EXHIBIT 4.14
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of May 9,
2003, by and among Amnis Systems Inc., a Delaware corporation, with its
headquarters located at 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000,
facsimile number: 000-000-0000 (the "Company"), and each of the undersigned
(together with their respective affiliates and any assignee or transferee of
all of their respective rights hereunder, the "Investors").
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 contained
therein, to issue and sell to the Investors (i) convertible debentures in the
aggregate principal amount of up to One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) (the
"Debentures") that are convertible into shares of the Company's common stock
(the "Common Stock"), upon the terms and subject to the limitations and
conditions set forth in such Debentures and (ii) warrants (the "Warrants") to
acquire an aggregate of up to 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock, upon the terms
and conditions and subject to the limitations and conditions set forth in the
Warrants dated May 9, 2003; and
B. To induce the Investors to execute and deliver the Securities
Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration
rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the
"1933 Act"), and applicable state securities laws;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each
of the Investors hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
a. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
(i) "Investors" means the Investors and any transferee or
assignee who agrees to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in
accordance with Section 9 hereof.
(ii) "Prior Financing Registration Statement" means the Form
SB-2 Registration Statement registering the shares of common stock issuable
pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of December 28, 2001 by
and between the Company and Bristol Investment Fund Ltd., the Subscription
Agreement dated as of June 18, 2002 by and between the Company and Alpha
Capital Aktiengesellschaft ("Alpha") and Xxxxxxxxxxx Limited Partnership
("Stonstreet") and the Amended and Restated Unit Subscription Agreement made as
of June 18, 2002 by and among the Company and Alpha and Xxxxxxxxxxx.
(iii) "register," "registered," and "registration" refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or
Statements in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule 415 under the
1933 Act or any successor rule providing for offering securities on a
continuous basis ("Rule 415"), and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness
of such Registration Statement by the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC").
(iv) "Registrable Securities" means the Conversion Shares
issued or issuable upon conversion or otherwise pursuant to the Debentures (as
defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) including, without limitation,
Damages Shares (as defined in the Debentures) issued or issuable pursuant to
the Debentures, shares of Common Stock issued or issuable in payment of the
Standard Liquidated Damages Amount (as defined in the Securities Purchase
Agreement), shares issued or issuable in respect of interest or in redemption
of the Debentures in accordance with the terms thereof) and Warrant Shares
issuable, upon exercise or otherwise pursuant to the Warrants (as defined in
the Securities Purchase Agreement), and any shares of capital stock issued or
issuable as a dividend on or in exchange for or otherwise with respect to any
of the foregoing.
(v) "Registration Statement" means a registration statement of
the Company under the 0000 Xxx.
b. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein
shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase
Agreement or the Convertible Debenture.
2. REGISTRATION.
a. Mandatory Registration. The Company shall prepare, and, on or
prior to the earlier of (i) thirty (30) days from the date of the Securities
and Exchange Commission declaring effective the Prior Financing Registration
Statement (the "Prior Financing Effective Date") or (ii) December 15, 2003 (the
"Filing Date"), file with the SEC a Registration Statement on such form of
Registration Statement as is then available to effect a registration of the
Registrable Securities, subject to the consent of the Investors, which consent
will not be unreasonably withheld, covering the resale of the Registrable
Securities underlying the Debentures and Warrants issued or issuable pursuant
to the Securities Purchase Agreement, which Registration Statement, to the
extent allowable under the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder (including Rule 416), shall state that such Registration Statement
also covers such indeterminate number of additional shares of Common Stock as
may become issuable upon conversion of or otherwise pursuant to the Debentures
and exercise of the Warrants to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits,
stock dividends or similar transactions. The number of shares of Common Stock
initially included in such Registration Statement shall be no less than an
amount equal to two (2) times the sum of the number of Conversion Shares that
are then issuable upon conversion of the Debentures (based on the Variable
Conversion Price as would then be in effect and assuming the Variable
Conversion Price is the Conversion Price at such time), and the number of
Warrant Shares that are then issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, without
regard to any limitation on the Investor's ability to convert the Debentures or
exercise the Warrants. The Company acknowledges that the number of shares
initially included
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in the Registration Statement represents a good faith estimate of the maximum
number of shares issuable upon conversion of the Debentures and upon exercise of
the Warrants.
b. Underwritten Offering. If any offering pursuant to a
Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof involves an underwritten
offering, the Investors who hold a majority in interest of the Debentures and
the purchase price of Debentures that have been converted but not registered
subject to such underwritten offering shall have the right to select one legal
counsel and an investment banker or bankers and manager or managers to
administer the offering, which investment banker or bankers or manager or
managers shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company.
c. Payments by the Company. The Company shall use its best
efforts to obtain effectiveness of the Registration Statement as soon as
practicable. If (i) the Registration Statement(s) covering the Registrable
Securities required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof
is not filed by the Filing Date or declared effective by the SEC on or prior to
the earlier of (A) ninety (90) days from the Prior Financing Effective Date or
(B) March 15, 2004, or (ii) after the Registration Statement has been declared
effective by the SEC, sales of all of the Registrable Securities cannot be made
pursuant to the Registration Statement, or (iii) the Common Stock is not listed
or included for quotation on the Nasdaq National Market ("Nasdaq"), the Nasdaq
SmallCap Market ("Nasdaq SmallCap"), the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE")
or the American Stock Exchange (the "AMEX") after being so listed or included
for quotation, or (iv) the Common Stock ceases to be traded on the
Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board (the "OTCBB") or any equivalent replacement
exchange prior to being listed or included for quotation on one of the
aforementioned markets, then the Company will make payments to the Investors in
such amounts and at such times as shall be determined pursuant to this Section
2(c) as partial relief for the damages to the Investors by reason of any such
delay in or reduction of their ability to sell the Registrable Securities
(which remedy shall not be exclusive of any other remedies available at law or
in equity). The Company shall pay to each holder of the Debentures or
Registrable Securities an amount equal to the then outstanding principal amount
of the Debentures (and, in the case of holders of Registrable Securities, the
principal amount of Debentures from which such Registrable Securities were
converted) ("Outstanding Principal Amount"), multiplied by the Applicable
Percentage (as defined below) times the sum of: (i) the number of months
(prorated for partial months) after the Filing Date or the end of the
aforementioned ninety (90) day period and prior to the date the Registration
Statement is declared effective by the SEC, provided, however, that there shall
be excluded from such period any delays which are solely attributable to
changes required by the Investors in the Registration Statement with respect to
information relating to the Investors, including, without limitation, changes
to the plan of distribution, or to the failure of the Investors to conduct
their review of the Registration Statement pursuant to Section 3(h) below in a
reasonably prompt manner; (ii) the number of months (prorated for partial
months) that sales of all of the Registrable Securities cannot be made pursuant
to the Registration Statement after the Registration Statement has been
declared effective (including, without limitation, when sales cannot be made by
reason of the Company's failure to properly supplement or amend the prospectus
included therein in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, but excluding
any days during an Allowed Delay (as defined in Section 3(f)); and (iii) the
number of months (prorated for partial months) that the Common Stock is not
listed or included for quotation on the OTCBB, Nasdaq, Nasdaq SmallCap, NYSE or
AMEX or that trading thereon is halted after the
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Registration Statement has been declared effective. The term "Applicable
Percentage" means two hundredths (.02). (For example, if the Registration
Statement becomes effective one (1) month after the end of such thirty-day
period, the Company would pay $5,000 for each $250,000 of Outstanding Principal
Amount. If thereafter, sales could not be made pursuant to the Registration
Statement for an additional period of one (1) month, the Company would pay an
additional $5,000 for each $250,000 of Outstanding Principal Amount.) Such
amounts shall be paid in cash or, at the Company's option, in shares of Common
Stock priced at the Conversion Price (as defined in the Debentures) on such
payment date.
d. Piggy-Back Registrations. Subject to the last sentence of this
Section 2(d), if at any time prior to the expiration of the Registration Period
(as hereinafter defined) the Company shall determine to file with the SEC a
Registration Statement relating to an offering for its own account or the
account of others under the 1933 Act of any of its equity securities (other
than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or their then equivalents relating to equity
securities to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity
or business or equity securities issuable in connection with stock option or
other bona fide, employee benefit plans), the Company shall send to each
Investor who is entitled to registration rights under this Section 2(d) written
notice of such determination and, if within fifteen (15) days after the
effective date of such notice, such Investor shall so request in writing, the
Company shall include in such Registration Statement all or any part of the
Registrable Securities such Investor requests to be registered, except that if,
in connection with any underwritten public offering for the account of the
Company the managing underwriter(s) thereof shall impose a limitation on the
number of shares of Common Stock which may be included in the Registration
Statement because, in such underwriter(s)' judgment, marketing or other factors
dictate such limitation is necessary to facilitate public distribution, then
the Company shall be obligated to include in such Registration Statement only
such limited portion of the Registrable Securities with respect to which such
Investor has requested inclusion hereunder as the underwriter shall permit. Any
exclusion of Registrable Securities shall be made pro rata among the Investors
seeking to include Registrable Securities in proportion to the number of
Registrable Securities sought to be included by such Investors; provided,
however, that the Company shall not exclude any Registrable Securities unless
the Company has first excluded all outstanding securities, the holders of which
are not entitled to inclusion of such securities in such Registration Statement
or are not entitled to pro rata inclusion with the Registrable Securities; and
provided, further, however, that, after giving effect to the immediately
preceding proviso, any exclusion of Registrable Securities shall be made pro
rata with holders of other securities having the right to include such
securities in the Registration Statement other than holders of securities
entitled to inclusion of their securities in such Registration Statement by
reason of demand registration rights. No right to registration of Registrable
Securities under this Section 2(d) shall be construed to limit any registration
required under Section 2(a) hereof. If an offering in connection with which an
Investor is entitled to registration under this Section 2(d) is an underwritten
offering, then each Investor whose Registrable Securities are included in such
Registration Statement shall, unless otherwise agreed by the Company, offer and
sell such Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering using the same
underwriter or underwriters and, subject to the provisions of this Agreement,
on the same terms and conditions as other shares of Common Stock included in
such underwritten offering. However, this Section 2(d) shall not apply to the
Prior Financing Registration Statement.
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e. Eligibility for Form X-0, XX-0 or S-1; Conversion to Form S-3.
The Company represents and warrants that it meets the requirements for the use
of Form X-0, XX-0 or S-1 for registration of the sale by the Investors and any
other Investors of the Registrable Securities. The Company agrees to file all
reports required to be filed by the Company with the SEC in a timely manner so
as to remain eligible or become eligible, as the case may be, and thereafter to
maintain its eligibility, for the use of Form S-3. If the Company is not
currently eligible to use Form S-3, not later than five (5) business days after
the Company first meets the registration eligibility and transaction
requirements for the use of Form S-3 (or any successor form) for registration
of the offer and sale by the Investors and any other Investors of Registrable
Securities, the Company shall file a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or
such successor form) with respect to the Registrable Securities covered by the
Registration Statement on Form SB-2 or Form S-1, whichever is applicable, filed
pursuant to Section 2(a) (and include in such Registration Statement on Form
S-3 the information required by Rule 429 under the 0000 Xxx) or convert the
Registration Statement on Form SB-2 or Form S-1, whichever is applicable, filed
pursuant to Section 2(a) to a Form S-3 pursuant to Rule 429 under the 1933 Act
and cause such Registration Statement (or such amendment) to be declared
effective no later than ninety (90) days after Prior Financing Effective Date.
In the event of a breach by the Company of the provisions of this Section 2(e),
the Company will be required to make payments pursuant to Section 2(c) hereof.
3. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY.
In connection with the registration of the Registrable
Securities, the Company shall have the following obligations:
a. The Company shall prepare promptly, and file with the SEC not
later than the Filing Date, a Registration Statement with respect to the number
of Registrable Securities provided in Section 2(a), and thereafter use its best
efforts to cause such Registration Statement relating to Registrable Securities
to become effective as soon as possible after such filing but in no event later
than ninety (90) days from the Prior Financing Effective Date), and keep the
Registration Statement effective pursuant to Rule 415 at all times until such
date as is the earlier of (i) the date on which all of the Registrable
Securities have been sold and (ii) the date on which the Registrable Securities
(in the opinion of counsel to the Investors) may be immediately sold to the
public without registration or restriction (including without limitation as to
volume by each holder thereof) under the 1933 Act (the "Registration Period"),
which 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 not misleading.
b. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such
amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to the
Registration Statements and the prospectus used in connection with the
Registration Statements as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statements
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 the Registration
Statements until such time as all of such Registrable Securities have been
disposed of in accordance with the
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intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth
in the Registration Statements. In the event the number of shares available
under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement is insufficient
to cover all of the Registrable Securities issued or issuable upon conversion
of the Debentures and exercise of the Warrants, the Company shall amend the
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, in each case, as soon as practicable, but in any event
within fifteen (15) days after the necessity therefor arises (based on the
market price of the Common Stock and other relevant factors on which the
Company reasonably elects to rely). 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, but in any event within
thirty (30) days after the date on which the Company reasonably first
determines (or reasonably should have determined) the need therefor. In the
event that the amended and/or new Registration Statement is not declared
effective within thirty (30) days following the date on which the Company
reasonably first determines (or reasonably should have determined) the need for
an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement to keep such
Registration Statement effective, the Company must make payments to the
Investors pursuant to Section 2(c) hereof.
c. The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose Registrable
Securities are included in a Registration Statement and its legal counsel (i)
promptly (but in no event more than two (2) business days) after the same is
prepared and publicly distributed, filed with the SEC, or received by the
Company, one copy of each Registration Statement and any amendment thereto,
each preliminary prospectus and prospectus and each amendment or supplement
thereto, and, in the case of the Registration Statement referred to in Section
2(a), each letter written by or on behalf of the Company to the SEC or the
staff of the SEC, and each item of correspondence from the SEC or the staff of
the SEC, in each case relating to such Registration Statement (other than any
portion of any thereof which contains information for which the Company has
sought confidential treatment), and (ii) promptly (but in no event more than
two (2) business days) after the Registration Statement is declared effective
by the SEC, such number of copies of a prospectus, including a preliminary
prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto and such other documents
as such Investor may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition
of the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor. The Company will
immediately notify each Investor by facsimile of the effectiveness of each
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment. The Company will
promptly (but in no event more than ten (10) days) respond to any and all
comments received from the SEC (which comments shall promptly be made available
to the Investors upon request), with a view towards causing each Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto to be declared effective by the SEC as soon
as practicable, shall promptly file an acceleration request as soon as
practicable (but in no event more than two (2) business days) following the
resolution or clearance of all SEC comments or, if applicable, following
notification by the SEC that any such Registration Statement or any amendment
thereto will not be subject to review and shall promptly file with the SEC a
final prospectus as soon as practicable (but in no event more than two (2)
business days) following receipt by the Company from the SEC of an order
declaring the Registration Statement effective. In the event of a breach by the
Company of the provisions of this Section 3(c), the Company will be required to
make payments pursuant to Section 2(c) hereof.
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d. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to (i) register and
qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statements under
such other securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions in the United
States as the Investors who hold a majority in interest of the Registrable
Securities being offered reasonably request, (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 (a) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not
otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (b) subject itself
to general taxation in any such jurisdiction, (c) file a general consent to
service of process in any such jurisdiction, (d) provide any undertakings that
cause the Company undue expense or burden, or (e) make any change in its
charter or bylaws, which in each case the Board of Directors of the Company
determines to be contrary to the best interests of the Company and its
shareholders.
e. In the event Investors who hold a majority-in-interest of the
Registrable Securities being offered in the offering (with the approval of a
majority-in-interest of the Investors) select underwriters for the offering,
the Company shall enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting
agreement, in usual and customary form, including, without limitation,
customary indemnification and contribution obligations, with the underwriters
of such offering.
f. As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event,
the Company shall notify each Investor of the happening of any event, of which
the Company has knowledge, as a result of which the prospectus included in any
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 not misleading, and use its
best efforts promptly to prepare a supplement or amendment to any Registration
Statement to correct such untrue statement or omission, and deliver such number
of copies of such supplement or amendment to each Investor as such Investor may
reasonably request; provided that, for not more than ten (10) consecutive
trading days (or a total of not more than twenty (20) trading days in any
twelve (12) month period), the Company may delay the disclosure of material
non-public information concerning the Company (as well as prospectus or
Registration Statement updating) the disclosure of which at the time is not, in
the good faith opinion of the Company, in the best interests of the Company (an
"Allowed Delay"); provided, further, that the Company shall promptly (i) notify
the Investors in writing of the existence of (but in no event, without the
prior written consent of an Investor, shall the Company disclose to such
investor any of the facts or circumstances regarding) material non-public
information giving rise to an Allowed Delay and (ii) advise the Investors in
writing to cease all sales under such Registration Statement until the end of
the Allowed Delay. Upon expiration of the Allowed Delay, the Company shall
again be bound by the first sentence of this Section 3(f) with respect to the
information giving rise thereto.
g. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance
of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of any Registration
Statement, and, if such an
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order is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such order at the earliest
possible moment and to notify each Investor who holds Registrable Securities
being sold (or, in the event of an underwritten offering, the managing
underwriters) of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof.
h. The Company shall permit a single firm of counsel designated
by the Investors to review such Registration Statement and all amendments and
supplements thereto (as well as all requests for acceleration or effectiveness
thereof) a reasonable period of time prior to their filing with the SEC, and
not file any document in a form to which such counsel reasonably objects and
will not request acceleration of such Registration Statement without prior
notice to such counsel. The sections of such Registration Statement covering
information with respect to the Investors, the Investor's beneficial ownership
of securities of the Company or the Investors intended method of disposition of
Registrable Securities shall conform to the information provided to the Company
by each of the Investors.
i. The Company shall make generally available to its security
holders as soon as practicable, but not later than ninety (90) days after the
close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying
with 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 the Registration Statement.
j. At the request of any Investor, the Company shall furnish, on
the date that Registrable Securities are delivered to an underwriter, if any,
for sale in connection with any Registration Statement or, if such securities
are not being sold by an underwriter, on the date of effectiveness thereof (i)
an opinion, dated as of such date, from 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
underwriters, if any, and the Investors and (ii) 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
underwriters, if any, and the Investors.
k. The Company shall make available for inspection by (i) any
Investor, (ii) any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to a
Registration Statement, (iii) one firm of attorneys and one firm of accountants
or other agents retained by the Investors, (iv) one firm of attorneys and one
firm of accountants or other agents retained by all other Investors, and (v)
one firm of attorneys retained by all such underwriters (collectively, the
"Inspectors") all pertinent financial and other records, and pertinent
corporate documents and properties of the Company, including without
limitation, records of conversions by other holders of convertible securities
issued by the Company and the issuance of stock to such holders pursuant to the
conversions (collectively, the "Records"), as shall be reasonably deemed
necessary by each Inspector to enable each Inspector to exercise its due
diligence responsibility, and cause the Company's officers, directors and
employees to supply all information which any Inspector may reasonably request
for purposes of such due diligence; provided, however, that each Inspector
shall hold in confidence and shall not make any disclosure (except to an
Investor) 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
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of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in
any Registration Statement, (b) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant
to a subpoena or other 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 or any
other agreement. The Company shall not be required to disclose any confidential
information in such Records to any Inspector until and unless such Inspector
shall have entered into confidentiality agreements (in form and substance
satisfactory to the Company) with the Company with respect thereto,
substantially in the form of this Section 3(k). 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 Investor's ability to sell Registrable Securities in a
manner which is otherwise consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
l. 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 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 or 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 notice to such Investor prior
to making such disclosure, and allow the Investor, at its expense, to undertake
appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order
for, such information.
m. The Company shall (i) cause all the Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement to be listed on each national 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) to the extent the
securities of the same class or series are not then listed on a national
securities exchange, secure the designation and quotation, of all the
Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement on Nasdaq or, if
not eligible for Nasdaq, on Nasdaq SmallCap or, if not eligible for Nasdaq or
Nasdaq SmallCap, on the OTCBB or the BBX (or an equivalent exchange) and,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to arrange for at least two
market makers to register with the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. ("NASD") as such with respect to such Registrable Securities.
n. The Company shall provide a transfer agent and registrar,
which may be a single entity, for the Registrable Securities not later than the
effective date of the Registration Statement.
o. The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold
Registrable Securities being offered and the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, to
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facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any
restrictive legends) representing 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 managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, or the Investors may reasonably request and registered in
such names as the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or the
Investors may request, and, within three (3) business days after a Registration
Statement which includes Registrable Securities is ordered effective by the
SEC, the Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal counsel selected by the
Company to deliver, to the transfer agent for the Registrable Securities (with
copies to the Investors whose Registrable Securities are included in such
Registration Statement) an instruction in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1
and an opinion of such counsel in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 2.
p. At the request of the holders of a majority-in-interest of the
Registrable Securities, the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such
amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to a
Registration Statement and any prospectus used in connection with the
Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to change the plan of
distribution set forth in such Registration Statement.
q. From and after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall
not, and shall not agree to, allow the holders of any securities of the Company
to include any of their securities in any Registration Statement under Section
2(a) hereof or any amendment or supplement thereto under Section 3(b) hereof
without the consent of the holders of a majority-in-interest of the Registrable
Securities.
r. The Company shall take all other reasonable actions necessary
to expedite and facilitate disposition by the Investors of Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTORS.
In connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities, the
Investors shall have the following obligations:
a. 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
registration of such Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in
connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request. At
least five (5) business days prior to the first anticipated filing date of the
Registration Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor of the
information the Company requires from each such Investor.
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 the
Registration Statements hereunder, unless such
10
Investor has notified the Company in writing of such Investor's election to
exclude all of such Investor's Registrable Securities from the Registration
Statements.
c. In the event Investors holding a majority-in-interest of the
Registrable Securities being registered (with the approval of the Investors)
determine to engage the services of an underwriter, each Investor agrees to
enter into and perform such Investor's obligations under an underwriting
agreement, in usual and customary form, including, without limitation,
customary indemnification and contribution obligations, with the managing
underwriter of such offering and take such other actions as are reasonably
required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Registrable
Securities, 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.
d. 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(f) or
3(g), such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable
Securities until such Investor's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or
amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(f) or 3(g) and, if so directed by
the Company, such Investor shall deliver to the Company (at the expense of the
Company) or destroy (and deliver to the Company a certificate of destruction)
all copies in such Investor's possession, of the prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.
e. No Investor may participate in any underwritten registration
hereunder unless such Investor (i) agrees to sell such Investor's Registrable
Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements in usual and
customary form entered into by the Company, (ii) completes and executes all
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and
other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting
arrangements, and (iii) agrees to pay its pro rata share of all underwriting
discounts and commissions and any expenses in excess of those payable by the
Company pursuant to Section 5 below.
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 qualification fees, printers and accounting fees, the
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, and the reasonable fees and
disbursements of one counsel selected by the Investors pursuant to Sections 2(b)
and 3(h) hereof shall be borne by the Company.
6. INDEMNIFICATION.
In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a Registration
Statement under this Agreement:
a. To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify,
hold harmless and defend (i) each Investor who holds such Registrable
Securities, (ii) the directors,
11
officers, partners, employees, agents and each person who controls any Investor
within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "1934 Act"), if any, (iii) any underwriter (as defined in the 0000
Xxx) for the Investors, and (iv) the directors, officers, partners, employees
and each person who controls any such underwriter within the meaning of the
1933 Act or the 1934 Act, if any (each, an "Indemnified Person"), against any
joint or several losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses
(collectively, together with actions, proceedings or inquiries by any
regulatory or self-regulatory organization, whether commenced or threatened, in
respect thereof, "Claims") to which any of them may become subject insofar as
such Claims arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact in a Registration Statement or the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
preliminary prospectus if used prior to the effective date of such Registration
Statement, or contained in the final prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if
the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or
the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary
to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which
the statements therein were made, not misleading; or (iii) any violation or
alleged violation by the Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law,
including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or
regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable
Securities (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) being,
collectively, "Violations"). Subject to the restrictions set forth in Section
6(c) with respect to the number of legal counsel, the Company shall reimburse
the Indemnified Person, promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and
payable, for any reasonable 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
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 or underwriter for such Indemnified Person expressly for use
in connection with the preparation of such Registration Statement or any such
amendment thereof or supplement thereto, if such prospectus was timely made
available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(c) hereof; (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; and (iii) with respect to any preliminary prospectus,
shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Person 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, such corrected prospectus was timely made available by the
Company pursuant to Section 3(c) hereof, and the Indemnified Person was
promptly advised in writing not to use the incorrect prospectus prior to the
use giving rise to a Violation and such Indemnified Person, notwithstanding
such advice, used it. 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 severally and not jointly
to indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same
manner set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of
its officers who signs the Registration Statement, each
12
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act or
the 1934 Act, any underwriter and any other shareholder selling securities
pursuant to the Registration Statement or any of its directors or officers or
any person who controls such shareholder or underwriter within the meaning of
the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (collectively and together with an Indemnified
Person, an "Indemnified Party"), against any Claim to which any of them may
become subject, under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such
Claim arises out of or is based upon any Violation by such Investor, 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 (promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and
payable) reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such Claim; provided, however, that the indemnity agreement
contained in this Section 6(b) 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; provided,
further, however, that the Investor shall be liable under this Agreement
(including this Section 6(b) and Section 7) for only that amount as does not
exceed the net proceeds to such Investor as a result of the sale of Registrable
Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Such indemnity shall remain
in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf
of such Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable
Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 9. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this
Section 6(b) with respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the
benefit of any Indemnified Party if the untrue statement or omission of
material fact contained in the preliminary prospectus was corrected on a timely
basis in the prospectus, as then amended or supplemented.
c. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified
Party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action
(including any governmental action), 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 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. The indemnifying party shall pay for only one
separate legal counsel for the Indemnified Persons or the Indemnified Parties,
as applicable, and such legal counsel shall be selected by Investors holding a
majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration
Statement to which the Claim relates (with the approval of a
majority-in-interest of the Investors), if the Investors are entitled to
indemnification hereunder, or the Company, if the Company is entitled to
indemnification hereunder, as applicable. The failure to deliver written notice
to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the
13
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 actually prejudiced in
its ability to defend such action. 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 such expense, loss, damage or liability is
incurred and is due and payable.
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 contribution shall be made under circumstances where the maker would not
have been liable for indemnification under the fault standards set forth in
Section 6, (ii) no seller of Registrable Securities guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 0000 Xxx) shall be
entitled to contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation, and (iii) contribution (together
with any indemnification or other obligations under this Agreement) 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.
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 (it being understood that
nothing herein shall limit the Company's obligations under Section 4(c) of the
Securities Purchase Agreement) and the filing of such reports and other
documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
c. furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns
Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the
Company 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.
14
The rights under this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by
the Investors to any transferee of all or any portion of 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) 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, (v) such transfer shall have been made in
accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Purchase
Agreement, and (vi) such transferee shall be an "accredited investor" as that
term defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the 1933 Act.
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 written consent of the Company, each
of the Investors (to the extent such Investor still owns Registrable Securities)
and Investors who hold a majority interest of the Registrable Securities. Any
amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 10 shall be binding
upon each Investor and the Company.
11. MISCELLANEOUS.
a. A person or entity is deemed to be a holder of Registrable
Securities whenever such person or entity owns of record such Registrable
Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or
elections from two or more persons or entities with respect to the same
Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions,
notice or election received from the registered owner of such Registrable
Securities.
b. Any notices required or permitted to be given under the terms
hereof shall be sent by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested)
or delivered personally or by courier (including a recognized overnight
delivery service) or by facsimile and shall be effective five days after being
placed in the mail, if mailed by regular United States mail, or upon receipt,
if delivered personally or by courier (including a recognized overnight
delivery service) or by facsimile, in each case addressed to a party. The
addresses for such communications shall be:
If to the Company:
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
15
With copies to:
Sichenzia Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx LLP
1065 Avenue of the Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Facsimile: 212-930-9725
Email: XXxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx
If to an Investor: to the address set forth immediately below such Investor's
name on the signature pages to the Securities Purchase Agreement.
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. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE ENFORCED, GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS. THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY SUBMIT TO THE
EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE COURTS OR THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL COURTS
LOCATED IN NEW YORK WITH RESPECT TO ANY DISPUTE ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT,
THE AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. BOTH PARTIES IRREVOCABLY WAIVE THE DEFENSE OF
AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH SUIT OR PROCEEDING. BOTH
PARTIES FURTHER AGREE THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON A PARTY MAILED BY FIRST
CLASS MAIL SHALL BE DEEMED IN EVERY RESPECT EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON
THE PARTY IN ANY SUCH SUIT OR PROCEEDING. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT EITHER
PARTY'S RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW. BOTH
PARTIES AGREE THAT A FINAL NON-APPEALABLE JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH SUIT OR
PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY
SUIT ON SUCH JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LAWFUL MANNER. THE PARTY WHICH DOES NOT
PREVAIL IN ANY DISPUTE ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
ALL FEES AND EXPENSES, INCLUDING ATTORNEYS' FEES, INCURRED BY THE PREVAILING
PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH DISPUTE.
e. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is invalid
or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then such
provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that it may conflict
therewith and shall be deemed modified to conform with such statute or rule of
law. Any provision hereof which may prove invalid or unenforceable under any
law shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision
hereof.
16
f. This Agreement, the Warrants and the Securities Purchase
Agreement (including all schedules and exhibits thereto) 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
and the Securities Purchase Agreement supersede all prior agreements and
understandings among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof and thereof.
g. Subject to the requirements of Section 9 hereof, this
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and
their successors and assigns.
h. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of,
this Agreement.
i. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one
and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been
signed by each party and delivered to the other party. 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.
j. 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 the 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.
k. Except as otherwise provided herein, all consents and other
determinations to be made by the Investors pursuant to this Agreement shall be
made by Investors holding a majority of the Registrable Securities, determined
as if the all of the Debentures then outstanding have been converted into for
Registrable Securities.
l. The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its
obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to each Investor by vitiating
the intent and purpose of the transactions contemplated hereby. Accordingly,
the Company acknowledges that the remedy at law for breach of its obligations
under this Agreement will be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach or
threatened breach by the Company of any of the provisions under this Agreement,
that each Investor shall be entitled, in addition to all other available
remedies in law or in equity, and in addition to the penalties assessable
herein, to an injunction or injunctions restraining, preventing or curing any
breach of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions
hereof, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or
other security being required.
m. 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.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
17
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the undersigned Investors
have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above
written.
AMNIS SYSTEMS INC.
____________________________________
Xxxxx XxxXxxxxxxx
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
SDS MERCHANT FUND, LP
____________________________________
Name:
Title:
Alpha Capital Aktiengesellschaft
____________________________________
Name:
Title:
Bristol Investment Fund, Ltd.
____________________________________
Name:
Title:
18
