REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of June 19, 2003, by and among Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and the investors signatory hereto (each a
"Purchaser" and 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:
"Effectiveness Date" means, with respect to the Registration
Statement required to be filed hereunder, the earlier of (a) the 50th
calendar day following the Closing Date (70th calendar day in the event
of a full review by the Commission) and (b) the fifth Trading Day
following the date on which the Company is notified by the Commission
that the Registration Statement will not be reviewed or is no longer
subject to further review and comments.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2(a).
"Filing Date" means, with respect to the Registration
Statement required to be filed hereunder, the 20th calendar day
following the Closing Date.
"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).
"Losses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
"Proceeding" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or
proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial
proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in the 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 the Registration
Statement, and all other amendments
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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 the Shares and the Warrant
Shares, together with any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable
upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization
or similar event with respect to the foregoing or in connection with
any anti-dilution provisions in the Warrant.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statements
required to be filed hereunder, including (in each case) the
Prospectus, amendments and supplements to the 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 the 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.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
2. Registration.
(a) On or prior to the Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file
with the Commission the Registration Statement covering the resale of all
of the Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a continuous
basis pursuant to Rule 415. The Registration Statement required hereunder
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
the Registration shall be on another appropriate form in accordance
herewith). The Registration Statement required hereunder shall contain
(except if otherwise directed by the Holders) the "Plan of Distribution"
attached hereto as Annex A. The Company shall cause the Registration
Statement to become effective and remain effective as provided herein. The
Company shall use its commercially reasonable 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 not later
than the Effectiveness Date, and shall use its commercially reasonable
efforts to keep the Registration Statement continuously effective under the
Securities Act until the date which is two years after the Closing Date or
such later date when all Registrable Securities covered by the Registration
Statement (a) have been sold pursuant to the Registration Statement or an
exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act or (b)
may be sold without volume restrictions pursuant to Rule 144(k) as
determined by the counsel to the
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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").
(b) 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
this clause (i)); provided, however, that if a Holder fails to provide the
Company with any information that is required to be provided in the
Registration Statement with respect to such Holder pursuant to Section
3(k), then the Filing Date shall be extended until two Trading Days
following the date of receipt by the Company of such required information,
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 the date when such Registration Statement is
first declared effective by the Commission, 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 ten
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 on or before
the Effectiveness Date, or (v) after a Registration Statement is first
declared effective by the Commission, it 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 in any such
cases ten Trading Days (which need not be consecutive days) in the
aggregate during any 12-month period (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 clauses
(iii) the date which such ten Trading Day period is exceeded, or for
purposes of clause (v) the date on which such ten Trading Day period is
exceeded being referred to as "Event Date"), then in addition to any other
rights the Holders may have hereunder or under applicable law: (x) on each
such Event Date the Company shall pay to each Holder an amount in cash, as
liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to 1.5% of the aggregate
purchase price paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for
any Registrable Securities then held by such Holder; and (y) on each
monthly anniversary of each such Event Date (if the applicable Event shall
not have been cured by such date) 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% of the aggregate purchase price paid by
such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for any Registrable
Securities then held by such Holder. 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.
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(c) If during the Effectiveness Period, the number of Registrable
Securities at any time exceeds 100% of the number of shares of Common Stock
then registered in a Registration Statement, then the Company shall file as
soon as reasonably practicable but in any case prior to the 30th day
following the date such number is exceeded, an additional Registration
Statement covering the resale of by the Holders of not less than all of
such Registrable Securities and the Company shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared
effective as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter.
3. Registration Procedures
In connection with the Company's registration obligations hereunder,
the Company shall:
(a) Not less than three Trading Days prior to the filing of the
Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto, the Company shall, (i) furnish to the Holders copies of
all such documents proposed to be filed (including documents incorporated
or deemed incorporated by reference to the extent requested by such Person)
which documents 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 in good faith on the advice
of counsel to a Holder.
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including
post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep the 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 Trading Days, to any comments received from the
Commission with respect to the Registration Statement or any amendment
thereto and, as promptly as reasonably possible, upon request, provide the
Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to the
Commission relating to the 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 the Registration Statement during the applicable period in
accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof
set forth in the Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus
as so supplemented.
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(c) 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 two
Trading Days prior to such filing) and (if requested by any such Person)
confirm such notice in writing promptly following the day (i)(A) when a
Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement is proposed to be filed; (B) when the Commission
notifies the Company whether there will be a "review" of the Registration
Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on the
Registration Statement (the Company shall upon request provide true and
complete copies thereof and all written responses thereto to each of the
Holders); and (C) with respect to the 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 during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement
for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus
or for additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission or
any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement covering any or
all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for
that purpose; (iv) 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 (v) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time that
makes the financial statements included in the Registration Statement
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 untrue in any material respect or that
requires any revisions to the Registration Statement, Prospectus or other
documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, as 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.
(d) Use its commercially reasonable 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.
(e) Furnish to each Holder, without charge, at least one conformed copy
of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, including
financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated therein by reference to the extent requested by such
Person, 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.
(f) 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 in
connection with resales by the Holder of Registrable Securities. The
Company hereby consents to the use of such
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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, except after the giving on any notice pursuant to Section 3(c).
(g) Prior to any resale of Registrable Securities by a Holder, use its
commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with
the selling Holders in connection with the registration or qualification
(or exemption from the Registration or qualification) of such Registrable
Securities for the resale by the Holder under the securities or Blue Sky
laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder
reasonably requests in writing, to keep the Registration or qualification
(or exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to
do any and all other acts or things reasonably necessary to enable the
disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by
the 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, subject the Company to any material tax in any
such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or file a general consent
to service of process in any such jurisdiction.
(h) If requested by the Holders, cooperate with the Holders to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing
Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee pursuant to the
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.
(i) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(c)(v),
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.
(j) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission.
(k) The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the
Company a certified statement as to the number of shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned by such Holder and, if required by the Commission, the
person thereof that has voting and dispositive control over the Shares.
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
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and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with
respect to filings required to be made with the Trading Market on which the
Common Stock is then listed for trading, and (B) in compliance with applicable
state securities or Blue Sky laws), (ii) printing expenses (including, without
limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities and of
printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is reasonably requested by
the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the
Registration Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv)
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (v) Securities Act liability
insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance, and (vi) 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. The
Company shall not be responsible for any Holder's brokerage commissions or other
underwriting discount paid by any Holder in connection with the sale of any
Registrable Securities.
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 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,
reasonable attorneys' fees) and expenses (collectively, "Losses"), as
incurred, to the extent arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the 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 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 the
Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in
any amendment or supplement thereto (it being understood that the Holder
has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose) or (2) in the case of an
occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(c)(ii)-(v), 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(d). The Company shall notify the
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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 incurred, to the extent arising out of or based
upon: (x) such Holder's failure to comply with the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act or (y) any untrue or alleged 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 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 not misleading (i) 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 the Registration Statement or
such Prospectus or (ii) 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 (it being understood that the Holder has approved
Annex A hereto for this purpose), 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(c)(ii)-(v),
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(d). 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 have the right to 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 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 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
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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; (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 the reasonable fees and expenses of one separate 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 reasonable 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; provided, that the Indemnified Party shall promptly
reimburse the Indemnifying Party for that portion of such fees and expenses
applicable to such actions for which such Indemnified Party is not entitled
to indemnification hereunder, determined based upon the relative faults of
the parties.
(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 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.
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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. 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, except in the case of fraud by such Holder.
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) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a Holder,
of any of their 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. The Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would
not provide adequate compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a
breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further
agrees that, in the event of any action for specific performance in respect
of such breach, it shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be
adequate.
(b) No Piggyback on Registrations. Except for up to 208,000 shares of
Common Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants issued pursuant
to the warrant agreement by and between the Company and Xxxxx Xxxxxx Co.,
Inc. dated October 28, 1999 (the "Xxxxx Xxxxxx Warrants"), 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 a
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. Except as set forth in the
SEC Reports and as set forth in this subsection, no Person has any right to
cause the Company to effect the registration under the Securities Act of
any securities of the Company. Subject to, and in accordance with, the
provisions of Section 4.4 of the Purchase Agreement, the Company shall not
file any other registration statement until after the Effective Date.
(c) 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.
(d) 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 Section 3(c), such
Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable
Securities under the Registration Statement until such
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Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or
amended Registration Statement 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.
(e) 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 the
stock option or other employee benefit plans, then the Company shall send
to each Holder a written notice of such determination and, if within
fifteen days after the date of such notice, any such Holder shall so
request in writing, subject to the rights of the holders of Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Warrants, the Company shall include in such registration statement all or
any part of such Registrable Securities such Holder requests to be
registered, subject to customary underwriter cutbacks applicable to all
holders of registration rights.
(f) 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 each Holder of the then outstanding Registrable Securities.
(g) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries
required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at
the facsimile number provided for below prior to 6:30 p.m. (New York City
time) on a Trading Day, (ii) the Trading Day after the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at
the facsimile number provided for below later than 6:30 p.m. (New York City
time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on such
date, (iii) the Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by
nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual
receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The
address for such notices and communications shall be delivered and
addressed 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. Each Holder may
assign their respective rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons
as permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
11
(i) Execution and 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 agrees that all legal proceedings concerning the
interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective
affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents) shall
be commenced exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in the
City of New York, New York. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably submits to
the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the
City of New York, New York for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or
in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or
discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of the any of
this Agreement), 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 hereto hereby irrevocably waives personal service
of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or
proceeding by delivering a copy thereof via overnight delivery (with
evidence of delivery) 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 an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this
Agreement, then the prevailing party in such action or 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 action or proceeding.
(k) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative
and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(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 commercially 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
12
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.
*************************
13
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement as of the date first written above.
VION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
----------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
[PURCHASERS' SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW]
[PURCHASER'S RRA SIGNATURE PAGE]
AIG DKR SOUNDSHORE
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
---------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Trading Manager
OTAPE INVESTMENTS LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
--------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: CFO
GRYPHON MASTER FUND, LP
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Garden
--------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Garden
Title: Authorized Agent
CRANSHIRE CAPITAL L.P.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: President, Downsview Capital, Inc.,
its General Partner
OMICRON MASTER TRUST
By: Omicron Capital L.P., as subadvisor
By: Omicron Capital Inc., its general partner
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
------------------
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, President
15
[Purchasers' signature pages to RRA, continued]
CAPITAL VENTURES INTERNATIONAL
By HEIGHTS CAPITAL MANGEMENT, its authorized agent
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
-------------------
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Investment Manager
ALPHA CAPITAL AG
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
-------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Director
PALISADES MASTER FUND L.P.
By: PEF Advisors, LLC, its authorized agent
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
Title: General Partner
CRESCENT INTERNATIONAL LTD.
By: /s/ Xxx Xxxx/ Maxi Brezzi
-------------------------
Name: Xxx Xxxx/ Maxi Brezzi
Title: Authorized Signatories
The Tail Wind Fund Limited
By: Tail Wind Advisory & Management Ltd.
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx
---------------
Xxxxx Xxxxx, Chief Executive Officer
Spectra CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: President of the General Partner
16
TRUK OPPORTUNITY FUND
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
--------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Title: Principal, Atoll Asset Management, LLC,
Managing Member of Truk Opportunity Fund, LLC
XXXXX INVESTMENTS
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Director
BARUCHA LTD.
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
-----------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Owner
17
ANNEX A
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 Stockholders may from time to time pledge or grant a
security interest in some or all of the shares of common stock 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 Act of 1933
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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 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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