REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This
Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement"),
dated
as of November 5, 2007, by and among China BAK Battery Inc.,
a
Nevada corporation, with headquarters located at Bak Industrial Park, No. 1
Bak
Street Kuichong Town, Longgang District, Shenzhen People F4 518119, China (the
"Company"),
and
the investors listed on the Schedule of Buyers attached hereto (each, a
"Buyer"
and
collectively, the "Buyers").
WHEREAS:
A. In
connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the parties
hereto of even date herewith (the "Securities
Purchase Agreement"),
the
Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the
Securities Purchase Agreement, to issue and sell to each Buyer shares (the
"Common
Shares")
of the
Company's common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Common
Stock").
B. In
accordance with the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company
has
agreed to provide certain registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor
statute (collectively, the "1933
Act"),
and
applicable state securities laws.
NOW,
THEREFORE,
in
consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein and
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are
hereby acknowledged, the Company and each of the Buyers hereby agree as
follows:
1. Definitions.
Capitalized
terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective
meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement. As used in this
Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Additional
Effective Date"
means
the date the Additional Registration Statement is declared effective by the
SEC.
(b) "Additional
Effectiveness Deadline"
means
the date which is thirty (30) calendar days after the earlier of the Additional
Filing Date and the Additional Filing Deadline or in the event that the
Registration Statement is subject to a full review by the SEC, sixty (60)
calendar days after the earlier of the Additional Filing Date and the Additional
Filing Deadline.
(c) "Additional
Filing Date"
means
the date on which the Additional Registration Statement is filed with the
SEC.
(d) "Additional
Filing Deadline"
means
if Cutback Shares are required to be included in the Additional Registration
Statement, the later of (i) the date sixty (60) days after the date
substantially all of the Registrable Securities registered under the immediately
preceding Registration Statement are sold and (ii) the date six (6) months
from
the Initial Effective Date or the last Additional Effective Date, as
applicable.
(e) "Additional
Registrable Securities"
means
(i) any Cutback Shares not previously included on a Registration Statement,
and
(ii) any share capital of the Company issued or issuable with respect to the
Cutback Shares as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization,
exchange or similar event or otherwise.
(f) "Additional
Registration Statement"
means a
registration statement or registration statements of the Company filed under
the
1933 Act covering any Additional Registrable Securities.
(g) "Additional
Required Registration Amount"
means
(I) (i) any Cutback Shares not previously included on a Registration Statement
or (II) such other amount as may be required by the staff of the SEC pursuant
to
Rule 415.
(h) "Business
Day"
means
any day other than Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks
in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain
closed.
(i) "Closing
Date"
shall
have the meaning set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement.
(j) "Cutback
Shares"
means
any of the Initial Required Registration Amount or the Additional Required
Registration Amount (without regard to clause (II) in the definition thereof)
of
Registrable Securities not included in all Registration Statements previously
declared effective hereunder as a result of a limitation on the maximum number
of shares of Common Stock of the Company permitted to be registered by the
staff
of the SEC pursuant to Rule 415.
(k) "Effective
Date"
means
the Initial Effective Date and the Additional Effective Date, as
applicable.
(l) "Effectiveness
Deadline"
means
the Initial Effectiveness Deadline and the Additional Effectiveness Deadline,
as
applicable.
(m) "Eligible
Market"
means
the Principal Market, American Stock Exchange,
the New
York Stock Exchange, Inc., The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Capital
Market.
(n) "Filing
Deadline"
means
the Initial Filing Deadline and the Additional Filing Deadline, as
applicable.
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(o) "Initial
Effective Date"
means
the date that the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the
SEC.
(p) "Initial
Effectiveness Deadline"
means
the earlier of (I) the date which is one hundred (100) calendar days after
the
Closing Date and (II) the date which is five (5) Business Days after the Company
learns that no review of the Registration Statement will be made by the staff
of
the SEC or that the staff of the SEC has no further comments on the Registration
Statement.
(q) "Initial
Filing Deadline"
means
forty-five (45) calendar days after the Closing Date.
(r) "Initial
Registrable Securities"
means
(i) the Common Shares, and (ii) any capital stock of the Company issued or
issuable, with respect to the Common Shares as a result of any stock split,
stock dividend, recapitalization, exchange or similar event or
otherwise.
(s) "Initial
Required Registration Amount"
(I)
number of Initial Registrable Securities issued as of the Trading Day
immediately preceding the applicable date of determination, all subject to
adjustment as provided in Section 2(f), or (II) such other amount as may be
required by the staff of the SEC pursuant to Rule 415.
(t) "Initial
Registration Statement"
means a
registration statement or registration statements of the Company filed under
the
1933 Act covering the Initial Registrable Securities.
(u) "Investor"
means a
Buyer, any transferee or assignee thereof 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 assigns its rights under this Agreement and who
agrees to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with
Section 9.
(v) "Person"
means
an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture,
a
corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization and a government or any
department or agency thereof.
(w) "register,"
"registered,"
and
"registration"
refer
to a registration effected by preparing and filing one or more Registration
Statements (as defined below) in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant
to
Rule 415, and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration
Statement(s) by the SEC.
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(x) "Registrable
Securities"
means
the Initial Registrable Securities and the Additional Registrable
Securities.
(y) "Registration
Statement"
means a
registration statement or registration statements of the Company filed under
the
1933 Act covering the Registrable Securities.
(z) "Required
Holders"
means,
with respect to the Initial Registration Statement, the holders of at least
a
majority of the Initial Registrable Securities registered on such Initial
Registration Statement and, with respect to an Additional Registration
Statement, the holders of at least a majority of the Additional Registrable
Securities registered on such Additional Registration Statement.
(aa) "Required
Registration Amount"
means
either the Initial Required Registration Amount or the Additional Required
Registration Amount, as applicable.
(bb) "Rule
415"
means
Rule 415 under the 1933 Act or any successor rule providing for offering
securities on a continuous or delayed basis.
(cc) "SEC"
means
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
(dd) "Trading
Day"
means
any day on which the Common Stock is traded on the Principal Market, or, if
the
Principal Market is not the principal trading market for the Common Stock,
then
on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common
Stock is then traded; provided that "Trading Day" shall not include any day
on
which the Common Stock is scheduled to trade on such exchange or market for
less
than 4.5 hours or any day that the Common Stock is suspended from trading during
the final hour of trading on such exchange or market (or if such exchange or
market does not designate in advance the closing time of trading on such
exchange or market, then during the hour ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York
time).
2. Registration.
(a) Initial
Mandatory Registration.
The
Company shall prepare, and, as soon as practicable but in no event later than
the Initial Filing Deadline, file with the SEC the Initial Registration
Statement on Form S-3 covering the resale of all of the Initial Registrable
Securities. In the event that Form S-3 is unavailable for such a registration,
the Company shall use Form SB-2, Form S-1 or such other form as is available
for
such a registration and is reasonably acceptable to the Required Holders,
subject to the provisions of Section 2(d). The Initial Registration Statement
prepared pursuant hereto shall register for resale at least the number of shares
of Common Stock equal to the Initial Required Registration Amount determined
as
of the date the Initial Registration Statement is initially filed with the
SEC,
subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2(f). The Initial Registration
Statement shall contain the "Selling Stockholders" section and "Plan of
Distribution" attached hereto as Annex
I.
The
Company shall use its best efforts to have the Initial Registration Statement
declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable, but in no event later
than
the Initial Effectiveness Deadline. By 5:00 p.m. New York time on the Business
Day following the Initial Effective Date, the Company shall file with the SEC
in
accordance with Rule 424 under the 1933 Act the final prospectus to be used
in
connection with sales pursuant to such Initial Registration Statement. Each
holder of Initial Registrable Securities has furnished to the Company a
completed Questionnaire in the form attached to this Agreement as Annex II
(a
"Selling
Holder Questionnaire").
4
(b) Additional
Mandatory Registrations.
The
Company shall prepare, and, as soon as practicable but in no event later than
the Additional Filing Deadline, file with the SEC an Additional Registration
Statement on Form S-3 covering the resale of all of the Additional Registrable
Securities not previously registered on an Additional Registration Statement
hereunder. To the extent the staff of the SEC does not permit the Additional
Required Registration Amount to be registered on an Additional Registration
Statement, the Company shall file Additional Registration Statements
successively trying to register on each such Additional Registration Statement
the maximum number of remaining Additional Registrable Securities until the
Additional Required Registration Amount has been registered with the SEC. In
the
event that Form S-3 is unavailable for such a registration, the Company shall
use Form SB-2, Form S-1 or such other form as is available for such a
registration and is reasonably acceptable to the Required Holders, subject
to
the provisions of Section 2(e). Each Additional Registration Statement prepared
pursuant hereto shall register for resale at least that number of shares of
Common Stock equal to the Additional Required Registration Amount as of the
date
such Additional Registration Statement is initially filed with the SEC. Each
Additional Registration Statement shall contain (except if otherwise directed
by
the Required Holders) the "Selling Stockholders" and "Plan of Distribution"
sections in substantially the form attached hereto as Annex
I.
The
Company shall use its best efforts to have each Additional Registration
Statement declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable, but in no event
later than the Additional Effectiveness Deadline. By 5:00 p.m. New York time
on
the Business Day following the Additional Effective Date, the Company shall
file
with the SEC in accordance with Rule 424 under the 1933 Act the final prospectus
to be used in connection with sales pursuant to such Additional Registration
Statement.
(c) Allocation
of Registrable Securities.
The
initial number of Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement
and each increase or decrease in the number of Registrable Securities included
therein shall be allocated pro rata among the Investors based on the number
of
Registrable Securities held by each Investor at the time the Registration
Statement covering such initial number of Registrable Securities or increase
or
decrease thereof is declared effective by the SEC. Any shares of Common Stock
included in a Registration Statement and which remain allocated to any Investor
which ceases to hold any Registrable Securities covered by such Registration
Statement shall be allocated to the remaining Investors, pro rata based on
the
number of Registrable Securities then held by such Investors which are covered
by such Registration Statement. In no event shall the Company include any
securities other than Registrable Securities on any Registration Statement
without the prior written consent of the Required Holders.
(d) Legal
Counsel.
Subject
to Section 5 hereof, the Required Holders shall have the right to select one
legal counsel to review and comment on any registration pursuant to this Section
2 ("Legal
Counsel"),
which
shall be Xxxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxx LLP or such other counsel as thereafter
designated by the Required Holders. The Company and Legal Counsel shall
reasonably cooperate with each other in order to achieve the registration of
the
Registrable Securities as set forth in this Agreement.
5
(e) Ineligibility
for Form S-3.
In the
event that Form S-3 is not available for the registration of the resale of
Registrable Securities hereunder, the Company shall (i) register the resale
of
the Registrable Securities on a Form SB-2, Form S-1, or another appropriate
form
reasonably acceptable to the Required Holders and undertake to register the
Registrable Securities on Form S-3 promptly after such form is available within
the Registration Period (as defined in Section 3(a)), provided that the Company
shall use its best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement then in effect in accordance with this Agreement until such time
as a
Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the Registrable Securities has
been
declared effective by the SEC, unless the Registration Period has earlier
terminated.
(f) Sufficient
Number of Shares Registered.
In the
event the number of shares available under a Registration Statement filed
pursuant to Section 2(a) is insufficient to cover all of the Registrable
Securities required to be covered by such Registration Statement or an
Investor's allocated portion of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section
2(b), the Company shall amend the applicable Registration Statement, or file
a
new Registration Statement (on the short form available therefor, if
applicable), or both, so as to cover at least the Required Registration Amount
as of the Trading Day 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 therefore
arises. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause such amendment and/or
new Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable following
the filing thereof. For purposes of the foregoing provision, the number of
shares available under a Registration Statement shall be deemed "insufficient
to
cover all of the Registrable Securities" if at any time the number of shares
of
Common Stock registered for resale under such Registration Statement is less
than the number of Registrable Securities required to be registered for resale
pursuant to such Registration Statement in accordance with the terms of Section
2(a) or 2(b), as applicable.
(g) Effect
of Failure to File and Obtain and Maintain Effectiveness of Registration
Statement.
If (i)
a Registration Statement covering all the Registrable Securities required to
be
covered thereby and required to be filed by the Company pursuant to this
Agreement is (A) not filed with the SEC on or before the applicable Filing
Deadline (a "Filing
Failure")
or (B)
not declared effective by the SEC on the applicable Effectiveness Deadline,
(an
"Effectiveness
Failure") or
(ii)
on any day after the applicable Effective Date of any Registration Statement,
sales of all the Registrable Securities included on such Registration Statement
cannot be made (other than during an Allowable Grace Period (as defined in
Section 3(r)) pursuant to such Registration Statement or otherwise (including,
without limitation, because of a failure to keep such Registration Statement
effective, to disclose such information as is necessary for sales to be made
pursuant to such Registration Statement, to register a sufficient number of
shares of Common Stock or to maintain the listing of the Common Stock) (a
"Maintenance
Failure")
then,
as partial relief for the damages to any holder by reason of any such delay
in
or reduction of its ability to sell the underlying shares of Common Stock (which
remedy shall not be exclusive of any other remedies available at law or in
equity), (A) the Company shall pay to each holder of Registrable Securities
relating to such Registration Statement
an amount in cash equal to one and one-half percent (1.5%) of the aggregate
Purchase Price of such Investor's Registrable Securities included in such
Registration Statement on each of the following dates: (i) on the thirtieth
day
after the date of a Filing Failure and every thirtieth day thereafter (pro
rated
for periods totaling less than thirty days) until the ten (10) month anniversary
of such Filing Failure; (ii) on the thirtieth day after the date of an
Effectiveness Failure and every thirtieth day thereafter (pro rated for periods
totaling less than thirty days) until the ten (10) month anniversary of such
Effectiveness Failure; and (iii) on the thirtieth day after the date of a
Maintenance Failure and every thirtieth day thereafter (pro rated for periods
totaling less than thirty days) until the ten (10) month anniversary of such
Maintenance Failure and (B) the Company shall pay to each holder of Registrable
Securities relating to such Registration Statement an amount in cash equal
to
one-half percent (0.5%) of the aggregate Purchase Price of such Investor's
Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement on each of the
following dates: (i) on the ten (10) month anniversary of a Filing Failure
and
every thirtieth day thereafter (pro rated for periods totaling less than thirty
days) until such Filing Failure is cured; (ii) on the ten (10) month anniversary
of an Effectiveness Failure and every thirtieth day thereafter (pro rated for
periods totaling less than thirty days) until such Effectiveness Failure is
cured; and (iii) on the ten (10) month anniversary of a Maintenance Failure
and
every thirtieth day thereafter (pro rated for periods totaling less than thirty
days) until such Maintenance Failure is cured. The payments to which a holder
shall be entitled pursuant to this Section 2(g) are referred to herein as
"Registration
Delay Payments."
Registration Delay Payments shall be paid on the earlier of (I) the dates set
forth above and (II) the third Business Day after the event or failure giving
rise to the Registration Delay Payments is cured. In the event the Company
fails
to make Registration Delay Payments in a timely manner, such Registration Delay
Payments shall bear interest at the rate of one percent (1.0%) per month
(prorated for partial months) until paid in full. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
in no event shall the Company be required to pay Registration Delay Payments
for
a contemporaneous Filing Failure and Effectiveness Failure.
6
3. Related
Obligations.
At
such
time as the Company is obligated to file a Registration Statement with the
SEC
pursuant to Section 2(a), 2(b), 2(e) or 2(f), the Company will use its best
efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance
with the intended method of disposition thereof and, pursuant thereto, the
Company shall have the following obligations:
(a) The
Company shall submit to the SEC, within three (3) Business Days after the
Company learns that no review of a particular Registration Statement will be
made by the staff of the SEC or that the staff of the SEC has no further
comments on a particular Registration Statement, as the case may be, a request
for acceleration of effectiveness of such Registration Statement to a time
and
date not later than 48 hours after the submission of such request. The Company
shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep each Registration Statement
effective pursuant to Rule 415 during the period commencing on the Effective
Date of such Registration Statement and ending on the earlier of (i) such time
as all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement
have
been sold by the holders of the Registrable Securities included therein and
(ii)
such time as all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration
Statement may be sold by the Investors without volume restrictions pursuant
to
Rule 144(k), in each case as determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant
to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed to the Company's transfer
agent and acceptable to such transfer agent and the affected Investor (the
"Registration
Period").
7
(b) The
Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including
post-effective amendments) and supplements to a Registration Statement and
the
prospectus used in connection with such Registration Statement, which prospectus
is to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated under the 1933 Act, as may
be
necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective at all times during
the
Registration Period in accordance with this Agreement, and, during such period,
comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act with respect to the disposition
of
all Registrable Securities of the Company covered by such Registration Statement
until such time as all of such Registrable Securities shall have been disposed
of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller or
sellers thereof as set forth in such Registration Statement. In the case of
amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement which are required to
be
filed pursuant to this Agreement (including pursuant to this Section 3(b))
by
reason of the Company filing a report on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-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 within one (1) Business Day after the day on which the 1934 Act report
is
filed which created the requirement for the Company to amend or supplement
such
Registration Statement.
(c) The
Company shall (A) permit Legal Counsel to review and comment upon (i) a
Registration Statement at least three (3) Business Days prior to its filing
with
the SEC and (ii) all amendments and supplements to all Registration Statements
(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 without the prior approval of Legal Counsel, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Company shall furnish to
Legal Counsel, without charge, (i) copies of any correspondence from the SEC
or
the staff of the SEC to the Company or its representatives relating to any
Registration Statement and (ii) to the extent not otherwise available on the
XXXXX system, (x) promptly after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC,
one copy of any Registration Statement and any amendment(s) thereto, including
financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by
reference, if requested by an Investor, and (y) upon the effectiveness of any
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 furnish to each Investor whose Registrable Securities are included
in any Registration Statement, without charge, (i) promptly after the same
is
prepared and filed with the SEC, one copy of such Registration Statement and
any
amendment(s) thereto, including financial statements and schedules, if requested
by such Investor and to the extent not otherwise available on the XXXXX system,
(ii) upon the effectiveness of any Registration Statement, such number of copies
of the prospectus included in such Registration Statement and all amendments
and
supplements thereto as such Investor may reasonably request, to the extent
not
otherwise available on the XXXXX system and (iii) such other SEC Document,
including copies of any preliminary or final prospectus, as such Investor may
reasonably request from time to time in order to facilitate the disposition
of
the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor, in each case to the extent
not otherwise available on the XXXXX system.
8
(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 post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registrations
and
qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the effectiveness thereof during
the Registration Period, (iii) take such other actions as may be necessary
to
maintain such registrations and qualifications in effect at all times during
the
Registration Period, and (iv) take all other actions reasonably necessary or
advisable to qualify the Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection
therewith or as a condition thereto to (x) qualify to do business in any
jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this
Section 3(e), (y) subject itself to general taxation in any such jurisdiction,
or (z) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction.
The Company shall promptly notify Legal Counsel and each Investor who holds
Registrable Securities of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the registration or qualification of any of the
Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or "blue sky" laws of
any
jurisdiction in the 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 and each Investor who holds Registrable
Securities being sold pursuant to an affected Registration Statement in writing
of the happening of any event, as promptly as practicable after becoming aware
of such event, as a result of which the prospectus included in a Registration
Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact
or
omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they
were made, not misleading (provided that in no event shall such notice contain
any material, nonpublic information), and, subject to Section 3(r), promptly
prepare a supplement or amendment to such Registration Statement to correct
such
untrue statement or omission, and deliver such number of copies of such
supplement or amendment as Legal Counsel or such Investor may reasonably request
(unless any such supplement or amendment is available on XXXXX). By 5:00 p.m.
New York City time on the date following the date any post-effective amendment
has become effective, the Company shall file with the SEC in accordance with
Rule 424 under the 1933 Act the final prospectus to be used in connection with
sales pursuant to such Registration Statement. If the Company notifies an
Investor in connection with the provisions herein as to the suspension of the
use of any prospectus, such Investor shall promptly suspend the use of any
such
prospectus.
(g) The
Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any
stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of a Registration Statement,
or
the suspension of the qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for
sale in any jurisdiction in which the Company has registered or qualified the
Registrable Securities for sale in accordance with Section 3(e) and, if such
an
order or suspension is issued, to use its reasonable best effort to obtain
the
withdrawal of such order or suspension as soon as reasonably practicable. The
Company shall notify Legal Counsel and each Investor who holds Registrable
Securities being sold pursuant to an affected Registration Statement of the
issuance of such order and the resolution thereof 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.
9
(h) If
any
Investor is required under applicable securities laws to be described in the
Registration Statement as an underwriter, at the reasonable request of such
Investor and at such Investor's expense, the Company shall furnish to such
Investor, on the date of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and
thereafter from time to time on such dates as an Investor may reasonably request
(i) a letter, dated such date, from the Company's independent certified public
accountants in form and substance as is customarily given by independent
certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering,
addressed to the Investors, and (ii) an opinion, dated as of such date, of
counsel representing the Company for purposes of such Registration Statement,
in
form, scope and substance as is customarily given in an underwritten public
offering, addressed to the Investors.
(i) If
any
Investor is required under applicable securities laws to be described in the
Registration Statement as an underwriter, the Company shall make available
for
inspection by (i) such Investor, (ii) Legal Counsel and (iii) one firm of
accountants or other agents retained by the Investors (collectively, the
"Inspectors"),
all
pertinent financial and other records, and pertinent corporate documents and
properties of the Company (collectively, the "Records"),
as
shall be reasonably deemed necessary by each Inspector, and cause the Company's
officers, directors and employees to supply all information which any Inspector
may reasonably request; provided, however, that each Inspector shall agree
to
hold in strict confidence and shall not make any disclosure (except to an
Investor) or use of any Record or other information which the Company determines
in good faith to be confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors
are
so notified, unless (a) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid
or
correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement or is otherwise
required under the 1933 Act, (b) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant
to a final, non-appealable subpoena or order from a court or government body
of
competent jurisdiction, or (c) the information in such Records has been made
generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of
this
Agreement. Each Investor agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure
of
such Records is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent
jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to the Company and
allow
the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent
disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, the Records deemed
confidential. Nothing herein (or in any other confidentiality agreement between
the Company and any Investor) shall be deemed to limit the Investors' ability
to
sell Registrable Securities in a manner which is otherwise consistent with
applicable laws and regulations.
(j) The
Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure of information
concerning an Investor provided to the Company, other than the information
provided in or pursuant to the Selling Holder Questionnaire, unless (i)
disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state
securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid
or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii)
the
release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other final,
non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of competent
jurisdiction, or (iv) such information has been made generally available to
the
public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement or, to the
knowledge of the Company, any other agreement. The Company agrees that it shall,
upon learning that disclosure of such information concerning an Investor is
sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or
through other means, give prompt written notice to such Investor and allow
such
Investor, at the Investor's expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent
disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, such
information.
10
(k) The
Company shall use its best efforts either to (i) cause all the Registrable
Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be listed on the Principal
Market or, if securities of the same class and series as the Registrable
Securities are no longer listed on the Principal Market such other securities
exchange on which securities of the same class and series issued by the Company
are then listed, if any, if the listing of such Registrable Securities is then
permitted under the rules of the Principal Market or an Eligible Market. The
Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its
obligation under this Section 3(k).
(l) The
Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold Registrable Securities
being
offered and, to the extent applicable, facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legend) representing
the
Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to a Registration Statement and
enable such certificates to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case
may
be, as the Investors may reasonably request and registered in such names as
the
Investors may request.
(m) If
requested by an Investor, the Company shall as soon as reasonably practicable
(i) incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such
information as such 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 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) Unless
the following information is otherwise available on the XXXXX system, the
Company shall make generally available to its security holders as soon as
practical, but not later than ninety (90) days after the close of the period
covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying with, and in the
manner provided by, the provisions of Rule 158 under the 0000 Xxx) covering
a
twelve-month period beginning not later than the first day of the Company's
fiscal quarter next following the Effective Date of a Registration
Statement.
11
(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
two (2) Business Days after a Registration Statement which covers Registrable
Securities is ordered effective by the SEC, the Company shall deliver, and
/ or
shall cause legal counsel for the Company to deliver (as required by the
Company's transfer agent to remove legends from the Registrable Securities),
to
the transfer agent for such Registrable Securities (with copies to the Investors
whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement)
confirmation that such Registration Statement has been declared effective by
the
SEC in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
A.
(r) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, at any time after the Effective Date, the
Company may (i) delay the disclosure of material, non-public information
concerning the Company the disclosure of which at the time is not, in the good
faith opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company and its counsel, in
the
best interest of the Company and, in the opinion of counsel to the Company,
otherwise required or (ii) cause the Registration Statement to be suspended
if
such suspension is required by law, rule or regulation, or is otherwise in
the
best interest of the Company (a "Grace
Period");
provided, that the Company shall promptly (i) notify the Investors in writing
of
the existence of material, non-public information giving rise to a Grace Period
in conformity with the provisions of this Section 3(r) (provided that in each
notice the Company will not disclose the content of such material, non-public
information to the Investors) and the date on which the Grace Period will begin,
and (ii) notify the Investors in writing of the date on which the Grace Period
ends; and, provided further, that no Grace Period shall exceed five (5)
consecutive Trading Days and during any three hundred sixty five (365) day
period such Grace Periods shall not exceed an aggregate of thirty (30) calendar
days and the first day of any Grace Period must be at least five (5) Trading
Days after the last day of any prior Grace Period (each, an "Allowable
Grace Period").
For
purposes of determining the length of a Grace Period above, the Grace Period
shall begin on and include the date the Investors receive the notice referred
to
in clause (i) and shall end on and include the later of the date the Investors
receive the notice referred to in clause (ii) and the date referred to in such
notice. The provisions of Section 3(g) hereof shall not be applicable during
the
period of any Allowable Grace Period. Upon expiration of the Grace Period,
the
Company shall again be bound by the first sentence of Section 3(f) with respect
to the information giving rise thereto unless such material, non-public
information is no longer applicable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary,
the Company shall cause its transfer agent to deliver unlegended shares of
Common Stock to a transferee of an Investor in accordance with the terms of
the
Securities Purchase Agreement in connection with any sale of Registrable
Securities with respect to which an Investor has entered into a contract for
sale, and delivered a copy of the prospectus included as part of the applicable
Registration Statement, prior to the Investor's receipt of the notice of a
Grace
Period and for which the Investor has not yet settled.
(s) Neither
the Company nor any Subsidiary or affiliate thereof shall identify any Buyer
as
an underwriter in any public disclosure or filing with the SEC, the Principal
Market or any Eligible Market without such Buyer's consent. If such Buyer
refuses to give such consent in connection with a Registration Statement and
the
Company is obligated by law or the rules or regulations of the SEC, to identify
such Buyer as an underwriter, the Company shall not be obligated to register
such Buyer's Registrable Securities on the applicable Registration Statement;
provided, however,
that
the foregoing shall not prohibit the Company from including the disclosure
found
in the "Plan of Distribution" section attached hereto as Exhibit
B
in the
Registration Statement.
12
4. Obligations
of the Investors.
(a) At
least
five (5) Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of a
Registration Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor in writing of
the
information the Company requires from each such Investor if such Investor elects
to have any of such Investor's Registrable Securities included in such
Registration Statement. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations
of
the Company to complete any registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect
to the Registrable Securities of a particular Investor that such Investor shall
furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable
Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable
Securities held by it as shall be reasonably required to effect the
effectiveness of the registration of such Registrable Securities and shall
execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company
may
reasonably request.
(b) Each
Investor, by such Investor's acceptance of the Registrable Securities, agrees
to
cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection
with the preparation and filing of any Registration Statement hereunder, unless
such Investor has notified the Company in writing of such Investor's election
to
exclude all of such Investor's Registrable Securities from such Registration
Statement.
(c) Each
Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the
happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(g) or the first
sentence of 3(f), such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of
Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement(s) covering such
Registrable Securities until such Investor's receipt of copies of the
supplemented or amended prospectus as contemplated by Section 3(g) or the first
sentence of 3(f) or receipt of notice that no supplement or amendment is
required. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Company shall cause
its
transfer agent to deliver unlegended shares of Common Stock to a transferee
of
an Investor in accordance with the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement
in
connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which an
Investor has entered into a contract for sale prior to the Investor's receipt
of
a notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described
in
Section 3(g) or the first sentence of 3(f) and for which the Investor has not
yet settled.
(d) Each
Investor covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery
requirements of the 1933 Act as applicable to it or an exemption therefrom
in
connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration
Statement.
13
5. Expenses
of Registration.
All
reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, incurred
in connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Sections
2 and 3, including, without limitation, all registration, listing and
qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, and fees and disbursements
of
counsel for the Company shall be paid by the Company. The Company shall also
reimburse the Investors for the fees and disbursements of Legal Counsel in
connection with registration, filing or qualification pursuant to Sections
2 and
3 of this Agreement which amount shall be limited to $10,000.
6. Indemnification.
In
the
event any Registrable Securities are included in a Registration Statement under
this Agreement:
(a) To
the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company will, and hereby does,
indemnify, hold harmless and defend each Investor, the directors, officers,
partners, members, employees, agents, representatives of each Investor, and
each
Person, if any, who controls each such Investor within the meaning of Section
15
of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act (each, an "Indemnified
Person"),
against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties,
charges, costs, reasonable attorneys' fees, amounts paid in settlement or
expenses, joint or several (collectively, "Claims"),
incurred in investigating, preparing or defending any action, claim, suit,
inquiry, proceeding, investigation or appeal taken from the foregoing by or
before any court or governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency,
body or the SEC, whether pending or threatened, whether or not an indemnified
party is or may be a party thereto ("Indemnified
Damages"),
to
which any of them may become subject insofar as such Claims (or actions or
proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out
of
or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a
material fact in a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment
thereto or in any filing made in connection with the qualification of the
offering under the securities or other "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction
in
which Registrable Securities are offered ("Blue
Sky Filing"),
or
the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
any
preliminary prospectus if used prior to the effective date of such Registration
Statement, or contained in the final prospectus (as amended or supplemented,
if
the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC)
or
the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary
to
make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
the statements therein were made, not misleading, (iii) any violation by the
Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law, including, without
limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder
relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement or (iv) any violation of this Agreement (the matters
in
the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) being, collectively, "Violations").
Subject to Section 6(c), the Company shall reimburse the Indemnified Persons,
promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any legal
fees or other reasonable expenses reasonably 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 (1) in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such
Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with the preparation of
the
Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto,
if
such prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section
3(d) or to the extent that such information relates to such Indemnified Person
or such Indemnified Person's proposed method of distribution of Registrable
Securities and was viewed and expressly approved in writing by such Indemnified
Person expressly for use in the Registration Statement, preliminary or final
prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (it being understood that
each Indemnified Person has approved Annex I hereto for this purpose) or (2)
in
the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(f)
or
3(g), as a result of, and to the extent of, the failure by such Indemnified
Person to immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant
to any applicable Registration Statement(s) until a supplemented or amended
prospectus as contemplated by Sections 3(f) or 3(g) have been filed with the
SEC
(and, with respect to any post-effective amendment to such Registration
Statement(s) filed with the SEC, such post-effective amendment as become
effective) in accordance with Section 4(c); and (ii) the indemnity agreement
contained in this Section 6(a) 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 the
Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Such
indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person and shall survive the transfer
of
the Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 9.
14
(b) In
connection with any Registration Statement in which an Investor is named as
a
selling stockholder, each such Investor agrees to severally and not jointly
indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same manner
as is set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of
its
officers who signs the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section
20 of 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 or
to
the extent that such information relates to such Investor or such Investor's
proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed
and
expressly approved in writing by such Investor expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, preliminary or final prospectus or in any amendment
or
supplement thereto (it being understood that each Investor has approved Annex
I
hereto for this purpose); and, subject to Section 6(c), such Investor will
reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by an Indemnified
Party in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim; provided,
however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6(b) and the
agreement with respect to contribution contained in Section 7 shall not apply
to
amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without
the prior written consent of such Investor, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided, further, however, that an Investor
shall be liable under this Section 6(b) for only that amount of a Claim or
Indemnified Damages as does not exceed the net proceeds to such Investor as
a
result of the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration
Statement. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless
of
any investigation made by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party and shall
survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant
to
Section 9. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(b) with respect to any
preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Party
if the untrue statement or omission of material fact contained in the
preliminary prospectus was corrected on a timely basis in the prospectus, as
then amended or supplemented.
15
(c) Promptly
after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section
6
of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including any
governmental action or proceeding) involving a Claim, such Indemnified Person
or
Indemnified Party shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against
any
indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party
a
written notice of the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall
have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party
so
desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume
control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually reasonably satisfactory
to
the indemnifying party and the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party,
as
the case may be; provided, however, that an Indemnified Person or Indemnified
Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the fees and expenses
of not more than one counsel for such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
to
be paid by the indemnifying party, if the named parties to such proceeding
include both the indemnifying party and the Indemnified Person or Indemnified
Party, as applicable and, in the reasonable opinion of the Indemnified Person
or
the Indemnified Party, as the case may be, the representation by such counsel
of
the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and the indemnifying party would
be
inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between such
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any other party represented by
such
counsel in such proceeding. In the case of an Indemnified Person, legal counsel
referred to in the immediately preceding sentence shall be selected by the
Investors holding at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities
included in the Registration Statement to which the Claim relates. The
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person shall cooperate fully with the
indemnifying party in connection with any negotiation or defense of any such
action or Claim by the indemnifying party and shall furnish to the indemnifying
party all information reasonably available to the Indemnified Party or
Indemnified Person which relates to such action or Claim. The indemnifying
party
shall keep the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person fully apprised at all
times as to the status of the defense or any settlement negotiations with
respect thereto. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of
any
action, claim or proceeding effected without its prior written consent,
provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall not unreasonably withhold,
delay or condition its consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior
written consent of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person, consent to
entry
of any judgment or enter into any settlement or other compromise which does
not
include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff
to such Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person of a release from all liability
in respect to such Claim or litigation and such settlement shall not include
any
admission as to fault on the part of the Indemnified Party. Following
indemnification as provided for hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be
subrogated to all rights of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person with
respect to all third parties, firms or corporations relating to the matter
for
which indemnification has been made. The failure to deliver written notice
to
the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any
such
action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6, except to the
extent that the indemnifying party is prejudiced in its ability to defend such
action.
16
(d) The
indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be made by periodic payments
of
the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, reasonably
promptly upon the receipt by the indemnified party of written bills (with such
appropriate supporting information as is reasonably requested by the
indemnifying party that Indemnified Damages have been incurred and the amount
thereof (together with such appropriate supporting information as is reasonably
requested by the indemnifying party); provided that the Indemnified Party,
as
applicable, shall reimburse all such payments to the extent it is finally
judicially determined that such Indemnified Person or Indemnified party is
not
entitled to indemnification hereunder.
(e) The
indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in addition to (i) any cause
of
action or similar right of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person against
the indemnifying party or others, and (ii) any liabilities the indemnifying
party may be subject to pursuant to the law.
7. Contribution.
To
the
extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is prohibited or limited
by
law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum contribution with respect
to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable under Section 6 to the
fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that: (i) no Person involved
in the sale of Registrable Securities which Person is guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 0000 Xxx) in
connection with such sale shall be entitled to contribution from any Person
involved in such sale of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation; and (ii) contribution by any seller of Registrable Securities
shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds received by such seller
from the sale of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration
Statement.
8. Reports
Under the 1934 Act.
With
a
view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated
under the 1933 Act or any other similar rule or regulation of the SEC that
may
at any time permit the Investors to sell securities of the Company to the public
without registration ("Rule
144"),
the
Company agrees, until the earlier of such time as all of the Registrable
Securities (i) have been sold and (ii) may be sold by all Investors without
volume limitations pursuant to Rule 144(k), to:
(a) make
and
keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined
in
Rule 144(c);
(b) file
with
the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the
Company under Section 13 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act so long as the Company remains
subject to such requirements and the filing of such reports and other documents
is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
17
(c) furnish
to each Investor so long as such Investor owns Registrable Securities, promptly
upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company, if true, that it has
complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the 1933 Act and the
1934
Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company
and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company, and (iii) such
other information as may be reasonably requested to permit the Investors to
sell
such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.
9. Assignment
of Registration Rights.
The
rights under this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by the Investors
to any transferee of all or any portion of such Investor's Registrable
Securities if: (i) the Investor agrees in writing with the transferee or
assignee to assign such rights, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to
the
Company within a reasonable time after such assignment; (ii) the Company is,
within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with
written notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or assignee,
and
(b) the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being
transferred or assigned; (iii) immediately following such transfer or assignment
the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is
restricted under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws; (iv) at
or
before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause
(ii) of this sentence the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the
Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein; and (v) such
transfer shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements
of
the Securities Purchase Agreement.
10. Amendment
of Registration Rights.
Provisions
of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may be waived
(either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or
prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and the Required
Holders. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 10
shall be binding upon each Investor and the Company. No such amendment shall
be
effective to the extent that it applies to less than all of the holders of
the
Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, amendment or waiver
with
respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of certain holders
of
Registrable Securities and that does not directly or indirectly affect the
rights of other holders may be given by holders of at least a majority of the
Registrable Securities to which such waiver or consent relates, and such
amendment or waiver shall be binding on all such holders. 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.
18
11. Currency.
Unless
otherwise indicated, all dollar amounts referred to in this Agreement are in
United States Dollars. All amounts owing under this Agreement or any Transaction
Document (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) shall be paid in
US
dollars. All amounts denominated in other currencies shall be converted in
the
US dollar equivalent amount in accordance with the Exchange Rate on the date
of
calculation. "Exchange
Rate"
means,
in relation to any amount of currency to be converted into US dollars pursuant
to this Agreement, the US dollar exchange rate as published in the Wall Street
Journal on the relevant date of calculation.
11A. Judgment
Currency.
a) If
for
the purpose of obtaining or enforcing judgment against the Company in any court
in any jurisdiction it becomes necessary to convert into any other currency
(such other currency being hereinafter in this Section 12 referred to as the
"Judgment
Currency")
an
amount due in US dollars under this Agreement, the conversion shall be made
at
the Exchange Rate prevailing on the Business Day immediately
preceding:
i) the
date
of actual payment of the amount due, in the case of any proceeding in the courts
of New York or in the courts of any other jurisdiction that will give effect
to
such conversion being made on such date: or
ii) the
date
on which the foreign court determines, in the case of any proceeding in the
courts of any other jurisdiction (the date as of which such conversion is made
pursuant to this Section being hereinafter referred to as the "Judgment
Conversion Date").
b) If
in the
case of any proceeding in the court of any jurisdiction referred to in Section
11A(a)(i)(2) above, there is a change in the Exchange Rate prevailing between
the Judgment Conversion Date and the date of actual payment of the amount due,
the applicable party shall pay such adjusted amount as may be necessary to
ensure that the amount paid in the Judgment Currency, when converted at the
Exchange Rate prevailing on the date of payment, will produce the amount of
US
dollars which could have been purchased with the amount of Judgment Currency
stipulated in the judgment or judicial order at the Exchange Rate prevailing
on
the Judgment Conversion Date.
c) Any
amount due from the Company under this provision shall be due as a separate
debt
and shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other amounts
due
under or in respect of this Agreement.
12. Miscellaneous.
(a) A
Person
is deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities whenever such Person owns
or
is deemed to own of record such Registrable Securities. If the Company receives
conflicting instructions, notices or elections from two or more Persons with
respect to the same Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the
basis
of instructions, notice or election received from the 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) one Business Day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight
delivery service, in each case properly addressed to the party to receive the
same; or (iv) upon receipt when sent by email transmission, provided that such
email transmission is confirmed by delivery by one of the other methods set
forth herein. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications shall
be:
19
If
to the
Company:
China
BAK
Battery Inc.
Bak
Industrial Park
No.
1 Bak
Street
Kuichong
Town, Longgang District
Shenzhen
People F4 518119, China
Attention:
|
Xxxx
Xxxx
|
Telephone:
|
00
000 0000 0000
|
Facsimile:
|
86
755 8977 0527
|
Email:
|
xxx@xxx.xxx.xx
|
With
a
copy to:
Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx Raysman & Xxxxxxx LLP
000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxxxxxxx,
X.X. 00000
Attention:
|
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxxx, Esq.
|
Telephone:
|
000-000-0000
|
Facsimile:
|
000-000-0000
|
Email:
|
xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx
|
If
to
Legal Counsel:
Xxxxxxx
Xxxx & Xxxxx LLP
000
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telephone:
|
(000)
000-0000
|
Facsimile:
|
(000)
000-0000
|
Attention:
|
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx, Esq.
|
Email:
|
xxxxxxx.xxxxx@xxx.xxx
|
If
to an
Investor who is a Buyer, to its address and facsimile number set forth on the
Schedule of Buyers attached hereto, with copies to such Buyer's representatives
as set forth on the Schedule of Buyers, and if to any other Investors, to its
address and facsimile number provided in accordance with Section 9; or, with
respect to any party, to such other address and/or facsimile number and/or
to
the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by
written notice given to each other party five (5) days prior to the
effectiveness of such change. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by
the
recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B)
mechanically or electronically generated by the sender's facsimile machine
containing the time, date, recipient facsimile number and an image of the first
page of such transmission or (C) provided by a courier or overnight courier
service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by facsimile
or receipt from a nationally recognized overnight delivery service in accordance
with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.
20
(c) Failure
of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or otherwise,
or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy, shall not operate as
a
waiver thereof.
(d) All
questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation
of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New
York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision
or
rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would
cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State
of
New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction
of
the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of
Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection
herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and
hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or
proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction
of
any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an
inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is
improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process
and
consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by
mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it
under
this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient
service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed
to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law.
If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity
or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that jurisdiction or
the
validity or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other
jurisdiction. The Company hereby appoints Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx Raysman &
Xxxxxxx LLP with offices at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X., Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000,
as
its agent for service of process in the United States. EACH
PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE, AND AGREES NOT TO
REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN
CONNECTION HEREWITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
(e) This
Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and the instruments referenced herein
and therein constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with
respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no restrictions,
promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred
to
herein and therein. This Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and the
instruments referenced herein and therein supersede all prior agreements and
understandings among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof and thereof.
21
(f) Subject
to the requirements of Section 9, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of
and be binding upon the permitted successors and assigns of each of the parties
hereto.
(g) The
headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall
not
limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(h) This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement. This
Agreement, once executed by a party, may be delivered to the other party hereto
by facsimile transmission of a copy of this Agreement bearing the signature
of
the party so delivering this Agreement.
(i) Each
party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further
acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements,
certificates, instruments and documents, as any other party may reasonably
request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
(j) All
consents and other determinations required to be made by the Investors pursuant
to this Agreement shall be made, unless otherwise specified in this Agreement,
by the Required Holders.
(k) The
language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by
the
parties to express their mutual intent and no rules of strict construction
will
be applied against any party.
(l) This
Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any
provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.
(m) The
obligations of each Buyer hereunder are several and not joint with the
obligations of any other Buyer, and no provision of this Agreement is intended
to confer any obligations on any Buyer vis-à-vis any other Buyer. Nothing
contained herein, and no action taken by any Buyer pursuant hereto, shall be
deemed to constitute the Buyers as a partnership, an association, a joint
venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Buyers
are
in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations
or
the transactions contemplated herein.
*
* * * *
*
22
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
each
Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this
Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written
above.
|
||
COMPANY:
|
||
CHINA BAK BATTERY INC. | ||
|
|
|
By: | ||
Name: |
||
Title |
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
each
Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this
Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written
above.
NAME OF INVESTING ENTITY | ||
|
|
|
By: | ||
Name: |
||
Title |
ADDRESS FOR NOTICE | ||
c/o:
________________________________________
|
||
Street:______________________________________ | ||
City/State/Zip:________________________________ | ||
Attention:___________________________________ | ||
Tel:________________________________________ | ||
Fax:________________________________________ | ||
Email:_______________________________________ |
SCHEDULE
OF BUYERS
Buyer
|
Buyer
Address
and
Facsimile Number
|
Buyer's
Representative's Address
and
Facsimile Number
|
EXHIBIT
A
FORM
OF NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS
OF
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
[Transfer
Agent]
[Address]
Attention:
Re: China
BAK Battery Inc.
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
[We
are][I am] counsel to China BAK Battery Inc.,
a
Nevada corporation (the "Company"),
and
have represented the Company in connection with that certain Securities Purchase
Agreement, dated as of Novermber [ ], 2007 (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 its shares of the Company's
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Common
Stock").
Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company also has entered
into
a Registration Rights Agreement with the Holders (the "Registration
Rights Agreement")
pursuant to which the Company agreed, among other things, to register the resale
of the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement)
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933
Act").
In
connection with the Company's obligations under the Registration Rights
Agreement, on ____________ ___, 2007, the Company filed a Registration Statement
on Form [S-3] (File No. 333-_____________) (the "Registration
Statement")
with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")
relating to the Registrable Securities which names each of the Holders as a
selling stockholder thereunder.
In
connection with the foregoing, [we][I] advise you that a member of the SEC's
staff has advised [us][me] by telephone that the SEC has
entered an order declaring the Registration Statement effective under the 1933
Act at [ENTER
TIME OF EFFECTIVENESS]
on
[ENTER
DATE OF EFFECTIVENESS]
and we
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 instruction to you that the shares of Common
Stock are freely transferable by the Holders pursuant to the Registration
Statement. Unless you receive a separate notice of instruction from us following
a request by a Holder for a legend free certificate or reissue thereof, you
need
not require further letters from us to effect any future legend-free issuance
or
reissuance of shares of Common Stock upon the request of a Holder.
Very truly yours, | ||
[ISSUER'S COUNSEL] | ||
|
|
|
By: | ||
|
CC: [LIST
NAMES OF HOLDERS]
A-1
ANNEX
I
SELLING
STOCKHOLDERS
The
shares of common stock being offered by the selling stockholders are those
previously issued to the Selling Stockholders. For additional information
regarding the issuances of common stock, see "Private Placement of Common
Shares" 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 shares of common stock, the selling stockholders
have not had any material relationship with us within the past three
years.
The
table
below lists the selling stockholders and other information regarding the
beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock by each of the selling
stockholders. The second column lists the number of shares of common stock
beneficially owned by each selling shareholder, based on its ownership of the
shares of common stock, as of ________, 2007.
The
third
column lists the shares of common stock being offered by this prospectus by
the
selling stockholders.
In
accordance with the terms of registration rights agreements with the holders
of
the shares of common stock, this prospectus generally covers the resale of
the
number of shares of common stock issued as of the trading day immediately
preceding the date this registration statement was initially filed with the
SEC.
The fourth column assumes the sale of all of the shares offered by the selling
stockholders pursuant to this prospectus. The selling stockholders may sell
all,
some or none of their shares in this offering. See "Plan of
Distribution."
Annex
I-1
Name
of Selling Stockholder
|
Number
of Shares of Common Stock Owned Prior to Offering
|
Maximum
Number of Shares of Common Stock to be Sold Pursuant to this
Prospectus
|
Number
of Shares of Common Stock Owned After
Offering
|
Annex
I-2
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
We
are
registering the shares of common stock previously issued to permit the resale
of
these shares of common stock by the holders of the common stock from time to
time after the date of this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds
from the sale by the selling stockholders of the shares of common stock. We
will
bear all fees and expenses incident to our obligation to register the shares
of
common stock.
The
selling stockholders may sell all or a portion of the shares of common stock
beneficially owned by them and offered hereby from time to time directly or
through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. If the shares of
common stock are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the selling
stockholders will be responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions
or
agent's commissions. The shares of common stock may be sold in one or more
transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of the
sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices.
These sales may be effected in transactions, which may involve crosses or block
transactions,
· |
on
any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the
securities may be listed or quoted at the time of
sale;
|
· |
in
the over-the-counter market;
|
· |
in
transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the
over-the-counter market;
|
· |
through
the writing of options, whether such options are listed on an options
exchange or otherwise;
|
· |
ordinary
brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer
solicits purchasers;
|
· |
block
trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares
as agent
but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to
facilitate the transaction;
|
· |
purchases
by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for
its
account;
|
· |
an
exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
exchange;
|
· |
privately
negotiated transactions;
|
· |
short
sales;
|
· |
sales
pursuant to Rule 144;
|
· |
broker-dealers
may agree with the selling securityholders to sell a specified number
of
such shares at a stipulated price per
share;
|
Annex
I-3
· |
a
combination of any such methods of sale;
and
|
· |
any
other method permitted pursuant to applicable
law.
|
If
the
selling stockholders effect such transactions by selling shares of common stock
to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, such underwriters,
broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions in the form of discounts,
concessions or commissions from the selling stockholders or commissions from
purchasers of the shares of common stock for whom they may act as agent or
to
whom they may sell as principal (which discounts, concessions or commissions
as
to particular underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may be in excess of those
customary in the types of transactions involved). In connection with sales
of
the shares of common stock or otherwise, the selling stockholders may enter
into
hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short
sales of the shares of common stock in the course of hedging in positions they
assume. The selling stockholders may also sell shares of common stock short
and
deliver shares of common stock covered by this prospectus to close out short
positions and to return borrowed shares in connection with such short sales.
The
selling stockholders may also loan or pledge shares of common stock to
broker-dealers that in turn may sell such shares.
The
selling stockholders may pledge or grant a security interest in some or all
of
the shares of common stock owned by them and, if they default in the performance
of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and
sell
the shares of common stock from time to time pursuant to this prospectus or
any
amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, amending, if necessary, the list
of
selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors
in
interest as selling stockholders under this prospectus. The selling stockholders
also may transfer and donate the shares of common stock in other circumstances
in which case the transferees, donees, pledgees or other successors in interest
will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this
prospectus.
The
selling stockholders and any broker-dealer participating in the distribution
of
the shares of common stock may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning
of the Securities Act, and any commission paid, or any discounts or concessions
allowed to, any such broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting commissions
or discounts under the Securities Act. At the time a particular offering of
the
shares of common stock is made, a prospectus supplement, if required, will
be
distributed which will set forth the aggregate amount of shares of common stock
being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of
any
broker-dealers or agents, any discounts, commissions and other terms
constituting compensation from the selling stockholders and any discounts,
commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to
broker-dealers.
Under
the
securities laws of some states, the shares of common stock may be sold in such
states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition,
in
some states the shares of common stock may not be sold unless such shares have
been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption from
registration or qualification is available and is complied with.
Annex
I-4
There
can
be no assurance that any selling stockholder will sell any or all of the shares
of common stock registered pursuant to the shelf registration statement, of
which this prospectus forms a part.
The
selling stockholders and any other person participating in such distribution
will be subject to applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934,
as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without
limitation, Regulation M of the Exchange Act, which may limit the timing of
purchases and sales of any of the shares of common stock by the selling
stockholders and any other participating person. Regulation M may also restrict
the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the shares of common
stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of common
stock. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the shares of common
stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making
activities with respect to the shares of common stock.
We
will
pay all expenses of the registration of the shares of common stock pursuant
to
the registration rights agreement, estimated to be
$[ ] in total, including, without limitation,
Securities and Exchange Commission filing fees and expenses of compliance with
state securities or "blue sky" laws; provided, however, that a selling
stockholder will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if
any.
We will indemnify the selling stockholders against liabilities, including some
liabilities under the Securities Act, in accordance with the registration rights
agreements, or the selling stockholders will be entitled to contribution. We
may
be indemnified by the selling stockholders against civil liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act, that may arise from any written
information furnished to us by the selling stockholder specifically for use
in
this prospectus, in accordance with the related registration rights agreements,
or we may be entitled to contribution.
Once
sold
under the shelf registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part,
the shares of common stock will be freely tradable in the hands of persons
other
than our affiliates.
Annex
I-5
ANNEX
II
CHINA
BAK BATTERY, INC.
SELLING
STOCKHOLDER QUESTIONNAIRE
NAME
OF STOCKHOLDER: _________________________________
In
connection with your purchase of shares of common stock (the “Securities”)
of
China BAK Battery, Inc. (the “Company”)
in
various transactions (the “Offerings”),
please provide the Company with the following information for the Company’s use
in preparing a Registration Statement (the “Registration
Statement”)
relating to the Securities acquired by you which you are asking the Company
to
register.
A. General
Information
1. Please
state your or your organization’s name exactly
as it should appear on the Registration Statement.
2. Please
provide the Tax Identification Number of the person or entity listed in response
to Item 1 above (if applicable).
3. Have
you
or your organization had any position, office or other material relationship
within the past three years with the Company or any of its affiliates (other
than as a participant in the Offerings)?
oYes
Noo
If yes, please indicate the nature of any such relationships below:
4. Does
the
Plan of Distribution attached to this Questionnaire as Annex
A
accurately reflect the means by which you ultimately intend to dispose or sell
the Securities?
oYes
Noo
Annex
I-1
B. Securities
Holdings
Please
fill in all blanks in the following questions related to your beneficial
ownership of
the
Company’s capital stock. Generally, the term “beneficial
ownership”
refers
to any direct or indirect interest in the securities which entitles you to
any
of the rights or benefits of ownership, even though you may not be the holder
of
record of the securities. For example, securities held in “street name” over
which you exercise voting or investment power would be considered beneficially
owned by
you.
Other examples of indirect ownership include ownership by a partnership in
which
you are a partner or by an estate or trust of which you or any member of your
immediate
family is
a
beneficiary. Ownership of securities held in the names of your spouse, minor
children or other relatives who live in the same household may be attributed
to
you.
Please
note: If
you
have any reason to believe that any interest in securities of the Company which
you may have, however remote, is a beneficial interest, please describe such
interest. For purposes of responding to this questionnaire, it is preferable
to
err on the side of inclusion rather than exclusion. Where the SEC's
interpretation of beneficial
ownership would
require disclosure of your interest or possible interest in certain securities
of the Company, and you believe that you do not actually possess the attributes
of beneficial ownership, an appropriate response is to disclose the interest
and
at the same time disclaim beneficial ownership of the securities.
1. I
own
outright (including shares registered in my name individually or jointly with
others, shares held in the name of a bank, broker, nominee, depository or in
“street name” for my account), the following number of shares of the Company’s
capital stock:
2. I
beneficially own the following number of securities that are exercisable or
exchangeable for, or convertible into the Company’s common stock:
3. In
addition to the number of shares I own outright as indicated by my answer to
Item B(l), as of the date hereof,
I have
or share voting power or investment power, directly or indirectly, through
a
contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, over the
following number of shares of the Company's capital stock:
4. Please
identify the natural
person
or
persons who have voting and/or investment control over the Company’s securities
that you own, and state
whether such person(s) disclaims beneficial ownership of the
securities.
Please
also state how (in what capacity) such person exercises such control. For
example, if you are a general partnership, please identify the general partners
in the partnership.
Annex
I-2
C. NASD
Questions
1. Are
you
(i) a “member”1
of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"),
(ii) an “affiliate”2
of a
member of the NASD, (iii) a “person associated with a member” or an
“associated person of a member” of the NASD or (iv) an immediate family
member3
of any
of the foregoing persons? If yes,
please
identify the member and describe such relationship (whether direct or indirect),
and please respond to Item 2 below; if no,
please
proceed directly to Item 3 below.
oYes
Noo
Description:
2. If
you
answered “yes” to Question Number 1, please furnish any information as to
whether any such member intends to participate in any capacity in the proposed
public resale of the Securities, including the details of such
participation:
1
NASD
defines a "member" as any broker or dealer admitted to membership in the NASD,
or any officer or partner or branch manager of such a member, or any person
occupying a similar status or performing a similar function for such a
member.
2 The
term
"affiliate" means a person that directly, or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is in common control with,
the
person specified. Persons who have acted or are acting on behalf of or for
the
benefit of a person include, but are not necessarily limited to, directors,
officers, employees, agents, consultants and sales representatives. The
following should apply for purposes of the foregoing:
(i) |
a
person should be presumed to control a Member if the person beneficially
owns 10 percent or more the outstanding voting securities of a Member
which is a corporation, or beneficially owns a partnership interest
in 10
percent or more of the distributable profits or losses of a Member
which
is a partnership;
|
(ii) |
a
Member should be presumed to control a person if the Member and Persons
Associated With a Member beneficially own 10 percent or more of the
outstanding voting securities of a person which is a corporation,
or
beneficially own a partnership interest in 10 percent or more of
the
distributable profits or losses of a person which is a partnership;
(iii) a person should be presumed to be under common control with a
Member if:
|
(1) |
the
same person controls both the Member and another person by beneficially
owning 10 percent or more of the outstanding voting securities of
a Member
or person which is a corporation, or by beneficially owning a partnership
interest in 10 percent or more of the distributable profits or losses
of a
Member or person which is a partnership;
or
|
(2) |
a
person having the power to direct or cause the direction of the management
or policies of the Member or such person also has the power to direct
or
cause the direction of the management or policies of the other entity
in
question.
|
3
Immediate family includes parents, mother-in-law, father-in-law, husband
or
wife, brother or sister, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, son-in-law or
daughter-in-law, and children, or any other person who is supported, directly
or
indirectly, to a material extent, by a person associated with a member of
the
NASD or any other broker dealer.
Annex
I-3
3. Are
you
or have you been an “underwriter or related person”4
or a
person associated with an underwriter or related person, including, without
limitation, with respect to the proposed public resale of the Securities? If
yes, please identify the underwriter or related person and describe such
relationship (whether direct or indirect).
oYes
Noo
Description:
4. If
known,
please describe in detail any underwriting compensation received or underwriting
arrangements or dealings entered into during the previous twelve months, or
proposed to be consummated in the next twelve months, between (i) any
underwriter or related person, member of the NASD, affiliate of a member of
the
NASD, person associated with a member or associated person of a member of the
NASD or any immediate family member thereof, on the one hand, and (ii) the
Company, or any director, officer or shareholder thereof, on the other hand,
which provides for the receipt of any item of value and/or the transfer of
any
warrants, options or other securities from the Company to any such person (other
than the information relating to the arrangements with any investment firm
or
underwriting organization which may participate in the proposed public resale
of
the Securities).
Description:
5. Have
you
purchased the securities in the ordinary course of business?
oYes
Noo
D. Regulation
M
You
hereby acknowledge and agree that you have been advised by the Company that
the
anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Exchange Act may apply to
sales of shares in the market and to the activities of you and the other selling
stockholders and your and their affiliates.
1
The term
"underwriter or related person" includes underwriters, underwriters' counsel,
financial consultants and advisors, finders, members of the selling or
distribution group, and any and all other persons associated with or related
to
any of such persons, including members of the immediate family of such
persons.
Annex
I-4
E. Signatures
The
undersigned has prepared and carefully read this questionnaire. The undersigned
understands that:
1. Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx Raysman & Xxxxxxx LLP, 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X., Xxxxxxxxxx, XX
00000, is the attorney for the Company.
2. The
Company will rely upon the answers and representations made above when preparing
or reviewing documents, including, with limitation, the Registration
Statement.
3. One
who
causes documents to be misleading may be held liable civilly to investors and
other persons who are damaged as a result of such
misrepresentation.
THE
UNDERSIGNED WILL NOTIFY THE COMPANY PROMPTLY OF ANY SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES IN
THE
FOREGOING INFORMATION THAT MAY OCCUR.
Date:
________________
For Individuals: | For Entities: | ||
Print Name Above |
Print Name Above |
||
Sign Name Above |
By:____________________________________ | ||
Name: | |||
Title: | |||
Address:
|
Address:
|
||
PLEASE
RETURN THE COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRE BY FACSIMILE
OR E-MAIL AND OVERNIGHT MAIL
TO:
Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx Raysman & Xxxxxxx LLP
000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Telephone:
x0 000.000.0000
Facsimile:
x0 000.000.0000
xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx
Annex
I-5