REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
10.2
This
Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”)
is
made and entered into as of February 16, 2007, by and among ZIOPHARM Oncology,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”),
and
the several purchasers signatory hereto (each a “Purchaser”
and
collectively, the “Purchasers”).
This
Agreement is made pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of
the
date hereof between the Company and each Purchaser (the “Purchase
Agreement”).
NOW,
THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement,
and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of
which
are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Purchasers agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined in
the
Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in the Purchase
Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
respective meanings set forth in this Section 1:
“Advice”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 6(f).
“Affiliate”
means,
with respect to any person, any other person which directly or indirectly
controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such
person.
“Business
Day”
means
a
day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which banks in New York City are open
for the general transaction of business.
“Closing”
has
the
meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
“Closing
Date”
has
the
meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.
“Commission”
means
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common
Stock”
means
the common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share, and any securities
into which such common stock may hereinafter be reclassified.
“Effective
Date”
means
the date that the Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) is
first
declared effective by the Commission.
“Effectiveness
Deadline”
means,
with respect to the Registration Statement required to be filed to cover the
resale by the Holders of the Registrable Securities, the earlier of: (i) the
90th
calendar
day following the Closing Date; provided,
that,
if the Commission reviews and has written comments to the filed Registration
Statement, then the Effectiveness Deadline under this clause (i) shall be the
120th
calendar
day following the Closing Date, and (ii) the fifth (5th)
Trading
Day following the date on which the Company is notified by the Commission that
the Registration Statement will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to
further review and comments and the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
may be accelerated; provided,
however,
that if
the Effective Deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or other day that the
Commission is closed for business, the Effectiveness Deadline shall be extended
to the next business day on which the Commission is open for business.
“Effectiveness
Period”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
“Event”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2(c).
“Event
Date”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2(c).
“Exchange
Act”
means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
“Filing
Deadline”
means,
with respect to the Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to
Section 2(a), the 45th
calendar
day following the Closing Date.
“Holder”
or
“Holders”
means
the holder or holders, as the case may be, from time to time of Registrable
Securities.
“Indemnified
Party”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
“Indemnifying
Party”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
“Losses”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
“New
York Courts”
means
the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of
Manhattan.
“Person”
means
an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated
association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company,
government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any
kind.
“Placement
Agents”
means
Xxxxxxxxxxx & Co. Inc., Xxxxxxx Securities, Inc. and Paramount BioCapital,
Inc., and any permitted assigns.
“Principal
Trading Market”
means
the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is primarily listed on and quoted
for trading, which, as of the Closing Date, shall be the NASDAQ Capital
Market.
“Proceeding”
means
an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without
limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition),
whether commenced or threatened.
“Prospectus”
means
the prospectus included in a Registration Statement (including, without
limitation, a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from
a
prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance
upon
Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented
by
any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any
portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement,
and
all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective
amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
“Register,”
“registered”
and
“registration”
refer
to a registration made by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or
similar document in compliance with the Securities Act and pursuant to Rule
415,
and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement
or document.
2
“Registrable
Securities”
means
all of (i) the Shares (ii) the Warrant Shares issued or issuable upon the
exercise of the Warrants, (iii) any additional shares issuable in connection
with any anti-dilution provisions in the Warrants (without giving effect to
any
limitations on exercise set forth in the Warrant) and (iv) any securities issued
or issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution,
recapitalization or similar event; provided,
that
the Holder has completed and delivered to the Company a Selling Shareholder
Questionnaire; and provided, further, that a Holder’s security shall cease to be
Registrable Securities upon the earliest to occur of the following: (A) sale
pursuant to a Registration Statement or Rule 144 under the Securities Act (in
which case, only such security sold shall cease to be a Registrable Security);
or (B) such security becoming eligible for sale by the Holder pursuant to Rule
144(k).
“Registration
Statements”
means
any one or more registration statements of the Company filed under the
Securities Act that covers the resale of any of the Registrable Securities
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation
the
Initial Registration Statement, the New Registration Statement and any Remainder
Registration Statements), amendments and supplements to such Registration
Statements, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material
incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such
Registration Statements.
“Rule
144”
means
Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such
Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation
hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as
such
Rule.
“Rule
415”
means
Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such
Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation
hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as
such
Rule.
“Rule
424”
means
Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such
Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation
hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as
such
Rule.
“Securities
Act”
means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
“Selling
Shareholder Questionnaire”
means
a
questionnaire in the form attached as Annex
B
hereto,
or such other form of questionnaire as may reasonably be adopted by the Company
from time to time.
“Shares”
means
the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to the Purchasers pursuant to
the
Purchase Agreement.
“Subscription
Amount”
means
$5.225 (as subject to adjustment for stock splits and stock dividends affecting
the Shares), being the per security purchase price paid by each Purchaser for
the securities purchased by such Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement.
“Trading
Day”
means
(i) a day on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and traded on its
primary Trading Market (other than the OTC Bulletin Board), or (ii) if the
Common Stock is not listed on a Trading Market (other than the OTC Bulletin
Board), a day on which the Common Stock is traded in the over-the-counter
market, as reported by the OTC Bulletin Board, or (iii) if the Common Stock
is
not quoted on any Trading Market, a day on which the Common Stock is quoted
in
the over-the-counter market as reported by the National Quotation Bureau
Incorporated (or any similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions
of reporting prices); provided,
that in
the event that the Common Stock is not listed or quoted as set forth in (i),
(ii) and (iii) hereof, then Trading Day shall mean a Business Day.
3
“Trading
Market”
means
whichever of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the
NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Global Market, the NASDAQ Capital Market
or OTC Bulletin Board on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading
on the date in question.
“Warrants”
means
the Warrants issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
“Warrant
Shares”
means
the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon exercise of the
Warrants.
2. Registration.
(a) On
or
prior to the Filing Deadline, the Company shall prepare and file with the
Commission a Registration Statement covering the resale of all Registrable
Securities not already covered by an existing and effective Registration
Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule
415
(the “Initial
Registration Statement”).
The
Initial Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 (except if the Company
is
not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form
S-3,
in which case such registration shall be on another appropriate form in
accordance with the Securities Act) and shall contain (except if otherwise
required pursuant to written comments received from the Commission upon a review
of such Registration Statement) the “Plan of Distribution” attached hereto as
Annex A. Notwithstanding the registration obligations set forth in this
subsection (a) and subsections (b) and (c) of this Section 2, in the event
the
Commission informs the Company that all of the Registrable Securities cannot,
as
a result of the application of Rule 415, be registered for resale on a single
registration statement, the Company agrees to promptly (i) inform each of the
holders thereof and use its reasonable best efforts to file amendments to the
Initial Registration Statement as required by the Commission and/or (ii)
withdraw the Initial Registration Statement and file a new registration
statement (a “New
Registration Statement”),
in
either case covering the maximum number of Registrable Securities permitted
to
be registered by the Commission on Form S-3 or such other form available to
register for resale the Registrable Securities. In the event the Company amends
the Initial Registration Statement or files a New Registration Statement, as
the
case may be, under clauses (i) or (ii) above, the Company will use its
reasonable best efforts to file with the Commission, as promptly as allowed
by
Commission or staff guidance provided to the Company or to registrants of
securities in general, one or more registration statements on Form S-3 or such
other form available to register for resale those Registrable Securities that
were not registered for resale on the Initial Registration Statement, as
amended, or the New Registration Statement (the “Remainder
Registration Statements”).
(b) The
Company shall use its best efforts to cause each Registration Statement to
be
declared effective by the Commission as soon as practicable and, with respect
to
the Initial Registration Statement or the New Registration Statement, as
applicable, no later than the Effectiveness Deadline (including filing with
the
Commission a request for acceleration of effectiveness in accordance with Rule
461 promulgated under the Securities Act within five (5) Business Days after
the
date that the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier)
by the Commission that such Registration Statement will not be “reviewed,” or
not be subject to further review and the effectiveness of such Registration
Statement may be accelerated) and shall use its reasonable best efforts to
keep
each Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act
until the earlier of (i) such time as all of the Registrable Securities covered
by such Registration Statement have been publicly sold by the Holders, or (ii)
the date that all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement
may be sold by non-affiliates without volume restrictions pursuant to Rule
144(k) as determined by counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion
letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to the Company's transfer agent
and the affected Holders (the “Effectiveness
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. Each Registration Statement shall also cover, to the extent
allowable under the Securities Act and the rules promulgated thereunder
(including Rule 416), such indeterminate number of additional shares of Common
Stock resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions
with
respect to the Registrable Securities. The Company shall telephonically request
effectiveness of a Registration Statement as of 5:00 pm Eastern Time on a
Trading Day. The Company shall promptly notify the Holders via facsimile or
e-mail of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement on the same Trading
Day
that the Company telephonically confirms effectiveness with the Commission,
which shall be the date requested for effectiveness of a Registration Statement.
The Company shall, by 9:30 am Eastern Time on the Trading Day after the
Effective Date (as defined in the Purchase Agreement), file a final Prospectus
with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424. Failure to so notify the Holder within
1 Trading Day of such notification or effectiveness or failure to file a final
Prospectus as aforesaid shall be deemed an Event under Section
2(c).
4
(c)
If: (i)
the Initial Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to the Filing
Deadline, (ii) the Initial Registration Statement or the New Registration
Statement, as applicable, is not declared effective by the Commission (or
otherwise does not become effective) on or prior to its Effectiveness Deadline
or (iii) after its Effective Date, such Registration Statement ceases for any
reason (including without limitation by reason of a stop order, or the Company’s
failure to update the Registration Statement), but excluding the inability
of
any Holder to sell the Registrable Securities covered thereby due to market
conditions, to remain continuously effective and available to the Holders as
to
all Registrable Securities to which it is required to cover at any time prior
to
the expiration of the Effectiveness Period for an aggregate of more than 20
consecutive Trading Days or for more than an aggregate of 40 Trading Days in
any
12-month period (which need not be consecutive), (any such failure or breach
in
clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above being referred to as an “Event,”
and,
for purposes of clauses (i) or (ii), the date on which such Event occurs, or
for
purposes of clause (iii), the date which such 20 consecutive or 40 Trading
Day
period (as applicable) is exceeded, being referred to as “Event
Date”),
then
in addition to any other rights available to the Holders: (x) on such Event
Date
the Company shall pay to each Holder an amount in cash, as partial liquidated
damages and not as a penalty, equal to 1.0% of the aggregate purchase price
paid
by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for any Registrable Securities
then held by such Holder (which remedy shall not be exclusive of any other
remedies available under this Agreement); and (y) on each monthly anniversary
of
each such Event Date thereof (if the applicable Event shall not have been cured
by such date) until the applicable Event is cured, the Company shall pay to
each
Holder an amount in cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty,
equal to 1.0% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such Holder pursuant
to
the Purchase Agreement for any Registrable Securities then held by such Holder
(which remedy shall not be exclusive of any other remedies available under
this
Agreement). The parties agree that the Company will not be liable for liquidated
damages under this Section 2(c) in respect of the Warrants or the Warrant
Shares. If the Company fails to pay any partial liquidated damages pursuant
to
this Section in full within seven days after the date payable, the Company
will
pay interest thereon at a rate of 10% per annum (or such lesser maximum amount
that is permitted to be paid by applicable law) to the Holder, accruing daily
from the date such partial liquidated damages are due until such amounts, plus
all such interest thereon, are paid in full. The partial liquidated damages
pursuant to the terms hereof shall apply on a daily pro-rata basis for any
portion of a month prior to the cure of an Event, except in the case of the
first Event Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the maximum payment to a Holder
associated with all Events in the aggregate shall not exceed (i) in any 30-day
period, an aggregate of 1.0% of the purchase price paid by such Holder for
its
Registrable Securities (plus interest accrued thereon, if applicable) and (ii)
10.0% of the purchase paid by such Holder for its Registrable
Securities.
5
(d) Each
Holder agrees to furnish to the Company a completed and executed Selling
Shareholder Questionnaire. The Company shall not be required to include the
Registrable Securities of a Holder in a Registration Statement and shall not
be
required to pay any liquidated or other damages under Section 2(c) to any Holder
who fails to furnish to the Company a fully completed and executed Selling
Shareholder Questionnaire at least two Trading Days prior to the Filing
Deadline, or if sooner, five Trading Days after the Company furnishes copies
of
the sections of the Prospectus, as contemplated by Section 3(a).
(e) The
Company shall cooperate with the Placement Agents in connection with any filing
required to be made by the Placement Agents with the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”)
Corporate Financing Department pursuant to NASD Rule 2710(b)(10)(A)(i) with
respect to the public offering contemplated by the Registration Statements
(an
“NASD
Filing”)
and
pay the filing fee required by such NASD Filing. The Company shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Placements Agents and
to
assist them in pursuing the NASD Filing until the NASD issues a letter
confirming that it does not object to the terms of the offering contemplated
by
the Registration Statement.
(f) 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 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 Commission.
3. Registration
Procedures
In
connection with the Company's registration obligations hereunder, the Company
shall:
(a) Not
less
than five Trading Days prior to the filing of a Registration Statement or any
related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish to each
Holder copies of the “Selling Stockholders’ section of such document, the “Plan
of Distribution” and any risk factor contained in such document that addresses
specifically this transaction or the Holders, as proposed to be filed, which
sections will be subject to the review of such Holder (it being acknowledged
and
agreed that if a Holder does not object to or comment on the aforementioned
documents within such five Trading Day period, then the Holder shall be deemed
to have consented to and approved the use of such documents). The Company shall
not file a Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any amendments or
supplements thereto in which the “Selling Stockholder” section thereof differs
from the disclosure received from a Holder in its Selling Shareholder
Questionnaire (as amended or supplemented), except as may otherwise be required
by applicable securities law or the Commission.
(b) (i)
Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective
amendments, to each Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection
therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement continuously
effective as to the applicable Registrable Securities for its Effectiveness
Period and prepare and file with the Commission such additional Registration
Statements in order to register for resale under the Securities Act all of
the
Registrable Securities; (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or
supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented
or
amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; (iii) respond as promptly as
reasonably practicable to any comments received from the Commission with respect
to each Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and, as promptly as
reasonably possible, provide the Holders true and complete copies of all
correspondence from and to the Commission relating to such Registration
Statement that pertains to the Holders as Selling Stockholders but not any
comments that would result in the disclosure to the Holders of material and
non-public information concerning the Company; and (iv) comply with the
provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the
disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by each Registration
Statement.
6
(c) Notify
the Holders as promptly as reasonably possible (and, in the case of (i)(A)
below, not less than three Trading Days prior to such filing, in the case of
(iii) and (iv) below, not more than one Trading Day after such issuance or
receipt and, in the case of (v) below, not less than three Trading Days prior
to
the financial statements in any Registration Statement becoming ineligible
for
inclusion therein) and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice
in
writing no later than one Trading Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus
or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration
Statement is proposed to be filed; (B) when the Commission notifies the Company
whether there will be a “review” of such Registration Statement and whenever the
Commission comments in writing on any Registration Statement (in which case
the
Company shall provide true and complete copies thereof and all written responses
thereto to each of the Holders that pertain to the Holders as a Selling
Stockholder or to the Plan of Distribution, but not information which the
Company believes would constitute material and non-public information); and
(C)
with respect to each Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment,
when the same has become effective; (ii) of any request by the Commission or
any
other Federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements
to a
Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information that pertains
to the Holders as Selling Stockholders or the Plan of Distribution; (iii) of
the
issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority
of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement
covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any
Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption
from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such
purpose; (v) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes the
financial statements included in a Registration Statement ineligible for
inclusion therein or any statement made in such Registration Statement or
Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein
by
reference untrue in any material respect or that requires any revisions to
such
Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case
of
such Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will
not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
(in the case of any Prospectus, form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading; and
(vi)
of a pending proceeding against the Company under Section 8A of the Securities
Act in connection with the offering of Registrable Securities.
(d) Use
reasonable best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued, obtain the
withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration
Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from
qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction, as soon as practicable.
(e) If
requested by a Holder, furnish to such Holder, without charge, at least one
conformed copy of each Registration Statement and each amendment thereto and
all
exhibits to the extent requested by such Person (including those previously
furnished or incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such
documents with the Commission; provided, that the Company shall have no
obligation to provide any document pursuant to this clause that is available
on
the Commission’s XXXXX system.
7
(f) Upon
notification by the Commission that a Registration Statement will not be
reviewed or is no longer subject to further review and comments, the Company
shall request acceleration of such Registration Statement within five (5)
Business Days after receipt of such notice such that it becomes effective no
later than 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Effective Date and file a
prospectus supplement for any Registration Statement, whether or not it is
required under Rule 424 (or otherwise), by 9:00 a.m. New York City time the
day
after the Effective Date.
(g) Prior
to
any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to register
or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders in connection with the
registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) of such Registrable
Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder reasonably requests in
writing, to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption
therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all
other
acts or things reasonably necessary to enable the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration
Statements; provided,
that
the
Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any
jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action that would
subject the Company to general service of process in any jurisdiction where
it
is not then so subject or subject the Company to any material tax in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(h) If
requested by the Holders, cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities
to
be delivered to a transferee pursuant to the Registration Statement, which
certificates shall be free, to the extent permitted by the Purchase Agreement
and under law, of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable
Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as any
such
Holders may reasonably request. In connection therewith, if required by the
Company’s transfer agent, the Company shall promptly after the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement cause an opinion of counsel as to the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement to be delivered to and maintained with its
transfer agent, together with any other authorizations, certificates and
directions required by the transfer agent, which authorize and direct the
transfer agent to issue such Registrable Securities without legend upon sale
by
the holder of such shares of Registrable Securities under the Registration
Statement.
(i) Following
the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(c)(v), as promptly as
reasonably possible, prepare a supplement or amendment, including a
post-effective amendment, to the affected Registration Statements or a
supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed
to
be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document
so
that, as thereafter delivered, no Registration Statement nor any Prospectus
will
contain an 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 any Prospectus, form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light
of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading.
(j) (i)
In
the time and manner required by the Principal Trading Market, prepare and file
with such Trading Market an additional shares listing application covering
all
of the Registrable Securities, (ii) take all steps necessary to cause such
Registrable Securities to be approved for listing on the Principal Trading
Market as soon as possible thereafter, (iii) if requested by any Holder, provide
such Holder evidence of such listing, and (iv) during the Effectiveness Period,
maintain the listing of such Registrable Securities on the Principal Trading
Market.
(k) In
order
to enable the Holders to sell Shares or Warrant Shares under Rule 144, for
a
period of two years from the Closing, the Company shall use its commercially
reasonable efforts to timely file (or obtain extensions in respect thereof
and
file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by
the
Company after the date hereof pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act. During such two year period, if the Company is not required to file reports
pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, it will prepare and
furnish to the Holders and make publicly available in accordance with Rule
144(c) promulgated under the Securities Act annual and quarterly financial
statements, together with a discussion and analysis of such financial statements
in form and substance substantially similar to those that would otherwise be
required to be included in reports required by Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act, as well as any other information required thereby, in the time
period that such filings would have been required to have been made under the
Exchange Act. The Company further covenants that it will take such further
action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from
time to time to enable such Person to sell Shares and Warrant Shares without
registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions
provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, including compliance
with the provisions of the Purchase Agreement relating to the transfer of the
Shares and Warrant Shares.
8
(l) The
Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the Company a certified
statement as to the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by
such
Holder and any Affiliate thereof and as to any NASD affiliations and of any
natural persons who have the power to vote or dispose of the Common Stock,
and
the Company has the right to include such information in any Registration
Statement and to otherwise provide such information to the Commission.
4. Registration
Expenses.
All
fees and expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with
its obligations under this Agreement (excluding any underwriting discounts
and
selling commissions and all legal fees and expenses of legal counsel for any
Holder) shall be borne by the Company whether or not any Registrable Securities
are sold pursuant to a Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred
to
in the foregoing sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all
registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses
(A) with respect to filings required to be made with the securities exchanges
on
which the Common Stock is then listed for trading, and (B) in compliance with
applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws), (ii) messenger, telephone and
delivery expenses, (iii) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company,
(iv)
Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance,
and (v) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in
connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. In addition, the Company shall be responsible for all of its internal
expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation, all salaries
and
expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties),
the expense of any annual audit and the fees and expenses incurred in connection
with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange as
required hereunder. In no event shall the Company be responsible for any broker
or similar commissions or any legal fees or other costs of the
Holders.
5. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification
by the Company.
The
Company shall, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify
and
hold harmless each Holder, the officers, directors, agents, partners, members,
managers, shareholders, Affiliates and employees of each of them, each Person
who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities
Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, partners,
members, managers, shareholders, agents and employees of each such controlling
Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against
any
and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without
limitation, reasonable costs of preparation and investigation and reasonable
attorneys' fees) and expenses (collectively, “Losses”),
as
incurred
that
arise out of or are based upon:
(i) any
untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto (it being understood that the Holder has
approved Annex
A
hereto
for this purpose) or in any preliminary prospectus
if used
prior to the effective date of such Registration Statement
or
arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement
thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not
misleading, or (ii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the
Securities Act, Exchange Act or any state securities law, or any rule or
regulation thereunder, in connection with the performance of its obligations
under this Agreement, except to the extent, but only to the extent, that (A)
such untrue statements, alleged untrue statements, omissions or alleged
omissions are based upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing
to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that
such information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of
distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and approved by such
Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or
such
form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (it being
understood that each Holder has approved Annex
A
hereto
for this purpose) or (B) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type
specified in Section 3(c)(ii)-(v), the use by a Holder of an outdated or
defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing
that
the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder
of Advice (as defined in Section 6(f) below), but only if and to the extent
that
following the receipt of the Advice the misstatement or omission giving rise
to
such Loss would have been corrected; provided,
however,
that
the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 5(a) shall not apply to
amounts paid in settlement of any Losses if such settlement is effected without
the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld. Each Holder shall notify the Company promptly of the
institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding of which the Holder is aware
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Such
indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of an Indemnified Party (as defined in Section 5(c)) and
shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the
Holders.
9
(b) Indemnification
by Holders.
Each
Holder shall, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, severally
and
not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers,
agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and
the
directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as
incurred, arising out of or based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement
of
a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or
any
form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or arising solely
out of or based solely upon any omission or alleged omission of a material
fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in
the case of any Prospectus, or any form of prospectus or supplement thereto,
in
light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading to the
extent, but only to the extent that, such untrue statements or omissions are
based upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company
by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such information
relates to such Holder or such Holder’s proposed method of distribution of
Registrable Securities and was reviewed and approved by such Holder expressly
for use in the Registration Statement (it being understood that the Holder
has
approved Annex
A
hereto
for this purpose), such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto; provided,
however,
that
the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 5(b) shall not apply to
amounts paid in settlement of any Losses if such settlement is effected without
the prior written consent of the Holder, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be
greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such
Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such
indemnification obligation.
(c) Conduct
of Indemnification Proceedings.
If any
Proceeding shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity
hereunder (an “Indemnified
Party”),
such
Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person from whom indemnity is sought
(the “Indemnifying
Party”)
in
writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to assume the defense
thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Party and the payment of all reasonable fees and expenses incurred
in connection with defense thereof; provided,
that
the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve
the
Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement,
except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally determined by a court
of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or
further review) that such failure shall have proximately and materially
adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.
10
An
Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such
Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses
of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party or Parties
unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and
expenses; (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to assume the
defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to
such
Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named parties to any such
Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified
Party
and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised
by counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel
were to represent such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which
case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing
that
it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Party,
the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof
and such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party); provided,
that the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for the fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all Indemnified
Parties. The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any
such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not
be
unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. No Indemnifying Party shall,
without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any
settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party
is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such
Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter
of
such Proceeding.
All
fees
and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses
to
the extent incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to defend
such
Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to
the
Indemnified Party, as incurred, within twenty Trading Days of written notice
thereof to the Indemnifying Party.
(d) Contribution.
If a
claim for indemnification under Section 5(a) or 5(b) is unavailable to an
Indemnified Party (by reason of public policy or otherwise), then each
Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result
of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party in connection with the
actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any
other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such Indemnifying
Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material
fact,
has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by, such
Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result
of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth
in Section 5(c), any reasonable attorneys' or other reasonable fees or expenses
incurred by such party in connection with any Proceeding to the extent such
party would have been indemnified for such fees or expenses if the
indemnification provided for in this Section was available to such party in
accordance with its terms.
11
The
parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by
any
other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable
considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), no Holder shall be required
to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which
the
net proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable
Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that
such
Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.
The
indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section are in addition
to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the Indemnified
Parties and are not in diminution or limitation of the indemnification
provisions under the Purchase Agreement.
6. Miscellaneous
(a) Remedies.
In the
event of a breach by the Company or by a Holder of any of their obligations
under this Agreement, each Holder or the Company, as the case may be, in
addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law and under
this
Agreement, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific
performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company and each Holder
agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for any
losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this
Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for
specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense
that
a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement
and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and
understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained
herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings
between the parties with respect to such subject matter, except for, and as
provided in the Transaction Documents.
(c) Compliance.
Each
Holder covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to it (unless an exemption
therefrom is available) in connection with sales of Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Registration Statement and shall sell the Registrable Securities
only in accordance with a method of distribution described in the Registration
Statement.
(d) Discontinued
Disposition.
Each
Holder further agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable Securities that,
upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of
the
kind described in Section 3(c)(ii)-(v), such Holder will forthwith discontinue
disposition of such Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement
until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”)
by the
Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either
case, has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or
Registration Statement. The Company may provide appropriate stop orders to
enforce the provisions of this paragraph.
(e) Amendments
and Waivers.
This
Agreement may be amended only by a writing signed by all of the parties hereto.
The Company may take any action herein prohibited that pertains to or effects
a
Purchaser, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it
that
pertains to or effects a Purchaser, only if the Company shall have obtained
the
written consent to such amendment, action or omission to act, of such Purchaser.
No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Holder to amend or consent
to a
waiver or modification of any provision of this Agreement unless the same
consideration also is offered to all of the Holders. 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.
12
(f) Notices.
Any and
all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to
be
provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective
on the earliest of (i) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication
is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number specified in this Section
prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on a Trading Day, (ii) the next Trading
Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered
via facsimile or e-mail to the facsimile number or e-mail addressed specified
in
this Section on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:00 p.m. (New
York City time) on any Trading Day, (iii) the Business Day following the date
of
mailing, if sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service with next
day delivery specified, or (iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such
notice is required to be given.
The
address for such notices and communications shall be as follows:
If
to the Company:
|
|
ZIOPHARM
Oncology, Inc.
|
|
|
1180
Avenue of the Xxxxxxxx
00xx
Xxxxx
|
|
|
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
|
|
|
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
|
|
|
Attn:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, M.D., Ph.D.
|
|
|
|
With
a copy to:
|
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx & Brand, LLP
|
|
|
3300
Xxxxx Fargo Center
00
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
|
|
Xxxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
|
|
|
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
|
|
|
Attn:
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
|
|
|
|
If
to a Purchaser:
|
|
To
the address set forth under such Purchaser's name on the signature
pages
hereto.
|
|
|
|
If
to any other Person who is then the registered Holder:
|
|
To
the address of such Holder as it appears in the stock transfer books
of
the Company or such other address as may be designated in writing
hereafter, in the same manner, by such
Person.
|
provided,
that any party may change its address for notices by providing written notice
to
the other parties in the manner prescribed by this Section.
(g) Successors
and Assigns.
This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors
and
permitted assigns of each of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of
each
Holder. The Company may not assign its rights or obligations hereunder without
the prior written consent of each Holder. The rights of the Holders hereunder,
including the right to have the Company register Registrable Securities pursuant
to this Agreement, may be assigned by each Holder to transferees or assignees
of
all or any portion of the Registrable Securities, but only if (i) the Holder
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 the name and address
of
such transferee or assignee and the securities with respect to which such
registration rights are being transferred or assigned, (iii) at or before the
time the Company received 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 (iv) the transferee is
an
“accredited investor,” as that term is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation
D.
13
(h) Execution
and Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when
so
executed shall be deemed to be an original and, all of which taken together
shall constitute one and the same Agreement. In the event that any signature
is
delivered by facsimile transmission, such signature shall create a valid binding
obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is
executed) the same with the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature
were the original thereof.
(i) Governing
Law.
All
questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation
of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance
with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the
principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party agrees that all Proceedings
concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (whether brought against a party hereto or its
respective Affiliates, employees or agents) will be commenced in the New York
Courts. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the New York Courts 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 Proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction
of any New York Court, or that such Proceeding has been commenced in an improper
or inconvenient forum. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives personal
service of process and consents to process being served in any such Proceeding
by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery
(with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for 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. EACH
PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY
APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING ARISING
OUT
OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
HEREBY.
If
either party shall commence a Proceeding to endorse any provisions of a
Transaction Document, then the prevailing party in such Proceeding shall be
reimbursed by the other party for its reasonable attorney’s fees and other costs
and expenses incured with the investigation preparation and prosecution of
such
Proceeding.
(j) Cumulative
Remedies.
The
remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies
provided by law.
(k) Severability.
If any
term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court
of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the
remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein
shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their reasonable efforts to
find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the
same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or
restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the
parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants
and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared
invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
14
(l) Headings.
The
headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall
not
limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(m) Independent
Nature of Purchasers' Obligations and Rights.
The
obligations of each Purchaser under this Agreement are several and not joint
with the obligations of any other Purchaser hereunder, and no Purchaser shall
be
responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other
Purchaser hereunder. The decision of each Purchaser to purchase Securities
pursuant to the Transaction Documents has been made independently of any other
Purchaser. Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or document
delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant hereto
or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a partnership,
an
association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a
presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert with respect
to
such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each
Purchaser acknowledges that no other Purchaser has acted as agent for such
Purchaser in connection with making its investment hereunder and that no
Purchaser will be acting as agent of such Purchaser in connection with
monitoring its investment in the Securities or enforcing its rights under the
Transaction Documents. Each Purchaser shall be entitled to protect and enforce
its rights, including, without limitation, the rights arising out of this
Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined
as
an additional party in any Proceeding for such purpose. The Company acknowledges
that each of the Purchasers has been provided with the same Registration Rights
Agreement for the purpose of closing a transaction with multiple Purchasers
and
not because it was required or requested to do so by any Purchaser.
(n) Currency.
Unless
otherwise indicated, all dollar amounts referred to in this Agreement are in
United States Dollars. All amounts owing under this Agreement are in United
States Dollars. All amounts denominated in other currencies shall be converted
in the United States dollar equivalent amount in accordance with the applicable
exchange rate in effect on the date of calculation.
(o) Further
Assurances.
The
parties shall execute and deliver all such further instruments and documents
and
take all such other actions as may reasonably be required to carry out the
transactions contemplated hereby and to evidence the fulfillment of the
agreements herein contained.
15
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement
as
of the date first written above.
ZIOPHARM ONCOLOGY, INC. | ||
|
|
|
By: | ||
Name:
Title:
|
||
[REMAINDER
OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE
PAGES OF HOLDERS TO FOLLOW]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement
as
of the date first written above.
NAME OF INVESTING ENTITY
|
||
AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY | ||
|
|
|
By: | ||
Name:
Title:
|
||
ADDRESS FOR NOTICE | ||
c/o:
|
||
Street:
|
||
City/State/Zip:
|
||
Attention:
|
||
Tel:
|
||
Fax:
|
||
Email:
|
Annex
A
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
We
are
registering the shares of Common Stock issued to the selling shareholders and
issuable upon exercise of the warrants to permit the resale of these shares
of
Common Stock by the holders of the shares of 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 shareholders 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 shareholders 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
shareholders 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. The Selling Stockholders may use any one or more of the following
methods when selling shares:
· |
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;
|
· |
settlement
of short sales entered into after the effective date of the registration
statement of which this prospectus is a
part;
|
· |
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.
|
The
selling stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the Securities
Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.
3
Broker-dealers
engaged by the selling stockholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to
participate in sales. If the selling shareholders effect such transactions
by
selling shares of Common Stock to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or
agents, such underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions
in
the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling shareholders
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. Such commissions will be
in
amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this
Prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction will not be in excess of a
customary brokerage commission in compliance with NASD Rule 2440; and in the
case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with NASD
IM-2440.
In
connection with sales of the shares of Common Stock or otherwise, the selling
shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other
financial institutions, 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
shareholders may also sell shares of Common Stock short and if such short sale
shall take place after the date that this Registration Statement is declared
effective by the Commission, the selling stockholders may 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
shareholders may also loan or pledge shares of Common Stock to broker-dealers
that in turn may sell such shares. The selling stockholders may also enter
into
option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions
or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery
to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this
prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution
may
resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such
transaction).
The
selling shareholders 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 shareholders to include the pledgee, transferee
or other successors in interest as selling shareholders under this prospectus.
The selling shareholders 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 shareholders 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 (i) the name of each such selling stockholder
and of the participating broker-dealer(s), (ii) the number of shares involved,
(iii) the price at which such the shares of Common Stock were sold, (iv) the
commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to such broker-dealer(s),
where applicable, (v) that such broker-dealer(s) did not conduct any
investigation to verify the information set out or incorporated by reference
in
this prospectus, and (vi) other facts material to the transaction. In no event
shall any broker-dealer receive fees, commission and markups which, in the
aggregate, would exceed eight percent (8%). In addition, upon the Company being
notified in writing by a Selling Stockholder that a donee or pledgee intends
to
sell more than 500 shares of Common Stock, a supplement to this prospectus
will
be filed if then required in accordance with applicable securities
law.
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.
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.
We
have
advised each selling stockholder that it may not use shares registered on the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part to cover short sales
of common stock made prior to the date on which the registration statement
shall
have been declared effective by the SEC. If a selling stockholder uses this
prospectus for any sale of shares of our common stock, it will be subject to
the
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. The selling shareholders
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 shareholders 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, 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 and any related legal expenses incurred by it. We will indemnify the
selling shareholders against liabilities, including some liabilities under
the
Securities Act, in accordance with the registration rights agreements, or the
selling shareholders will be entitled to contribution. We may be indemnified
by
the selling shareholders 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.
Annex
B
ZIOPHARM
Oncology, Inc.
Selling
Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire
The
undersigned beneficial owner of common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the
“Common
Stock”),
of
ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. (the “Company”),
(the
“Registrable
Securities”)
understands that the Company has filed or intends to file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”)
a
registration statement (the “Registration
Statement”)
for
the registration and resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the “Securities
Act”),
of
the Registrable Securities, in accordance with the terms of the Registration
Rights Agreement, dated as of February __, 2007 (the “Registration
Rights Agreement”),
among
the Company and the Purchasers named therein. The purpose of this Questionnaire
is to facilitate the filing of the Registration Statement under the Act that
will permit you to resell the Registrable Securities in the future. The
information supplied by you will be used in preparing the Registration
Statement. A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement is available from the
Company upon request as follows: 0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx
Xxxx
00000: Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, M.D., Ph.D. All capitalized terms not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the
Registration Rights Agreement.
Certain
legal consequences arise from being named as a selling securityholder in the
Registration Statement and the related prospectus. Accordingly, holders and
beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised to consult their own
securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being
named as a selling securityholder in the Registration Statement and the related
prospectus.
NOTICE
The
undersigned beneficial owner (the “Selling
Securityholder”)
of
Registrable Securities hereby elects to include the Registrable Securities
owned
by it and listed below in Item 3 (unless otherwise specified under such Item
3)
in the Registration Statement.
QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Name.
(a)
|
Full
Legal Name of Selling
Securityholder
|
(b)
|
Full
Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as (a) above) through
which Registrable Securities Listed in Item 3 below are
held:
|
(c)
|
Full
Legal Name of Natural Control Person (which means a natural person
who
directly or indirectly alone or with others has power to vote or
dispose
of the securities covered by the
questionnaire):
|
6
2.
Address for Notices to Selling Securityholder:
Telephone:
Fax:
Contact
Person:
3.
Beneficial Ownership of Registrable Securities:
(a)
|
Type
and Number of Registrable Securities beneficially
owned:
|
4.
Broker-Dealer Status:
(a)
|
Are
you a broker-dealer?
|
Yes
o No
o
Note:
|
If
yes, the Commission’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as
an underwriter in the Registration
Statement.
|
(b)
|
Are
you an affiliate of a
broker-dealer?
|
Yes
o No
o
Note:
|
If
yes, provide a narrative explanation
below:
|
(c)
|
If
you are an affiliate of a broker-dealer, do you certify that you
bought
the Registrable Securities in the ordinary course of business, and
at the
time of the purchase of the Registrable Securities to be resold,
you had
no agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any
person
to distribute the Registrable
Securities?
|
Yes
o No
o
Note:
|
If
no, the Commission’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as
an underwriter in the Registration
Statement.
|
5.
Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company Owned by the Selling
Securityholder.
Except
as set forth below in this Item 5, the undersigned is not the beneficial or
registered owner of any securities of the Company other than the Registrable
Securities listed above in Item 3.
(a)
|
As
of ___________, 2007, the Selling Securityholder owned outright (including
shares registered in Selling Securityholder's name individually or
jointly
with others, shares held in the name of a bank, broker, nominee,
depository or in "street name" for its account), _________ shares
of the
Company's capital stock (excluding the Registrable Securities). If
"zero,"
please so state.
|
(b)
|
In
addition to the number of shares Selling Securityholder owned outright
as
indicated in Item 5(a) above, as of ________________, 2007, the Selling
Securityholder had or shared voting power or investment power, directly
or
indirectly, through a contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship
or otherwise, with respect to ______________ shares of the Company's
capital stock (excluding the Registrable Securities). If "zero,"
please so
state.
|
If
the answer to Item 7(b) is not "zero," please complete the following
tables:
|
8
Sole
Voting Power:
Number
of Shares
|
Nature
of Relationship Resulting in Sole Voting Power
|
||
Shared
Voting Power:
Number
of Shares
|
With
Whom Shared
|
Nature
of Relationship
|
||
Sole
Investment power:
Number
of Shares
|
Nature
of Relationship Resulting in Sole Investment
power
|
||
Shared
Investment power:
Number
of Shares
|
With
Whom Shared
|
Nature
of Relationship
|
||
(c)
|
As
of _____________, 2007, the Selling Securityholder had the right
to
acquire the following shares of the Company's common stock pursuant
to the
exercise of outstanding stock options, warrants or other rights (excluding
the Registrable Securities). Please describe the number, type and
terms of
the securities, the method of ownership, and whether the undersigned
holds
sole or shared voting and investment power. If "none", please so
state.
|
6.
Relationships with the Company:
Except
as set forth below, neither the undersigned nor any of its affiliates, officers,
directors or principal equity holders (owners of 5% of more of the equity
securities of the undersigned) has held any position or office or has had any
other material relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or affiliates)
during the past three years.
State
any
exceptions here:
7.
Plan of Distribution:
The
undersigned has reviewed the form of Plan of Distribution attached
as
Exhibit A
to
the Registration Rights Agreement, and hereby confirms that, except as set
forth
below, the information contained therein regarding the undersigned and its
plan
of distribution is correct and complete.
State
any
exceptions here:
***********
The
undersigned agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies or changes
in the information provided herein that may occur subsequent to the date hereof
and prior to the effective date of any applicable Registration Statement filed
pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.
By
signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the information
contained herein in its answers to Items 1 through 7 and the inclusion of such
information in each Registration Statement filed pursuant to the Registration
Rights Agreement and each related prospectus. The undersigned understands that
such information will be relied upon by the Company in connection with the
preparation or amendment of any such Registration Statement and the related
prospectus.
By
signing below, the undersigned acknowledges that it understands its obligation
to comply, and agrees that it will comply, with the provisions of the Exchange
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, particularly Regulation M. The
undersigned also acknowledges that it understands that the answers to this
Questionnaire are furnished for use in connection with Registration Statements
filed pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and any amendments or
supplements thereto filed with the Commission pursuant to the Securities
Act.
The
undersigned hereby acknowledges and is advised of the following Interpretation
A.65 of the July 1997 SEC Manual of Publicly Available Telephone Interpretations
regarding short selling:
“An
Issuer filed a Form S-3 registration statement for a secondary offering of
common stock which is not yet effective. One of the selling shareholders wanted
to do a short sale of common stock “against the box” and cover the short sale
with registered shares after the effective date. The issuer was advised that
the
short sale could not be made before the registration statement become effective,
because the shares underlying the short sale are deemed to be sold at the time
such sale is made. There would, therefore, be a violation of Section 5 if the
shares were effectively sold prior to the effective date.”
10
By
returning this Questionnaire, the undersigned will be deemed to be aware of
the
foregoing interpretation.
I
confirm
that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the foregoing statements
(including without limitation the answers to this Questionnaire) are
correct.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this
Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its duly
authorized agent.
Dated: _____________ | Beneficial Owner: ________________________ | |
|
|
|
By: | ||
Name:
Title:
|
||
11