EXHIBIT 4.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT"), dated as of April
15, 2005, by and among Golden Star Resources Ltd., a corporation organized under
the laws of Canada, with headquarters located at 00000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx
000, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000 (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 the Buyers senior
unsecured convertible notes of the Company (the "NOTES"), which will, among
other things, be convertible into the Company's common stock, without par value
(the "COMMON STOCK", as issued upon conversion of the Notes, the "CONVERSION
SHARES"), in accordance with the terms of the Notes.
B. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in the
Note), subject to certain conditions, the Buyers may receive additional shares
of Common Stock (the "ADDITIONAL 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. "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.
b. "CLOSING DATE" shall have the meaning set forth in the
Securities Purchase Agreement.
c. "EFFECTIVE DATE" means the date the Registration Statement
has been declared effective by the SEC.
d. "EFFECTIVENESS DEADLINE" means the date which is (i) in the
event that the Registration Statement is not subject to review by the SEC,
ninety (90) calendar days after the Closing Date or (ii) in the event that the
Registration Statement is subject to review by the SEC, one hundred eighty (180)
calendar days after the Closing Date.
e. "FILING DEADLINE" means thirty (30) calendar days after the
Closing Date.
f. "INVESTOR" means Buyer or any transferee or assignee
thereof to whom Buyer assigns its rights 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 under this Agreement and who agrees to become bound by the provisions
of this Agreement in accordance with Section 9.
g. "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.
h. "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.
i. "REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means (i) the Conversion Shares
issued or issuable upon conversion of the Notes, (ii) any Additional Shares
issued or issuable under the Notes and (iii) any share capital of the Company
issued or issuable with respect to the Conversion Shares, Additional Shares or
the Notes as a result of any split, dividend, recapitalization, exchange or
similar event or otherwise, without regard to any limitations on conversions of
the Notes.
j. "REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means a registration statement or
registration statements of the Company filed under the 1933 Act covering the
Registrable Securities.
k. "REQUIRED HOLDERS" means the holders of at least a majority
of the Registrable Securities.
l. "REQUIRED REGISTRATION AMOUNT" means one hundred fifty
percent (150%) of the number of Conversion Shares issued and issuable pursuant
to the Notes, in each case as of the trading day immediately preceding the
applicable date of determination.
m. "RULE 415" means Rule 415 under the 1933 Act or any
successor rule providing for offering securities on a continuous or delayed
basis.
n. "SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission.
2
2. Registration.
a. Mandatory Registration. The Company shall prepare, and, as
soon as practicable but in no event later than the Filing Deadline, file with
the SEC the Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the resale of all of the
Registrable Securities. 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, subject to the provisions of Section 2(d). The Registration
Statement prepared pursuant hereto shall register for resale at least the number
of shares of Common Stock equal to the Required Registration Amount as of date
the Registration Statement is initially filed with the SEC. The 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 best efforts to
have the Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC as soon as
practicable, but in no event later than the Effectiveness Deadline.
b. Allocation of Registrable Securities. The initial number of
Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement and any increase
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 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 and previously allocated to 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.
c. Legal Counsel. Subject to Section 5 hereof, the Required
Holders shall have the right to select one legal counsel to review and comment
on any registration statements 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 by written notice to the Company. The Company
and Legal Counsel shall reasonably cooperate with each other in performing the
Company's obligations under this Agreement.
d. 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 another appropriate form reasonably acceptable to the Required
Holders and (ii) undertake to register the Registrable Securities on Form S-3 as
soon as such form is available, 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.
3
e. Sufficient Number of Shares Registered. In the event the
number of shares available under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to
Section 2(a) 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 amend
the applicable Registration Statement, or file a new Registration Statement (on
the short form available therefor, if applicable), or both, so as to cover at
least the Required Registration Amount as of the Trading Day (as defined in the
Notes) 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 thirty (30) days after the necessity therefor arises. The Company
shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such amendment and/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 Required Registration Amount 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).
f. 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 not declared
effective by the SEC on or before the respective Effectiveness Deadline (an
"EFFECTIVENESS FAILURE") 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 for more than five (5) days (other than during an
Allowable Grace Period (as defined in Section 3(p)) 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, to register a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock (after, if
applicable, the thirty (30) day period allowed in Section 2(e)) or to maintain
the listing of the Common Stock) (a "MAINTENANCE FAILURE") then, as partial
relief for the damages to any holder 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 holder of Registrable Securities relating to such
Registration Statement an amount in cash equal to one percent (1.0%) of the
aggregate Purchase Price (as such term is defined in the Securities Purchase
Agreement) of such Investor's Notes relating to the Registrable Securities
included in such Registration Statement on each of the following dates: (i) on
every thirtieth day after the day of an Effectiveness Failure and thereafter
(pro rated for periods totaling less than thirty days) until such Effectiveness
Failure is cured; and (ii) on every thirtieth day after the initial day of a
Maintenance Failure and thereafter (pro rated for periods totaling less than
thirty days) until such Maintenance Failure is cured. The payments to which a
holder shall be entitled pursuant to this Section 2(g) 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
4
make Registration Delay Payments in a timely manner, such Registration Delay
Payments shall bear interest at the rate of one percent (1.0%) per month
(prorated for partial months) until paid in full.
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(d) or 2(e), the Company will
use its 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 forty-eight (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 (other than with respect to any information provided by the Buyers).
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. The Company shall have incorporated its report, on Form 10-Q, Form
10-K or any analogous report under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "1934 ACT") 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) calendar days prior
to its filing with the SEC and (ii) all amendments and supplements to all
Registration Statements (which shall be deemed to exclude Annual Reports on Form
10-K, and Reports on Form 10-Q and any other
5
reports filed by the Company under the 0000 Xxx) 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. 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 (or such other number of copies as such Investor may
reasonably request) (unless such supplement or amendment is available on XXXXX)
and (iii) such other documents, including copies of 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.
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 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
6
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(p), 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 supplement or amendment is 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 on 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.
h. 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, (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 or any other
agreement between the Company and the Investors. 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.
i. 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
7
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 the
inclusion for quotation of all of the Registrable Securities on the American
Stock Exchange or (iii) if, despite the Company's reasonable best efforts, the
Company is unsuccessful in satisfying the preceding clauses (i) and (ii), to
secure the inclusion for quotation of all of the Registrable Securities on The
Nasdaq National Market or (iv) if, despite the Company's reasonable best
efforts, the Company is unsuccessful in satisfying the preceding clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii), to secure the inclusion for quotation of all of the Registrable
Securities on The Nasdaq SmallCap Market 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 National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") as such with respect to such
Registrable Securities or (v) if, despite the Company's reasonable best efforts,
the Company is unsuccessful in satisfying the preceding clauses (i)-(iv), to
secure the inclusion for quotation of all of the Registrable Securities on the
NASD's OTC Bulletin Board or the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company shall pay all
fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligation under this
Section 3(i).
j. 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.
k. 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
therein 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.
l. 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.
m. 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.
8
n. 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.
o. 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 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.
p. 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 and otherwise required (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, 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 fifteen (15) consecutive days and during any three hundred sixty five
(365) day period such Grace Periods shall not exceed an aggregate of forty-five
(45) days and the first day of any Grace Period must be at least two (2) 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 prior to the Investor's receipt of the notice of a Grace
Period and for which the Investor has not yet settled.
q. The Company shall use its best efforts to maintain the
eligibility of its registration statement on Form S-3 so that it is available
for the registration of the resale of Registrable Securities.
4. Obligations of the Investors.
a. At least seven (7) 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
9
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 and 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 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 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 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 in
connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration
Statement.
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 $10,000.
6. Indemnification.
In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a
Registration Statement under this Agreement:
10
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 violation of 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 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 in
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the
Company by such Indemnified Person for such Indemnified Person expressly for use
in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement or any such
amendment thereof or supplement thereto; (ii) with respect to any preliminary
prospectus, shall not inure to the benefit of any such Person from whom the
Person asserting any such Claim purchased the Registrable Securities that are
the subject thereof (or to the benefit of any Person controlling such Person) if
the untrue statement or omission of material fact contained in the preliminary
prospectus was corrected in the prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, if
such prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section
3(d), and the Indemnified Person was promptly advised in writing not to use the
incorrect prospectus prior to the use giving rise to a violation and such
Indemnified Person, notwithstanding such advice, used it or failed to deliver
the correct prospectus as required by the 1933 Act; (iii) shall not be available
to the extent such Claim is based on a failure of the Investor to deliver or to
cause to be delivered the prospectus made available by the Company, including a
11
corrected prospectus, if such prospectus or corrected prospectus was timely made
available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(d); and (iv) 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.
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 occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such Investor expressly for use in
connection with such Registration Statement; and, subject to Section 6(c), such
Investor will reimburse any legal or other reasonable expenses incurred by an
Indemnified Party 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. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(b) with respect to any
preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Party
if the untrue statement or omission of material fact contained in the
preliminary prospectus was corrected on a timely basis in the prospectus, as
then amended or supplemented.
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, as the case may be; provided, however, that an
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own
counsel with the 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
12
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and the indemnifying party would be
inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such
counsel in such proceeding. 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 a majority in 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.
7. Contribution.
To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is
prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum
contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable
under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that:
(i) no Person involved in the sale of Registrable Securities which Person 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 involved in such sale of Registrable Securities who was not
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation; and (ii) contribution by any seller of
Registrable Securities shall be limited in
13
amount to the net amount of proceeds received by such seller from the sale of
such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.
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 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.
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
14
the holders of the Registrable Securities. 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. 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 Business Day after deposit for
overnight delivery 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:
If to the Company:
Golden Star Resources Ltd.
00000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Telephone: (000)000-0000
Facsimile: (000)000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Copy to:
Xxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Telephone: (000)000-0000
Facsimile: (000)000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
If to Legal Counsel:
Xxxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telephone: (000)000-0000
15
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. If a notice provided for hereunder is delivered
via facsimile, such notice shall be valid only if an original hard copy is
delivered within twenty-four (24) hours of the time such facsimile is delivered.
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.
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. Nothing contained
herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any
manner permitted by law. If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that
jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of any provision of this
Agreement in any other jurisdiction. 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.
16
e. This Agreement, the other Transaction Documents (as defined
in the Securities Purchase Agreement) 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. 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.
g. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
h. 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.
i. 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.
j. 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.
k. 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.
l. 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.
m. The obligations of each Buyer hereunder are several and not
joint with the obligations of any other Buyer, and no provision of this
Agreement is intended to confer any obligations on any Buyer vis-a-vis any other
Buyer. Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any Buyer pursuant
hereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Buyers as a partnership, an
association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a
presumption that the Buyers are in any way acting in concert or as a group with
respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated herein.
[Signature Page Follows]
17
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:
GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD.
By: /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
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.
BUYER:
AMARANTH LLC
By: Amaranth Advisors (Canada), ULC
Its Trading Advisor
By: /s/ XXXX X. XXXXXXX
----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Authorized Signatory
SCHEDULE OF BUYERS
BUYER'S ADDRESS BUYER'S REPRESENTATIVE'S ADDRESS
BUYER AND FACSIMILE NUMBER AND FACSIMILE NUMBER
------------ ---------------------------- --------------------------------
Amaranth LLC c/o Amaranth Advisors L.L.C. Xxxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxx LLP
One American Lane 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel Attn: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000 Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000 Telephone: (000) 000-0000
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS
OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
[Transfer Agent]
[Address]
Attention:
Re: Golden Star Resources Ltd.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are counsel to Golden Star Resources Ltd., a corporation
organized under the laws of Canada (the "COMPANY"), and have acted as United
States counsel to the Company in connection with that certain Securities
Purchase Agreement (the "SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT") entered into by and
among the Company and the buyer named therein (the "HOLDER"), pursuant to which
the Company issued to the Holder convertible senior unsecured notes (the
"NOTES") convertible into the Company's common shares, without par value (the
"COMMON SHARES"). Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company
also has entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Holder (the
"REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT") pursuant to which the Company agreed, among
other things, to register for resale the Registrable Securities (as defined in
the Registration Rights Agreement), including the Common Shares issuable upon
conversion of the Notes (including additional shares issued in connection with
certain changes of control of the Company), under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "1933 ACT"). Pursuant to the Company's obligations under the
Registration Rights Agreement, on ______ __, 2005, the Company filed a
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-_____________) (the
"REGISTRATION STATEMENT") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC") registering the Registrable Securities which names the Holder as a
selling stockholder thereunder.
In connection with the foregoing, we advise you that a member
of the SEC's staff has advised us 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 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. Accordingly, the
Registrable Securities are available for resale under the 1933 Act pursuant and
subject to the terms of the Registration Statement.
This letter shall serve as our standing opinion to you that the
shares of Common Stock are freely transferable in the United States by the
Holders pursuant to the Registration Statement. Assuming the Holder's compliance
with the prospectus delivery provisions of the 1933 Act and the Securities
Purchase Agreement, you need not require further letters from us to effect any
future legend-free issuance or reissuance of Common Shares to the Holders as
contemplated by the Company's Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions dated
April 15, 2005. This letter shall serve as our standing opinion with regard to
this matter.
Very truly yours,
[ISSUER'S COUNSEL]
By:__________________________
CC: AMARANTH LLC
EXHIBIT B
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
The shares of Common Stock being offered by the selling stockholders are
issuable upon conversion of the convertible notes, including additional shares
issued in connection with certain changes of control of the Company, and as
principal on the convertible notes. For additional information regarding the
issuance of those convertible notes, see "Private Placement of Convertible
Notes" 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 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, as of ________, 200_, assuming conversion of all
convertible notes held by the selling stockholders on that date, without regard
to any limitations on conversions.
The third column lists the shares of Common Stock being offered by this
prospectus by the selling stockholders.
In accordance with the terms of registration rights agreements with the
selling stockholders, this prospectus generally covers the resale of at least
150% of the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the
convertible 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 and the number of additional shares that may be
issued in connection with certain changes of control of the Company 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.
The selling stockholders may sell all, some or none of their shares in
this offering. See "Plan of Distribution."
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SHARES
NUMBER OF SHARES OWNED TO BE SOLD PURSUANT TO NUMBER OF SHARES OWNED
NAME OF SELLING STOCKHOLDER PRIOR TO OFFERING THIS PROSPECTUS AFTER OFFERING
--------------------------- ---------------------- ------------------------ ----------------------
AMARANTH LLC(1) 0
(1) [Amaranth Advisors L.L.C., the trading advisor for Amaranth LLC,
exercises voting and/or dispositive power over the shares of common stock.
Amaranth Advisors L.L.C. has designated authorized signatories who will sign on
behalf of Amaranth LLC, the selling stockholder. Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx is the
managing member of Amaranth Advisors L.L.C.].
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We are registering the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of
the convertible notes, including additional shares issued in connection with
certain changes of control of the Company, 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 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. These sales may be effected in transactions, which may
involve crosses or block transactions,
- on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which
the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale;
- in the over-the-counter market;
- in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in
the over-the-counter market;
- through 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;
- sales pursuant to Rule 144;
- 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.
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.
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 shelf 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 Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including,
without limitation, Regulation M of the Exchange 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, Securities and Exchange Commission 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 agreements, or we may be entitled to contribution.
Once sold under the shelf 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.
