
Registrable Securities have been sold in accordance with such Registration
Statement and (ii) the requirement of delivering a current Prospectus has
been satisfied.
(h) Holder
shall not take any action with respect to any distribution deemed to be made
pursuant to such Registration Statement, which would constitute a violation
of
Regulation M under the Exchange Act, or any other applicable rule, regulation
or
law.
(i) Upon
the
expiration of the effectiveness of any Registration Statement, the Holder of
Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement shall discontinue
sales of shares pursuant to such Registration Statement upon receipt of notice
from the Company of its intention to remove from registration the shares covered
by such Registration Statement which remain unsold, and the Holder shall notify
the Company of the number of shares registered which remain unsold immediately
upon receipt of such notice from the Company.
(j) In
the
case of the registration of any underwritten primary offering initiated by
the
Company (other than any registration by the Company on Form S-4 or Form S-8
(or
any successor or substantially similar form), or of (i) an employee stock
option, stock purchase or compensation plan or of securities issued or issuable
pursuant to any such plan, or (ii) a dividend reinvestment plan) or any
underwritten secondary offering initiated at the request of a holder of
securities of the Company pursuant to registration rights granted by the
Company, Holder agrees not to effect any public sale or distribution of
securities of the Company, except as part of such underwritten registration,
during the period beginning fifteen (15) days prior to the closing date of
such
underwritten offering and during the period ending ninety (90) days after such
closing date (or such longer period as may be reasonably requested by the
Company or by the managing underwriter or underwriters).
(k) Anything
to the contrary contained in this Agreement notwithstanding, when, in the
opinion of counsel for the Company, registration of the Registrable Securities
is not required by the Securities Act, in connection with a proposed sale of
such Registrable Securities, the Holder shall have no rights pursuant to this
Agreement. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, Holder shall
have no rights pursuant to this Agreement at such time as all of Holder’s
Registrable Securities may be sold in a three-month period pursuant to Rule
144.
Section
5. Form
S-3 Registration
(a) Each
Holder (an “Initiating Form S-3 Holder”) may request at any time that the
Company file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act on Form S-3
(or
similar or successor form) (a “Form S-3 Registration”) covering the sale or
other distribution of all or any portion of the Registrable Securities held
by
such Initiating Form S-3 Holder pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act
(a
“Form S-3 Demand”) if (i) the reasonably anticipated aggregate offering price,
net of underwriting discounts and commissions, if any, would equal or exceed
$3,000,000 and (ii) the Company is a registrant qualified to use Form S-3 (or
any similar
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or
successor form) to register such Registrable Securities. If such conditions
are
met, then the Company shall file the requested Registration Statement within
ninety (90) Business Days after receiving a Form S-3 Demand and shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause the same to be declared effective by the SEC
as
promptly as practicable after such filing. The Company shall be required to
maintain the effectiveness of such Form S-3 Registration for as long as there
are Registrable Securities registered thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
if the Company shall furnish to the Initiating Form S-3 Holders a certificate
signed by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company
stating that in the good faith opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company,
it would be seriously detrimental to the Company and its stockholders for such
Registration Statement to be filed and that it is therefore essential to defer
the filing of the Registration Statement (a “Valid Business Reason”), the
Company shall have the right to delay or defer taking action with respect to
filing an S-3 Registration Statement for a period of 90 Business Days after
receipt of the Form S-3 Demand; provided,
however,
that
such right to delay or defer a Form S-3 Demand shall be exercised by the Company
not more than once in any 12 month period, and the Company shall only have
the
right to delay a Form S-3 Demand so long as such Valid Business Reason
exists.
(b) Holders
shall have the right to request an unlimited number of Form S-3
Demands.
(c) Upon
receipt of any Form S-3 Demand, the Company shall promptly (but in any event
within 10 Business Days) give written notice of such proposed Form S-3
Registration to all other Holders, who shall have the right, exercisable by
written notice to the Company within 10 Business Days of their receipt of the
Company’s notice, to elect to include in such Form S-3 Registration such portion
of their Registrable Securities as they may request.
(d) The
Company, and any other holder of the Company’s securities who has registration
rights, may include its securities in any Form S-3 Registration effected
pursuant to Section 5(a); provided,
however,
that if
the managing underwriter or underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering
contemplated thereby advise the Holder or Holders in writing that the total
amount or kind of securities which the Company or any such holder intends to
include in such proposed public offering is sufficiently large to adversely
affect the success of the proposed public offering requested by the Holder
or
Holders exercising their rights under this Section 5 (the “Form S-3 Demanding
Holders”), then the amount or kind of securities to be offered for the account
of the Company shall be reduced to the extent necessary to reduce the total
amount or kind of securities to be included in such proposed public offering
to
the amount or kind recommended by such managing underwriter or underwriters;
provided,
further,
that if
such managing underwriter or underwriters advise the Holder or Holders in
writing that the total amount or kind of securities which the Holders (other
than the Form S-3 Demanding Holders) or the Registration Rights Holders intend
to include in such proposed public offering is sufficiently large, even without
any securities for the account of the Company, to adversely affect the success
of the proposed public offering requested by the Form S-3 Demanding Holders,
then the amount or kind of securities to be offered for the account of the
Registration Rights Holders (other than the Form S-3 Demanding Holders) shall
be
reduced pro rata,
in
accordance with the respective numbers of shares such Registration Rights
Holders (other than the Form S-3 Demanding Holders) had requested to include
in
such proposed public offering; and provided,
further,
that if
such managing underwriter or underwriters advise the Holder or Holders in
writing that the total
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amount
or
kind of securities which the Form S-3 Demanding Holders intend to include in
such proposed public offering is sufficiently large, even without any additional
securities, to adversely affect the success of the proposed public offering
requested by such Form S-3 Demanding Holders, then the amount or kind of
securities to be offered for the account of the Form S-3 Demanding Holders
shall
be reduced pro rata,
in
accordance with the respective numbers of shares such Form S-3 Demanding Holders
had requested to include in such proposed public offering.
(e) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, at the Company’s election, the Company may cease to keep such
registration, qualification or compliance effective with respect to any
Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Section 5, and the
registration rights of a Holder shall expire, at such time as the Holder may
sell under Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act (or other exemption from
registration acceptable to the Company) in a three-month period all Registrable
Securities then held by such Holder.
Section
6. Registration
Expenses.
All
expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with this
Agreement will be borne by the Company, regardless of whether a Registration
Statement becomes effective, including, without limitation: (i) all registration
and filing fees; (ii) all reasonable fees and expenses of compliance with
federal securities and state Blue Sky or securities laws; (iii) all reasonable
expenses of printing (including printing Prospectuses), messenger and delivery
services and telephone; (iv) all reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel
for the Company; (v) all applications and filing fees in connection with listing
the Registrable Securities on a national securities exchange or automated
quotation system pursuant to the requirements hereof; and (vi) all reasonable
fees and disbursements of independent certified public accountants of the
Company (including the expenses of any special audit and comfort letters
required by or incident to such performance). Notwithstanding anything in this
Section 6 to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to pay any
underwriting discounts, commissions or transfer taxes, if any, relating to
the
sale or disposition of any Holder’s Restricted Securities.
The
Company will, in any event, bear its internal expenses (including, without
limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing
legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees
and
expenses of any person, including special experts, retained by the
Company.
Section
7. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification
by the Company.
To the
extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify each Holder of the
Registrable Securities and each person controlling such Holder within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, with respect to which any
registration has been effected pursuant to this Agreement, against all claims,
losses, damages and liabilities (or action, in respect thereof), including
any
of the foregoing incurred in settlement of any litigation, commenced or
threatened (subject to Subsection 7(c) below), arising out of or based on any
untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement,
Prospectus or offering circular, or any amendment or supplement thereof,
incident to any such registration, or based on any omission to state therein
a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, in light of the circumstances in
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which
they were made, and shall reimburse each Holder of the Registrable Securities
and each person controlling such Holder, for legal and other expenses reasonably
incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such claim, loss,
damage, liability or action as incurred; provided,
that
the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any untrue
statement or omission is made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Holder and stated
to
be specifically for use in preparation of such Registration Statement,
Prospectus or offering circular; provided,
further,
that
the Company shall not be liable in any such case where the claim, loss, damage
or liability arises out of, or is related to, the failure of any Holder to
comply with the covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement. The
foregoing indemnity is subject to the condition that, insofar as it relates
to
any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission made in the preliminary Prospectus but eliminated or remedied in the
amended Prospectus on file with the SEC at the time the Registration Statement
becomes effective or in the amended Prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant
to
Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act or in the Prospectus subject to completion
and
term sheet under Rule 434 of the Securities Act, which together meet the
requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act (the “Final Prospectus”),
such indemnity shall not inure to the benefit of any such Holder or any such
controlling person. The Company will also indemnify underwriters participating
in the distribution, their officers, directors, employees, partners and agents,
and each Person who controls such underwriters (within the meaning of the
Securities Act), to the same extent as provided above with respect to the
indemnification of the Holders of Registrable Securities, if so
requested.
(b) Indemnification
by Holders of Registrable Securities.
In
connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable
Securities is participating, each such Holder will furnish to the Company in
writing such information and affidavits as the Company requests for use in
connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus. Each Holder
will
severally, if Registrable Securities held by such Holder are included in the
securities as to which such registration is being effected, indemnify the
Company, each of its directors and officers, each underwriter of the Registrable
Securities, each other Holder whose Securities are included in such Registration
Statement and each person who controls any of the foregoing Persons within
the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act (collectively, “Holder
Indemnitees”), against all claims, losses, damages and liabilities (or actions
in respect thereof), including any of the foregoing incurred in settlement
of
any litigation, commenced or threatened (subject to Subsection 7(c) below),
arising out of, or based on, any untrue statement of a material fact contained
in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or offering circular, or any amendment
or supplement thereof, incident to any such registration, or based on any
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in light of the
circumstances in which they were made, and will reimburse the Holder Indemnitees
for reasonable legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection
with investigating or defending any such claim, loss, damage, liability or
action as incurred, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that
such untrue statement or omission is made in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information and/or affidavits furnished to the Company by or on
behalf of such Holder; provided,
that
the indemnity shall not apply to the extent that such claim, loss, damage or
liability results from the fact that a current copy of the Prospectus was not
made available to the Holders and such current copy of the Prospectus would
have
cured the defect giving rise to such loss, claim, damage or liability. The
foregoing indemnity is subject to the condition that, insofar as it relates
to
any such untrue statement or
-11-
alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the preliminary
Prospectus but eliminated or remedied in the Final Prospectus, such indemnity
shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder Indemnitee. The Holder Indemnitees
shall be entitled to receive indemnities from underwriters participating in
the
distribution, to the same extent as provided above, with respect to information
furnished in writing by such underwriters specifically for inclusion in any
Registration Statement, Prospectus or offering circular.
(c) Conduct
of Indemnification Proceedings.
Any
Person entitled to indemnification hereunder will (i) give prompt notice to
the
indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification
and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim
with
counsel of such indemnifying party’s choice; provided,
however,
that
any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to employ
separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party
unless (A) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of
such claim and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party
in a timely manner or (B) a written opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable
to
the indemnifying party, asserts that a conflict of interest exists between
such
person and the indemnifying party with respect to such claims (in which case,
if
the indemnified Person notifies the indemnifying party in writing that such
Person elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying
party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense
of
such claim on behalf of such Person). The indemnifying party will not be subject
to any liability for any settlement made without its consent. No indemnified
party will be required to consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any
settlement which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving
by
the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all
liability in respect of such claim or litigation. An indemnifying party who
is
not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of the claim will not
be
obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties
indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim.
(d) Contribution.
If for
any reason the indemnification provided for in Subsection 7(a) or Subsection
7(b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient to hold it harmless
as contemplated by Subsection 7(a) and Subsection 7(b), then the indemnifying
party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party
as
a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits received by the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party, but also the relative fault of
the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. 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
misrepresentations.
Section
8. Participation
in Underwritten Registrations.
(a) The
determination of whether any offering of Registrable Securities will be an
Underwritten Offering shall be made in good faith judgment of the Board of
Directors of the Company. In the event that the Board of Directors of the
Company determines that such offering shall be an Underwritten Offering, the
investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will
administer the offering will be selected by the Company.
-12-
(b) No
Person
may participate in any Underwritten Offering hereunder unless such Person (i)
agrees to sell such Person’s Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any
underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve
such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers
of
attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required
under the terms of such underwriting arrangements. Nothing in this Section
8
shall be construed to create any additional rights regarding the registration
of
Registrable Securities in any Person otherwise than as set forth
herein.
Section
9. Rule
144.
The
Company agrees with the Holder, for so long as any Restricted Securities remain
outstanding and during any period in which the Company (i) is not subject
to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to make available, upon request
of
the Holder in connection with any sale thereof and any prospective purchaser
of
such Restricted Securities designated by the Holder, the information required
by
Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act in order to permit resales of such
Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144A, and (ii) is subject to Section
13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to use reasonable efforts to make all filings
required thereby in a timely manner in order to permit resales of such
Restricted Securities pursuant to Rule 144.
Section
10. Legend.
Each
Holder consents to the placing of the following legend on all certificates
representing shares of Registrable Securities and on any certificate issued
at
any time in exchange or substitution for any certificate bearing such legend,
for so long as the securities represented thereby are Registrable
Securities:
THIS
CERTIFICATE IS ISSUED SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF A REGISTRATION RIGHTS
AGREEMENT, AND ANY TRANSFEREE OF THIS CERTIFICATE OR OF THE SHARES REPRESENTED
BY IT SHALL BE BOUND BY THE PROVISIONS OF SAID AGREEMENT, A COPY OF WHICH IS
ON
FILE WITH, AND AVAILABLE FROM, THE SECRETARY OF NEPHROS, INC.
Section
11. Delay
Periods; Suspension of Sales.
Each
Holder shall suspend, upon request of the Company, any disposition of
Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement and Prospectus
contemplated herein during (i) any period not to exceed two 30-day periods
within any one 12-month period the Company requires in connection with a primary
underwritten offering of equity securities and (ii) any period, not to exceed
one 45-day period per circumstance or development, when the Company determines
in good faith that offers and sales pursuant thereto should not be made by
reason of the presence of material undisclosed circumstances or developments
with respect to which the disclosure that would be required in such a prospectus
is premature, would have an adverse effect on the Company or is otherwise
inadvisable.
Section
12. Miscellaneous.
(a) Amendments
and Waivers.
The
provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented,
and
waivers or consents to or departures from the
-13-
provisions
hereof may not be given, without the written consent of the Company and the
Holders of a majority of the outstanding Registrable Securities.
(b) Notices.
All
notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall
be
made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail (registered, return receipt
requested), or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:
(i) if
to any
Holder, at the address for such Holder set forth on the records of the Company;
and
(ii) if
to the
Company:
Nephros,
Inc.
3900
Xxxxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
President
With
a
copy to:
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP
1100
Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
All
such
notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the
time
delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being
deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; and on the next Business
Day,
if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight
delivery.
The
address or person or entity to whose attention any notice or communication
shall
be given may be changed by notice to the other parties in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 9(b).
(c) Successors
and Assigns.
This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors
and
assigns of the Company, without the need for an express assignment; provided,
however,
(i)
this Agreement cannot be assigned or transferred by any Holder without any
prior
written consent of the Company which shall not be unreasonably withheld, and
(ii) nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other
disposition of Registrable Securities in violation of the terms hereof. If
any
transferee of a Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities in any manner,
whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall
be
held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding
such Registrable Securities such person shall be conclusively deemed to have
agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this
Agreement, including the restrictions on resale set forth in this Agreement
and
such person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.
(d) Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties
hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall
be
deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one
and the same agreement.
-14-
(e) Headings.
The
headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall
not
limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(f) Governing
Law.
THIS
AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF
THE
STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF THE CONFLICT OF LAWS
THEREOF.
(g) Severability.
In the
event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the
application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision
in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall
not be affected or impaired thereby.
(h) Jurisdiction;
Forum.
Each
party hereto consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any state
court sitting in the County of New York or federal court sitting in the Southern
District of the State of New York in connection with any dispute arising out
of
or relating to this Agreement, and agrees that all suits, actions and
proceedings brought by such party hereunder shall be brought only in such
jurisdictions. Each party hereto waives any objection to the laying of venue
in
such courts and any claim that any such action has been brought in an
inconvenient forum. To the extent permitted by law, any judgment in respect
of a
dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement may be enforced in any
other jurisdiction within or outside the United States by suit on the judgment,
a certified copy of such judgment being conclusive evidence of the fact and
amount of such judgment. Each party hereto agrees that personal service of
process may be effected by any of the means specified in Section 12(b),
addressed to such party. The foregoing shall not limit the rights of any party
to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
(i) Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement
and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and
understanding of the parties hereto with respect to registration rights granted
with respect to Registrable Securities. There are no restrictions, promises,
warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein
with respect to the registration rights granted with respect to the Registrable
Securities. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings
between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
[SIGNATURE
PAGE FOLLOWS IMMEDIATELY]
-15-
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the
parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written
above.
NEPHROS,
INC.
By:_______________________________________
Name:
Title:
THE
INITIAL HOLDERS:
SOUTHPAW
CREDIT OPPORTUNITY MASTER FUND LP
By:_______________________________________
Name:
Title:
Address
for Notices:
_________________________________________
(Street
Address)
_________________________________________
(City) (State/Country)
(Zip
Code)
Attention:_________________________________
-16-
DISTRESSED/HIGH
YIELD TRADING OPPORTUNITIES, LTD.
By:
Eliteperformance Fund, Ltd., its investment manager
By:_______________________________________
Name:
Xxxxx X.
Xxxxx
Title:
Portfolio Manager
Address
for Notices:
_________________________________________
(Street
Address)
_________________________________________
(City) (State/Country) (Zip
Code)
Attention:_________________________________
3V
CAPITAL MASTER FUND LTD
By:
3V
Capital Management LLC, its investment manager
By:_______________________________________
Name:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title:
Managing
Member
Address
for Notices:
_________________________________________
(Street
Address)
_________________________________________
(City) (State/Country)
(Zip
Code)
Attention:_________________________________
-17-
SCHEDULE
1
Investor
|
Registrable
Securities
|
3V
CAPITAL MASTER FUND LTD
|
Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of $1,500,000 aggregate principal amount
of
6% Secured Convertible Notes due 2012
|
Distressed/High
Yield Trading Opportunities, Ltd.
|
Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of $1,500,000 aggregate principal amount
of
6% Secured Convertible Notes due 2012
|
SOUTHPAW
CREDIT OPPORTUNITY MASTER FUND LP
|
Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of $2,000,000 aggregate principal amount
of
6% Secured Convertible Notes due
2012
|
-18-
EXHIBIT
A
Form
of
Counterpart Signature Page
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the
undersigned has caused this counterpart to the Registration Rights Agreement
among Nephros, Inc. and the Holders (as defined therein), dated as of ______
__,
2006, as amended from time to time, to be duly executed and delivered as of
_______ __, ____.
[__________________],
as an
additional Holder
By:
______________________________________
Name:
Title:
Notice
Address:
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
Attention:
___________________________
Tel:(___)
___-___
Fax:(___)
___-___
Accepted
and agreed to as of the
__
day of
_________, ____:
NEPHROS,
INC.
By:
__________________________________
Name:
Title:
-19-