REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit
10.2
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
(this
"Agreement"),
dated
as of November 22, 2006, by and among Discovery Laboratories, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, with headquarters located at 0000 Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000,
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 (the "Company"),
and
Capital Ventures International, a Cayman Islands company (the "Buyer").
WHEREAS:
A. In
connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the parties
hereto of even date herewith (the "Securities
Purchase Agreement"),
the
Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in
the Securities Purchase Agreement, to issue and sell to the Buyer (i) shares
(the "Common
Shares")
of the
Company's common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Common
Stock")
and
(ii) a warrant (the "Warrant"),
which
will be exercisable to purchase shares of Common Stock (as exercised
collectively, the "Warrant
Shares").
B. To
induce
the Buyer to execute and deliver the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company
has agreed to provide certain registration rights under the Securities Act
of
1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or any similar
successor statute (collectively, the "1933
Act"),
and
applicable state securities laws.
NOW,
THEREFORE,
in
consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein and
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are
hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Buyer hereby agree as
follows:
1. Definitions.
Capitalized
terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective
meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement. As used in this
Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
a. "Business
Day"
means
any day other than Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks
in the City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain
closed.
b. "Closing
Date"
shall
have the meaning set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement.
c. "Effective
Date"
means
the date the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the
SEC.
d. "Effectiveness
Deadline"
means
the date (i) in the event that the Registration Statement is not subject to
a
full review by the SEC, ninety (90) calendar days after the Closing Date or
(ii)
in the event that the Registration Statement is subject to a full review by
the
SEC, one-hundred and twenty (120) calendar days after the Closing
Date.
e. "Filing
Deadline"
means
the date that is thirty (30) calendar days after the Closing Date.
f. "Investor"
means
the Buyer or 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.
g. "Person"
means
an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture,
a
corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization and a government or any
department or agency thereof.
h. "register,"
"registered,"
and
"registration"
refer
to a registration effected by preparing and filing one or more Registration
Statements (as defined below) in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant
to
Rule 415 and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration
Statement(s) by the SEC.
i. "Registrable
Securities"
means
(i) the Common Shares, (ii) the Warrant Shares issued or issuable upon
exercise of the Warrants, and (iii) any shares of capital stock of the Company
issued or issuable with respect to the Common Shares, the Warrant Shares and
the
Warrants as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization,
exchange or similar event or otherwise, without regard to any limitations on
exercises of the Warrant.
j. "Registration
Statement"
means a
registration statement or registration statements of the Company filed under
the
1933 Act covering resale of 100% of the Registrable Securities.
k. "Required
Holders"
means
the holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities.
l. "Rule
415"
means
Rule 415 promulgated under the 1933 Act or any successor rule providing for
offering securities on a continuous or delayed basis.
m. "SEC"
means
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
2. Registration.
a. Mandatory
Registration.
The
Company shall prepare, and, as soon as practicable but in no event later than
the Filing Deadline, file with the SEC the Registration Statement on Form S-3
covering the resale of the Registrable Securities. In the event that Form S-3
is
unavailable for such a registration, the Company shall use such other form
as is
available for such a registration on another appropriate form reasonably
acceptable to the Required Holders, subject to the provisions of Section 2(d).
The Registration Statement shall contain (except if otherwise agreed with the
Required Holders) the "Selling
Stockholder"
and
"Plan
of Distribution"
sections in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit
B.
The
Company shall use its best efforts to have the Registration Statement declared
effective by the SEC as soon as practicable, but in no event later than the
Effectiveness Deadline. By 9:30 am on the Business Day following the 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 Registration Statement.
2
b. Exclusivity
of Registrable Securities.
In no
event shall the Company include any securities other than Registrable Securities
on any Registration Statement without the prior written consent of the
Holder.
c. Ineligibility
for Form S-3.
In the
event that Form S-3 is not available for the registration of the resale of
Registrable Securities hereunder, the Company shall (i) register the resale
of the Registrable Securities on another appropriate form reasonably acceptable
to the Required Holders and (ii) undertake to register the Registrable
Securities on Form S-3 as soon as such form is available, provided that the
Company shall maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement then
in
effect until such time as a Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the
Registrable Securities has been declared effective by the SEC.
d. Sufficient
Number of Shares Registered.
In the
event that at any time 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,
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 all of the Registrable Securities. 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.
e. Registration
and Related Defaults.
Should
an
Event (as defined below) occur, then upon the occurrence of such Event, and
on
every monthly anniversary thereof until the applicable Event is cured, as
partial relief for the damages suffered therefrom by the Buyer (which remedy
shall not be exclusive of any other remedies available under this Agreement,
at
law or in equity), the Company shall pay to the Buyer an amount in cash, as
liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to 1.0% (the “Percentage”)
of the
aggregate purchase price paid by the Buyer for the Securities; provided that
if
the Event shall continue, beginning with the first month following such Event,
the Percentage shall be increased to 1.5%. The payments to which the Buyer
shall
be entitled pursuant to this Section 2(e) are referred to herein as
"Event
Payments".
In the
event the Company fails to make Event Payments in a timely manner, such Event
Payments shall bear interest at the rate of 1.0% per month until paid in full.
In
no
event shall the aggregate Event Payments required to be paid hereunder exceed
7%
of the aggregate purchase price payable for the Registrable Securities.
For
such
purposes, each of the following shall constitute an “Event”:
(i) the
Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to the Filing Date;
(ii) the
Registration Statement is not declared effective on or prior to the
Effectiveness Deadline;
3
(iii) except
(A) as provided for in Section 3(r), (B) if the Company is involved in
a "Rule 13e-3 transaction" as defined in Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act,
or
(C) a merger or consolidation of the Company or a sale of more than
one-half of the assets of the Company in one or a series of related
transactions, unless following such transaction or series of transactions,
the
holders of the Company's securities prior to the first such transaction continue
to hold at least 50% of the voting rights and equity interests of the surviving
entity or acquirer (clauses (B) and (C), collectively, the "Excluded
Events"),
after
the Effective Date, the Buyer is not permitted to sell Registrable Securities
under the Registration Statement (or a subsequent Registration Statement filed
in replacement thereof) for any reason (other than the fault of such Buyer)
for
any period in excess of the Applicable Grace Period (as defined in Section
3q);
(iv) except
as
a result of the Excluded Events, the Common Stock is not listed or quoted,
or is
suspended from trading, on the Principal Market (as defined in the Warrant)
for
a period of three Trading Days (which need not be consecutive Trading Days)
during the Registration Period;
or
(v) the
Company fails to have available a sufficient number of authorized but unissued
and otherwise unreserved shares of Common Stock available to issue Warrant
Shares upon any exercise of the Warrant or, except as a result of the Excluded
Events, during the Registration Period, any Common Shares or Warrant Shares
are
not listed on the
Principal Market.
3. Related
Obligations.
At
such
time as the Company is obligated to file a Registration Statement with the
SEC
pursuant to Section 2(a), 2(d) or 2(e), the Company will use its best efforts
to
effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the
intended method of disposition thereof and, pursuant thereto, the Company shall
have the following obligations:
a. The
Company shall submit to the SEC, within two (2) Business Days after the Company
learns that no review of a particular Registration Statement will be made by
the
staff of the SEC or that the staff has no further comments on a particular
Registration Statement, as the case may be, a request for acceleration of
effectiveness of such Registration Statement to a time and date not later than
two (2) Business Days after the submission of such request. The
Company shall keep each Registration Statement effective pursuant to Rule 415
at
all times until the earlier of (i) the date as of which the Investors may sell
all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement without
restriction pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any successor thereto) promulgated
under
the 1933 Act (without Cashless Exercise of the Warrants) or (ii) the date on
which the Investors shall have sold all of the Registrable Securities covered
by
such Registration Statement (the "Registration
Period").
The
Company shall ensure that each Registration Statement (including any amendments
or supplements thereto and prospectuses contained therein) shall not contain
any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
to
be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case
of
prospectuses, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made) not
misleading.
4
b. The
Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including
post-effective amendments) and supplements to a Registration Statement and
the
prospectus used in connection with such Registration Statement, which prospectus
is to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated under the 1933 Act, as may
be
necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective at all times during
the
Registration Period, and, during such period, comply with the provisions of
the
1933 Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities of the
Company covered by such Registration Statement until such time as all of such
Registrable Securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with the
intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth
in
such Registration Statement. In the case of amendments and supplements to a
Registration Statement which are required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement
(including pursuant to this Section 3(b)) by reason of the Company filing a
report on Form 10-Q, Form 10-QSB, Form 10-K, Form 10-KSB or any analogous report
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934
Act"),
the
Company shall have incorporated such report by reference into such Registration
Statement, if applicable, or shall file such amendments or supplements with
the
SEC on the same day on which the 1934 Act report is filed which created the
requirement for the Company to amend or supplement such Registration
Statement.
c. The
Company shall permit the Buyer to review and comment upon the “Selling
Stockholders” and “Plan of Distribution” sections of the Registration Statement
or any related Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto and any risk factor
contained in such document that addresses specifically the transactions
contemplated under the Securities Purchase Agreement, as proposed to be filed;
(i) in the case of a Registration Statement, not less than three (3) Business
Days prior to its filing with the SEC and (ii) in the case of any amendments
and
supplements to a Registration Statement (except for reports or other filings
made pursuant to the 1934 Act), within a reasonable number of days prior to
their filing with the SEC; provided that, the failure of any Investor or its
counsel to respond to such proposed documents within two business days after
receipt thereof shall be deemed approval of same; and provided, further, that
no
such review and comment shall inhibit the Company from filing the Registration
Statement or otherwise from complying with its obligations under this Agreement
or under the 1933 Act or 1934 Act. The Company shall furnish to the Buyer,
without charge, upon the Buyer’s request (i) copies of any correspondence from
the SEC or the staff of the SEC to the Company or its representatives relating
to the “Selling Stockholders” and “Plan of Distribution” sections of the
Registration Statement and (ii) such number of copies of the Registration
Statement, any amendment(s) thereto, and prospectuses as may be required by
the
1933 Act and such other documents as the Buyer may reasonably
request.
d. The
Company shall furnish to each Investor, without charge and upon such Investor’s
request, such number of copies of the Registration Statement, any amendment(s)
thereto, and prospectuses as may be required by the 1933 Act and such other
documents as such Investor may reasonably request. from time to time in order
to
facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such
Investor.
e. The
Company shall use its best efforts to (i) register and qualify, unless an
exemption from registration and qualification applies, the resale by Investors
of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement under such
other securities or "blue sky" laws of all applicable jurisdictions in the
United States, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions, such amendments
(including 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
each Investor who holds Registrable Securities of the receipt by the Company
of
any notification with respect to the suspension of the registration or
qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale under the securities
or "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction in the United States or its receipt
of
notice of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such
purpose.
5
f. The
Company shall notify each Investor in writing of the happening of any event,
as
promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event, as a result of
which
the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes
an untrue statement of a material fact or omission to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading
(provided that in no event shall such notice contain any material, nonpublic
information), and, subject to Section 3(r), promptly prepare a supplement or
amendment to such Registration Statement to correct such untrue statement or
omission. The Company shall also promptly notify each Investor in writing (i)
when a prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment
has
been filed, and when a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment
has become effective (notification of such effectiveness shall be delivered
to
each Investor by facsimile on the same day of such effectiveness and by
overnight mail), (ii) of any request by the SEC for amendments or supplements
to
a Registration Statement or related prospectus or related information, and
(iii)
of the Company's reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to
a
Registration Statement would be appropriate.
g. The
Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order
or
other suspension of effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or the suspension
of the qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction and, if such an order or suspension is issued, to obtain the
withdrawal of such order or suspension at the earliest possible moment and
to
notify each Investor who holds Registrable Securities being sold of the issuance
of such order and the resolution thereof or its receipt of notice of the
initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose.
h. The
Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure of information
concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless (i) disclosure of such
information is necessary to comply with federal or state securities laws, (ii)
the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid or correct a
misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii) the release of
such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other final,
non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction
or (iv) such information has been made generally available to the public other
than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement. If the Company becomes
legally compelled (by subpoena, civil or criminal investigative demand or
similar process) to make any disclosure that is prohibited or otherwise
constrained by this Agreement, the Company shall 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.
6
i. The
Company shall use its best efforts either to (i) cause all of the Registrable
Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be listed on each securities
exchange on which securities of the same class or series issued by the Company
are then listed, if any, if the listing of such Registrable Securities is then
permitted under the rules of such exchange, or (ii) secure designation and
quotation of all of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration
Statement on The NASDAQ Global Market. The Company shall pay all fees and
expenses in connection with satisfying its obligation under this Section
3(i).
j. The
Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold Registrable Securities
being
offered and, to the extent applicable, facilitate the timely preparation and
delivery of certificates (bearing any applicable restrictive legend)
representing the Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to a Registration
Statement and enable such certificates to be in such denominations or amounts,
as the case may be, as the Investors may reasonably request and registered
in
such names as the Investors may request.
k. The
Company shall use its best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and
regulations of the SEC in connection with any registration
hereunder.
l. If
requested by an Investor, the Company shall (i) as soon as practicable
incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such
information as an Investor reasonably requests to be included therein relating
to the sale and distribution of Registrable Securities, including, without
limitation, information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities
being offered or sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other
terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering;
(ii) as soon as practicable make all required filings of such prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment after being notified of the matters
to be
incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; and
(iii) as soon as practicable, supplement or make amendments to any Registration
Statement if reasonably requested by an Investor holding any Registrable
Securities.
m. 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.
n. 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.
7
o. 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.
p. Within
two (2) Business Days after a Registration Statement which covers Registrable
Securities is ordered effective by the SEC, the Company shall deliver, and
shall
cause legal counsel for the Company to deliver, to the transfer agent for such
Registrable Securities (with copies to the Investors whose Registrable
Securities are included in such Registration Statement) confirmation that such
Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit
A.
q. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, at any time after the Effective Date, the
Company may delay the disclosure of material, non-public information concerning
the Company the disclosure of which at the time is not, in the good faith
opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company and its counsel, in the best
interest of the Company and, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, otherwise
required (a "Grace
Period");
provided, that the Company shall promptly (i) notify the Investors in writing
of
the existence of material, non-public information giving rise to a Grace Period
(provided that in each notice the Company will not disclose the content of
such
material, non-public information to the Investors) and the date on which the
Grace Period will begin, and (ii) notify the Investors in writing of the date
on
which the Grace Period ends; and, provided further, that no Grace Period shall
exceed twenty (20) consecutive days or an aggregate of sixty (60) days during
any three hundred sixty five (365) day period (an "Allowable
Grace Period").
For
purposes of determining the length of a Grace Period above, the Grace Period
shall begin on and include the date the Investors receive the notice referred
to
in clause (i) and shall end on and include the later of the date the Investors
receive the notice referred to in clause (ii) and the date referred to in such
notice. The provisions of Section 3(g) hereof shall not be applicable during
the
period of any Allowable Grace Period. Upon expiration of the Grace Period,
the
Company shall again be bound by the first sentence of Section 3(f) with respect
to the information giving rise thereto unless such material, non-public
information is no longer applicable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary,
the Company shall cause its transfer agent to deliver unlegended shares of
Common Stock to a transferee of an Investor in accordance with the terms of
the
Securities Purchase Agreement in connection with any sale of Registrable
Securities with respect to which an Investor has entered into a contract for
sale, and delivered a copy of the prospectus included as part of the applicable
Registration Statement (unless an exemption from such prospectus delivery
requirement exists), prior to the Investor's receipt of the notice of a Grace
Period and for which the Investor has not yet settled.
4. Obligations
of the Investors.
a. At
least
five (5) Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of a
Registration Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor in writing of
the
information the Company requires from each such Investor if such Investor elects
to have any of such Investor's Registrable Securities included in such
Registration Statement. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations
of
the Company to complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect
to the Registrable Securities of a particular Investor that such Investor shall
furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable
Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable
Securities held by it as shall be reasonably required to effect the
effectiveness of the registration of such Registrable Securities and shall
execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company
may
reasonably request.
8
b. Each
Investor, by such Investor's acceptance of the Registrable Securities, agrees
to
cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection
with the preparation and filing of any Registration Statement hereunder, unless
such Investor has notified the Company in writing of such Investor's election
to
exclude all of such Investor's Registrable Securities from such Registration
Statement.
c. Each
Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the
happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(g) or the first
sentence of 3(f), such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of
Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement(s) covering such
Registrable Securities until such Investor's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(g) or the first
sentence of 3(f) or receipt of notice that no supplement or amendment is
required. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Company shall cause
its
transfer agent to deliver unlegended shares of Common Stock to a transferee
of
an Investor in accordance with the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement
in
connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which an
Investor has entered into a contract for sale prior to the Investor's receipt
of
a notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described
in
Section 3(g) or the first sentence of 3(f) and for which the Investor has not
yet settled.
d. Each
Investor covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery
requirements of the 1933 Act as applicable to it or an exemption therefrom
in
connection with sales of Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.
5. Expenses
of Registration.
All
reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions incurred
in connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Sections
2 and 3, including, without limitation, all registration, listing and
qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, and fees and disbursements
of
counsel for the Company, shall be paid by the Company. .
6. Indemnification.
In
the
event any Registrable Securities are included in a Registration Statement under
this Agreement:
9
a. To
the
fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will, and hereby does, indemnify,
hold harmless and defend each Investor, the directors, officers, members,
partners, employees, agents, representatives of, and each Person, if any, who
controls any Investor within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (each,
an "Indemnified
Person"),
against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties,
charges, costs, reasonable attorneys' fees, amounts paid in settlement or
expenses, joint or several, (collectively, "Claims")
incurred in investigating, preparing or defending any action, claim, suit,
inquiry, proceeding, investigation or appeal taken from the foregoing by or
before any court or governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency,
body or the SEC, whether pending or threatened, whether or not an indemnified
party is or may be a party thereto ("Indemnified
Damages"),
to
which any of them may become subject insofar as such Claims (or actions or
proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out
of
or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a
material fact in a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment
thereto or in any filing made in connection with the qualification of the
offering under the securities or other "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction
in
which Registrable Securities are offered ("Blue
Sky Filing"),
or
the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
any
preliminary prospectus if used prior to the effective date of such Registration
Statement, or contained in the final prospectus (as amended or supplemented,
if
the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC)
or
the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary
to
make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
the statements therein were made, not misleading, (iii) any violation or alleged
violation by the Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law,
including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or
regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement or (iv) any violation of this
Agreement (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) being,
collectively, "Violations").
Subject to Section 6(c), the Company shall reimburse the Indemnified Persons,
promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any legal
fees or other reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with
investigating or defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this
Section 6(a): (i) shall not apply to a Claim by an Indemnified Person arising
out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished in writing to the Company by any Indemnified Person
for or on behalf of the Investor 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) and (ii) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement
of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent
of
the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Such
indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person and shall survive the transfer
of
the Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 9.
b. In
connection with any Registration Statement in which an Investor is
participating, each such Investor agrees to severally and not jointly indemnify,
hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same manner as is set
forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers
who signs the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls
the
Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (each, an
"Indemnified
Party"),
against any Claim or Indemnified Damages to which any of them may become
subject, under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim
or
Indemnified Damages arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case
to the extent, and only to the extent, that such Violation occurs in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by
such
Investor expressly for use in connection with such Registration Statement;
and,
subject to Section 6(c), such Investor will reimburse any legal or other
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 the Investor shall be liable under
this Section 6(b) for only that amount of a Claim or Indemnified Damages as
does
not exceed the net proceeds to such Investor as a result of the sale of
Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Such indemnity
shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made
by or
on behalf of such Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of the
Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 9.
10
c. Promptly
after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section
6
of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including any
governmental action or proceeding) involving a Claim, such Indemnified Person
or
Indemnified Party shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against
any
indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party
a
written notice of the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall
have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party
so
desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume
control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the
indemnifying party and the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party, as
the
case may be; provided,
however,
that an
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its
own
counsel with the fees and expenses of not more than one counsel for such
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party to be paid by the indemnifying party,
if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel retained by the indemnifying party,
the
representation by such counsel of the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
and the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and
any
other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. In the case of
an
Indemnified Person, legal counsel referred to in the immediately preceding
sentence shall be selected by the Investors holding at least a
majority in
interest of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement
to
which the Claim relates. The Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person shall
cooperate fully with the indemnifying party in connection with any negotiation
or defense of any such action or Claim by the indemnifying party and shall
furnish to the indemnifying party all information reasonably available to the
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person which relates to such action or Claim.
The indemnifying party shall keep the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person
reasonably apprised at all times as to the status of the defense or any
settlement negotiations with respect thereto. No indemnifying party shall be
liable for any settlement of any action, claim or proceeding effected without
its prior written consent; provided,
however,
that
the indemnifying party shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition
its
consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of
the
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person, consent to entry of any judgment or
enter into any settlement or other compromise which does not include as an
unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person of a release from all liability in
respect to such Claim or litigation, and such settlement shall not include
any
admission as to fault on the part of the Indemnified Party. Following
indemnification as provided for hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be
subrogated to all rights of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person with
respect to all third parties, firms or corporations relating to the matter
for
which indemnification has been made. The failure to deliver written notice
to
the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any
such
action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6, except to the
extent that the indemnifying party is prejudiced in its ability to defend such
action.
11
d. The
indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be made by periodic payments
of
the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as and
when bills are received or Indemnified Damages are incurred.
e. The
indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in addition to (i) any cause
of
action or similar right of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person against
the indemnifying party or others, and (ii) any liabilities the indemnifying
party may be subject to pursuant to the law.
7. Contribution.
To
the
extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is prohibited or limited
by
law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum contribution with respect
to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable under Section 6 to the
fullest extent permitted by law; provided,
however,
that:
(i) no Person involved in the sale of Registrable Securities, which Person
is
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f)
of
the 0000 Xxx) in connection with such sale, shall be entitled to contribution
from any Person involved in such sale of Registrable Securities who was not
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation; and (ii) contribution by any seller
of
Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds
received by such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities pursuant
to
such Registration Statement.
8. Reports
Under the 1934 Act.
With
a
view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated
under the 1933 Act or any other similar rule or regulation of the SEC that
may
at any time permit the Investors to sell securities of the Company to the public
without registration ("Rule
144"),
the
Company agrees to:
a. make
and
keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined
in
Rule 144;
b. file
with
the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the
Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so long as the Company remains
subject to such requirements and the filing of such reports and other documents
is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
c. furnish
to each Investor so long as such Investor owns Registrable Securities, promptly
upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company, if true, that it has
complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the 1933 Act and the
1934
Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual 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.
12
9. Assignment
of Registration Rights.
The
rights under this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by the Investors
to any transferee of all or any portion of such Investor's Registrable
Securities if: (i) the Investor agrees in writing with the transferee or
assignee to assign such rights and a copy of such agreement is furnished to
the
Company within a reasonable time after such assignment; (ii) the Company is,
within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with
written notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or assignee and
(b) the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being
transferred or assigned; (iii) immediately following such transfer or assignment
the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is
restricted under the 1933 Act or applicable state securities laws; (iv) at
or
before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause
(ii) of this sentence the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the
Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein; and (v) such
transfer shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements
of
the Securities Purchase Agreement.
10. Amendment
of Registration Rights.
Provisions
of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may be waived
(either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or
prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and the Holder.
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. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend
or
consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of any of this Agreement
unless the same consideration also is offered to all of the parties to this
Agreement.
11. Miscellaneous.
a. A
Person
is deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities whenever such Person owns
or
is deemed to own of record such Registrable Securities. If the Company receives
conflicting instructions, notices or elections from two or more Persons with
respect to the same Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the
basis
of instructions, notice or election received from the such record owner of
such
Registrable Securities.
b. Any
notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to
be
given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed
to
have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon
receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is
mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party);
or (iii) one (1) Business Day after deposit with a nationally recognized
overnight delivery service, in each case properly addressed to the party to
receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications
shall be:
13
If
to the
Company:
Discovery
Laboratories, Inc.
0000
Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Telephone: (000)
000-0000
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
Attention: Xxxx
X.
Xxxxxx, CFO
with
a
copy to:
Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx LLP
0000
Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000-0000
Telephone: (000)
000-0000
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
Attn:
Xxx
X. Xxxxx
If
to
Buyer:
Capital
Ventures International
c/o
Heights Capital Management, Inc.
000
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telephone: (000)
000-0000
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
or
to
such other address and/or facsimile number and/or to the attention of such
other
Person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each
other party five (5) days prior to the effectiveness of such change. Written
confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent,
waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically generated
by
the sender's facsimile machine containing the time, date, recipient facsimile
number and an image of the first page of such transmission or (C) provided
by a
courier or overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal
service, receipt by facsimile or receipt from a nationally recognized overnight
delivery service in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above,
respectively.
c. Failure
of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or otherwise,
or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy, shall not operate as
a
waiver thereof.
d. All
questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation
of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New
York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision
or
rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would
cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State
of
New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction
of
the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of
Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection
herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and
hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or
proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction
of
any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an
inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is
improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process
and
consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by
mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it
under
this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient
service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed
to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law.
If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity
or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that jurisdiction or
the
validity or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other
jurisdiction. EACH
PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE, AND AGREES NOT TO
REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN
CONNECTION HEREWITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
14
e. This
Agreement, the other Transaction Documents (as defined in the Securities
Purchase Agreement) and the instruments referenced herein and therein constitute
the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof and thereof. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or
undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein and therein.
This
Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and the instruments referenced herein
and therein supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
f. Subject
to the requirements of Section 9, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of
and be binding upon the permitted successors and assigns of each of the parties
hereto.
g. The
headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall
not
limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
h. This
Agreement may be executed in identical counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement.
This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be delivered to the other party
hereto by facsimile transmission of a copy of this Agreement bearing the
signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.
i. Each
party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further
acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements,
certificates, instruments and documents, as any other party may reasonably
request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
15
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 Investor hereunder are several and not joint with the
obligations of any other Investor, and no provision of this Agreement is
intended to confer any obligations on any Investor vis-à-vis any other Investor.
Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any Investor pursuant hereto,
shall be deemed to constitute the Investors as a partnership, an association,
a
joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the
Investors are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such
obligations or the transactions contemplated herein.
*
* * * *
*
16
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the
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:
|
||
DISCOVERY LABORATORIES, INC. | ||
|
|
|
By: |
/s/
Xxxx Xxxxxx
|
|
Name: Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Title: Executive
Vice President & CFO
|
||
BUYER:
|
||
CAPITAL
VENTURES INTERNATIONAL
|
||
By:
Heights Capital Management, Inc.,
its
authorized signatory
|
||
|
|
|
By: |
/s/
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
|
|
Name:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Investment
Manager
|
||
17
EXHIBIT
A
FORM
OF NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS
OF
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
Attention:
[
]
Re: Discovery
Laboratories, Inc.
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
[We
are][I am] counsel to Discovery Laboratories, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the
"Company"),
and
have represented the Company in connection with that certain Securities Purchase
Agreement (the "Securities
Purchase Agreement")
entered into by and among the Company and the buyer named therein (collectively,
the "Holder")
pursuant to which the Company issued to the Holder shares (the “Common
Shares”)
of the
Company's common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the "Common
Stock")
and a
warrant exercisable for shares of Common Stock (the "Warrant").
Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company also has entered
into
a Registration Rights Agreement with the Holder (the "Registration
Rights Agreement")
pursuant to which the Company agreed, among other things, to register the
Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement),
including the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants,
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933
Act").
In
connection with the Company's obligations under the Registration Rights
Agreement, on ____________ ___, 200_, the Company filed a Registration Statement
on Form S-3 (File No. 333-_____________) (the "Registration
Statement")
with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")
relating to the Registrable Securities which names each of the Holders as a
selling stockholder thereunder.
In
connection with the foregoing, [we][I] advise you that a member of the SEC's
staff has advised [us][me] by telephone that the SEC has entered an order
declaring the Registration Statement effective under the 1933 Act at
[ENTER
TIME OF EFFECTIVENESS]
on
[ENTER
DATE OF EFFECTIVENESS]
and
[we][I] have no knowledge, after telephonic inquiry of a member of the SEC's
staff, that any stop order suspending its effectiveness has been issued or
that
any proceedings for that purpose are pending before, or threatened by, the
SEC
and the Registrable Securities are available for resale under the 1933 Act
pursuant to the Registration Statement.
This
letter shall serve as our standing instruction to you that the shares of Common
Stock are freely transferable by the Holder pursuant to the Registration
Statement. You need not require further letters from us to effect any future
legend-free issuance or reissuance of shares of Common Stock to the Holder
as
contemplated by the Company's Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions dated
November __, 2006, provided at the time of such reissuance, the Company has
not
otherwise notified you that the Registration Statement is unavailable for the
resale of the Registrable Securities.
1
Very truly yours, | ||
[ISSUER'S COUNSEL] | ||
|
|
|
By: | ||
|
||
CC:
Capital
Ventures International
2
EXHIBIT
B
SELLING
STOCKHOLDER
The
shares of common stock being offered by the selling stockholder are those
previously issued to the Selling Stockholder and those issuable to the Selling
Stockholder upon exercise of the warrants. For additional information regarding
the issuances of common stock and the warrants, see "Private Placement of Common
Shares and Warrants" above. We are registering the shares of common stock in
order to permit the selling stockholder to offer the shares for resale from
time
to time. Except for the ownership of the shares of common stock and the
warrants, the selling stockholder have not had any material relationship with
us
within the past three years.
The
table
below lists the selling stockholder and other information regarding the
beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock by the selling stockholder.
The second column lists the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned
by the selling shareholder, based on its ownership of the shares of common
stock
and the warrants, as of ________, 2006, assuming exercise of the warrants held
by the selling stockholder on that date, without regard to any limitations
on
exercise.
The
third
column lists the shares of common stock being offered by this prospectus by
the
selling stockholder.
In
accordance with the terms of registration rights agreements with the holder
of
the shares of common stock and the warrants, this prospectus generally covers
the resale of that number of shares of common stock equal to the number of
shares of common stock issued and the shares of common stock issuable upon
exercise of the related warrants, determined as if the outstanding warrants
were
exercised, as applicable, in full, in each case, 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 stockholder pursuant to this prospectus.
Under
the
terms of the warrants, a selling shareholder may not exercise the warrants,
to
the extent such exercise would cause such selling shareholder, together with
its
affiliates, to beneficially own a number of shares of common stock which would
exceed 9.99% of our then outstanding shares of common stock following such
exercise, excluding for purposes of such determination shares of common stock
issuable upon exercise of the warrants which have not been exercised. The number
of shares in the second column does not reflect this limitation. The selling
stockholder may sell all, some or none of their shares in this offering. See
"Plan of Distribution."
B-1
Name
of Selling Shareholder
|
Number
of Shares Owned
Prior
to Offering
|
Maximum
Number of Shares
to
be Sold Pursuant to this
Prospectus
|
Number
of Shares Owned
After
Offering
|
[Footnotes]
B-2
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
We
are
registering the shares of common stock previously issued and the shares of
common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants to permit the resale of
these shares of common stock by the holders of the common stock and warrants
from time to time after the date of this prospectus. We will not receive any
of
the proceeds from the sale by the selling stockholder 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 stockholder 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
stockholder 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;
|
B-3
· |
broker-dealers
may agree with the selling securityholders to sell a specified number
of
such shares at a stipulated price per
share;
|
· |
a
combination of any such methods of sale;
and
|
· |
any
other method permitted pursuant to applicable
law.
|
If
the
selling stockholder effects 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 stockholder 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 stockholder 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 stockholder 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 stockholder may also loan or pledge shares of common stock to
broker-dealers that in turn may sell such shares.
The
selling stockholder may pledge or grant a security interest in some or all
of
the warrants or shares of common stock owned by them and, if they default in
the
performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may
offer and sell the shares of common stock from time to time pursuant to this
prospectus or any amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other
applicable provision of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, amending, if
necessary, the list of selling stockholder to include the pledgee, transferee
or
other successors in interest as selling stockholders under this prospectus.
The
selling stockholder 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 stockholder 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 stockholder 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.
B-4
There
can
be no assurance that any selling shareholder 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 stockholder 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
stockholder 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
shareholder will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if
any.
We will indemnify the selling stockholder against liabilities, including some
liabilities under the Securities Act, in accordance with the registration rights
agreements, or the selling stockholder will be entitled to contribution. We
may
be indemnified by the selling stockholder against civil liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act, that may arise from any written
information furnished to us by the selling shareholder 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.
B-5