REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made
and entered into as of June 24, 2004, by and among AXM Pharma, Inc., a Nevada
corporation (the "Company"), and the purchasers listed on Schedule I hereto (the
"Purchasers").
This Agreement is being entered into 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 shall
have the meanings given such terms in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this
Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
"Advice" shall have meaning set forth in Section 3(m).
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other
Person that directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or under common
control with such Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control," when
used with respect to any Person, means the possession, direct or indirect, of
the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of
such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise; and the terms of "affiliated," "controlling" and "controlled" have
meanings correlative to the foregoing.
"Board" shall have meaning set forth in Section 3(n).
"Business Day" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any
day which shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the
state of New York generally are authorized or required by law or other
government actions to close.
"Closing Date" means the date of the final closing of the
purchase and sale of the Preferred Stock and Warrants pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Common Stock" means the Company's Common Stock, par value
$.001 per share.
"Effectiveness Date" means with respect to the Registration
Statement the earlier of the ninetieth (90th) day following the Filing Date or
the date which is within five (5) days of the date on which the Commission
informs the Company that the Commission (i) will not review the Registration
Statement or (ii) that the Company may request the acceleration of the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement and the Company makes such request.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.
"Event" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(e).
"Event Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(e).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Filing Date" means July 15, 2004.
"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).
"Person" means an individual or a corporation, partnership,
trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited
liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or political
subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.
"Preferred Stock" means the Series C Convertible Preferred
Stock, par value $.001 per share and stated value $100,000 per share, of the
Company issued to the Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
"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 and
supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all
material incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
"Registrable Securities means the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock and the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statements and
any additional registration statements contemplated by Section 2, including (in
each case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration
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statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all
exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference in such
registration statement.
"Rule 144" means Rule 144 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 158" means Rule 158 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 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.
"Special Counsel" means one special counsel to the Holders,
for which the Holders will be reimbursed by the Company pursuant to Section 4.
"Warrants" means the warrants to purchase shares of Common
Stock issued to the Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
2. Resale Registration.
On or prior to the Filing Date the Company shall prepare and
file with the Commission a "resale" Registration Statement covering all
Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant
to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on Form SB-2 (except if the
Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities
on Form SB-2, in which case such registration shall be on another appropriate
form in accordance herewith). The Company shall (i) not permit any securities
other than the Registrable Securities and the securities listed on Schedule II
hereto to be included in the Registration Statement and (ii) use its best
efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective under the
Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing thereof, but in any
event prior to the Effectiveness Date, and to keep such Registration Statement
continuously effective under the Securities Act until such date as is the
earlier of (x) the date when all Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement have been sold or (y) the date on which the Registrable
Securities may be sold without any restriction pursuant to Rule 144 as
determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter,
addressed to the Company's transfer agent to such effect (the "Effectiveness
Period"). If at any time and for any reason, an additional Registration
Statement is required to be filed because at such time the actual number of
shares of Common Stock into which the Preferred Stock is convertible and the
Warrants are exercisable exceeds the number of shares of Registrable Securities
remaining under the Registration Statement, the Company shall have twenty (20)
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Business Days to file such additional Registration Statement, and the Company
shall use its best efforts to cause such additional Registration Statement to be
declared effective by the Commission as soon as possible, but in no event later
than sixty (60) days after filing.
3. Registration Procedures.
In connection with the Company's registration obligations
hereunder, the Company shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the Commission, on or prior to the
Filing Date, a Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (or if the Company is not
then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form SB-2
such registration shall be on another appropriate form in accordance herewith)
in accordance with the method or methods of distribution thereof as specified by
the Holders (except if otherwise directed by the Holders) and in accordance with
applicable law, and cause the Registration Statement to become effective and
remain effective as provided herein; provided, however, that not less than three
(3) Business 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 and any Special Counsel, copies of all such documents
proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the review of such
Holders and such Special Counsel, 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 Special Counsel,
to conduct a reasonable review of such documents. 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 or any
Special Counsel shall reasonably object in writing within three (3) Business
Days of their receipt thereof.
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement 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 as necessary 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 (or any similar provisions then in force) promulgated
under the Securities Act; (iii) respond as promptly as possible, but in no event
later than fifteen (15) business days, to any comments received from the
Commission with respect to the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto
and as promptly as possible 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.
(c) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities and any
Special Counsel as promptly as possible (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not
less than three (3) days prior to such filing) and (if requested by any such
Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than two (2) Business Days
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following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is filed; (B) when the
Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a "review" of such
Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on such
Registration Statement 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
for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for
additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement covering any or
all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation or threatening of any
Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) if at any time any of the representations and
warranties of the Company contained in any agreement contemplated hereby ceases
to be true and correct in all material respects; (v) of the receipt by the
Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification
or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in
any jurisdiction, or the initiation of any Proceeding for such purpose; and (vi)
of the occurrence of any event that makes 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 the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
(d) Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if
issued, obtain the withdrawal of, as promptly as possible, (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.
(e) If requested by the Holders of a majority in interest of
the Registrable Securities, (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement
or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement such information as
the Company reasonably agrees should be included therein and (ii) make all
required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment
as soon as practicable after the Company has received notification of the
matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment.
(f) If requested by any Holder, furnish to such Holder and any
Special Counsel, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each
Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, including financial
statements and schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference, and all exhibits to the extent requested by
such Person (including those previously furnished or incorporated by reference)
promptly after the filing of such documents with the Commission.
(g) Promptly deliver to each Holder and any Special Counsel,
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; and subject to the provisions of Section 3(n), the Company
hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement
thereto by each of the selling Holders in connection with the offering and sale
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of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities,
use its best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling
Holders and any Special Counsel in connection with the registration or
qualification (or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such
Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws
of such jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder requests in
writing, to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption
therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other
acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally
to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take
any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or subject the Company to any
material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(i) Cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to
be sold pursuant to a Registration Statement, which certificates, to the extent
permitted by the Purchase Agreement and applicable federal and state securities
laws, shall be free of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable
Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as any
Holder may request in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section
3(c)(vi), as promptly as 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 the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(k) Use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities
relating to the Registration Statement to be listed on the American Stock
Exchange or any other securities exchange, quotation system or market, if any,
on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed as and when
required pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
(l) Comply in all material respects with all applicable rules
and regulations of the Commission and make generally available to its security
holders earning statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act and Rule 158 not later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month
period (or 90 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a
fiscal year) commencing on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the
Company after the effective date of the Registration Statement, which statement
shall conform to the requirements of Rule 158.
(m) The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to
the Company information regarding such Holder and the distribution of such
Registrable Securities as is required by law to be disclosed in the Registration
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Statement, Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, and the Company
may exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of any such Holder
who unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time
after receiving such request.
Each Holder covenants and agrees that (i) it will not sell any
Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until it has received
copies of the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented as contemplated in
Section 3(g) and notice from the Company that such Registration Statement and
any post-effective amendments thereto have become effective as contemplated by
Section 3(c) and (ii) it and its officers, directors or Affiliates, if any, will
comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as
applicable to them in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant
to the Registration Statement.
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)(ii), 3(c)(iii), 3(c)(iv),
3(c)(v), 3(c)(vi) or 3(n), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of
such Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until such Holder's
receipt of the copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration
Statement contemplated by Section 3(j), 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.
(n) If (i) there is material non-public information regarding
the Company which the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") reasonably
determines not to be in the Company's best interest to disclose and which the
Company is not otherwise required to disclose, or (ii) there is a significant
business opportunity (including, but not limited to, the acquisition or
disposition of assets (other than in the ordinary course of business) or any
merger, consolidation, tender offer or other similar transaction) available to
the Company which the Board reasonably determines not to be in the Company's
best interest to disclose, then the Company may postpone or suspend filing or
effectiveness of a registration statement for a period not to exceed 20
consecutive days, provided that the Company may not postpone or suspend its
obligation under this Section 3(n) for more than 45 days in the aggregate during
any 360 day period; provided, however, that no such postponement or suspension
shall be permitted for consecutive 20 day periods, arising out of the same set
of facts, circumstances or transactions.
4. Registration Expenses.
All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or
compliance with this Agreement by the Company, except as and to the extent
specified in Section 4, shall be borne by the Company whether or not the
Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective and whether or not any
Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to the Registration Statement. The fees
and expenses referred to in the foregoing sentence shall include, without
limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation,
fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings required to be made with each
securities exchange or market on which Registrable Securities are required
hereunder to be listed, (B) with respect to filing fees required to be paid to
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and the NASD Regulation,
Inc. and (C) in compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws (including,
without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Holders in
connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities and
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determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Securities for investment
under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Holders of a majority of Registrable
Securities may designate)), (ii) printing expenses (including, without
limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities and of
printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is 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 and Special Counsel for the Holders, in
the case of the Special Counsel, to a maximum amount of $7,500, (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, including,
without limitation, the Company's independent public accountants (including the
expenses of any comfort letters or costs associated with the delivery by
independent public accountants of a comfort letter or comfort letters). 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, the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing
of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange as required hereunder.
5. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless
each Holder, the officers, directors, agents, brokers (including brokers who
offer and sell Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or
any failure to perform under a margin call of Common Stock), investment advisors
and employees of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act) and the officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling
Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any
and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without
limitation, costs of preparation and attorneys' fees) and expenses
(collectively, "Losses"), as incurred, arising out of or based upon 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 based
upon 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 the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except to the extent,
but only to the extent, that such untrue statements or omissions arise out of or
are based upon information regarding the Holders or such other Indemnified Party
furnished in writing to the Company by a Holder expressly for use therein, which
information was reasonably relied on by the Company for use therein or to the
extent that such information relates to a Holder or such Holder's proposed
method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly
approved in writing by a Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement,
such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement
thereto. The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution,
threat or assertion of any Proceeding of which the Company is aware in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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(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, arising out of or based upon 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 based upon 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 the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement or omission is contained in any information so furnished in writing by
such Holder or other Indemnified Party to the Company expressly for use therein
and that such information was reasonably relied upon by the Company 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 any
amendment or supplement thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, the Holders shall be liable under this Section 5(b) for only
that amount as does not exceed the net proceeds to such Holder as a result of
the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.
(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 promptly shall notify the
Person from whom indemnity is sought (the "Indemnifying Party) in writing, and
the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled 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 proximately and materially adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying
Party.
An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate
counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but
the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such
Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in
writing to pay such fees and expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have
failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel
reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3)
the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties)
include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such parties
shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to
exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the
Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the
Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the
expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the
right to assume the defense thereof and such counsel shall be at the expense of
the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any
settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which
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consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. No Indemnifying Party
shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any
settlement of any pending or threatened Proceeding in respect of which any
Indemnified Party is a party and indemnity has been sought hereunder, unless
such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from
all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.
All fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including
reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with
investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not
inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as
incurred, within ten (10) Business Days of written notice thereof to the
Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an
Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder; provided, that
the Indemnified Party shall reimburse all such fees and expenses to the extent
it is finally judicially determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled
to indemnification hereunder).
(d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under Section
5(a) or 5(b) is due but unavailable to an Indemnified Party because of a failure
or refusal of a governmental authority to enforce such indemnification in
accordance with its terms (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.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro
rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into
account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from
any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
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 pursuant to the law.
6. Rule 144.
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As long as any Holder owns Shares, Conversion Shares, Warrants
or Warrant Shares, the Company covenants to timely file (or obtain extensions in
respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports
required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. As long as any Holder owns Shares,
Conversion Shares, Warrants or Warrant Shares, if the Company is not required to
file reports pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, it will
prepare and furnish to the Holders and make publicly available in accordance
with Rule 144(c) promulgated under the Securities Act annual and quarterly
financial statements, together with a discussion and analysis of such financial
statements in form and substance substantially similar to those that would
otherwise be required to be included in reports required by Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Exchange Act, as well as any other information required thereby, in
the time period that such filings would have been required to have been made
under the Exchange Act. The Company further covenants that it will take such
further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required
from time to time to enable such Person to sell Conversion Shares and Warrant
Shares without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of
the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act,
including providing any legal opinions relating to such sale pursuant to Rule
144. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a
written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied
with such requirements.
7. Miscellaneous.
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a
Holder, of any of their obligations under this Agreement, such 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 Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any of
its subsidiaries has, as of the date hereof entered into and currently in
effect, nor shall the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on or after the date
of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that
is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. Except as disclosed in Schedule
2.1(c) of the Purchase Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has previously entered into any agreement currently in effect
granting any registration rights with respect to any of its securities to any
Person. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, without the written
consent of the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable
Securities, the Company shall not grant to any Person the right to request the
Company to register any securities of the Company under the Securities Act
unless the rights so granted are subject in all respects to the prior rights in
full of the Holders set forth herein, and are not otherwise in conflict with the
provisions of this Agreement.
(c) No Piggyback on Registrations. Neither the Company nor any
of its security holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto
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or as disclosed in Schedule 2.1(c) of the Purchase Agreement or Schedule II
attached hereto) may include securities of the Company in the Registration
Statement, and the Company shall not after the date hereof enter into any
agreement providing such right to any of its securityholders, unless the right
so granted is subject in all respects to the prior rights in full of the Holders
set forth herein, and is not otherwise in conflict with the provisions of this
Agreement.
(d) Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time when there is not
an effective Registration Statement covering (i) Conversion Shares or (ii)
Warrant Shares, the Company shall determine to prepare and file with the
Commission a registration statement relating to an offering for its own account
or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity
securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the
Securities Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to be
issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or
equity securities issuable in connection with stock option or other employee
benefit plans, the Company shall send to each holder of Registrable Securities
written notice of such determination and, if within thirty (30) days after
receipt of such notice, or within such shorter period of time as may be
specified by the Company in such written notice as may be necessary for the
Company to comply with its obligations with respect to the timing of the filing
of such registration statement, any such holder shall so request in writing,
(which request shall specify the Registrable Securities intended to be disposed
of by the Purchasers), the Company will cause the registration under the
Securities Act of all Registrable Securities which the Company has been so
requested to register by the holder, to the extent requisite to permit the
disposition of the Registrable Securities so to be registered, provided that if
at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any
securities and prior to the effective date of the registration statement filed
in connection with such registration, the Company shall determine for any reason
not to register or to delay registration of such securities, the Company may, at
its election, give written notice of such determination to such holder and,
thereupon, (i) in the case of a determination not to register, shall be relieved
of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such
registration (but not from its obligation to pay expenses in accordance with
Section 4 hereof), and (ii) in the case of a determination to delay registering,
shall be permitted to delay registering any Registrable Securities being
registered pursuant to this Section 7(d) for the same period as the delay in
registering such other securities. The Company shall include in such
registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such
holder requests to be registered; provided, however, that the Company shall not
be required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 7(d)
that are eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144(k) of the Securities Act. In the
case of an underwritten public offering, if the managing underwriter(s) or
underwriter(s) should reasonably object to the inclusion of the Registrable
Securities in such registration statement, then if the Company after
consultation with the managing underwriter should reasonably determine that the
inclusion of such Registrable Securities would materially adversely affect the
offering contemplated in such registration statement, and based on such
determination recommends inclusion in such registration statement of fewer or
none of the Registrable Securities of the Holders, then (x) the number of
Registrable Securities of the Holders included in such registration statement
shall be reduced pro-rata among such Holders (based upon the number of
Registrable Securities requested to be included in the registration), if the
Company after consultation with the underwriter(s) recommends the inclusion of
fewer Registrable Securities, or (y) none of the Registrable Securities of the
Holders shall be included in such registration statement, if the Company after
consultation with the underwriter(s) recommends the inclusion of none of such
Registrable Securities; provided, however, that if Securities are being offered
for the account of other persons or entities as well as the Company, such
-12-
reduction shall not represent a greater fraction of the number of Registrable
securities intended to be offered by the Holders than the fraction of similar
reductions imposed on such other persons or entities (other than the Company).
(e) Failure to File Registration Statement and Other Events.
The Company and the Purchasers agree that the Holders will suffer damages if the
Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to the Filing Date and not
declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the Effectiveness Date and
maintained in the manner contemplated herein during the Effectiveness Time or if
certain other events occur. The Company and the Holders further agree that it
would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages with precision.
Accordingly, if, except as set forth in Section 3(n), (A) the Registration
Statement is not filed on or prior to the Filing Date, or (B) the Registration
Statement is not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to October 15,
2004 (or in the event an additional Registration Statement is filed because the
actual number of shares of Common Stock into which the Preferred Stock is
convertible and the Warrants are exercisable exceeds the number of shares of
Common Stock initially registered is not filed and declared effective with the
time periods set forth in Section 2), or (C) the Company fails to file with the
Commission a request for acceleration in accordance with Rule 461 promulgated
under the Securities Act within five (5) Business 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 is not
subject to further review, or (D) the Registration Statement is filed with and
declared effective by the Commission but thereafter ceases to be effective as to
all Registrable Securities at any time prior to the expiration of the
Effectiveness Period, without being succeeded by a subsequent Registration
Statement filed with and declared effective by the Commission in accordance with
Section 2 hereof or (E) the Company has breached Section 3(n), or (F) trading in
the Common Stock shall be suspended or if the Common Stock is delisted from the
American Stock Exchange for any reason for more than three Business Days in the
aggregate (any such failure or breach being referred to as an "Event," and for
purposes of clauses (A) and (B) the date on which such Event occurs, or for
purposes of clause (C) the date on which such five Business Day period is
exceeded, or for purposes of clause (D) after more than twenty Business Days, or
for purposes of clause (F) the date on which such three Business Day period is
exceeded, being referred to as "Event Date"), the Company shall pay an amount as
liquidated damages to each Holder equal to 1.0% for the first calendar month or
portion thereof and 0.5% for each calendar month thereafter or portion thereof
of the Holder's initial investment in the Preferred Stock from the Event Date,
less any amount of Preferred Stock that has been converted by such Holder, until
the applicable Event is cured. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
paragraph (e), if (I) any of the Events described in clauses (A), (B) or (C)
shall have occurred, (II) on or prior to the applicable Event Date, the Company
shall have exercised its rights under Section 3(n) hereof and (III) the
postponement or suspension permitted pursuant to such Section 3(n) shall remain
effective as of such applicable Event Date, then the applicable Event Date shall
be deemed instead to occur on the second Business Day following the termination
of such postponement or suspension. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to
the contrary, in no event shall the liquidated damages amount exceed eighteen
percent (18%) of the Holder's initial investment in the Preferred Stock.
(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
-13-
may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company
and the Holders of three-fourths (3/4) of the Registrable Securities
outstanding.
(g) Notices. Any notice, demand, request, waiver or other
communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be effective (a) upon hand delivery by telex (with correct answer back
received), telecopy or facsimile at the address or number designated below (if
delivered on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is to
be received), or the first business day following such delivery (if delivered
other than on a business day during normal business hours where such notice is
to be received) or (b) on the second business day following the date of mailing
by express courier service, fully prepaid, addressed to such address, or upon
actual receipt of such mailing, whichever shall first occur. The addresses for
such communications shall be with respect to each Holder at its address set
forth under its name on Schedule I attached hereto, or with respect to the
Company, addressed to:
AXM Pharma, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxx, CFO
Tel. No.: (000) 000-0000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
With a copy, which shall
not constitute notice to: Law Offices of Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, P.C.
000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Tel No.: (000) 000-0000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
or to such other address or addresses or facsimile number or numbers as any such
party may most recently have designated in writing to the other parties hereto
by such notice.
(h) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted
assigns and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder and its successors and
assigns. The Company may not assign this Agreement or any of its rights or
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Holder. Each
Purchaser may assign its rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as
permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
(i) Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights of each
Holder hereunder, including the right to have the Company register for resale
Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, shall be
automatically assignable by each Holder to any Affiliate of such Holder or any
other Holder or Affiliate of any other Holder of all or a portion of the
Preferred Stock or the Registrable Securities if: (i) the Holder 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
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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) following such
transfer or assignment the further disposition of such securities by the
transferee or assignees is restricted under the Securities Act and applicable
state securities laws, (iv) at or before the time the Company receives the
written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this Section, the transferee or
assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions
of this Agreement, and (v) such transfer shall have been made in accordance with
the applicable requirements of the Purchase Agreement. In addition, each Holder
shall have the right to assign its rights hereunder to any other Person with the
prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld provided that such assignment shall be in accordance with applicable
securities laws. The rights to assignment shall apply to the Holders (and to
subsequent) successors and assigns.
(j) 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.
(k) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without
giving effect to any of the conflicts of law principles which would result in
the application of the substantive law of another jurisdiction. This Agreement
shall not interpreted or construed with any presumption against the party
causing this Agreement to be drafted.
(l) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are
cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(m) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or
restriction of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal, void or
unenforceable in any respect, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants
and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and
shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto
shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to
achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such
term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared
to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining
terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that
may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(n) Headings. The headings herein are for convenience only, do
not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or
affect any of the provisions hereof.
(o) Shares Held by the Company and its Affiliates. Whenever
the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable
Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or
its Affiliates (other than any Holder or transferees or successors or assigns
-15-
thereof if such Holder is deemed to be an Affiliate solely by reason of its
holdings of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in determining
whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required
percentage.
(p) Independent Nature of Purchasers. The Company acknowledges
that the obligations of each Purchaser under the Transaction Documents are
several and not joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser, and no
Purchaser shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations
of any other Purchaser under the Transaction Documents. The Company acknowledges
that the decision of each Purchaser to purchase securities pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement has been made by such Purchaser independently of any other
purchase and independently of any information, materials, statements or opinions
as to the business, affairs, operations, assets, properties, liabilities,
results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the
Company or of its Subsidiaries which may have made or given by any other
Purchaser or by any agent or employee of any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser
or any of its agents or employees shall have any liability to any Purchaser (or
any other person) relating to or arising from any such information, materials,
statements or opinions. The Company acknowledges that nothing contained herein,
or in any Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant
hereto or thereto (including, but not limited to, the (i) inclusion of a
Purchaser in the Registration Statement and (ii) review by, and consent to, such
Registration Statement by a Purchaser) 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 or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions
contemplated by the Transaction Documents. The Company acknowledges that each
Purchaser shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights,
including without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of
the other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other
Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such
purpose. The Company acknowledges that for reasons of administrative convenience
only, the Transaction Documents have been prepared by counsel for one of the
Purchasers and such counsel does not represent all of the Purchasers but only
such Purchaser and the other Purchasers have retained their own individual
counsel with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company
acknowledges that it has elected to provide all Purchasers with the same terms
and Transaction Documents for the convenience of the Company and not because it
was required or requested to do so by the Purchasers. The Company acknowledges
that such procedure with respect to the Transaction Documents in no way creates
a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert or as a group
with respect to the Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized persons as
of the date first indicated above.
AXM PHARMA, INC.
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
PURCHASER:
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
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Schedule I
----------
Purchasers
----------
Excalibaur Limited Partnership
00 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX X0X 0X0
SRG Capital, LLC
000 Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Greenwich Growth Fund Limited
00 Xxx-Xx-Xxxxx Xxxx
XX Xxx XX
0000, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx XX00
Xxxxxxxxxx Fund Limited
00 Xxx-Xx-Xxxxx Xxxx
XX Xxx XX 0000
Hamilton, Bermuda HM08
Cranshire Capital LP
Iroquois Capital, LP
Omicron Master Trust
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Enable Growth Partners
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Crescent International LTD
c/o Greenlight (Switzerland) SA
84 Xx. Xxxxx-Xxxxx, XX 0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Mollinsky
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Schedule II
Securities Permitted to be Included on the Registration Statement
1. Shares of Common Stock underlying warrants issued to the placement agent in
connection with the offering.
2. Shares of Common Stock underlying the Shares of Series B Preferred Stock
and Warrants held by Banyan Mac 24, Ltd., Banyan Asia Limited, Terra
Capital Partners, as placement agent of the Series B Preferred Stock and
Warrants and their heirs and assigns.
3. Aston Organization 300,000 shares of Common Stock
4. XCL Partners, Inc. 120,000 shares of Common Stock Common Stock underlying
200,000 warrants
5. Madden Consulting, Inc. 300,000 shares of Common Stock
6. Great Eastern Securities, Inc. 100,000 shares of Common Stock Common Stock
underlying 50,000 warrants
7. Gryphon Master Fund, L.P. Common Stock underlying 100,000 warrants
8. SF Capital Partners, Ltd. Common Stock underlying 100,000 warrants
9. Banyan Asia Ltd. and Mac 24 Limited Common Stock underlying 100,000
warrants (total between the two)
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