REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.2
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of April [___], 2011, is by
and among Converted Organics Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and each of the
undersigned buyers (each, a “Buyer,” and collectively, the “Buyers”).
RECITALS
A. In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the parties hereto, dated
as of April [___], 2011 (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”), the Company has agreed, upon the
terms and subject to the conditions of the Securities Purchase Agreement, to issue and sell to each
Buyer (i) the Notes (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), which will be convertible
into Conversion Shares (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) in accordance with the
terms of the Notes and (ii) the Warrants (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), which
will be exercisable to purchase Warrant Shares (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) in
accordance with the terms of the Warrants.
B. To induce the Buyers to consummate the transactions contemplated by 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.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein and
for 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 New York, 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 that the applicable Registration Statement has been
declared effective by the SEC.
(d) “Effectiveness Deadline” means (i) with respect to the initial Registration Statement
required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a), the earlier of (A) the 90th calendar day
after the earlier to occur of (x) the Shareholder Meeting Deadline (as defined in the Securities
Purchase Agreement) and (y) the date on which Shareholder Approval (as defined in the
Securities Purchase Agreement) is obtained and (B) the 2nd Business Day after the date
the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the SEC that such
Registration Statement will not be reviewed or will not be subject to further review and (ii) with
respect to any additional Registration Statements that may be required to be filed by the Company
pursuant to this Agreement, the earlier of (A) the 90th calendar day following the date
on which the Company was required to file such additional Registration Statement (or the
120th calendar day after such date in the event that such Registration Statement is
subject to review by the SEC) and (B) the 2nd Business Day after the date the Company is
notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the SEC that such Registration Statement
will not be reviewed or will not be subject to further review.
(e) “Filing Deadline” means (i) with respect to the initial Registration Statement required to
be filed pursuant to Section 2(a), the 10th calendar day after the earlier to occur of
(x) the Shareholder Meeting Deadline and (y) the date on which Shareholder Approval is obtained and
(ii) with respect to any additional Registration Statements that may be required to be filed by the
Company pursuant to this Agreement, the date on which the Company was required to file such
additional Registration Statement pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
(f) “Investor” means a Buyer or any transferee or assignee of any Registrable Securities,
Notes or Warrants, as applicable, to whom a 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 of any Registrable Securities,
Notes or Warrants, as applicable, 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 or 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 in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule
415 and the declaration of effectiveness of such Registration Statement(s) by the SEC.
(i) “Registrable Securities” means (i) the Conversion Shares, (ii) the Warrant Shares and
(iii) any capital stock of the Company issued or issuable with respect to the Conversion Shares,
the Warrant Shares, the Notes or the Warrants, including, without limitation, (1) as a result of
any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, exchange or similar event or otherwise and (2)
shares of capital stock of the Company into which the shares of Common Stock (as defined in the
Notes) are converted or exchanged and shares of capital stock of a Successor Entity (as defined in
the Warrants) into which the shares of Common Stock are converted or exchanged, in each case,
without regard to any limitations on conversion of the Notes or exercise of the Warrants.
(j) “Registration Statement” means a registration statement or registration
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statements of the Company filed under the 1933 Act covering Registrable Securities.
(k) “Required Registration Amount” means 133% (or 100%, but only to the extent the Company is
required by the Staff (as defined below) to reduce such higher amount) of the sum of (i) the
maximum number of Conversion Shares issued and issuable pursuant to the Notes and (ii) the maximum
number of Warrant Shares issued and issuable pursuant to the Warrants, in each case, as of the
Trading Day (as defined in the Warrants) immediately preceding the applicable date of determination
(without taking into account any limitations on the conversion of the Notes or the exercise of the
Warrants set forth therein), all subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2(d).
(l) “Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC under the 1933 Act, as such rule may be
amended from time to time, or any other similar or successor 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.
(m) “Rule 415” means Rule 415 promulgated by the SEC under the 1933 Act, as such rule may be
amended from time to time, or any other similar or successor rule or regulation of the SEC
providing for offering securities on a continuous or delayed basis.
(n) “SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.
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 an initial Registration Statement
on Form S-1 covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities, provided that such initial
Registration Statement shall register for resale at least the number of shares of Common Stock
equal to the Required Registration Amount as of the date such Registration Statement is initially
filed with the SEC. Such initial Registration Statement, and each other Registration Statement
required to be filed pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, shall contain (except if otherwise
directed by each of the Investors) 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 such initial Registration Statement, and each other
Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, declared
effective by the SEC as soon as practicable, but in no event later than the applicable
Effectiveness Deadline for such Registration Statement.
(b) Legal Counsel. Subject to Section 5 hereof, Iroquois (as defined in the Securities
Purchase Agreement) shall have the right to select one (1) legal counsel to review and oversee,
solely on its behalf, any registration pursuant to this Section 2 (“Legal Counsel”), which shall be
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, LLP or such other counsel as thereafter designated by Iroquois.
(c) Use of Form S-3. The Company shall undertake to register the resale of all the
Registrable Securities on Form S-3 as soon as such form is available, provided that the Company
shall maintain the effectiveness of all Registration Statements then in effect until such time as a
Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the resale of all the Registrable Securities has been
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declared effective by the SEC and the prospectus contained therein is available for use.
(d) Sufficient Number of Shares Registered. In the event the number of shares
available under any Registration Statement 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(h), the Company shall amend such Registration
Statement (if permissible), or file with the SEC 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 immediately preceding the date of the filing of such amendment or new
Registration Statement, in each case, as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than
fifteen (15) days after the necessity therefor arises (but taking account of any Staff position
with respect to the date on which the Staff will permit such amendment to the Registration
Statement and/or such new Registration Statement (as the case may be) to be filed with the SEC).
The Company shall use its best efforts to cause such amendment to such Registration Statement
and/or such new Registration Statement (as the case may be) to become effective as soon as
practicable following the filing thereof with the SEC, but in no event later than the applicable
Effectiveness Deadline for such Registration Statement. 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 applicable 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
(i) conversion of the Notes (and such calculation shall assume that the Notes are then fully
convertible into shares of Common Stock at the then-prevailing applicable Conversion Price) and
(ii) exercise of the Warrants (and such calculation shall assume that the Warrants are then fully
exercisable for shares of Common Stock at the then-prevailing applicable Exercise Price).
(e) Effect of Failure to File and Obtain and Maintain Effectiveness of any Registration
Statement. If (i) a Registration Statement covering the resale of all of the Registrable
Securities required to be covered thereby (taking account of any reduction pursuant to Section
2(f)) and required to be filed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement is (A) not filed with the
SEC on or before the Filing Deadline for such Registration Statement (a “Filing Failure”) (it being
understood that if the Company files a Registration Statement without affording each Investor the
opportunity to review and comment on the same as required by Section 3(c) hereof, the Company shall
be deemed to not have satisfied this clause (i)(A) and such event shall be deemed to be a Filing
Failure) or (B) not declared effective by the SEC on or before the Effectiveness Deadline for such
Registration Statement (an “Effectiveness Failure”) (it being understood that if on the Business
Day immediately following the Effective Date for such Registration Statement the Company shall not
have filed a “final” prospectus for such Registration Statement with the SEC under Rule 424(b) in
accordance with Section 3(b) (whether or not such a prospectus is technically required by such
rule), the Company shall be deemed to not have satisfied this clause (i)(B) and such event shall be
deemed to be an Effectiveness Failure), (ii) other than during an Allowable Grace Period (as
defined below), on any day after the Effective Date of a Registration Statement sales of all of the
Registrable Securities required to be included on such Registration Statement (taking account of
any reduction pursuant to Section 2(f)) cannot be made pursuant to such Registration Statement
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(including, without limitation, because of a failure to keep such Registration Statement
effective, a failure to disclose such information as is necessary for sales to be made pursuant to
such Registration Statement, a suspension or delisting of (or a failure to timely list) the shares
of Common Stock on the Principal Market (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), or a
failure to register a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock or by reason of a stop order) or
the prospectus contained therein is not available for use for any reason (a “Maintenance Failure”),
or (iii) if a Registration Statement is not effective for any reason or the prospectus contained
therein is not available for use for any reason, the Company fails to file with the SEC any
required reports under Section 13 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act such that it is not in compliance with
Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) (a “Current Public Information Failure”) as a
result of which any of the Investors are unable to sell Registrable Securities without restriction
under Rule 144 (including, without limitation, volume restrictions), 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%) of such
Investor’s original principal amount stated in such Investor’s Note on the Closing Date (1) on the
date of such Filing Failure, Effectiveness Failure, Maintenance Failure or Current Public
Information Failure, as applicable, and (2) on every thirty (30) day anniversary of (I) a Filing
Failure until such Filing Failure is cured; (II) an Effectiveness Failure until such Effectiveness
Failure is cured; (III) a Maintenance Failure until such Maintenance Failure is cured; and (IV) a
Current Public Information Failure until the earlier of (i) the date such Current Public
Information Failure is cured and (ii) such time that such public information is no longer required
pursuant to Rule 144 (in each case, pro rated for periods totaling less than thirty (30) days). The
payments to which a holder of Registrable Securities shall be entitled pursuant to this Section
2(e) are referred to herein as “Registration Delay Payments.” Following the initial Registration
Delay Payment for any particular event or failure (which shall be paid on the date of such event or
failure, as set forth above), without limiting the foregoing, if an event or failure giving rise to
the Registration Delay Payments is cured prior to any thirty (30) day anniversary of such event or
failure, then such Registration Delay Payment shall be made on the third (3rd) Business
Day after such cure. In the event the Company fails to make Registration Delay Payments in a timely
manner in accordance with the foregoing, such Registration Delay Payments shall bear interest at
the rate of one and one-half percent (1.5%) per month (prorated for partial months) until paid in
full. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Registration Delay Payments shall be owed to an Investor
(other than with respect to a Maintenance Failure resulting from a suspension or delisting of (or a
failure to timely list) the shares of Common Stock on the Principal Market) with respect to any
period during which all of such Investor’s Registrable Securities may be sold by such Investor
without restriction under Rule 144 (including, without limitation, volume restrictions) and without
the need for current public information required by Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if
applicable).
(f) Offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, in
the event the staff of the SEC (the “Staff”) or the SEC seeks to characterize any offering pursuant
to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement as constituting an offering of
securities by, or on behalf of, the Company, or in any other manner, such that the Staff or the SEC
do not permit such Registration Statement to become effective and used for resales in a manner that
does not constitute such an offering and that permits the continuous resale at the
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market by the Investors participating therein (or as otherwise may be acceptable to each
Investor) without being named therein as an “underwriter,” then the Company shall reduce the number
of shares to be included in such Registration Statement by all Investors until such time as the
Staff and the SEC shall so permit such Registration Statement to become effective as aforesaid. In
making such reduction, the Company shall reduce the number of shares to be included by all
Investors on a pro rata basis (based upon the number of Registrable Securities otherwise required
to be included for each Investor) unless the inclusion of shares by a particular Investor or a
particular set of Investors are resulting in the Staff or the SEC’s “by or on behalf of the
Company” offering position, in which event the shares held by such Investor or set of Investors
shall be the only shares subject to reduction (and if by a set of Investors on a pro rata basis by
such Investors or on such other basis as would result in the exclusion of the least number of
shares by all such Investors). In addition, in the event that the Staff or the SEC requires any
Investor seeking to sell securities under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement
to be specifically identified as an “underwriter” in order to permit such Registration Statement to
become effective, and such Investor does not consent to being so named as an underwriter in such
Registration Statement, then, in each such case, the Company shall reduce the total number of
Registrable Securities to be registered on behalf of such Investor, until such time as the Staff or
the SEC does not require such identification or until such Investor accepts such identification and
the manner thereof. Any reduction pursuant to this paragraph will first reduce all securities that
are not Registrable Securities, if any such securities are permitted by the Required Holders to be
included in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. In the event of any reduction in
Registrable Securities pursuant to this paragraph, an affected Investor shall have the right to
require, upon delivery of a written request to the Company signed by such Investor, the Company to
file a registration statement within thirty (30) days of such request (subject to any restrictions
imposed by Rule 415 or required by the Staff or the SEC) for resale by such Investor in a manner
acceptable to such Investor, and the Company shall following such request cause to be and keep
effective such registration statement in the same manner as otherwise contemplated in this
Agreement for registration statements hereunder, in each case until such time as: (i) all
Registrable Securities held by such Investor have been registered and sold pursuant to an effective
Registration Statement in a manner acceptable to such Investor or (ii) all Registrable Securities
may be resold by such Investor without restriction (including, without limitation, volume
limitations) pursuant to Rule 144 (taking account of any Staff position with respect to “affiliate”
status) and without the need for current public information required by Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule
144(i)(2), if applicable) or (iii) such Investor agrees to be named as an underwriter in any such
Registration Statement in a manner acceptable to such Investor as to all Registrable Securities
held by such Investor and that have not theretofore been included in a Registration Statement under
this Agreement (it being understood that the special demand right under this sentence may be
exercised by an Investor multiple times and with respect to limited amounts of Registrable
Securities in order to permit the resale thereof by such Investor as contemplated above).
(g) Piggyback Registrations. Without limiting any obligation of the Company hereunder
or under the Securities Purchase Agreement, if there is not an effective Registration Statement
covering all of the Registrable Securities or the prospectus contained therein is not available for
use and the Company shall determine to prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement
relating to an offering for its own account or the account of others under the 1933 Act of any of
its equity securities (other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under
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the 0000 Xxx) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in
connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities issuable in
connection with the Company’s stock option or other employee benefit plans), then the Company shall
deliver to each Investor a written notice of such determination and, if within fifteen (15) days
after the date of the delivery of such notice, any such Investor shall so request in writing, the
Company shall include in such registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities
such Investor requests to be registered; provided, however, the Company shall not be required to
register any Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 2(g) that are eligible for resale
pursuant to Rule 144 without restriction (including, without limitation, volume restrictions) and
without the need for current public information required by Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if
applicable) or that are the subject of a then-effective Registration Statement.
(h) 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 such 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 or assignee (as the case may be) that becomes an Investor shall be allocated a pro rata
portion of the then-remaining number of Registrable Securities included in such Registration
Statement for such transferor or assignee (as the case may be). 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.
(i) No Inclusion of Other Securities. In no event shall the Company include any
securities other than Registrable Securities on any Registration Statement without the prior
written consent of each of the Investors. Until the Applicable Date (as defined in the Securities
Purchase Agreement), the Company shall not enter into any agreement providing any registration
rights to any of its security holders.
3. Related Obligations.
The Company shall 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 promptly prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement with
respect to all the Registrable Securities (but in no event later than the applicable Filing
Deadline) and use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective as soon
as practicable after such filing (but in no event later than the Effectiveness Deadline). Subject
to Allowable Grace Periods, the Company shall keep each Registration Statement effective (and the
prospectus contained therein available for use) pursuant to Rule 415 for resales by the Investors
on a delayed or continuous basis at then-prevailing market prices (and not fixed prices) at all
times until the earlier of (i) the date as of which all of the Investors may sell all of the
Registrable Securities required to be covered by such Registration Statement (disregarding
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any reduction pursuant to Section 2(f)) without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 (including,
without limitation, volume restrictions) and without the need for current public information
required by Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) or (ii) the date on which the
Investors shall have sold all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement
(the “Registration Period”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement,
the Company shall ensure that, when filed and at all times while effective, each Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, all amendments and supplements thereto) and the
prospectus (including, without limitation, all amendments and supplements thereto) used in
connection with such Registration Statement (1) 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 and (2) will disclose (whether directly or through incorporation by
reference to other SEC filings to the extent permitted) all material information regarding the
Company and its securities. The Company shall submit to the SEC, within one (1) Business Day after
the later of the date that (i) the Company learns that no review of a particular Registration
Statement will be made by the Staff or that the Staff has no further comments on a particular
Registration Statement (as the case may be) and (ii) the consent of Legal Counsel is obtained
pursuant to Section 3(c) (which consent shall be immediately sought), 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.
(b) Subject to Section 3(r) of this Agreement, the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC
such amendments (including, without limitation, post-effective amendments) and supplements to each
Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection with each such Registration Statement,
which prospectus is to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated under the 1933 Act, as may be
necessary to keep each such Registration Statement effective at all times during the Registration
Period for such Registration Statement, and, during such period, comply with the provisions of the
1933 Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities of the Company required to
be 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; provided, however, by 8:30 a.m. (New
York time) on the Business Day immediately following each Effective Date, the Company shall file
with the SEC in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act the final prospectus to be used in
connection with sales pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement (whether or not such a
prospectus is technically required by such rule). In the case of amendments and supplements to any
Registration Statement which are required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement (including,
without limitation, pursuant to this Section 3(b)) by reason of the Company filing a report on Form
10-Q or Form 10-K or any analogous report under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the “1934 Act”), the Company shall have incorporated such report by reference into such
Registration Statement, if applicable, or shall file such amendments or supplements with the SEC on
the same day on which the 1934 Act report is filed which created the requirement for the Company to
amend or supplement such Registration Statement.
(c) The Company shall (A) permit Legal Counsel to review and comment upon (i) each
Registration Statement at least five (5) Business Days (or two (2) Business Days for the filing
required under clause (i) of Section 1(e)) prior to its filing with the SEC and (ii) all
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amendments and supplements to each Registration Statement (including, without limitation, the
prospectus contained therein) (except for Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and any similar or successor reports) 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 objects. The Company
shall not submit a request for acceleration of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or any
amendment or supplement thereto or to any prospectus contained therein without the prior consent of
Legal Counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company shall promptly furnish
to Legal Counsel, without charge, (i) copies of any correspondence from the SEC or the Staff to the
Company or its representatives relating to each Registration Statement, provided that such
correspondence shall not contain any material, non-public information regarding the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), (ii) after the same is
prepared and filed with the SEC, one (1) copy of each Registration Statement and any amendment(s)
and supplement(s) thereto, including, without limitation, financial statements and schedules, all
documents incorporated therein by reference, if requested by an Investor, and all exhibits and
(iii) upon the effectiveness of each Registration Statement, one (1) 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 promptly furnish to each Investor whose Registrable Securities are
included in any Registration Statement, without charge, (i) after the same is prepared and filed
with the SEC, at least one (1) copy of each Registration Statement and any amendment(s) and
supplement(s) thereto, including, without limitation, financial statements and schedules, all
documents incorporated therein by reference, if requested by an Investor, all exhibits and each
preliminary prospectus, (ii) upon the effectiveness of each 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 from time to time)
and (iii) such other documents, including, without limitation, 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 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, without limitation, 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, 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
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jurisdiction. The Company shall promptly notify Legal Counsel, legal counsel for each other
Investor and each Investor who holds Registrable Securities of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the registration or qualification of any of the
Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction in the
United States or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding
for such purpose.
(f) The Company shall notify Legal Counsel, legal counsel for each other Investor 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, non-public information regarding the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries), and, subject to Section 3(r), promptly prepare a supplement or amendment to such
Registration Statement and such prospectus contained therein to correct such untrue statement or
omission and deliver ten (10) copies of such supplement or amendment to Legal Counsel, legal
counsel for each other Investor and each Investor (or such other number of copies as Legal Counsel,
legal counsel for each other Investor or such Investor may reasonably request). The Company shall
also promptly notify Legal Counsel, legal counsel for each other Investor and each Investor in
writing (i) when a prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been
filed, when a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment has become effective
(notification of such effectiveness shall be delivered to Legal Counsel, legal counsel for each
other Investor and each Investor by facsimile or e-mail on the same day of such effectiveness and
by overnight mail), and when the Company receives written notice from the SEC that a Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment will be reviewed by the SEC, (ii) of any request by the
SEC for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related prospectus or related
information, (iii) of the Company’s reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to a
Registration Statement would be appropriate; and (iv) of the receipt of any request by the SEC or
any other federal or state governmental authority for any additional information relating to the
Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto or any related prospectus. The
Company shall respond as promptly as practicable to any comments received from the SEC with respect
to each Registration Statement or any amendment thereto (it being understood and agreed that the
Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to provide its response to any such comments
to the SEC no later than five (5) Business Days after the receipt thereof).
(g) The Company shall (i) use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or
other suspension of effectiveness of each Registration Statement or the use of any prospectus
contained therein, or the suspension of the qualification, or the loss of an exemption from
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 (ii) notify Legal Counsel, legal counsel for each other Investor and each
Investor who holds Registrable Securities of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof
or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose.
(h) If any Investor may be required under applicable securities law to be described in
10
any Registration Statement as an underwriter and such Investor consents to so being named an
underwriter, at the request of any Investor, the Company shall furnish to such Investor, on the
date of the effectiveness of such Registration Statement and thereafter from time to time on such
dates as an Investor may reasonably request (i) a letter, dated such date, from the Company’s
independent certified public accountants in form and substance as is customarily given by
independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering,
addressed to the Investors, and (ii) an opinion, dated as of such date, of counsel representing the
Company for purposes of such Registration Statement, in form, scope and substance as is customarily
given in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the Investors.
(i) If any Investor may be required under applicable securities law to be described in any
Registration Statement as an underwriter and such Investor consents to so being named an
underwriter, upon the written request of such Investor, the Company shall make available for
inspection by (i) such Investor, (ii) legal counsel for such Investor and (iii) one (1) firm of
accountants or other agents retained by such Investor (collectively, the “Inspectors”), all
pertinent financial and other records, and pertinent corporate documents and properties of the
Company (collectively, the “Records”), as shall be reasonably deemed necessary by each Inspector,
and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information which any
Inspector may reasonably request; provided, however, each Inspector shall agree in writing to hold
in strict confidence and not to make any disclosure (except to such Investor) or use of any Record
or other information which the Company’s board of directors determines in good faith to be
confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors are so notified, unless (1) the disclosure
of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration
Statement or is otherwise required under the 1933 Act, (2) the release of such Records is ordered
pursuant to a final, non-appealable subpoena or order from a court or government body of competent
jurisdiction, or (3) the information in such Records has been made generally available to the
public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document
(as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement). Such Investor agrees that it shall, upon
learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in or by a court or governmental body of
competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to the Company and allow the
Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a
protective order for, the Records deemed confidential. Nothing herein (or in any other
confidentiality agreement between the Company and such Investor, if any) shall be deemed to limit
any Investor’s ability to sell Registrable Securities in a manner which is otherwise consistent
with applicable laws and regulations.
(j) The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure of information concerning
an Investor provided to the Company unless (i) disclosure of such information is necessary to
comply with federal or state securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary
to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement or is otherwise
required to be disclosed in such Registration Statement pursuant to the 1933 Act, (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 Transaction Document. 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
11
to such Investor and allow such Investor, at such Investor’s expense, to undertake appropriate
action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, such information.
(k) Without limiting any obligation of the Company under the Securities Purchase Agreement,
the Company shall use its best efforts either to (i) cause all of the Registrable Securities
covered by each Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange on which securities
of the same class or series issued by the Company are then listed, if any, if the listing of such
Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange, (ii) secure designation
and quotation of all of the Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement on the
OTC Bulletin Board, or (iii) if, despite the Company’s best efforts to satisfy the preceding
clauses (i) or (ii) the Company is unsuccessful in satisfying the preceding clauses (i) or (ii),
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to use its best efforts to arrange for at least
two market makers to register with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) as such
with respect to such Registrable Securities. In addition, the Company shall cooperate with each
Investor and any broker or dealer through which any such Investor proposes to sell its Registrable
Securities in effecting a filing with FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110 as requested by such
Investor. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligations
under this Section 3(k).
(l) The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold Registrable Securities being
offered and, to the extent applicable, facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates (not bearing any restrictive legend) representing the Registrable Securities to be
offered pursuant to a Registration Statement and enable such certificates to be in such
denominations or amounts (as the case may be) as the Investors may reasonably request from time to
time and registered in such names as the Investors may request.
(m) If requested by an Investor, the Company shall as soon as practicable after receipt of
notice from such Investor and subject to Section 3(r) hereof, (i) 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) 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) supplement or
make amendments to any Registration Statement or prospectus contained therein if reasonably
requested by an Investor holding any Registrable Securities.
(n) The Company shall use its 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.
(o) The Company shall make generally available to its security holders as soon as practical,
but not later than ninety (90) days after the close of the period covered thereby, an earnings
statement (in form complying with, and in the manner provided by, the provisions of Rule 158 under
the 0000 Xxx) covering a twelve-month period beginning not later than the first
12
day of the Company’s fiscal quarter next following the applicable Effective Date of each
Registration Statement.
(p) The Company shall otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and
regulations of the SEC in connection with any registration hereunder.
(q) Within one (1) Business Day after a Registration Statement which covers Registrable
Securities is declared 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.
(r) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein (but subject to the last sentence of this
Section 3(r)), at any time after the Effective Date of a particular Registration Statement, the
Company may delay the disclosure of material, non-public information concerning the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries 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, in the opinion of
counsel to the Company, otherwise required (a “Grace Period”), provided that the Company shall
promptly notify the Investors in writing of the (i) existence of material, non-public information
giving rise to a Grace Period (provided that in each such notice the Company shall not disclose the
content of such material, non-public information to any of the Investors) and the date on which
such Grace Period will begin and (ii) date on which such Grace Period ends, provided further that
(I) no Grace Period shall exceed ten (10) consecutive days and during any three hundred sixty five
(365) day period all such Grace Periods shall not exceed an aggregate of thirty (30) days, (II) the
first day of any Grace Period must be at least five (5) Trading Days after the last day of any
prior Grace Period and (III) no Grace Period may exist during the sixty (60) Trading Day period
immediately following the Effective Date of such Registration Statement (provided that such sixty
(60) Trading Day period shall be extended by the number of Trading Days during such period and any
extension thereof contemplated by this proviso during which such Registration Statement is not
effective or the prospectus contained therein is not available for use) (each, an “Allowable Grace
Period”). For purposes of determining the length of a Grace Period above, such Grace Period shall
begin on and include the date the Investors receive the notice referred to in clause (i) above and
shall end on and include the later of the date the Investors receive the notice referred to in
clause (ii) above 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 each
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 contained in this Section 3(r), 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 such Investor has entered into a contract for
sale, and delivered a copy of the prospectus included as part of the particular Registration
Statement to the extent applicable, prior to such Investor’s receipt of the notice of a Grace
Period and for which the Investor has not yet settled.
13
(s) The Company shall take all other reasonable actions necessary to expedite and facilitate
disposition by each Investors of its Registrable Securities pursuant to each Registration
Statement.
4. Obligations of the Investors.
(a) At least five (5) Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of each
Registration Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor in writing of the information the
Company requires from each such Investor with respect to such Registration Statement. It shall be a
condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to complete the registration pursuant to this
Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities of a particular Investor that such Investor
shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by
it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it, as shall be
reasonably required to effect and maintain 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 each 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
Section 3(f) or receipt of notice that no supplement or amendment is required. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Section 4(c), 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 such Investor has entered into a contract for sale prior to the Investor’s
receipt of a notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section
3(g) or the first sentence of Section 3(f) and for which such 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 a 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, FINRA filing fees (if any) and fees and disbursements of counsel for the
14
Company shall be paid by the Company. The Company shall also reimburse Iroquois 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.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will, and hereby does, indemnify, hold
harmless and defend each Investor and each of its directors, officers, shareholders, members,
partners, employees, agents, advisors, representatives (and any other Persons with a functionally
equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding the lack of such title or any other
title) and each Person, if any, who controls such Investor within the meaning of the 1933 Act or
the 1934 Act and each of the directors, officers, shareholders, members, partners, employees,
agents, advisors, representatives (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a
Person holding such titles notwithstanding the lack of such title or any other title) of such
controlling Persons (each, an “Indemnified Person”), against any losses, obligations, claims,
damages, liabilities, contingencies, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, costs (including,
without limitation, court costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of defense and
investigation), 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 light of the circumstances under which the
statements therein were made, not misleading or (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 (the matters in the foregoing clauses
(i) through (iii) 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 such Registration
Statement or any such amendment thereof
15
or supplement thereto and (ii) shall not be available to a particular Investor to the extent
such Claim is based on a failure of such Investor to deliver or to cause to be delivered the
prospectus made available by the Company (to the extent applicable), including, without limitation,
a corrected prospectus, if such prospectus or corrected prospectus was timely made available by the
Company pursuant to Section 3(d) and then only if, and to the extent that, following the receipt of
the corrected prospectus no grounds for such Claim would have existed; and (iii) 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 any of the Registrable Securities by any of
the Investors pursuant to Section 9.
(b) In connection with any Registration Statement in which an Investor is participating, 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) and
the below provisos in this Section 6(b), such Investor will reimburse an Indemnified Party any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with
investigating or defending any such Claim; provided, however, 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 that such 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 applicable 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 any of the Registrable
Securities by any of the Investors pursuant to Section 9.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be)
under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including, without
limitation, any governmental action or proceeding) involving a Claim, such Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party (as the case may be) 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, an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be) shall have the
right to retain its own counsel with the fees and expenses of such
16
counsel to be paid by the indemnifying party if: (i) the indemnifying party has agreed in
writing to pay such fees and expenses; (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed promptly to
assume the defense of such Claim and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified
Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be) in any such Claim; or (iii) the named parties to
any such Claim (including, without limitation, any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified
Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be) and the indemnifying party, and such Indemnified
Person or such Indemnified Party (as the case may be) shall have been advised by counsel that a
conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified
Person or such Indemnified Party and the indemnifying party (in which case, if such Indemnified
Person or such Indemnified Party (as the case may be) notifies the indemnifying party in writing
that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, then 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, provided further that in the case of clause (iii) above
the indemnifying party shall not be responsible for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than
one (1) separate legal counsel for such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may
be). The Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person (as the case may be) shall reasonably cooperate
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 (as the case may be) which
relates to such action or Claim. The indemnifying party shall keep the Indemnified Party or
Indemnified Person (as the case may be) 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, 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 (as the case may be), 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 (as the case may be)
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 (as the case may be) 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 (as the case may be) under this Section 6, except to the
extent that the indemnifying party is materially and adversely prejudiced in its ability to defend
such action.
(d) No Person involved in the sale of Registrable Securities who 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 indemnification from any Person involved in such sale of Registrable
Securities who is not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation.
(e) 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.
17
(f) The indemnity and contribution 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: (i) no contribution shall be made under circumstances where the maker would not
have been liable for indemnification under the fault standards set forth in Section 6 of this
Agreement, (ii) 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 (iii) contribution
by any seller of Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount to the amount of net proceeds
received by such seller from the applicable sale of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Investor shall be
required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the net
proceeds actually received by such Investor from the applicable sale of the Registrable Securities
subject to the Claim exceeds the amount of any damages that such Investor has otherwise been
required to pay, or would otherwise be required to pay under Section 6(b), by reason of such untrue
or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
8. Reports Under the 1934 Act.
With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of 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 (it being understood and agreed that nothing herein shall limit any obligations of the
Company under the Securities Purchase Agreement) 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, submission and posting requirements of Rule 144 and the 1934 Act, (ii) a copy of the
most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed
by the Company with the SEC if such reports are not publicly available via XXXXX, and (iii) such
other information as may be reasonably requested to permit the Investors to sell such securities
pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.
18
9. Assignment of Registration Rights.
All or any portion of the rights under this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by
each Investor to any transferee or assignee (as the case may be) of all or any portion of such
Investor’s Registrable Securities, Notes or Warrants if: (i) such Investor agrees in writing with
such transferee or assignee (as the case may be) to assign all or any portion of such rights, and a
copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such transfer or
assignment (as the case may be); (ii) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer
or assignment (as the case may be), furnished with written notice of (a) the name and address of
such transferee or assignee (as the case may be), and (b) the securities with respect to which such
registration rights are being transferred or assigned (as the case may be); (iii) immediately
following such transfer or assignment (as the case may be) the further disposition of such
securities by such transferee or assignee (as the case may be) is restricted under the 1933 Act or
applicable state securities laws if so required; (iv) at or before the time the Company receives
the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this sentence such transferee or assignee (as the
case may be) agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained
herein; (v) such transfer or assignment (as the case may be) shall have been made in accordance
with the applicable requirements of the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Notes and the Warrants
(as the case may be); and (vi) such transfer or assignment (as the case may be) shall have been
conducted in accordance with all applicable federal and state securities laws.
10. Amendment of Registration Rights.
Provisions of this Agreement may be amended only with the written consent of the Company and
each of the Investors. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an
authorized representative of the waiving party. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any
Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of this Agreement unless
the same consideration also is offered to all of the parties to this Agreement.
11. Miscellaneous.
(a) Solely for purposes of this Agreement, a Person is deemed to be a holder of Registrable
Securities whenever such Person owns, or is deemed to own, of record such Registrable Securities.
If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or elections from two or more Persons
with respect to the same Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of
instructions, notice or election received from 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); (iii) with respect to Sections 3(c) or 4(a), by electronic mail (provided
confirmation of transmission is electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party); or
(iv) one (1) Business Day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight delivery service
with next day delivery specified, in each case, properly addressed to the party to receive the
19
same. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications shall be:
If to the Company:
Converted Organics Inc.
000X Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx XX 00000
Telephone: 000.000.0000
Facsimile: 617.624.0333
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, President
000X Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx XX 00000
Telephone: 000.000.0000
Facsimile: 617.624.0333
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, President
With a copy (for informational purposes only) to:
Cozen X’Xxxxxx
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xx Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Cavas X. Xxxxx, Esq.
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xx Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Cavas X. Xxxxx, Esq.
If to the Transfer Agent:
Computershare Inc.
000 Xxxxxx Xx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000.0000
Attention: Xxx Xxxxx
000 Xxxxxx Xx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000.0000
Attention: Xxx Xxxxx
If to Legal Counsel:
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, LLP
00 X. Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
00 X. Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
If to a Buyer, to its address, facsimile number or electronic mal address (as the case may be) set
forth on the Schedule of Buyers attached to the Securities Purchase Agreement, 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, provided that Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, LLP shall only be provided notices sent to Iroquois.
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
20
facsimile machine or electronic mail transmission containing the time, date, recipient facsimile
number or electronic mail address 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. The
Company and each Investor acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event
that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific
terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that each party hereto shall be entitled
to an injunction or injunctions to prevent or cure breaches of the provisions of this Agreement by
any other party hereto and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof (without the
necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required), this
being in addition to any other remedy to which any party may be entitled by law or equity.
(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 TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE
ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR
ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
(e) This Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, the schedules and exhibits attached
hereto and thereto and the instruments referenced herein and therein constitute the entire
agreement among the parties hereto and thereto solely 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, the
schedules and exhibits attached hereto and thereto and the instruments referenced herein and
21
therein supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the parties hereto solely with
respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof; provided, however, nothing contained in this
Agreement or any other Transaction Document shall (or shall be deemed to) (i) have any effect on
any agreements any Investor has entered into with, or any instrument that any Investor received
from, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries prior to the date hereof with respect to any prior
investment made by such Investor in the Company, (ii) waive, alter, modify or amend in any respect
any obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any rights of or benefits to any
Investor or any other Person in any agreement entered into prior to the date hereof between or
among the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries and any Investor or any instrument that any
Investor received prior to the date hereof from the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries and all
such agreements and instruments shall continue in full force and effect or (iii) limit any
obligations of the Company under any of the other Transaction Documents.
(f) Subject to compliance with Section 9 (if applicable), this Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the permitted successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto.
This Agreement is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any Person,
other than the parties hereto, their respective permitted successors and assigns and the Persons
referred to in Sections 6 and 7 hereof.
(g) The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit
or otherwise affect the meaning hereof. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, each
pronoun herein shall be deemed to include the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular and plural
forms thereof. The terms “including,” “includes,” “include” and words of like import shall be
construed broadly as if followed by the words “without limitation.” The terms “herein,”
“hereunder,” “hereof” and words of like import refer to this entire Agreement instead of just the
provision in which they are found.
(h) This Agreement may be executed in two or more identical counterparts, all of which shall
be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been
signed by each party and delivered to the other party. In the event that any signature is delivered
by facsimile transmission or by an e-mail which contains a portable document format (.pdf) file of
an executed signature page, such signature page shall create a valid and binding obligation of the
party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as
if such signature page were an original thereof.
(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) 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. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section 10, terms used in this
Agreement but defined in the other Transaction Documents shall have the meanings ascribed to such
terms on the Closing Date in such other Transaction Documents unless otherwise consented to in
writing by each Investor. Notwithstanding any references to “Buyers” herein,
22
Iroquois and the Company acknowledge and agree that Iroquois is the only Buyer that is a party
hereto.
(k) The obligations of each Investor under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents
are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Investor, and no Investor shall be
responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Investor under this
Agreement or any other Transaction Document. Nothing contained herein or in any other Transaction
Document, and no action taken by any Investor pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to
constitute the Investors as, and the Company acknowledges that the Investors do not so constitute,
a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of group or entity, or create a
presumption that the Investors are in any way acting in concert or as a group or entity with
respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents or any
matters, and the Company acknowledges that the Investors are not acting in concert or as a group,
and the Company shall not assert any such claim, with respect to such obligations or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the other the Transaction Documents. Each
Investor shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including, without
limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of any other Transaction Documents, and
it shall not be necessary for any other Investor to be joined as an additional party in any
proceeding for such purpose. The use of a single agreement with respect to the obligations of the
Company contained herein was solely in the control of the Company, not the action or decision of
any Investor, and was done solely for the convenience of the Company and not because it was
required or requested to do so by any Investor. It is expressly understood and agreed that each
provision contained in this Agreement and in each other Transaction Document is between the Company
and an Investor, solely, and not between the Company and the Investors collectively and not between
and among Investors.
[signature pages follow]
23
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, 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: CONVERTED ORGANICS INC. |
||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, 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: IROQUOIS MASTER FUND LTD. |
||||
By: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Authorized Signatory | |||
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, 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: IROQUOIS CAPITAL OPPORTUNITY FUND LP |
||||
By: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Authorized Signatory | |||
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS
OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
______________________
______________________
______________________
Attention: ______________
______________________
______________________
Attention: ______________
Ladies and Gentlemen:
[We are][I am] counsel to Converted Organics Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and
have represented the Company in connection with that certain Securities Purchase Agreement (the
“Securities Purchase Agreement”) entered into by and among the Company and the buyers named therein
(collectively, the “Holders”) pursuant to which the Company issued to the Holders secured
convertible notes (the “Notes”) convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.0001 par
value per share (the “Common Stock”), and warrants exercisable for shares of Common Stock (the
“Warrants”). Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company also has entered into a
Registration Rights Agreement with the Holders (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) pursuant to
which the Company agreed, among other things, to register the Registrable Securities (as defined in
the Registration Rights Agreement), including the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion
of the Notes and exercise of the Warrants, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933
Act”). In connection with the Company’s obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, on
____________ ___, 20__, the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form [S-1][S-3] (File No.
333-_____________) (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”) relating to the Registrable Securities which names each of the Holders as a selling
stockholder thereunder.
In connection with the foregoing, [we][I] advise you that a member of the SEC’s staff has
advised [us][me] by telephone that the SEC has entered an order declaring the Registration
Statement effective under the 1933 Act at [ENTER TIME OF EFFECTIVENESS] on [ENTER DATE OF
EFFECTIVENESS] and [we][I] have no knowledge, after telephonic inquiry of a member of the SEC’s
staff, that any stop order suspending its effectiveness has been issued or that any proceedings for
that purpose are pending before, or threatened by, the SEC and the Registrable Securities are
available for resale under the 1933 Act pursuant to the Registration Statement.
This letter shall serve as our standing opinion to you that the shares of Common Stock and the
shares of Common Stock underlying the Notes and the Warrants are freely transferable by the Holders
pursuant to the Registration Statement. You need not require further letters from us to effect any
future legend-free issuance or reissuance of such shares of Common Stock to the Holders as
contemplated by the Company’s Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions
dated _________ __, 20_.
Very truly yours,
[ISSUER’S COUNSEL]
By:_____________________
CC: [LIST NAMES OF HOLDERS]
EXHIBIT B
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
The shares of common stock being offered by the selling stockholders are those issuable to the
selling stockholders upon conversion of the notes and exercise of the warrants. For additional
information regarding the issuance of the notes and the warrants, see “Private Placement of Notes
and Warrants” above. We are registering the shares of common stock in order to permit the selling
stockholders to offer the shares for resale from time to time. Except for the ownership of the
notes and the warrants issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the selling
stockholders have not had any material relationship with us within the past three years.
The table below lists the selling stockholders and other information regarding each selling
stockholder’s beneficial ownership (as determined under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder) of the common stock. The second
column lists the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by the selling stockholders,
based on their respective ownership of shares of common stock, notes and warrants, as of ________,
2011, assuming conversion of the notes and exercise of the warrants held by each such selling
stockholder on that date but taking account of any limitations on conversion and exercise set forth
therein.
The third column lists the shares of common stock being offered by this prospectus by the
selling stockholders and does not take into account any limitations on (i) conversion of the notes
set forth therein or (ii) exercise of the warrants set forth therein.
In accordance with the terms of a registration rights agreement with the holders of the notes
and the warrants, this prospectus generally covers the resale of 133% of the sum of (i) the maximum
number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes and (ii) the maximum number
of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants, in each case, determined as if
the outstanding notes and warrants were converted or exercised (as the case may be) in full
(without regard to any limitations on conversion or exercise contained therein) as of the trading
day immediately preceding the date this registration statement was initially filed with the SEC.
Because the conversion price of the notes and the exercise price of the warrants may be adjusted,
the number of shares that will actually be issued may be more or less than the number of shares
being offered by this prospectus. The fourth column assumes the sale of all of the shares offered
by the selling stockholders pursuant to this prospectus.
Under the terms of the notes and the warrants, a selling stockholder may not convert the notes
or exercise the warrants to the extent (but only to the extent) such selling stockholder or any of
its affiliates would beneficially own a number of shares of our common stock which would exceed
4.9%. The number of shares in the second column reflects these limitations. The selling
stockholders may sell all, some or none of their shares in this offering. See “Plan of
Distribution.”
Maximum Number of | ||||||||||||
Number of Shares of | Shares of Common Stock to | Number of Shares of | ||||||||||
Common Stock Owned | be Sold Pursuant to this | Common Stock Owned | ||||||||||
Name of Selling Stockholder | Prior to Offering | Prospectus | After Offering | |||||||||
(1) |
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We are registering the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes and
exercise of the warrants to permit the resale of these shares of common stock by the holders of the
notes and warrants 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 held 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, pursuant to one or more of the following methods:
• | 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 or settlement 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 made after the date the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC; | ||
• | broker-dealers may agree with a selling securityholder 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. |
The selling stockholders may also sell shares of common stock under Rule 144 promulgated under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, if available, rather than under this prospectus. In
addition, the selling stockholders may transfer the shares of common stock by other means not
described in this prospectus. 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 notes,
warrants 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 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.
To the extent required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, 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 re-allowed 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 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, to the extent applicable, 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. To the extent
applicable, 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, 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 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.