EXHIBIT 10.74
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is made and
entered into as of April 16, 2003, among Viragen, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "COMPANY"), and the purchasers signatory hereto (each such purchaser is a
"PURCHASER" and all such purchasers are, collectively, the "PURCHASERS").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Securities Purchase
Agreement, dated as of the date hereof among the Company and the Purchasers (the
"PURCHASE AGREEMENT").
The Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS
CAPITALIZED TERMS USED AND NOT OTHERWISE DEFINED HEREIN THAT ARE
DEFINED IN THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN SUCH TERMS IN
THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
"BUSINESS DAY" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and
any day which shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking
institutions in the State of New York or the State of California are
authorized or required by law or other government actions to close.
"EFFECTIVENESS DATE" means, with respect to the initial
Registration Statement, the 90th calendar day following the Closing
Date, and with respect to any additional Registration Statements which
may be required pursuant to Section 3(c), the 60th calendar day
following the date on which the Company first knows, or reasonably
should have known, that such additional Registration Statement is
required hereunder; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, in the event the Company is
notified by the Commission that one of the above Registration
Statements will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further
review and comments, the Effectiveness Date as to such Registration
Statement shall be the fifth Trading Day following the date on which
the Company is so notified if such date precedes the dates required
above.
"EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 2(a).
"FILING DATE" means, with respect to the initial
Registration Statement required to be filed hereunder, the 30th day
following the Closing Date.
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"HOLDER" or "HOLDERS" means the holder or holders, as
the case may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.
"INDEMNIFIED PARTY" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5(c).
"INDEMNIFYING PARTY" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5(c).
"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 430A 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 a
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.
"REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means all of the shares of
Common Stock issuable upon conversion in full of the Debentures,
exercise in full of the Warrants, the shares issuable in lieu of the
payment of liquidated damages, together with any securities issued or
issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution
recapitalization or similar event with respect to the foregoing or
pursuant to any anti-dilution provisions contained in the Debentures or
the Warrants.
"REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means the registration
statements required to be filed hereunder and any additional
registration statements contemplated by Section 3(c), including (in
each case) 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.
"RULE 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time
to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the
Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"RULE 424" means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time
to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the
Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"WARRANTS" shall mean the Common Stock purchase warrants
issued to the Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
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2. SHELF REGISTRATION
(a) On or prior to each Filing Date, the Company shall prepare
and file with the Commission a "Shelf" Registration Statement covering the
resale of all Registrable Securities applicable to such Filing Date for an
offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. The Registration
Statement shall be on Form S-3 and shall contain (except if otherwise directed
by the Holders) substantially the "Plan of Distribution" attached hereto as
ANNEX A. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registration
Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as
possible after the filing thereof, but in any event prior to the applicable
Effectiveness Date, and shall use its best efforts to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the date which
is two years after the date that such Registration Statement is declared
effective by the Commission or such earlier date when all Registrable Securities
covered by such Registration Statement have been sold or may be sold without
volume restrictions pursuant to Rule 144(k) as determined by the counsel to the
Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and
acceptable to the Company's transfer agent and the affected Holders (the
"EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD"). The Company shall immediately notify the Holders via
facsimile of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement on the same day
that the Company receives notification of the effectiveness from the SEC.
(b) The Registration Statements to be filed hereunder shall
include 150% of the Registrable Securities.
(c) If: (i) a Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to
its Filing Date (if the Company files a Registration Statement without affording
the Holder the opportunity to review and comment on the same as required by
Section 3(a), the Company shall not be deemed to have satisfied clause (i)), or
(ii) the Company fails to file with the Commission a request for acceleration in
accordance with Rule 461 promulgated under the Securities Act, within five
Trading Days of the date that the Company is notified (orally or in writing,
whichever is earlier) by the Commission that a Registration Statement will not
be "reviewed," or not subject to further review, or (iii) prior to its
Effectiveness Date, the Company fails to file a pre-effective amendment and
otherwise respond in writing to comments made by the Commission in respect of
such Registration Statement within fifteen Trading Days after the receipt of
comments by or notice from the Commission that such amendment is required in
order for a Registration Statement to be declared effective, or (iv) a
Registration Statement filed or required to be filed hereunder is not declared
effective by the Commission by its Effectiveness Date, or (v) after the
Effectiveness Date, a Registration Statement ceases for any reason to remain
continuously effective as to all Registrable Securities for which it is required
to be effective, or the Holders are not permitted to utilize the Prospectus
therein to resell such Registrable Securities for 5 consecutive Trading Days or
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in any individual case an aggregate of 10 Trading Days during any 12 month
period (which need not be consecutive Trading Days) (any such failure or breach
being referred to as an "EVENT", and for purposes of clause (i) or (iv) the date
on which such Event occurs, or for purposes of clause (ii) the date on which
such five Trading Day period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause (iii) the
date which such 15 Trading Day period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause (v)
the date on which such 5 or 10 Trading Day period, as applicable, is exceeded
being referred to as "EVENT DATE"), then, on each such Event Date and every
monthly anniversary thereof until the applicable Event is cured, the Company
shall pay to each Holder an amount in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a
penalty, equal to 2.0% of (i) the purchase price paid by such Holder pursuant to
the Purchase Agreement, and (ii) if the Warrants are "in the money", the value
of any outstanding Warrants (valued at the difference between the average
Closing Bid Price during the applicable month and the Exercise Price multiplied
by the number of shares of Common Stock the Warrants are exercisable into) for
the first month following such Event Date and 2.0% per month thereafter. If the
Company fails to pay any liquidated damages pursuant to this Section in full
within seven days after the date payable, the Company will pay interest thereon
at a rate of 18% per annum (or such lesser maximum amount that is permitted to
be paid by applicable law) to the Holder, accruing daily from the date such
liquidated damages are due until such amounts, plus all such interest thereon,
are paid in full and at the option of the Holder, such liquidated damages be
paid in shares of Common Stock under the Warrant. The liquidated damages
pursuant to the terms hereof shall apply on a pro-rata basis for any portion of
a month prior to the cure of an Event.
3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
In connection with the Company's registration obligations
hereunder, the Company shall:
(a) Not less than five Business Days prior to the filing of each
Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto (including any document that would be incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall, (i) furnish to the
Holders copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents
(other than those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference) will
be subject to the review of such Holders, and (ii) cause its officers and
directors, counsel and independent certified public accountants to respond to
such inquiries as shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of respective
counsel to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the
Securities Act. The Company shall not file the Registration Statement or any
such Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto to which the Holders of
a majority of the Registrable Securities shall reasonably object, provided, the
Company is notified of such objection no later than 5 Business Days after the
Holders have been so furnished copies of such documents.
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to a Registration Statement and the
Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep a
Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable
Securities for the Effectiveness Period and prepare and file with the Commission
such additional Registration Statements in order to register for resale under
the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities; (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; (iii)
respond as promptly as reasonably possible, and in any event within ten days, to
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any comments received from the Commission with respect to a Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto and as promptly as reasonably possible
provide the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to
the Commission relating to a Registration Statement; and (iv) comply in all
material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act
with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by a
Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the
intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in such
Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) If the number of Registrable Securities issuable at any time
exceeds 85% of the number of shares of Common Stock then registered in a
Registration Statement, then the Company shall file an additional Registration
Statement covering the resale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders of
not less than 150% of the number of Registrable Securities required in order
that all Underlying Shares and all Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the
Warrants would then be registered in accordance with this Agreement.
(d) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold as
promptly as reasonably possible (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than
five Business Days prior to such filing) and (if requested by any such Person)
confirm such notice in writing no later than one Business Day following the day
(i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment to a Registration Statement is proposed to be filed; (B) when the
Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a "review" of such
Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on such
Registration Statement (the Company shall provide true and complete copies
thereof and all written responses thereto to each of the Holders); and (C) with
respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the
same has become effective; (ii) of any request by the Commission or any other
Federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a
Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; (iii) of the
issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the
initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) if at any time any of the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in any agreement
contemplated hereby ceases to be true and correct in all material respects; (v)
of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension
of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable
Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any
Proceeding for such purpose; and (vi) of the occurrence of any event or passage
of time that makes the financial statements included in a Registration Statement
ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement made in a Registration
Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that
requires any revisions to a Registration Statement, Prospectus or other
documents so that, in the case of a Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as
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the case may be, 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.
(e) Promptly deliver to each Holder, without charge, as many
copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and
each amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request. The
Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or
supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders in connection with the
offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and
any amendment or supplement thereto.
(f) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use
its best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling 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 during the Effectiveness Period
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, that the Company shall not be required to
qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so
qualified or subject the Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction
where it is not then so subject.
(g) Cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to
be delivered to a transferee pursuant to a Registration Statement, which
certificates shall be free, to the extent permitted by the Purchase Agreement,
of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in
such denominations and registered in such names as any such Holders may request.
(h) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated this Section 3,
as promptly as reasonably possible, prepare a supplement or amendment, including
a post-effective amendment, to a 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 a 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.
(i) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission.
(j) Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued,
obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of a
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.
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(k) Furnish to each Holder, without charge, at least one
conformed copy of each Registration Statement and each amendment thereto,
including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and all exhibits to the extent
requested by such Person (including those previously furnished or incorporated
by reference) promptly after the filing of such documents with the Commission.
4. REGISTRATION EXPENSES. All fees and expenses incident to the
performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne
by the Company whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to
the Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing
sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees
(including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings
required to be made with the Principal Market on which the Common Stock is then
listed for trading, and (B) in compliance with applicable state securities or
Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel
for the Company in connection with Blue Sky qualifications or exemptions of the
Registrable Securities and determination of the eligibility of the Registrable
Securities for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as requested by
the Holders )), (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses
of printing certificates for Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses
requested by the Holders), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses,
(iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and (v) fees and expenses
of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In addition, the Company
shall be responsible for all of its internal expenses incurred in connection
with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and
employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual
audit and the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the
Registrable Securities on any securities exchange as required hereunder.
5. INDEMNIFICATION
(a) INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless
each Holder, the officers, directors, agents, brokers (including brokers who
offer and sell Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or
any failure to perform under a margin call of Common Stock), investment advisors
and employees of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act) and the officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling
Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any
and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without
limitation, costs of preparation and attorneys' fees) and expenses
(collectively, "LOSSES"), as incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration
Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or
relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any
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Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except to the extent,
but only to the extent, that (1) such untrue statements or omissions are based
solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the
Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such
information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of
distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved
in writing by such Holder expressly for use in a Registration Statement, such
Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or (2) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section
3(d)(ii)-(vi), 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 6(e). The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of
the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding of which the Company is
aware in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) INDEMNIFICATION BY HOLDERS. Each Holder shall, severally and
not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers,
agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the
directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses (as
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment not subject
to appeal or review) arising solely out of or based solely upon any untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any
Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement
thereto, or arising solely out of or based solely upon any omission of a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement or omission is contained in any information so furnished in writing by
such Holder to the Company specifically for inclusion in such Registration
Statement or such Prospectus or to the extent that (1) such untrue statements or
omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in
writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the
extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed
method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly
approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration
Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or (2) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type
specified in Section 3(d)(ii)-(vi), 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 6(e). In no event shall the liability of
any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the
net proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities
giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
(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
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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 it shall be finally
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not
subject to appeal or further review) that such failure shall have proximately
and materially adversely 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: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in
writing to pay such fees and expenses; or (2) 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 (3)
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). The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any
settlement of any such Proceeding effected 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 Business 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
5(a) or 5(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 relates to
information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
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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, subject
to the limitations set forth in Section 5(c), 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 was available to
such party in accordance with its terms.
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.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), no Holder shall be required
to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the
proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable
Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that such
Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
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.
6. MISCELLANEOUS
(a) AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company
and the Holders of at least two-thirds of the then outstanding Registrable
Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from
the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the
rights of Holders and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of
other Holders may be given by Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable
Securities to which such waiver or consent relates; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except
in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence.
(b) NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. Neither the Company nor any of
its subsidiaries has entered, as of the date hereof, nor shall the Company or
any of its subsidiaries, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any
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agreement with respect to its securities, that would have the effect of
impairing the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise
conflicts with the provisions hereof. Except as and to the extent specified in
Schedule 6(b) hereto, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
previously entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with
respect to any of its securities to any Person that have not been satisfied in
full.
(c) NO PIGGYBACK ON REGISTRATIONS. Except as and to the extent
specified in Schedule 6(c) hereto, neither the Company nor any of its security
holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto) may include
securities of the Company in the Registration Statement other than the
Registrable Securities, and the Company shall not after the date hereof enter
into any agreement providing any such right to any of its security holders.
(d) COMPLIANCE. Each Holder covenants and 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.
(e) DISCONTINUED DISPOSITION. Each Holder agrees by its
acquisition of such Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from
the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Sections
3(d)(ii), (iii) or (vi), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of
such Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement until such Holder's
receipt of the copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration
Statement contemplated by Section 3(h), 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. The Company
agrees and Acknowledges that any periods during which the Holder is required to
discontinue the disposition of the Registrable Securities hereunder shall be
subject to the provisions of Section 2(c).
(f) PIGGY-BACK REGISTRATIONS. If at any time during the
Effectiveness Period there is not an effective Registration Statement covering
all of the Registrable Securities and the Company shall determine to prepare and
file with the Commission 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 each Holder written notice of such
determination and, if within fifteen 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; provided, that, the Company shall not be
required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 6(f)
that are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144(k) promulgated under the
Securities Act.
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(g) NOTICES. Any and all notices or other communications or
deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be delivered as
set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
(h) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of
the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company may not
assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of
each Holder. Each Holder may assign their respective rights hereunder in the
manner and to the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
(i) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
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. In
the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission, such
signature shall create a valid 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 were the original thereof.
(j) GOVERNING LAW. All questions concerning the construction,
validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by
and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of
New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each
party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and
federal courts sitting in the City of New York, borough of Manhattan, for the
adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any
transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably
waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim
that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that
such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably
waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any
such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the
address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such
service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice
thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right
to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Each party hereto hereby
irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and
all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. If either party shall
commence a Proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, then the
prevailing party in such Proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for
its attorneys fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation,
preparation and prosecution of such Proceeding.
(k) CUMULATIVE REMEDIES. The remedies provided herein are
cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
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(l) SEVERABILITY. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction
of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative
means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated
by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and
declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the
remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of
such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(m) HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience
of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(n) INDEPENDENT NATURE OF PURCHASERS' OBLIGATIONS AND RIGHTS. The
obligations of each Purchaser hereunder is several and not joint with the
obligations of any other Purchaser hereunder, and no Purchaser shall be
responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other
Purchaser hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or
document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant
hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a
partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or
create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert with
respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Each Purchaser 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 Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any
proceeding for such purpose.
********************
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration
Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
VIRAGEN, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Exec. Vice President and CFO
[PURCHASERS' SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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[PURCHASERS' SIGNATURE PAGE]
PALISADES EQUITY FUND L.P.
By: /s/ XXXX X. XXXXXXX
-------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
Title: General Partner
CRESCENT INTERNATIONAL LTD
By: /s/ MAXI BREZZI
-------------------------------------
Name: Maxi Brezzi
Title: Authorized Signatory
ALPHA CAPITAL AG
By: /s/ XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX
-------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Director
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Selling Stockholders and any of their pledgees, assignees and
successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their shares
of Common Stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the
shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or
negotiated prices. The Selling Stockholders may use any one or more of the
following methods when selling shares:
o ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the
broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
o 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;
o purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the
broker-dealer for its account;
o an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the
applicable exchange;
o privately negotiated transactions;
o settlement of short sales
o broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a
specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
o a combination of any such methods of sale; and
o any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
The Selling Stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the
Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus. Broker-dealers
engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to
participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from
the Selling Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the
purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated. The
Selling Stockholders do not expect these commissions and discounts to exceed
what is customary in the types of transactions involved.
The selling stockholder may from time to time pledge or grant a
security interest in some or all of the Shares or common stock or Warrant owned
by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations,
the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of common stock
from time to time under this prospectus, or under an amendment to this
prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities
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Act of 1933 amending the list of selling stockholders to include the pledgee,
transferee or other successors in interest as selling stockholders under this
prospectus.
The selling stockholders also may transfer the shares of common stock
in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other
successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of
this prospectus.
The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are
involved in selling the shares may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the
meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any
commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the
resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting
commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. The Selling Stockholders have
informed the Company that it does not have any agreement or understanding,
directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Common Stock.
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.
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