FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
FORM
OF
This REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this
“Agreement”)
is
entered into as of ____________ ___, 2006, by and between Healthcare Acquisition
Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
and
the investors signatory hereto (the “Investors”),
who
are also stockholders of PharmAthene, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(“PAI”).
WHEREAS,
the
Company and the Investors have entered into a certain Merger Agreement, dated
as
of January 19, 2007 (the “Merger
Agreement”),
pursuant to which the Company will merge its wholly-owned subsidiary into PAI;
and
WHEREAS,
the
Company wishes to grant the Investors certain registration rights in connection
with the shares of common stock of the Company they will acquire as a result
of
the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby.
NOW,
THEREFORE,
in
consideration of the foregoing recitals and the mutual promises and covenants
hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree
as
follows:
1. Certain
Definitions.
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
given such terms in the Merger Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) “Effective
Date”
shall
mean, with respect to the Registration Statement, the date on which the
Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the
SEC.
(b) “Effectiveness
Period”
shall
mean the period from the Closing Date until the date that is the fifth year
anniversary of the Closing Date.
(c) “Exchange
Act”
means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together with all rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
(d) “Holders”
means
the Investors or any of their respective affiliates or permitted transferees
to
the extent any of them are permitted to hold Registrable Securities, other
than
those purchasing Registrable Securities in a market transaction.
(e) “Prospectus”
means
the prospectus included in a Registration Statement (including, without
limitation, a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from
a
prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance
upon
Rule 424(b) promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented
by
any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any
portion of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement,
and
all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective
amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
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(f) “Registrable
Securities”
shall
mean the shares of common stock of the Company held or hereafter acquired by
the
Holders, including such shares received as a result of the transactions
contemplated by the Merger Agreement or in respect of the 8% Convertible Notes,
together with any securities issued or issuable upon any stock split, dividend
or other distribution, adjustment, recapitalization or similar event with
respect to the foregoing, but excluding (i) any such shares sold under any
other
effective Registration Statement, or (ii) any such shares sold pursuant to
Rule
144 under the Securities Act.
(g) “Registration
Statement”
means
any registration statement required to be filed under this Agreement, including
the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement or
Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto,
and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by
reference in such registration statement.
(h) “SEC”
means
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
(i) “Securities
Act”
means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, together with all rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
2. Registration.
(a) Mandatory
Registration.
Within
sixty (60) days after the Closing Date, the Company shall cause to be prepared
and filed with the SEC a Registration Statement providing for the resale of
all
Registrable Securities then outstanding and all Registrable Securities issuable
in respect of the 8% Convertible Notes for an offering to be made by the Holders
on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. Such Registration Statement shall
be
on Form S-3 (except if the Company is not then eligible to register for resale
the Registrable Securities on Form S-3, in which case such registration shall
be
on another appropriate form in accordance herewith). The Company shall cause
such Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act
as
promptly as possible after the filing thereof. The Company shall keep such
Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until
the
date when all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement
have
been sold.
(b) Demand
Registration.
At any
time following the date that is 180 days following the Closing Date but prior
to
the expiration of the Effectiveness Period, if the Company shall be requested
(a
“Registration
Request”)
by
Holders holding at least a majority of the then outstanding Registrable
Securities to effect the registration under the Securities Act of Registrable
Securities, then the Company shall (i) within ten (10) days of the receipt
of
such Registration Request, give written notice of such request to all Holders
describing the terms of such registration and, if applicable, the underwriting
and (ii) as soon as practicable cause to be prepared and filed with the SEC
a
Registration Statement providing for the resale of all Registrable Securities
which Holders request to be registered. The Registration Statement shall be
on
Form S-3 (except if the Company is not then eligible to register for resale
the
Registrable Securities on Form S-3, in which case such registration shall be
on
another appropriate form in accordance herewith). The Company shall cause the
Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as
promptly as possible after the filing thereof. The Company shall keep the
Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until
the
date when all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement
have
been sold. The Company shall not be obligated to file and cause to become
effective more than two (2) Registration Statements pursuant to this Section
2(b). A Registration Statement shall not be counted for purposes of the
foregoing until such time as such Registrations Statement has been declared
effective by the Commission and all of the Registrable Securities offered
pursuant to such Registration Statement are sold thereunder upon the price
and
terms offered.
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(c) Each
Holder will furnish to the Company in writing the information specified in
Item
507 and/or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, of the Securities Act for
use
in connection with any Registration Statement or prospectus or preliminary
prospectus included therein. Each Holder agrees to promptly furnish additional
information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously
furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.
(d) The
Company shall notify each Holder in writing promptly (and in any event within
one business day) after receiving notification from the SEC that a Registration
Statement has been declared effective.
(e) Any
Registration Statement required hereunder shall contain (except if otherwise
directed by the Holders of at least two-thirds of the Registrable Securities
included in such Registration Statement) the “Plan of Distribution” attached
hereto as Annex
A.
3. Registration
Procedures.
In
connection with the Company’s registration obligations hereunder, the Company
shall:
(a) (i)
prepare and file with the SEC such amendments, including post-effective
amendments, to the Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep the
Registration Statement continuously effective as to the Registrable Securities
until the date when all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration
Statement have been sold; (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or
supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented
or
amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; and (iii) respond as promptly as
reasonably possible to any comments received from the SEC with respect to the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and as promptly as reasonably
possible provide each Holder copies
of
all correspondence from and to the SEC relating to the Registration
Statement.
(b) Notify
each Holder as promptly as reasonably possible, and confirm such notice in
writing no later than one (1) trading day thereafter, of any of the following
events: (i) the SEC notifies the Company whether there will be a “review” of the
Registration Statement; (ii) the SEC comments in writing on the Registration
Statement (in which case the Company shall deliver to each Holder a copy of
such
comments and of all written responses thereto); (iii) the SEC or any other
Federal or state governmental authority in writing requests any amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or requests additional
information related thereto; (iv) if the SEC issues any stop order suspending
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or initiates any action, claim,
suit, investigation or proceeding (a “Proceeding”)
for
that purpose; (v) the Company receives notice in writing of any suspension
of
the qualification or exemption from qualification of any Registrable Securities
for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threat of any Proceeding
for
such purpose; or (vi) the financial statements included in the Registration
Statement become ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement made in
the
Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed
to
be incorporated therein by reference is untrue in any material respect or any
revision to the Registration Statement, Prospectus or other document is required
so that it will not contain any 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, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
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(c) Use
its
reasonable best efforts to avoid the issuance of or, if issued, obtain the
withdrawal of: (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from
qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.
(d) Promptly
deliver to each Holder, without charge, such reasonable number of copies of
the
Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each
amendment or supplement thereto as such Holder may reasonably request. The
Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or
supplement thereto by the Holders in connection with the offering and sale
of
the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto.
(e) (i)
In
the time and manner required by the American Stock Exchange and any other market
on which the Registrable Securities are traded (the “Principal
Market”),
prepare and file with the Principal Market an additional shares listing
application covering all of the Registrable Securities and a notification form
regarding the change in the number of the Company’s outstanding Shares; (ii)
take all steps necessary to cause such Registrable Securities to be approved
for
listing on the Principal Market as soon as possible thereafter; (iii) provide
to
each Holder notice of such listing; and (iv) maintain the listing of such
Registrable Securities on the Principal Market.
(f) Prior
to
any public offering of Registrable Securities, register or qualify or cooperate
with the Holders in connection with the registration or qualification (or
exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable
Securities for offer and sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of such
jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder requests in writing, to
keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective
until the date when all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration
Statement have been sold and to do any and all other acts or things necessary
or
advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable
Securities covered by a Registration Statement; provided,
however,
that
the Company shall not be required for any such purpose to: (i) qualify generally
to do business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would
not
be otherwise required to qualify but for the requirements of this Section
(3)(f), or (ii) subject itself to taxation.
(g) Upon
the
occurrence of any event described in Section (3)(b)(vi) above, as promptly
as
reasonably possible, prepare a supplement or amendment, including a
post-effective amendment, to the Registration Statement or a supplement to
the
related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
therein by reference, and file any other required document so that, as
thereafter delivered, neither the Registration Statement nor such Prospectus
will 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,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
provided,
however,
that
the Company may suspend sales pursuant to the Registration Statement for a
period of up to sixty (60) days (unless the
Holders of at least two-thirds of the Registrable Securities
consent
in writing to a longer delay of up to an additional thirty (30) days) no more
than once in any twelve-month period if the Company furnishes to the Holders
a
certificate signed by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer stating that in the
good faith judgment of the Company’s Board of Directors: (i) the offering could
reasonably be expected to materially interfere with an acquisition, corporate
reorganization or other material transaction then under consideration by the
Company or (ii) there is some other material development relating to the
operations or condition (financial or other) of the Company that has not been
disclosed to the general public and as to which it is in the Company’s best
interests not to disclose; provided
further, however,
that the
Company may not so suspend sales more than once in any calendar year without
the
written consent of the Holders of at least two-thirds of the Registrable
Securities.
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(h) Comply
with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the Principal Market
with respect to the Company’s obligations hereunder.
4. Underwritten
Offerings.
(a) At
the
request (an “Underwriting
Request”)
of the
Holders of at least two-thirds of the then outstanding Registrable Securities
(the “Requesting
Stockholders”),
the
distribution of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement
filed or to be filed pursuant to Sections 2(a) or (b) hereof, shall be effected
by means of an underwriting.
(b) In
the
event of an Underwriting Request, the Company, together with all Holders
proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting (the
“Participating
Stockholders”),
shall
enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the managing
underwriter(s) selected for such underwriting by the Requesting Stockholders,
which underwriter(s) shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company; provided,
however, that no Holder shall be required to make any representations or
warranties concerning the Company or its business, properties, prospects,
financial condition or related matters. Notwithstanding any other provision
of
this Section 4, if the managing underwriter(s) advises the Company and the
Participating Stockholders in writing that because the number of shares
requested by the Participating Stockholders to be included in the registration
exceeds the number which can be sold in an orderly manner in such offering
within a price range acceptable to the Requesting Stockholders or that marketing
factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be underwritten on
behalf of the Participating Stockholders (the “Underwritten
Registration Cutback”),
and
such Underwritten Registration Cutback results in less than all of the
Registrable Securities of the Participating Stockholders that are requested
to
be included in such registration to actually be included in such registration,
then the Company will include in such registration, to the extent of the number
which the Company is so advised can be sold in (or during the time of) such
offering without such interference or affect on the price or sale, such number
of Registrable Securities shared pro rata among all of the Participating
Stockholders based on the total number of Registrable Securities held by each
such Participating Stockholder.
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(c) In
the
event of an Underwriting Request, the Company shall
(i) cooperate
with the Participating Stockholders, the underwriters participating in the
offering and their counsel in any due diligence investigation reasonably
requested by the Participating Stockholders or the underwriters in connection
therewith, and participate, to the extent reasonably requested by the
Participating Stockholders and the underwriter for the offering, in efforts
to
sell the Registrable Securities under the offering (including, without
limitation, participating in “roadshow” meetings with prospective investors)
that would be customary for underwritten primary offerings of a comparable
amount of equity securities by the Company;
(ii) cooperate,
to the extent reasonably requested, with each underwriter participating in
the
disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in
connection with any filings required to be made with the Principal
Market;
(iii) afford
the Requesting Stockholders with the opportunity to participate in the drafting
of the registration statement and the documentation relating
thereto;
(iv) furnish,
on the date on which such Registrable Securities are sold to the underwriter,
(A) an opinion, dated such date, of the counsel representing the Company for
the
purposes of such registration, in form and substance as is customarily given
to
underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters,
if any, and (B) a “comfort” letter dated such date, from the independent
certified public accountants of the Company, in form and substance as is
customarily given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters
in
an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters; and
(v) take
all
other steps reasonably necessary to effect the registration of the Registrable
Securities contemplated hereby.
5. Registration
Expenses.
The
Company shall pay all fees and expenses incident to the performance of or
compliance with this Agreement by the Company, including without limitation:
(a)
all registration and filing fees and expenses, including without limitation
those related to filings with the SEC, the Principal Market and in connection
with applicable state securities or “Blue Sky” laws, (b) printing expenses
(including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for
Registrable Securities and of printing copies of Prospectuses reasonably
requested by a Holder), (c) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (d)
fees
and disbursements of counsel for the Company, and (e) fees and expenses of
all
other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of
the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Company shall also pay the
reasonable fees and expenses of one counsel to the Holders (selected by the
Holders of at least two-thirds of the Registrable Shares to be registered on
such applicable Registration Statement). Notwithstanding the foregoing, each
Holder shall pay any and all costs, fees, discounts or commissions attributable
to the sale of its respective Registrable Securities.
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6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification
by the Company.
In the
event of a registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities
Act
pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless each
of
the Holders, and their respective officers, directors and each other Person,
if
any, who controls or is an affiliate of such Holder within the meaning of the
Securities Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities
(collectively, “Losses”),
to
which such Holder, or such Persons may become subject under the Securities
Act
or otherwise, insofar as such Losses arise out of or are based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the
Registration Statement under which such Registrable Securities were registered
under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement, any preliminary Prospectus
or final Prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof,
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, and will reimburse the Holder, and each
such
Person for any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred by them in connection
with investigating or defending any such Losses; provided,
however,
that
the Company will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that any
such Losses arise out of or are based upon: (i) an untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in conformity with
information furnished by or on behalf of such Holder or any such Person in
writing specifically for use in any such document and specifically relating
to
such Holder, (ii) the failure of a Holder to deliver a Prospectus, to the extent
that such Holder was required to do so under applicable securities laws, or
(iii) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section
(3)(b) above, the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus
after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is
outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice
contemplated in Section 7 below.
(b) Indemnification
by Holders.
In the
event of a registration of the Registrable Securities under the Securities
Act
pursuant to this Agreement, each Holder will severally, but not jointly,
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and its officers, directors and each
other Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the
Securities Act, against all Losses to which the Company or such Persons may
become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such Losses
(or
actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of any material fact in the Registration Statement
under which such Registrable Securities were registered under the Securities
Act
pursuant to this Agreement, any preliminary Prospectus or final Prospectus
contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof, 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, and will reimburse the Company and each such Person for any
reasonable legal or other expenses incurred by them in connection with
investigating or defending any such Losses; provided,
however,
that a
Holder will be liable in any such case if and only to the extent that any such
Losses arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission so made in conformity with information
furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically
for use in any such document and specifically relating to such Holder. In
addition, the foregoing shall not inure to the benefit of a Holder (ii) if
such
Holder fails to deliver a Prospectus, to the extent that such Holder was
required to do so under applicable securities laws, or (iii) in the case of
an
occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section (3)(b) above, by reason
of the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the
Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated
or
defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated
in
Section 7 below.
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(c) Conduct
of Indemnification Proceedings.
If any
Proceeding shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity
hereunder (an “Indemnified
Party”),
such
Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person from whom indemnity is sought
(the “Indemnifying
Party”)
in
writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including
the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party
and
the payment of all fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense
thereof, provided, that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice
shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities
pursuant to this Agreement, except (and only) to the extent that such failure
shall have prejudiced the Indemnifying Party. An Indemnified Party shall have
the right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate
in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be
at
the expense of such Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (i) the Indemnifying
Party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses; or (ii) the
Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such
Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified
Party in any such Proceeding; or (iii) the named parties to any such Proceeding
(including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the
Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by
counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel
were
to represent such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case,
if such Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing that it
elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Party,
the
Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and
such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party; provided,
however,
that in
the event that the Indemnifying Party shall be required to pay the fees and
expenses of separate counsel, the Indemnifying Party shall only be required
to
pay the fees and expenses of one separate counsel for such Indemnified Party
or
Parties. The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any
such Proceeding affected without its written consent, which consent shall not
be
unreasonably withheld. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written
consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending
Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such
settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from
all
liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding. All fees
and
expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to
the
extent incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such
Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to
the
Indemnified Party, as incurred, within ten trading days of written notice
thereof to the Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately
determined that an Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification
hereunder; 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).
(d) Contribution.
If a
claim for indemnification under Section 6(a) or (b) is unavailable to an
Indemnified Party (by reason of public policy or otherwise), then each
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 Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party in connection with the
actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any
other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such Indemnifying
Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material
fact,
has been taken or made by, or related to information supplied by, such
Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties’ relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result
of any Losses shall be deemed to include any reasonable attorneys’ or other
reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any
Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees
or
expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section 6 was available
to
such party in accordance with its terms.
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The
parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by
any
other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable
considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. 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.
(e) Notwithstanding
the provision of this Section 6, no Holder shall be required to pay
indemnification or to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of
the
amount of proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the
Registrable Securities subject to the Proceeding.
(f) The
indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section are in addition
to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the Indemnified
Parties.
7. Dispositions.
Each
Holder agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements
of
the Securities Act as applicable to it in connection with sales of Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement. Each Holder further agrees
that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event
of the kind described in Section 3(b), such Holder will discontinue disposition
of such Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until such
Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended
Registration Statement contemplated by Section 3(g), or until it is advised
in
writing (the “Advice”)
by the
Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either
case, has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or
Registration Statement. The Company may provide appropriate stop orders to
enforce the provisions of this paragraph.
8. Piggy-Back
Registrations.
If at
any time during the Effectiveness Period, the Company shall determine to prepare
and file with the SEC a registration statement relating to an offering for
its
own account or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its
equity securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated
under
the Securities Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities
to
be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business
or
equity securities issuable in connection with stock option or other employee
benefit plans, then the Company shall send to the each Holder written notice
of
such determination and if, within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such
notice, any such Holder shall so request in writing, the Company shall include
in such registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities
such Holder requests to be registered. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the
Company’s proposed registration of equity securities hereunder is, in whole or
in part, an underwritten public offering, and the managing underwriter of such
proposed registration determines and advises in writing that the inclusion
of
all Registrable Securities proposed to be included in the underwritten public
offering, together with any other issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s
common stock proposed to be included therein (such other shares hereinafter
collectively referred to as the “Other Shares”), would interfere with the
successful marketing of the Company’s securities, then the total number of such
securities proposed to be included in such underwritten public offering shall
be
reduced, (i) first by the shares requested to be included in such registration
by the holders of Other Shares, and (ii) second, if necessary, (A) one-half
(½)
by the securities proposed to be issued by the Company, and (B) one-half (½ ) by
the Registrable Securities proposed to be included in such registration by
the
Holders, on a pro rata basis, based upon the number of Registrable Securities
then held by each such Holder. The shares of the Company’s common stock that are
excluded from the underwritten public offering pursuant to the preceding
sentence shall be withheld from the market by the holders thereof for a period,
not to exceed 90 days from the closing of such underwritten public offering,
that the managing underwriter reasonably determines as necessary in order to
effect such underwritten public offering.
9
9. Reports
Under Exchange Act.
With a
view to making available to the Holders the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated
under the Securities Act and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may
at
any time permit a Holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without
registration, the Company shall:
(a) make
and
keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined
in
Rule 144, at all times after the date hereof and so long as the Company is
subject to the periodic reporting requirements under Sections 13 or 15(d) of
the
Exchange Act;
(b) file
with
the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required
of
the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; and
(c) furnish
to any Holder, so long as the Holder owns any Registrable Securities, forthwith
upon request (i) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with
the reporting requirements of SEC Rule 144, the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements),
or
that it qualifies as a registrant whose securities may be resold pursuant to
Form S-3 (at any time after it so qualifies), (ii) a copy of the most recent
annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents
so filed by the Company, and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably
requested in availing any Holder of any rule or regulation of the Commission
which permits the selling of any such securities without registration or
pursuant to such form.
10
10. Mergers.
The
Company shall not, directly or indirectly, enter into any merger, consolidation
or reorganization in which the Company shall not be the surviving corporation
unless the proposed surviving corporation shall, prior to such merger,
consolidation or reorganization, agree in writing to assume the obligations
of
the Company under this Agreement, and for that purpose references hereunder
to
“Registrable Securities” shall be deemed to be references to the securities
which the Holders would be entitled to receive in exchange for Registrable
Securities under any such merger, consolidation or reorganization, provided,
however, that the provisions of this Agreement shall not apply in the event
of
any merger, consolidation or reorganization in which the Company is not the
surviving corporation if the Holders are entitled to receive in exchange
therefor (i) cash or (ii) securities of the acquiring corporation which may
be
immediately sold to the public pursuant to an effective registration statement
under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption therefrom which permits
sales without limitation as to volume or the manner of sale on a nationally
recognized exchange in the United States or on the Principal
Market.
11. Miscellaneous.
(a) Governing
Law.
This
Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance
with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to principles
of
conflicts of law or choice of law that would cause the laws of any other
jurisdiction to apply.
(b) Transfer
of Registration Rights.
Any
Holder that is a partnership, corporation or limited liability company may
transfer or assign its registration rights provided pursuant to this Agreement
with respect to any Registrable Securities to any partner, shareholder, member
or affiliate of such Holder; provided, however, that (ii) such Holder shall
give
the Company written notice prior to the time of such transfer or assignment
stating the name and address of the transferee and identifying the Registrable
Securities with respect to which the rights under this Agreement are being
transferred and (ii) such transferee or assignee agrees in writing, the form
and
substance of which shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound
as a Holder by the provisions of this Agreement, following which any such
transferee or assignee shall be deemed a “Holder” pursuant to this
Agreement.
(c) Amendment
and Waiver.
Any
provision of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may be
waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively
or
prospectively), only upon the written consent of both the Company and the
Holders of not less than two-thirds of the then outstanding Registrable
Securities.
(d) Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement and the Merger Agreement constitute the entire agreement between
the
parties relative to the specific subject matter hereof. Any previous agreement
among the parties relative to the specific subject matter hereof is superseded
by this Agreement.
(e) Third
Party Beneficiaries.
There
shall be no third party beneficiaries or intended beneficiaries of this
Agreements.
11
(f) Notices.
All
notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed
effectively given in accordance with the Merger Agreement.
(g) Severability.
In the
event one or more of the provisions of this Agreement should, for any reason,
be
held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity,
illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this
Agreement, and this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal
or
unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
(h) Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which when taken together
shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when
counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party,
it
being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the
event that any signature is delivered by facsimile or other electronic
transmission, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of
the
party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with
the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature page were an original
thereof.
(i) Successors
and Assigns.
The
provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the
successors and assigns of the parties hereto.
(j) Independent
Nature of Holders’ Obligations and Rights.
The
obligations of each Holder hereunder are several and not joint with the
obligations of any other Holder hereunder, and no Holder shall be responsible
in
any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Holder hereunder.
Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or document delivered at
any
closing, and no action taken by any Holder pursuant hereto or thereto, shall
be
deemed to constitute the Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint
venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Holders
are in any way acting in concert with respect to such obligations or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Holder shall be entitled
to
protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation the rights arising
out of this Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Holder to
be
joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.
(k) Remedies.
In the
event of a breach by the Company or by a Holder, of any of their respective
obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the Company, as the case may
be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law and
under this Agreement, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to
specific performance of its rights under this Agreement.
(l) Titles
and Subtitles. The
titles of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience
of
reference only and are not to be considered in construing this
Agreement.
[Signature
Page Follows]
12
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the
parties hereto have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date
and year first set forth above.
COMPANY:
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By: | ||
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Title:
President
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INVESTORS:
[INSERT
SIGNATURE BLOCK OF INVESTORS]
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13
ANNEX
A
Plan
of Distribution
The
shares covered by this prospectus may be offered and sold from time to time
by
the selling stockholders. The term “selling stockholder” includes pledgees,
donees, transferees or other successors in interest selling shares received
after the date of this prospectus from each selling stockholder as a pledge,
gift, partnership distribution or other non-sale related transfer. The number
of
shares beneficially owned by a selling stockholder will decrease as and when
it
effects any such transfers. The plan of distribution for the selling
stockholders’ shares sold hereunder will otherwise remain unchanged, except that
the transferees, pledgees, donees or other successors will be selling
stockholders hereunder. To the extent required, we may amend and supplement
this
prospectus from time to time to describe a specific plan of
distribution.
The
selling stockholders will act independently of us in making decisions with
respect to the timing, manner and size of each sale. The selling stockholders
may make these sales at prices and under terms then prevailing or at prices
related to the then current market price. The selling stockholders may also
make
sales in negotiated transactions. The selling stockholders may offer their
shares from time to time pursuant to one or more of the following
methods:
|
·
|
|
ordinary
brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer
solicits purchasers;
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|
·
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|
one
or more block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to
sell the
shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block
as
principal to facilitate the transaction;
|
|
·
|
|
purchases
by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer
for its
account;
|
|
·
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|
an
exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
exchange;
|
|
·
|
|
public
or privately negotiated transactions;
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|
·
|
|
on
the American Stock Exchange (or through the facilities of any national
securities exchange or U.S. inter-dealer quotation system of a
registered
national securities association, on which the shares are then listed,
admitted to unlisted trading privileges or included for quotation);
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|
·
|
|
through
underwriters, brokers or dealers (who may act as agents or principals)
or
directly to one or more purchasers;
|
|
·
|
|
a
combination of any such methods of sale; and
|
|
·
|
|
any
other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
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14
In
connection with distributions of the shares or otherwise, the selling
stockholders may:
|
·
|
|
enter
into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial
institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the shares
in the
course of hedging the positions they assume;
|
|
·
|
|
sell
the shares short and redeliver the shares to close out such short
positions;
|
|
·
|
|
enter
into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other
financial
institutions which require the delivery to them of shares offered
by this
prospectus, which they may in turn resell; and
|
|
·
|
|
pledge
shares to a broker-dealer or other financial institution, which,
upon a
default, they may in turn resell.
|
In
addition to the foregoing methods, the selling stockholders may offer their
shares from time to time in transactions involving principals or brokers not
otherwise contemplated above, in a combination of such methods or described
above or any other lawful methods. The selling stockholders may also transfer,
donate or assign their shares to lenders, family members and others and each
of
such persons will be deemed to be a selling stockholder for purposes of this
prospectus. The selling stockholders or their successors in interest may from
time to time pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares
of
common stock, and if the selling stockholders default in the performance of
their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell
the shares of common stock from to time under this prospectus; provided however
in the event of a pledge or then default on a secured obligation by the selling
stockholder, in order for the shares to be sold under this registration
statement, unless permitted by law, we must distribute a prospectus supplement
and/or amendment to this registration statement amending the list of selling
stockholders to include the pledgee, secured party or other successors in
interest of the selling stockholder under this prospectus.
The
selling stockholders may also sell their shares pursuant to Rule 144 under
the
Securities Act, which permits limited resale of shares purchased in a private
placement subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including, among
other things, the availability of certain current public information concerning
the issuer, the resale occurring following the required holding period under
Rule 144 and the number of shares being sold during any three-month period
not
exceeding certain limitations.
Sales
through brokers may be made by any method of trading authorized by any stock
exchange or market on which the shares may be listed or quoted, including block
trading in negotiated transactions. Without limiting the foregoing, such brokers
may act as dealers by purchasing any or all of the shares covered by this
prospectus, either as agents for others or as principals for their own accounts,
and reselling such shares pursuant to this prospectus. The selling stockholders
may effect such transactions directly, or indirectly through underwriters,
broker-dealers or agents acting on their behalf. In effecting sales,
broker-dealers or agents engaged by the selling stockholders may arrange for
other broker-dealers to participate. Broker-dealers or agents may receive
commissions, discounts or concessions from the selling stockholders, in amounts
to be negotiated immediately prior to the sale (which compensation as to a
particular broker-dealer might be in excess of customary commissions for routine
market transactions).
15
In
offering the shares covered by this prospectus, the selling stockholders, and
any broker-dealers and any other participating broker-dealers who execute sales
for the selling stockholders, may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the
meaning of the Securities Act in connection with these sales. Any profits
realized by the selling stockholders and the compensation of such broker-dealers
may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions.
The
Company is required to pay all fees and expenses incident to the registration
of
the shares.
The
Company has agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders against certain losses,
claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities
Act.
16