REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
(this
"Agreement"),
dated
as of December 13, 2007, by and among General Steel Holdings, Inc., a Nevada
corporation, with headquarters located at Xxxx 0000, Kun Tai International
Mansion Building, Yi No 12, Xxxx Xxxx Men Xxx Ave., Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx
000000, Xxxxxx'x Xxxxxxxx of China (the "Company"),
and
the undersigned buyers (each, a "Buyer",
and
collectively, the "Buyers").
WHEREAS:
A. In
connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the parties
hereto of even date herewith (the "Securities
Purchase Agreement"),
the
Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in
the Securities Purchase Agreement, to issue and sell to each Buyer (i) senior
convertible notes of the Company (the "Notes"),
which
will, among other things, be convertible into shares of the Company's common
stock, $0.001 par value per share (the "Common
Stock",
as
converted, the "Conversion
Shares")
in
accordance with the terms of the Notes, and (ii) warrants (the "Warrants"),
which
will be exercisable to purchase shares of Common Stock (as exercised
collectively, the "Warrant
Shares").
B. The
Notes
bear interest, which at the option of the Company, subject to certain
conditions, may be paid in shares of Common Stock (the "Interest
Shares").
C. To
induce
the Buyers to execute and deliver the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company
has agreed to provide certain registration rights under the Securities Act
of
1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or any similar
successor statute (collectively, the "1933
Act"),
and
applicable state securities laws.
NOW,
THEREFORE,
in
consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein and
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are
hereby acknowledged, the Company and each of the Buyers hereby agree as
follows:
1. Definitions.
Capitalized
terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective
meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement. As used in this
Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
a. "Additional
Effective Date"
means
the date the Additional Registration Statement is declared effective by the
SEC.
b. "Additional
Effectiveness Deadline"
means
the date seventy-five (75) calendar days after the Closing Date.
c. "Additional
Filing Date"
means
the date on which the Additional Registration Statement is filed with the
SEC.
d. "Additional
Filing Deadline"
means
if Cutback Shares are required to be included in any Additional Registration
Statement, the later of (i) the date sixty (60) days after the date
substantially all of the Registrable Securities registered
under the immediately preceding Registration Statement are sold
and (ii)
the date six (6) months from the Initial Effective Date or the last Additional
Effective Date, as applicable.
e. "Additional
Registrable Securities"
means
(i) any Cutback Shares not previously included on a Registration Statement
and
(ii) any capital stock of the Company issued or issuable with respect to the
Notes, the Conversion Shares, the Interest Shares, the Warrant Shares, the
Warrants or Cutback Shares, as applicable, as a result of any stock split,
stock
dividend, recapitalization, exchange or similar event or otherwise, without
regard to any limitations on conversions of the Notes.
f. "Additional
Registration Statement"
means a
registration statement or registration statements of the Company filed under
the
1933 Act covering any Additional Registrable Securities.
g. "Additional
Required Registration Amount"
means
any Cutback Shares not previously included on a Registration Statement, all
subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2(f), without regard to any
limitations on conversions of the Notes.
h. "Business
Day"
means
any day other than Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks
in the City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain
closed.
i. "Closing
Date"
shall
have the meaning set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement.
j. "Cutback
Shares"
means
any of the Initial Required Registration Amount (without regard to clause (II)
in the definition thereof) of Registrable Securities not included in all
Registration Statements previously declared effective hereunder as a result
of a
limitation on the maximum number of shares of Common Stock of the Company
permitted to be registered by the staff of the SEC pursuant to Rule
415.
k. "Effective
Date"
means
the Initial Effective Date and the Additional Effective Date, as
applicable.
l. "Effectiveness
Deadline"
means
the Initial Effectiveness Deadline and the Additional Effectiveness Deadline,
as
applicable.
m. "Filing
Date"
means
the Initial Filing Date and the Additional Filing Date, as applicable.
n. "Filing
Deadline"
means
the Initial Filing Deadline and the Additional Filing Deadline, as
applicable.
o. "Initial
Effective Date"
means
the date the Initial Registration Statement has been declared effective by
the
SEC.
2
p. "Initial Effectiveness
Deadline"
means
the earlier of the date which is (i) in the event that the Initial Registration
Statement is not subject to a full review by the SEC, ninety (90) calendar
days
after the Closing Date or (ii) in the event that the Registration Statement
is
subject to a full review by the SEC, one-hundred and twenty (120) calendar
days
after the Closing Date or (iii) in the event the SEC raises concerns with the
number of shares being registered on a secondary basis pursuant to Rule 415,
one
hundred and eighty (180) days after the Closing Date.
q. "Initial
Filing Date"
means
the date the Initial Registration Statement has been filed with the
SEC.
r. "Initial
Filing Deadline"
means
the date sixty (60) calendar days after the Closing Date.
s. "Initial
Registrable Securities"
means
(i) the Conversion Shares issued or issuable upon conversion and/or redemption
of the Notes, (ii) the Interest Shares issued or issuable with respect to the
Notes, (iii) the Warrant Shares issued or issuable upon exercise of the
Warrants, and (iv) any capital stock of the Company issued or issuable with
respect to the Conversion Shares, the Notes, the Warrant Shares, the Warrants
and the Interest Shares as a result of any stock split, stock dividend,
recapitalization, exchange or similar event or otherwise, without regard to
any
limitations on conversions or redemptions of the Notes.
t. "Initial
Registration Statement"
means a
registration statement or registration statements of the Company filed under
the
1933 Act covering the Initial Registrable Securities.
u. "Initial
Required Registration Amount"
means
(I) 120% of the sum of (i) the number of Conversion Shares issued and issuable
pursuant to the Notes as of the Trading Day (as defined in the Notes)
immediately preceding the applicable date of determination, (ii) the number
of
Warrant Shares issued or issuable pursuant to the Warrants, as of the Trading
Day immediately preceding the applicable date of determination and (iii) the
number of Interest Shares issued or issuable with respect to the Notes as of
the
Trading Day immediately preceding the applicable date of determination assuming
that the Notes remain outstanding through the Maturity Date (as defined in
the
Notes), each subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2(f), without regard
to any limitations on conversions or redemptions of the Notes or (II) such
other
amount as may be required by the staff of the SEC pursuant to Rule 415 with
any
cutback applied pro rata to all Registrable Securities.
v. "Investor"
means a
Buyer or any transferee or assignee thereof to whom a Buyer assigns its rights
as a holder of Registrable Securities under this Agreement and who agrees to
become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with Section
9
and any transferee or assignee thereof to whom a transferee or assignee assigns
its rights as a holder of Registrable Securities under this Agreement and who
agrees to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with
Section 9.
3
w. "Person"
means
an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture,
a
corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization and a government or any
department or agency thereof.
x. "register,"
"registered,"
and
"registration"
refer
to a registration effected by preparing and filing one or more Registration
Statements (as defined below) in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant
to
Rule 415 and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration
Statement(s) by the SEC.
y. "Registrable
Securities"
means
the Initial Registrable Securities and the Additional Registrable
Securities.
z. "Registration
Statement"
means
the Initial Registration Statement and the Additional Registration Statement,
as
applicable.
aa. "Required
Holders"
means
Investors that hold at least 80% of the Registrable Securities.
bb. "Rule
415"
means
Rule 415 promulgated under the 1933 Act or any successor rule providing for
offering securities on a continuous or delayed basis.
cc. "SEC"
means
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
2. Registration.
a. Initial
Mandatory Registration.
The
Company shall prepare, and, as soon as practicable but in no event later than
the Initial Filing Deadline, file with the SEC the Initial Registration
Statement on Form S-3 covering the resale of at least the number of shares
of
Common Stock equal to the Initial Required Registration Amount determined as
of
date the Registration Statement is initially filed with the SEC. In the event
that Form S-3 is unavailable for such a registration, the Company shall use
such
other form as is available for such a registration on another form reasonably
acceptable to the Required Holders, subject to the provisions of Section 2(e).
The Initial Registration Statement prepared pursuant hereto shall register
for
resale that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Initial Required
Registration Amount determined as of the date such Initial Registration
Statement is initially filed with the SEC. The Initial Registration Statement
shall contain (except if otherwise directed by the Required Holders) the
"Selling
Stockholders"
and
"Plan
of Distribution"
sections for the Investors in substantially the form attached hereto as
Exhibit
B.
The
Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to have the Initial Registration
Statement declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable, but in no event
later than the Initial Effectiveness Deadline. By 9:30 a.m. New York time on
the
Business Day following the Initial Effective Date, the Company shall file with
the SEC in accordance with Rule 424 under the 1933 Act the final prospectus
to
be used in connection with sales pursuant to such Initial Registration
Statement.
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b. Additional
Mandatory Registrations.
The
Company shall prepare, and, as soon as practicable but in no event later than
the Additional Filing Deadline, file with the SEC a Registration Statement
on
Form S-3 covering the resale of all of the Additional Registrable Securities
not
previously registered on an Additional Registration Statement hereunder.
To the extent the staff of the SEC does not permit the Additional Required
Registration Amount to be registered on an Additional Registration Statement,
the Company shall file Additional Registration Statements successively trying
to
register on each such Additional Registration Statement the maximum number
of
remaining Additional Registrable Securities until the Additional Required
Registration Amount has been registered with the SEC. In the event that Form
S-3
is unavailable for such a registration, the Company shall use such other form
as
is available for such a registration on a form reasonably acceptable to the
Required Holders, subject to the provisions of Section 2(e). Each Additional
Registration Statement prepared pursuant hereto shall register for resale that
number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Additional Required Registration
Amount determined as of the date such Additional Registration Statement is
initially filed with the SEC. Each Additional Registration Statement shall
contain (except if otherwise directed by the Required Holders) the "Selling
Stockholders"
and
"Plan
of Distribution"
sections in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit
B.
The
Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to have each Additional
Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable,
but
in no event later than the Additional Effectiveness Deadline. By 9:30 am on
the
Business Day following the Additional Effective Date, the Company shall file
with the SEC in accordance with Rule 424 under the 1933 Act the final prospectus
to be used in connection with sales pursuant to such Additional Registration
Statement.
c. Allocation
of Registrable Securities.
The
initial number of Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement
and any increase or decrease in the number of Registrable Securities included
therein shall be allocated pro rata among the Investors based on the number
of
Registrable Securities held by each Investor at the time the Registration
Statement covering such initial number of Registrable Securities or increase
or
decrease thereof is declared effective by the SEC. In the event that an Investor
sells or otherwise transfers any of such Investor's Registrable Securities,
each
transferee shall be allocated a pro rata portion of the then remaining number
of
Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement for such
transferor. Any shares of Common Stock included in a Registration Statement
and
which remain allocated to any Person which ceases to hold any Registrable
Securities covered by such Registration Statement shall be allocated to the
remaining Investors, pro rata based on the number of Registrable Securities
then
held by such Investors which are covered by such Registration Statement. In
no
event shall the Company include any securities other than Registrable Securities
on any Registration Statement without the prior written consent of the Required
Holders.
d. Legal
Counsel.
Subject
to Section 5 hereof, the Required Holders shall have the right to select one
legal counsel to review and oversee any registration pursuant to this Section
2
("Legal
Counsel"),
which
shall be Xxxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxx LLP or such other counsel as thereafter
designated by the Required Holders. The Company and Legal Counsel shall
reasonably cooperate with each other in performing the Company's obligations
under this Agreement.
e. Ineligibility
for Form S-3.
In the
event that Form S-3 is not available for the registration of the resale of
Registrable Securities hereunder, the Company shall (i) register the resale
of
the Registrable Securities on a form reasonably acceptable to the Required
Holders and (ii) undertake to register the Registrable Securities on Form S-3
as
soon as the use of
such
form for such purpose is permitted, provided that the Company shall maintain
the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement then in effect until such time
as a
Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the Registrable Securities has
been
declared effective by the SEC.
5
f. Sufficient
Number of Shares Registered.
In the
event the number of shares available under a Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(b) is insufficient to cover all of the Registrable
Securities required to be covered by such Registration Statement or an
Investor's allocated portion of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section
2(b), the Company shall, if the Registration Statement has not been declared
effective, amend the applicable Registration Statement, or, in all other cases,
file a new Registration Statement (on the short form available therefor, if
applicable), so as to cover at least the Initial Required Registration Amount
or
the Additional Required Registration Amount, as applicable, as of the Trading
Day immediately preceding the date of the filing of such amendment or new
Registration Statement, in each case, as soon as practicable, but in any event
not later than fifteen (15) days after the necessity therefor arises. The
Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such amendment or new
Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable following
the
filing thereof. For purposes of the foregoing provision, the number of shares
available under a Registration Statement shall be deemed "insufficient to cover
all of the Registrable Securities" if at any time the number of shares of Common
Stock available for resale under the Registration Statement is less than the
product determined by multiplying (i) the Initial Required Registration Amount
or Additional Required Registration Amount, as applicable, as of such time
by
(ii) 0.90. The calculation set forth in the foregoing sentence shall be made
without regard to any limitations on the conversion of the Notes and such
calculation shall assume that the Notes are then convertible into shares of
Common Stock at the then prevailing Conversion Rate (as defined in the
Notes).
g. Effect
of Failure to File and Obtain and Maintain Effectiveness of Registration
Statement.
If (i)
a Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities required
to
be covered thereby and required to be filed by the Company pursuant to this
Agreement is (A) not filed with the SEC on or before the respective Filing
Deadline (a "Filing
Failure")
or (B)
not declared effective by the SEC on or before the Effectiveness Deadline (an
"Effectiveness
Failure")
provided that such Effectiveness Failure is not caused by the Legal Counsel’s
unreasonable withholding of consent to request acceleration with the
SEC or
(ii)
on any day after the Effective Date sales of all of the Registrable Securities
required to be included on such Registration Statement cannot be made (other
than during an Allowable Grace Period (as defined in Section 3(r)) pursuant to
such Registration Statement or otherwise (including, without limitation, because
of a failure to keep such Registration Statement effective, to disclose such
information as is necessary for sales to be made pursuant to such Registration
Statement or to register a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock or to
maintain the listing of the shares of Common Stock) (a "Maintenance
Failure")
then,
as partial relief for the damages to any Investor by reason of any such delay
in
or reduction of its ability to sell the underlying shares of Common Stock (which
remedy shall not be exclusive of any other remedies available at law or in
equity), the Company shall pay to each Investor relating to such Registration
Statement an amount in cash equal to (A) one percent (1.0%) of the aggregate
Purchase Price (as such term is defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement)
of
such Investor's Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement
on each of the following dates: (i) the day of a Filing Failure and on
every
thirtieth day (pro rated for periods totaling less than thirty (30) days)
thereafter until the date such Filing Failure is cured; (ii) the day of an
Effectiveness Failure and on every thirtieth day (pro rated for periods totaling
less than thirty (30) days) thereafter until the date such Effectiveness Failure
is cured; and (iii) the initial day of a Maintenance Failure and on every
thirtieth day (pro rated for periods totaling less than thirty (30) days)
thereafter until the date such Maintenance Failure is cured. The payments to
which an Investor shall be entitled pursuant to this Section 2(f) are referred
to herein as "Registration
Delay Payments."
Registration Delay Payments shall be paid on the earlier of (I) the last day
of
the calendar month during which such Registration Delay Payments are incurred
and (II) the third Business Day after the event or failure giving rise to the
Registration Delay Payments is cured. In the event the Company fails to make
Registration Delay Payments in a timely manner, such Registration Delay Payments
shall bear interest at the rate of one and one-half percent (1.5%) per month
(prorated for partial months) until paid in full.
6
h. Neither
the Company nor any Subsidiary (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement)
nor affiliate thereof shall identify any Buyer as an underwriter in any public
disclosure or filing with the SEC or any Principal Market (as defined in the
Securities Purchase Agreement) or any Trading Market (as defined in the
Securities Purchase Agreement) and any Buyer being deemed an underwriter by
the
SEC shall not relieve the Company of any obligations it has under this Agreement
or any other Transaction Document (as defined in the Securities Purchase
Agreement) provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit the Company
from including the disclosure found in the "Plan of Distribution" section
attached hereto as Exhibit B in the Registration Statement.
3. Related
Obligations.
At
such
time as the Company is obligated to file a Registration Statement with the
SEC
pursuant to Section 2(a), 2(b), 2(e) or 2(f), the Company will use its
reasonable best efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities
in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof and, pursuant
thereto, the Company shall have the following obligations:
a. The
Company shall submit to the SEC, within two (2) Business Days after the Company
learns that no review of a particular Registration Statement will be made by
the
staff of the SEC or that the staff has no further comments on a particular
Registration Statement, as the case may be, a request for acceleration of
effectiveness of such Registration Statement to a time and date not later than
48 hours after the submission of such request. The
Company shall keep each Registration Statement effective pursuant to Rule 415
at
all times until the earlier of (i) the date as of which the Investors may sell
all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement without
restriction pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any successor thereto) promulgated
under
the 1933 Act or (ii) the date on which the Investors shall have sold all of
the
Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement (the "Registration
Period").
The
Company shall ensure that each Registration Statement (including any amendments
or supplements thereto and prospectuses contained therein) shall not contain
any
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 the case
of
prospectuses, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made) not
misleading.
7
b. The
Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including
post-effective amendments) and supplements to a Registration Statement and
the
prospectus used in connection with such Registration Statement, which prospectus
is to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated under the 1933 Act, as may
be
necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective at all times during
the
Registration Period, and, during such period, comply with the provisions of
the
1933 Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities of the
Company covered by such Registration Statement until such time as all of such
Registrable Securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with the
intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth
in
such Registration Statement. In the case of amendments and supplements to a
Registration Statement which are required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement
(including pursuant to this Section 3(b)) by reason of the Company filing a
report on Form 10-Q, Form 10-K or any analogous report under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934
Act"),
the
Company shall have incorporated such report by reference into such Registration
Statement, if applicable, or shall file such amendments or supplements with
the
SEC on the same day on which the 1934 Act report is filed which created the
requirement for the Company to amend or supplement such Registration
Statement.
c. The
Company shall (A) permit Legal Counsel to review and comment upon (i) a
Registration Statement at least five (5) Business Days prior to its filing
with
the SEC and (ii) all amendments and supplements to all Registration Statements
(except for any reports filed under the 1934 Act which may be deemed to
supplement or amend the Registration Statement, so long as such report was
not
filed solely for such purpose) within a reasonable number of days prior to
their
filing with the SEC, and (B) not file any Registration Statement or amendment
or
supplement thereto in a form to which Legal Counsel reasonably and timely
objects. The Company shall not submit a request for acceleration of the
effectiveness of a Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto
without the prior approval of Legal Counsel, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Company shall furnish to Legal Counsel,
without charge, (i) copies of any correspondence from the SEC or the staff
of
the SEC to the Company or its representatives relating to any Registration
Statement, (ii) promptly after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC,
one
copy of any Registration Statement and any amendment(s) thereto, including
financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by
reference, if requested by an Investor, and all exhibits (unless such
Registration Statement is available on XXXXX) and (iii) upon the effectiveness
of any Registration Statement, one copy of the prospectus included in such
Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto. The Company
shall reasonably cooperate with Legal Counsel in performing the Company's
obligations pursuant to this Section 3.
d. The
Company shall furnish to each Investor whose Registrable Securities are included
in any Registration Statement, without charge, (i) promptly after the same
is
prepared and filed with the SEC, at least one copy of such Registration
Statement and any amendment(s) thereto, including financial statements and
schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference, if requested by
an
Investor, all exhibits and each preliminary prospectus (unless such Registration
Statement is available on XXXXX), (ii) upon the effectiveness of any
Registration Statement, ten (10) copies of the prospectus included in such
Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto (unless such
amendments and supplements are available on XXXXX) and (iii) such other
documents, including copies of the foregoing (regardless of whether such
documents are available upon XXXXX) and any preliminary or final prospectus,
as such Investor may reasonably request from time to time in order to facilitate
the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such
Investor.
8
e. The
Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to (i) register and qualify,
unless an exemption from registration and qualification applies, the resale
by
Investors of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement
under such other securities or "blue sky" laws of all applicable jurisdictions
in the United States, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions, such
amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such
registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the
effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii) take such other
actions as may be reasonably necessary to maintain such registrations and
qualifications in effect at all times during the Registration Period, and (iv)
take all other actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the
Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions; provided,
however,
that
the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition
thereto to (x) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not
otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(e), (y) subject itself
to general taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (z) file a general consent
to
service of process in any such jurisdiction. The Company shall promptly notify
Legal Counsel and each Investor who holds Registrable Securities of the receipt
by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the
registration or qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale
under the securities or "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction in the United States
or its receipt of notice of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding
for
such purpose.
f. The
Company shall notify Legal Counsel and each Investor in writing of the happening
of any event, as promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event,
as
a result of which the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as then
in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omission to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading (provided that in no event shall such notice contain any
material, nonpublic information), and, subject to Section 3(r), promptly prepare
a supplement or amendment to such Registration Statement to correct such untrue
statement or omission, and deliver ten (10) copies of such supplement or
amendment to Legal Counsel and each Investor (or such other number of copies
as
Legal Counsel or such Investor may reasonably request) (unless such supplements
or amendments are available on XXXXX). The Company shall also promptly notify
Legal Counsel and each Investor in writing (i) when a prospectus or any
prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and when
a
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment has become effective
(notification of such effectiveness shall be delivered to Legal Counsel and
each
Investor by facsimile no later than the next Business Day of such effectiveness
and by overnight mail), (ii) of any request by the SEC for amendments or
supplements to a Registration Statement or related prospectus or related
information, and (iii) of the Company's reasonable determination that a
post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be
appropriate.
g. The
Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any
stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of a Registration Statement,
or
the suspension of the qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for
sale in any jurisdiction and, if such an order or suspension is issued, to
obtain the withdrawal of such order or suspension at the earliest possible
moment and to notify Legal Counsel and each Investor who holds
Registrable Securities being sold of the issuance of such order and the
resolution thereof or its receipt of notice of the initiation or threat of
any
proceeding for such purpose.
9
h. If
any
Investor is deemed to be, alleged to be or reasonably believes it may be deemed
or alleged to be, an underwriter or is required under applicable securities
law
to be described in the Registration Statement as an underwriter of Registrable
Securities, at the reasonable request of such Investor, the Company shall
furnish to such Investor, on the date of the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement and thereafter from time to time on such dates as an Investor may
reasonably request (i) a letter, dated such date, from the Company's independent
certified public accountants in form and substance as is customarily given
by
independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten
public offering, addressed to the Investors, and (ii) an opinion, dated as
of
such date, of counsel representing the Company for purposes of such Registration
Statement, in form, scope and substance as is customarily given in an
underwritten public offering, addressed to the Investors.
i. If
any
Investor is deemed to be, alleged to be or reasonably believes it may be deemed
or alleged to be, an underwriter or is required under applicable securities
law
to be described in the Registration Statement as an underwriter of Registrable
Securities, upon the request of such Investor, the Company shall make available
for inspection by (i) any Investor, (ii) Legal Counsel and (iii) one firm of
accountants or other agents retained by the Investors (collectively, the
"Inspectors"),
all
pertinent financial and other records, and pertinent corporate documents and
properties of the Company (collectively, the "Records"),
as
shall be reasonably deemed necessary by each Inspector, and cause the Company's
officers, directors and employees to supply all information which any Inspector
may reasonably request; provided, however, that each Inspector shall agree
to
hold in strict confidence and shall not make any disclosure (except to an
Investor) or use of any Record or other information which the Company determines
in good faith to be confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors
are
so notified, unless (a) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid
or
correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement or is otherwise
required under the 1933 Act, (b) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant
to a final, non-appealable subpoena or order from a court or government body
of
competent jurisdiction, or (c) the information in such Records has been made
generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of
this
or any other Transaction Document. Each Investor agrees that it shall, upon
learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in or by a court or
governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt
notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake
appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order
for, the Records deemed confidential. Nothing herein (or in any other
confidentiality agreement between the Company and any Investor) shall be deemed
to limit the Investors' ability to sell Registrable Securities in a manner
which
is otherwise consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
j. The
Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure of information
concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless (i) disclosure of such
information is necessary to comply with federal or state securities laws or
the
rules of any exchange or other market in which the Company's securities are
then
traded, listed or quoted, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary
to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement,
(iii) the release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena
or other final, non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of
competent jurisdiction or (iv) such information has been made generally
available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement,
any other agreement to which the Company is a party, or, to the Company's
knowledge, any other agreement. The Company agrees that it shall, upon learning
that disclosure of such information concerning an Investor is sought in or
by a
court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means,
give prompt written notice to such Investor and allow such Investor, at the
Investor's expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of,
or
to obtain a protective order for, such information.
10
k. The
Company shall use its reasonable best efforts either to (i) cause all of the
Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be listed on
each
securities exchange on which securities of the same class or series issued
by
the Company are then listed, if any, if the listing of such Registrable
Securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange, or (ii) secure
designation and quotation of all of the Registrable Securities covered by a
Registration Statement on The NASDAQ Capital Market or (iii) if, despite the
Company's reasonable best efforts to satisfy, the preceding clauses (i) and
(ii)
the Company is unsuccessful in satisfying the preceding clauses (i) and (ii),
to
secure the inclusion for quotation on the The New York Stock Exchange, The
NASDAQ Global Market or the American Stock Exchange for such Registrable
Securities and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to use its
reasonable best efforts to arrange for at least two market makers to register
with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority as such with respect to such
Registrable Securities. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in
connection with satisfying its obligation under this Section 3(k).
l. The
Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold Registrable Securities
being
offered and, to the extent applicable, facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legend) representing
the
Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to a Registration Statement and
enable such certificates to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case
may
be, as the Investors may reasonably request and registered in such names as
the
Investors may request.
m. If
requested by an Investor, the Company shall (i) as soon as practicable
incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such
information as an Investor reasonably requests to be included in the Plan of
Distribution or Selling Stockholder sections relating to the sale and
distribution of Registrable Securities, including, without limitation,
information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being offered
or sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the
offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; (ii) as
soon
as practicable make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment after being notified of the matters to be incorporated
in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; and (iii) as soon
as
practicable, supplement or make amendments to any Registration Statement if
reasonably requested by an Investor holding any Registrable
Securities.
n. The
Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable
Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be registered with or approved
by such
other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to consummate
the
disposition of such Registrable Securities.
11
o. The
Company shall make generally available to its security holders as soon as
practical, but not later than ninety (90) days after the close of the period
covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying with, and in the
manner provided by, the provisions of Rule 158 under the 0000 Xxx) covering
a
twelve-month period beginning not later than the first day of the Company's
fiscal quarter next following the effective date of a Registration Statement.
p. The
Company shall otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all
applicable rules and regulations of the SEC in connection with any registration
hereunder.
q. Within
two (2) Business Days after a Registration Statement which covers Registrable
Securities is ordered effective by the SEC, the Company shall deliver, and
shall
cause legal counsel for the Company (which may be the General Counsel of the
Company) to deliver, to the transfer agent for such Registrable Securities
(with
copies to the Investors whose Registrable Securities are included in such
Registration Statement) confirmation that such Registration Statement has been
declared effective by the SEC in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
A.
r. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, at any time after the Effective Date, the
Company may delay the disclosure of material, non-public information concerning
the Company the disclosure of which at the time is not, in the good faith
opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company, in the best interest of the
Company otherwise required or otherwise render the Registration Statement
unavailable for sales to be effected thereunder (a "Grace
Period");
provided, that the Company shall promptly (i) notify the Investors in writing
of
the existence of material, non-public information giving rise to a Grace Period
(provided that in each notice the Company will not disclose the content of
such
material, non-public information to the Investors) and the date on which the
Grace Period will begin on the first day that the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement is suspended, and (ii) notify the Investors in writing
of
the date on which the Grace Period ends; and, provided further, that no Grace
Period shall exceed ten (10) consecutive days and during any three hundred
sixty
five (365) day period such Grace Periods shall not exceed an aggregate of twenty
(20) days and the first day of any Grace Period must be at least five (5)
Trading Days after the last day of any prior Grace Period (each, an
"Allowable
Grace Period").
For
purposes of determining the length of a Grace Period above, the Grace Period
shall begin on and include the date the Investors receive the notice referred
to
in clause (i) and shall end on and include the later of the date the Investors
receive the notice referred to in clause (ii) and the date referred to in such
notice. The provisions of Section 3(g) hereof shall not be applicable during
the
period of any Allowable Grace Period. Upon expiration of the Grace Period,
the
Company shall again be bound by the first sentence of Section 3(f) with respect
to the information giving rise thereto unless such material, non-public
information is no longer applicable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary,
the Company shall cause its transfer agent to deliver unlegended shares of
Common Stock to a transferee of an Investor in accordance with the terms of
the
Securities Purchase Agreement in connection with any sale of Registrable
Securities with respect to which an Investor has entered into a contract for
sale, and delivered a copy of the prospectus included as part of the applicable
Registration Statement
(unless an exemption from such prospectus delivery requirement exists), prior
to
the Investor's receipt of the notice of a Grace Period and for which the
Investor has not yet settled.
12
s. If
NASDR
Rule 2710 requires any broker-dealer to make a filing prior to executing a
sale
by a Holder, the Company shall (i) make an Issuer Filing with the NASDR, Inc.
Corporate Financing Department pursuant to proposed NASDR Rule
2710(b)(10)(A)(i), (ii) respond within five Trading Days to any comments
received from NASDR in connection therewith, and (iii) pay the filing fee
required in connection therewith.
4. Obligations
of the Investors.
a. At
least
five (5) Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of a
Registration Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor in writing of
the
information the Company requires from each such Investor if such Investor elects
to have any of such Investor's Registrable Securities included in such
Registration Statement. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations
of
the Company to complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect
to the Registrable Securities of a particular Investor that such Investor shall
furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable
Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable
Securities held by it as shall be reasonably required to effect the
effectiveness of the registration of such Registrable Securities within five
(5)
Business Days and such Investor shall execute such documents in connection
with
such registration as the Company may reasonably request.
b. Each
Investor, by such Investor's acceptance of the Registrable Securities, agrees
to
cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection
with the preparation and filing of any Registration Statement hereunder, unless
such Investor has notified the Company in writing of such Investor's election
to
exclude all of such Investor's Registrable Securities from such Registration
Statement.
c. Each
Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the
happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(g) or the first
sentence of Section 3(f), such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition
of Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement(s) covering
such Registrable Securities until such Investor's receipt of the copies of
the
supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(g) or the first
sentence of Section 3(f) or receipt of notice that no supplement or amendment
is
required. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Company shall cause
its
transfer agent to deliver unlegended shares of Common Stock to a transferee
of
an Investor in accordance with the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement
in
connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which an
Investor has entered into a contract for sale prior to the Investor's receipt
of
a notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described
in
Section 3(g) or the first sentence of Section 3(f) and for which the Investor
has not yet settled.
d. Each
Investor covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery
requirements of the 1933 Act as applicable to it or an exemption therefrom
in
connection with sales of Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.
13
5. Expenses
of Registration.
All
reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions incurred
in connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Sections
2 and 3, including, without limitation, all registration, listing and
qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, and fees and disbursements
of
counsel for the Company, shall be paid by the Company. The Company shall also
reimburse the Investors for the fees and disbursements of Legal Counsel in
connection with registration, filing or qualification pursuant to Sections
2 and
3 of this Agreement which amount shall be limited to $20,000 for
each
such registration, filing or qualification.
6. Indemnification.
In
the
event any Registrable Securities are included in a Registration Statement under
this Agreement:
a. To
the
fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will, and hereby does, indemnify,
hold harmless and defend each Investor, the directors, officers, members,
partners, employees, agents, representatives of, and each Person, if any, who
controls any Investor within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (each,
an "Indemnified
Person"),
against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties,
charges, costs, reasonable attorneys' fees, amounts paid in settlement or
expenses, joint or several, (collectively, "Claims")
incurred in investigating, preparing or defending any action, claim, suit,
inquiry, proceeding, investigation or appeal taken from the foregoing by or
before any court or governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency,
body or the SEC, whether pending or threatened, whether or not an indemnified
party is or may be a party thereto ("Indemnified
Damages"),
to
which any of them may become subject insofar as such Claims (or actions or
proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out
of
or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a
material fact in a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment
thereto or in any filing made in connection with the qualification of the
offering under the securities or other "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction
in
which Registrable Securities are offered ("Blue
Sky Filing"),
or
the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
any
preliminary prospectus if used prior to the effective date of such Registration
Statement, or contained in the final prospectus (as amended or supplemented,
if
the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC)
or
the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary
to
make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
the statements therein were made, not misleading, (iii) any violation or alleged
violation by the Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law,
including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or
regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement or (iv) any breach by the
Company of a representation, warranty or covenant contained in this Agreement
(the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) being, collectively,
"Violations").
Subject to Section 6(c), the Company shall reimburse the Indemnified Persons,
promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any
reasonable legal fees or other reasonable expenses incurred by them in
connection with investigating or defending any such
Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (i) shall not apply
to
a Claim by an Indemnified Person arising out of or based upon a Violation which
occurs (A) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in
writing to the Company by such Indemnified Person expressly for use in
connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement (including any
amendment thereto, any related prospectus, or any prospectus supplement) (which
information provided by the Investors includes Exhibits B and C to this
Agreement), (B) failure by the Investor to comply with prospectus delivery
requirements, if such prospectus, or any such amendment thereof or supplement
thereto, was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(d),
or
(C) the use by such Investor of an outdated or defective prospectus after the
Company has notified such Investor in writing that the prospectus is outdated
or
defective and prior to the receipt by such Investor of an amended or
supplemented prospectus, and (ii) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement
of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent
of
the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Such
indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person and shall survive the transfer
of
the Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 9.
14
b. In
connection with any Registration Statement in which an Investor is
participating, each such Investor agrees to severally and not jointly indemnify,
hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same manner as is set
forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers
who signs the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls
the
Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (each, an
"Indemnified
Party"),
against any Claim or Indemnified Damages to which any of them may become
subject, under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim
or
Indemnified Damages arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case
to the extent, and only to the extent, that such Violation arises from the
circumstances described in clauses (A) through (C) of Section 6(a) above; and,
subject to Section 6(c), such Investor shall reimburse the Indemnified Party,
promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any legal
fees or other reasonable expenses incurred by it in connection with
investigating or defending any such Claim; provided, however, that the indemnity
agreement contained in this Section 6(b) and the agreement with respect to
contribution contained in Section 7 shall not apply to amounts paid in
settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written
consent of such Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld
or
delayed; provided, further, however, that the Investor shall be liable under
this Section 6(b) for only that amount of a Claim or Indemnified Damages as
does
not exceed the net proceeds to such Investor as a result of the sale of
Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Such indemnity
shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made
by or
on behalf of such Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of the
Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 9.
15
c. Promptly
after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section
6
of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including any
governmental action or proceeding) involving a Claim, such Indemnified Person
or
Indemnified Party shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against
any
indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party
a
written notice of the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall
have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying
party
so
desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume
control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the
indemnifying party and the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party, who
shall not, except with the consent of the Indemnifying Party, be counsel to
the
Indemnified Person as the case may be; and after notice from the indemnifying
party of its election to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party
shall not be liable to the Indemnified party or Indemnified Person for any
legal
expenses of other counsel or other expenses incurred in connection with the
defense thereof; provided,
however,
that an
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its
own
counsel with the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one counsel
for
such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party to be paid by the indemnifying
party, if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel retained by the indemnifying
party, the representation by such counsel of the Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party would likely represent a conflict
of interest that would legally preclude such representation. In the case of
an
Indemnified Person, legal counsel referred to in the immediately preceding
sentence shall be selected by the Investors holding at least 80% interest of
the
Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement to which the
Claim
relates. The Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person shall cooperate fully
with
the indemnifying party in connection with any negotiation or defense of any
such
action or Claim by the indemnifying party and shall furnish to the indemnifying
party all information reasonably available to the Indemnified Party or
Indemnified Person which relates to such action or Claim. The indemnifying
party
shall keep the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person reasonably apprised
at
all times as to the status of the defense or any settlement negotiations with
respect thereto. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of
any
action, claim or proceeding effected without its prior written consent;
provided,
however,
that
the indemnifying party shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition
its
consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of
the
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person, consent to entry of any judgment or
enter into any settlement or other compromise which does not include as an
unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person of a release from all liability in
respect to such Claim or litigation, and such settlement shall not include
any
admission as to fault on the part of the Indemnified Party. Following
indemnification as provided for hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be
subrogated to all rights of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person with
respect to all third parties, firms or corporations relating to the matter
for
which indemnification has been made. The failure to deliver written notice
to
the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any
such
action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6, except to the
extent that the indemnifying party is prejudiced in its ability to defend such
action.
d. The
indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be made by periodic payments
of
the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as and
when bills are received or Indemnified Damages are incurred.
e. The
indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in addition to (i) any cause
of
action or similar right of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person against
the indemnifying party or others, and (ii) any liabilities the indemnifying
party may be subject to pursuant to the law.
16
7. Contribution.
To
the
extent any indemnification by an Indemnified Party is prohibited or limited
by
law, the indemnifying party agrees, in lieu of providing such indemnification,
to contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party or
Indemnifying Person as a result of such Claims or Indemnified Damages, in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company,
on
the one hand, and the Investors, on the other hand, in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such Claims or Indemnified Damages,
as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided,
however,
that
(i) no Person involved in the sale of Registrable Securities which is guilty
of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 0000
Xxx) in connection with such sale shall be entitled to contribution from any
Person who was not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation and (ii) contribution
by any seller of Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount of net
proceeds received by such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities
subject to the Claim. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to,
among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or the Investors, on
the
other hand, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company
and the Investors agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if
the
Investors were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method
of
allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred
to above in this Section 7. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party
as a result of the Claims or Indemnified Damages referred to above in this
Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending
any such action or claim. The Investors' obligations in this Section 7 to
contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations and not joint.
8. Reports
Under the 1934 Act.
With
a
view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated
under the 1933 Act or any other similar rule or regulation of the SEC that
may
at any time permit the Investors to sell securities of the Company to the public
without registration ("Rule
144"),
the
Company agrees to:
a. make
and
keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined
in
Rule 144;
b. file
with
the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the
Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so long as the Company remains
subject to such requirements and the filing of such reports and other documents
is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
c. furnish
to each Investor so long as such Investor owns Registrable Securities, promptly
upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company, if true, that it has
complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the 1933 Act and the
1934
Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company
and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company and (iii) such
other information as may be reasonably requested to permit the Investors to
sell
such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.
17
9. Assignment
of Registration Rights.
The
rights under this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by the Investors
to any transferee of all or any portion of such Investor's Registrable
Securities if: (i) the Investor agrees in writing with the transferee or
assignee to assign such rights and a copy of such agreement is furnished to
the
Company within a reasonable time after such assignment; (ii) the Company is,
within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with
written notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or assignee and
(b) the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being
transferred or assigned; (iii) immediately following such transfer or assignment
the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is
restricted under the 1933 Act or applicable state securities laws; (iv) at
or
before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause
(ii) of this sentence the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the
Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein; and (v) such
transfer shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements
of
the Securities Purchase Agreement.
10. Amendment
of Registration Rights.
Provisions
of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may be waived
(either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or
prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and the Required
Holders. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 10
shall be binding upon each Investor and the Company. No such amendment shall
be
effective to the extent that it applies to less than all of the Investors.
No
consideration shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to
a
waiver or modification of any provision of any of this Agreement unless the
same
consideration also is offered to all of the parties to this
Agreement.
11. Miscellaneous.
a. For
the
purposes of this Agreement, a Person is deemed to be a holder of Registrable
Securities whenever such Person owns or is deemed to own of record such
Registrable Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions,
notices or elections from two or more Persons with respect to the same
Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions,
notice or election received from the such record owner of such Registrable
Securities.
b. Any
notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to
be
given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed
to
have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon
receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is
mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party);
or (iii) one (1) Business Day after deposit with a nationally recognized
overnight delivery service, in each case properly addressed to the party to
receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications
shall be:
18
If
to the
Company:
General
Steel Holdings, Inc.
Room
2315, Kun Tai International Mansion Building
Yi
No
12
Xxxx
Xxxx
Men Xxx Ave.
Xxxx
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
000000, Xxxxxx'x Xxxxxxxx of China
Telephone:
x00-00-0000000
Facsimile:
x00-0000000000
Attention:
Xxxx
Xxxx
Copy
to:
Xxxxx
& XxXxxxxx LLP
0000
Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000, XX
Telephone:
000
000
0000
Facsimile:
000
000
0000
Attention:
Lan
Xxx,
Esq.
If
to
Legal Counsel:
Xxxxxxx
Xxxx & Xxxxx LLP
|
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
|
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
|
Telephone: (000)
000-0000
Facsimile:
(000)
000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxx, Esq.
If
to a
Buyer, to its address and facsimile number set forth on the Schedule of Buyers
attached hereto, with copies to such Buyer's representatives as set forth on
the
Schedule of Buyers, or to such other address and/or facsimile number and/or
to
the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by
written notice given to each other party five (5) days prior to the
effectiveness of such change. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by
the
recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B)
mechanically or electronically generated by the sender's facsimile machine
containing the time, date, recipient facsimile number and an image of the first
page of such transmission or (C) provided by a courier or overnight courier
service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by facsimile
or receipt from a nationally recognized overnight delivery service in accordance
with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.
c. Failure
of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or otherwise,
or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy, shall not operate as
a
waiver thereof.
19
d. All
questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation
of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New
York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision
or
rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would
cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State
of
New York. 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 brought in an
inconvenient forum or that the venue of 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 for such notices to it
under
this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient
service of process and notice thereof. The
Company hereby appoints CT Corporation System , with offices at 000 Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 as its agent for service of process
in New York.
Nothing
contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process
in any manner permitted by law. EACH
PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE, AND AGREES NOT TO
REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN
CONNECTION HEREWITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
e. This
Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and the instruments referenced herein
and therein constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with
respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no restrictions,
promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred
to
herein and therein. This Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and the
instruments referenced herein and therein supersede all prior agreements and
understandings among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof and thereof.
f. If
any
provision of this Agreement is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to
be
invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision
that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed
amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable,
and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the
validity of the remaining provisions of this Agreement so long as this Agreement
as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original
intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited
nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does
not
substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations
of
the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise
be
conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations
to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid
provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the
prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).
20
g. Subject
to the requirements of Section 9, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of
and be binding upon the permitted successors and assigns of each of the parties
hereto.
h. The
headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall
not
limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
i. This
Agreement may be executed in identical counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.
This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be delivered to the other party
hereto by facsimile transmission of a copy of this Agreement bearing the
signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.
j. Each
party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further
acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements,
certificates, instruments and documents, as any other party may reasonably
request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
k. All
consents and other determinations required to be made by the Investors pursuant
to this Agreement shall be made, unless otherwise specified in this Agreement,
by the Required Holders.
l. The
language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by
the
parties to express their mutual intent and no rules of strict construction
will
be applied against any party.
m. This
Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any
provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.
n. The
obligations of each Investor hereunder are several and not joint with the
obligations of any other Investor, and no provision of this Agreement is
intended to confer any obligations on any Investor vis-à-vis any other Investor.
Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any Investor pursuant hereto,
shall be deemed to constitute the Investors as a partnership, an association,
a
joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the
Investors are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such
obligations or the transactions contemplated herein.
*
* * * *
*
21
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
each
Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this
Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written
above.
COMPANY:
|
||
GENERAL
STEEL HOLDINGS, INC.
|
||
By:
|
/s/ Zuo Xxxxx Xx | |
Name:
Zuo Xxxxx Xx
|
||
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
|
Signature
Page of the Registration Rights Agreement
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
each
Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this
Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written
above.
BUYERS:
|
||
CAPITAL
VENTURES INTERNATIONAL
|
||
By:
|
||
Name:
|
||
Title:
|
Signature
Page of the Registration Rights Agreement
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
each
Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this
Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written
above.
XXXXXX
BAY FUND, LP
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxx Xxxx
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxx
Xxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Principal
and Portfolio Manager
|
|
XXXXXX
BAY OVERSEAS FUND, LTD.
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxx Xxxx
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxx
Xxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Principal
and Portfolio Manager
|
|
WHITEBOX
INTERMARKET
|
||
PARTNERS,
LP
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Managing
Member of the General Partner
|
|
WHITEBOX
HIGH YIELD
|
||
PARNTERS,
LP
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Managing
Member of the General Partner
|
|
WHITEBOX
CONVERTIBLE ARBITRAGE PARTNERS, LP
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
|
Name:
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Managing
Member of the General Partner
|
Signature
Page of the Registration Rights Agreement
SCHEDULE
OF BUYERS
Buyer
|
Buyer's
Address
and
Facsimile Number
|
Buyer's
Representative's Address
and
Facsimile Number
|
|||||
Capital
Ventures International
|
c/o
Heights Capital Management, Inc.
000
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
Residence:
Cayman Islands
|
Xxxxxxx
Xxxx & Xxxxx LLP
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
|||||
[Other
Buyers]
|
1
EXHIBIT
A
FORM
OF NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS
OF
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Securities
Transfer Corporation
0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx Xx.
Telephone:
(000)
000-0000 Ext. 100
Facsimile:
(000)-000-0000
Re: General
Steel Holdings, Inc.
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
[We
are][I am] counsel to General Steel Holdings, Inc., a Nevada corporation, (the
"Company"),
and
have represented the Company in connection with that certain Securities Purchase
Agreement (the "Securities
Purchase Agreement")
entered into by and among the Company and the buyers named therein
(collectively, the "Holders")
pursuant to which the Company issued to the Holders senior unsecured convertible
notes (the "Notes")
convertible into the Company's common stock, $0.001 par value per share
(the "Common
Stock")
and
warrants exercisable for shares of Common Stock. Pursuant to the Securities
Purchase Agreement, the Company also has entered into a Registration Rights
Agreement with the Holders (the "Registration
Rights Agreement")
pursuant to which the Company agreed, among other things, to register the
Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement),
including the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes,
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933
Act").
In
connection with the Company's obligations under the Registration Rights
Agreement, on ____________ ___, 200_, the Company filed a Registration Statement
on Form S-3 (File No. 333-_____________) (the "Registration
Statement")
with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")
relating to the Registrable Securities which names each of the Holders as a
selling stockholder thereunder.
In
connection with the foregoing, [we][I] advise you that a member of the SEC's
staff has advised [us][me] by telephone that the SEC has entered an order
declaring the Registration Statement effective under the 1933 Act at
[ENTER
TIME OF EFFECTIVENESS]
on
[ENTER
DATE OF EFFECTIVENESS]
and
[we][I] have no knowledge, after telephonic inquiry of a member of the SEC's
staff, that any stop order suspending its effectiveness has been issued or
that
any proceedings for that purpose are pending before, or threatened by, the
SEC
and the Registrable Securities are available for resale under the 1933 Act
pursuant to the Registration Statement.
A-1
This
letter shall serve as our standing instruction to you that the shares of Common
Stock are freely transferable by the Holders pursuant to the Registration
Statement. You need not require further letters from us to effect any future
legend-free issuance or reissuance of shares of Common Stock to the Holders
as
contemplated by the Company's Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions dated
December, [ ], 2007, provided at the time of such reissuance, the Company has
not otherwise notified you that the Registration Statement is unavailable for
the resale of the Registrable Securities.
Very
truly yours,
|
||
[ISSUER'S
COUNSEL]
|
||
By:
|
CC:
[LIST
NAMES OF HOLDERS]
A-2
EXHIBIT
B
SELLING
STOCKHOLDERS
The
shares of Common Stock being offered by the selling stockholders are issuable
upon conversion of the convertible notes and in payment of interest on the
convertible notes. For additional information regarding the issuance of those
convertible notes, see "Private Placement of Convertible Notes and Warrants"
above. We are registering the shares of Common Stock in order to permit the
selling stockholders to offer the shares for resale from time to time. Except
for the ownership of the convertible notes and the warrants issued pursuant
to
the Securities Purchase Agreement, the selling stockholders have not had any
material relationship with us within the past three years.
The
table
below lists the selling stockholders and other information regarding the
beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock by each of the selling
stockholders. The second column lists the number of shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned by each selling stockholder, based on its ownership of the
convertible notes and warrants, as of ________, 200_, assuming conversion of
all
convertible notes and exercise of the warrants held by the selling stockholders
on that date, without regard to any limitations on conversions or
exercise.
The
third
column lists the shares of Common Stock being offered by this prospectus by
each
selling stockholder.
In
accordance with the terms of a registration rights agreement among the Company
and the selling stockholders, this prospectus generally covers the resale of
at
least 120% of the sum of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issued
or issuable (i) upon conversion of the convertible notes as of the trading
day
immediately preceding the date the registration statement is initially filed
with the SEC, (ii) as Warrant Shares, pursuant to the terms of the Warrants
as
of the trading day immediately preceding the date the registration statement
is
initially filed with the SEC, and (ii) as Interest Shares pursuant to the terms
of the Notes as of the trading day immediately preceding the date the
registration statement is initially filed with the SEC.
Because
the conversion price of the convertible notes may be adjusted, the number of
shares that will actually be issued may be more or less than the number of
shares being offered by this prospectus. The fourth column assumes the sale
of
all of the shares offered by the selling stockholders pursuant to this
prospectus.
Under
the
terms of the convertible notes, a selling stockholder may not convert the
convertible notes to the extent such conversion would cause such selling
stockholder, together with its affiliates, to beneficially own a number of
shares of Common Stock which would exceed 4.99% of our then outstanding shares
of Common Stock following such conversion, excluding for purposes of such
determination shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the convertible
notes which have not been converted. The number of shares in the second column
does not reflect this limitation. The selling stockholders may sell all, some
or
none of their shares in this offering. See "Plan of Distribution."
B-1
Name of Selling Stockholder
|
Number
of Shares
Owned
Prior to
Offering
|
Maximum
Number of
Shares
to be Sold
Pursuant
to this
Prospectus
|
Number
of Shares
Owned
After
Offering
|
|||||||
(1)
Capital
Ventures International
|
0
|
(1) Heights
Capital Management, Inc., the authorized agent of Capital Ventures
International, has discretionary authority to vote and dispose of the shares
held by Capital Ventures International and may be deemed to be the beneficial
owner of these shares. Capital Ventures International
is
affiliated with one or more registered broker-dealers. Capital
Ventures International
purchased the shares being registered hereunder in the ordinary course of
business and at the time of purchase, had no agreements or understandings,
directly or indirectly, with any other person to distribute such
shares.
B-2
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
We
are
registering the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the
convertible notes and as interest on the convertible notes to permit the resale
of these shares of Common Stock by the holders of the convertible notes from
time to time after the date of this prospectus. We will not receive any of
the
proceeds from the sale by the selling stockholders of the shares of Common
Stock. We will bear all fees and expenses incident to our obligation to register
the shares of Common Stock.
The
selling stockholders may sell all or a portion of the shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned by them and offered hereby from time to time directly or
through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. If the shares of
Common Stock are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the selling
stockholders will be responsible for paying any underwriting discounts or
commissions or agent's commissions. The shares of Common Stock may be sold
in
one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the
time of the sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at
negotiated prices or any combination of the foregoing. These sales may be
effected in transactions, which may involve:
· |
crosses
or block transactions or other
transaction
|
· |
on
any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the
securities may be listed or quoted at the time of
sale;
|
· |
transactions
in the over-the-counter market;
|
· |
transactions
otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter
market;
|
· |
the
writing of options, whether such options are listed on an options
exchange
or otherwise;
|
· |
ordinary
brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer
solicits purchasers;
|
· |
block
trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares
as agent
but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to
facilitate the transaction;
|
· |
purchases
by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for
its
account;
|
· |
an
exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
exchange;
|
· |
privately
negotiated transactions;
|
· |
short
sales;
|
C-1
· |
sales
pursuant to Rule 144;
|
· |
transactions
where broker-dealers may agree with the selling securityholders to
sell a
specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per
share;
|
· |
a
combination of any such methods of sale;
and
|
· |
any
other method permitted pursuant to applicable
law.
|
If
the
selling stockholders effect such transactions by selling shares of Common Stock
to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, such underwriters,
broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions in the form of discounts,
concessions or commissions from the selling stockholders or commissions from
purchasers of the shares of Common Stock for whom they may act as agent or
to
whom they may sell as principal (which discounts, concessions or commissions
as
to particular underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may be in excess of those
customary in the types of transactions involved). In connection with sales
of
the shares of Common Stock or otherwise, the selling stockholders may enter
into
hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short
sales of the shares of Common Stock in the course of hedging in positions they
assume. The selling stockholders may also sell shares of Common Stock short
and
deliver shares of Common Stock covered by this prospectus to close out short
positions and to return borrowed shares in connection with such short sales.
The
selling stockholders may also loan or pledge shares of Common Stock to
broker-dealers that in turn may sell such shares.
The
selling stockholders may pledge or grant a security interest in some or all
of
the convertible notes or 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 pursuant
to this prospectus or any amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3)
or
other applicable provision of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, amending,
if necessary, 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 and donate the shares
of
Common Stock in other circumstances in which case the transferees, donees,
pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners
for purposes of this prospectus, subject to any requirement of the SEC that
we
amend this prospectus to include the name of such transferee, donee, pledge
or
other successor-in-interest in this prospectus.
The
selling stockholders and any broker-dealer participating in the distribution
of
the shares of Common Stock may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning
of the Securities Act, and any commission paid, or any discounts or concessions
allowed to, any such broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting commissions
or discounts under the Securities Act. At the time a particular offering of
the
shares of Common Stock is made, a prospectus supplement, if required, will
be
distributed which will set forth the aggregate amount of shares of Common Stock
being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of
any
broker-dealers or agents, any discounts, commissions and other terms
constituting compensation from the selling stockholders and any discounts,
commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to
broker-dealers.
C-2
Under
the
securities laws of some states, the shares of Common Stock may be sold in such
states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition,
in
some states the shares of Common Stock may not be sold unless such shares have
been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption from
registration or qualification is available and is complied with.
There
can
be no assurance that any selling stockholder will sell any or all of the shares
of Common Stock registered pursuant to the registration statement, of which
this
prospectus forms a part.
The
selling stockholders and any other person participating in such distribution
will be subject to applicable provisions of the 1934 Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, Regulation M of the
1934
Act, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the shares
of
Common Stock by the selling stockholders and any other participating person.
Regulation M may also restrict the ability of any person engaged in the
distribution of the shares of Common Stock to engage in market-making activities
with respect to the shares of Common Stock. All of the foregoing may affect
the
marketability of the shares of Common Stock and the ability of any person or
entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of
Common Stock.
We
will
pay all expenses of the registration of the shares of Common Stock pursuant
to
the registration rights agreement, estimated to be $[ ] in total, including,
without limitation, SEC filing fees and expenses of compliance with state
securities or "blue sky" laws; provided, however, that a selling stockholder
will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any. We will
indemnify the selling stockholders against liabilities, including some
liabilities under the Securities Act, in accordance with the registration rights
agreements, or the selling stockholders will be entitled to contribution. We
may
be indemnified by the selling stockholders against civil liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act, that may arise from any written
information furnished to us by the selling stockholder specifically for use
in
this prospectus, in accordance with the related registration rights agreement,
or we may be entitled to contribution.
Once
sold
under the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, the
shares of Common Stock will be freely tradable in the hands of persons other
than our affiliates.
C-3