AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 10.28
AMENDED
AND RESTATED INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This
Amended and Restated Investor Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and
entered into as of February 4, 2008, among Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and each of the
purchasers executing this Agreement and listed on Schedule 1 attached
hereto (collectively, the “Purchasers”).
This
Agreement is being entered into pursuant to the Preferred Stock and Warrant
Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 7, 2007, by and among the Company
and
the Purchasers, as amended. The Company and certain of the Purchasers
(such Purchasers, the “Original Purchasers”) entered
into an Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of November 10, 2007 (the “Original Investor Rights
Agreement”) in connection with entering into a Preferred Stock and
Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of November 7, 2007 (the “Original Purchase
Agreement”). On the date hereof, the Company, the requisite
Original Purchasers and certain additional Purchasers have amended and restated
the Original Purchase Agreement (the Original Purchase Agreement, as so amended
and restated, the “Purchase
Agreement”), and, in connection therewith, the Company and the Purchasers
hereby amend and restate the Original Investor Rights Agreement as set forth
below.
The
Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
Capitalized
terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given such
terms in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms
shall have the following meanings:
“Additional
Closing” shall
have the meaning assigned in Section 2.1(c) of the Purchase
Agreement.
“Advice”
shall
have the
meaning set forth in Section 3(m).
“Affiliate”
means,
with
respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly controls
or
is controlled by or under common control with such Person. For the purposes
of
this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any Person, means the
possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction
of
the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of
voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms of “affiliated,”
“controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
“Blackout
Period” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 3(n).
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“Board”
shall
have the meaning
set forth in Section 3(n).
“Business
Day” means any day
except Saturday, Sunday and any day which shall be a legal holiday or a day
on
which banking institutions in the State of Texas generally are authorized or
required by law or other government actions to close.
“Commission”
means
the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common
Stock” means the
Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share.
“Conversion
Shares” means the
shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock and
Warrants purchased by the Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement,
including, without limitation, shares of Common Stock issued in payment of
dividends due on the Preferred Stock.
“Effectiveness
Date” means,
with respect to the Initial Registration Statement required to be filed
hereunder, the 60th
calendar day following the Filing Date (or, in the event of a “review” by the
Commission, the 90th calendar day following the Filing Date) and with respect
to
any additional Registration Statements which may be required pursuant to Section
3(b), the 30th
calendar day following the date on which an additional Registration Statement
is
required to be filed hereunder; provided, however,
that in the
event the Company is notified by the Commission that one or more of the above
Registration Statements will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further
review and comments, the Effectiveness Date as to such Registration Statement
shall be no later than the fifth trading day following the date on which the
Company is so notified if such date precedes the dates otherwise required
above.
“Effectiveness
Period” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2.
“Event”
shall
have the meaning
set forth in Section 7(e).
“Exchange
Act” means the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Filing
Date” means the
earlier of (i) the 30th day following the first Additional Closing Date and
(ii)
the 45th
day
following the date hereof and, with respect to any additional Registration
Statements which may be required pursuant to Section 3(b), the earliest
practical date on which the Company is permitted by SEC Guidance to file such
additional Registration Statement related to the Registrable
Securities.
“Holder”
or
“Holders”
means
the holder or
holders, as the case may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities,
including without limitation the Purchasers and their assignees. For
purposes of this Agreement, the holder or holders of Preferred Stock and
Warrants shall be deemed to be holders of that number of shares of Registrable
Securities into which such Preferred Stock and Warrants are convertible at
the
applicable time.
“Indemnified
Party” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
“Indemnifying
Party” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
“Initial
Registration
Statement” means the initial Registration Statement which includes the
Initial Shares filed pursuant to this Agreement.
“Initial
Shares” means a
number of Registrable Securities equal to the lesser of (i) the total number
of
Registrable Securities and (ii) one-third of the number of issued and
outstanding shares of Common Stock that are held by non-affiliates of the
Company on the day immediately prior to the filing date of the Initial
Registration Statement.
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“Losses”
shall
have the
meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
“Person”
means
an individual
or a corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated
association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company,
government (or an agency or political subdivision thereof) or other entity
of
any kind.
“Preferred
Stock” means the
Company’s Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per
share.
“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 any 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 such Registration Statement,
and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including
post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference in such
Prospectus.
“Purchased
Shares” means the
shares of Preferred Stock purchased by the Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement, whether at the Initial Closing or an Additional Closing.
“Registrable
Securities” means
(a) the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares (without regard to any
limitations on beneficial ownership contained in the Preferred Stock or the
Warrants and including, without limitation, Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares
issued or issuable upon conversion or exercise (as applicable) of the Preferred
Stock and Warrants issued in connection with an Additional Closing) or other
securities issued or issuable to each Purchaser or its transferee or designee
(i) upon conversion of the Purchased Shares and/or upon exercise of the
Warrants, or (ii) upon any dividend or distribution with respect to, any
exchange for or any replacement of such Purchased Shares, Conversion Shares,
Warrants or Warrant Shares or (iii) upon any conversion, exercise or exchange
of
any securities issued in connection with any such distribution, exchange or
replacement; or (iv) in connection with any anti-dilution provisions in the
Certificate of Designation or the Warrants without giving effect to any
limitations on conversion set forth in the Certificate of Designation or
limitations on exercise set forth in the Warrants; (b) securities issued or
issuable upon any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or similar
event
with respect to the foregoing; and (c) any other security issued as a dividend
or other distribution with respect to, in exchange for, in replacement or
redemption of, or in reduction of the liquidation value of, any of the
securities referred to in the preceding clauses; provided, however, that such
securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when such securities have
been sold to or through a broker or dealer or underwriter in a public
distribution or a public securities transaction or when such securities may
be
sold without any restriction pursuant to Rule 144(k) as determined by the
counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter, addressed to the
Company’s transfer agent to such effect as described in Section 2 of this
Agreement.
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“Registration
Statement” means
the registration statements and any additional registration statements
contemplated by Section 2, including (in each case) the Prospectus, amendments
and supplements to such registration statement or Prospectus, including pre-
and
post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated
by reference in such registration statement.
“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
158” means Rule 158
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 or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation
hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and
effect as such Rule.
“SEC
Guidance” means (i) any
publicly-available written or oral guidance, comments, requirements or requests
of the Commission staff and (ii) the Securities Act.
“Securities
Act” means the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Special
Counsel” means Xxxxxx
and Xxxx LLP.
“Warrants”
means
the Common
Stock purchase warrants issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, whether
at
the Initial Closing or an Additional Closing, including, without limitation
the
Placement Agent Warrants.
“Warrant
Shares” means the
shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants (including,
without limitation, the Placement Agent Warrants) issued or to be issued to
the
Purchasers or their assignees or designees in connection with the offering
consummated under the Purchase Agreement.
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2. Registration.
As soon
as possible following the first Additional Closing Date (but not later than
the
Filing Date), the Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a “shelf”
Registration Statement for the resale of all or such maximum portion of the
Registrable Securities as permitted by SEC Guidance (provided that the Company
shall use diligent efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration
of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the SEC Guidance,
including without limitation, the Manual of Publicly Available Telephone
Interpretations D.29) that are not then registered on an effective Registration
Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule
415.
The Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 (or if such form is not
available to the Company on another form appropriate for such registration
in
accordance herewith). The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act not
later than ninety (90) days after the Filing Date (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 of the
date that the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier)
by the Commission that a Registration Statement will not be “reviewed,” or not
be subject to further review) and to keep such Registration Statement
continuously effective under the Securities Act until such date as is the
earlier of (x) the date when all Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement have been sold or (y) with respect to such Holder, such
time as all Registrable Securities held by such Holder may be sold without
any
restriction pursuant to Rule 144(k) as determined by the counsel to the Company
pursuant to a written opinion letter, addressed to the Company’s transfer agent
to such effect (the “Effectiveness
Period”). The Company shall telephonically request
effectiveness of a Registration Statement as of 5:00 p.m. New York City time
on
a Trading Day. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders
via facsimile or by 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 such
Registration Statement. The Company shall, by 9:30 a.m. New York City
time on the Trading Day after the effective date of such Registration Statement,
file a final Prospectus with the Commission as required by Rule
424. For purposes of the obligations of the Company under this
Agreement, no Registration Statement shall be considered “effective” with
respect to any Registrable Securities unless such Registration Statement lists
the Holders of such Registrable Securities as “Selling Stockholders” and
includes such other information as is required to be disclosed with respect
to
such Holders to permit them to sell their Registrable Securities pursuant to
such Registration Statement, unless any such Holder is not included as a
“Selling Stockholder” pursuant to Section 3(m). Such Registration
Statement also shall cover, to the extent allowable under the Securities Act
and
the Rules promulgated thereunder (including Securities Act 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of
this Agreement, and subject to the payment of liquidated damages pursuant to
Section 7(e), if any SEC Guidance sets forth a limitation on the number of
Registrable Securities permitted to be registered on a particular Registration
Statement (and notwithstanding that the Company used diligent efforts to
advocate with the Commission for the registration of all or a greater portion
of
Registrable Securities), unless otherwise directed in writing by a Holder as
to
its Registrable Securities, the number of Registrable Securities to be
registered on such Registration Statement will first be reduced by the Common
Stock underlying the Placement Agent Warrants and second by Registrable
Securities represented by Warrant Shares (applied, in the case that some Warrant
Shares may be registered, to the Holders on a pro rata basis based on the total
number of unregistered Warrant Shares held by such Holders); provided, however,
that, prior to any reduction in the number of Registrable Securities included
in
a Registration Statement as set forth in this sentence, the number of shares
of
Common Stock that are not Registrable Securities and which shall have been
included on such Registration Statement shall be reduced by up to
100%.
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3. Registration
Procedures.
In
connection with the Company’s registration obligations hereunder, the Company
shall:
(a)
Prepare and file with the Commission on or prior to the Filing Date, a
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or if such form is not available to the
Company on another form appropriate for such registration in accordance
herewith) (which shall include a Plan of Distribution substantially in the
form
of Exhibit A
attached hereto), and cause the Registration Statement to become effective
and
remain effective as provided herein; provided, however, that not less than
three
(3) Business Days prior to the filing of the Registration Statement or any
related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, the Company shall
(i)
furnish to the each Holder and the Special Counsel, copies of all such documents
proposed to be filed, which documents (other than those incorporated by
reference) will be subject to the review of such Special Counsel, and (ii)
at
the request of any Holder cause its officers and directors, counsel and
independent certified public accountants to respond to such inquiries as shall
be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of counsel to such Holders, to conduct
a
reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Company
shall not file the Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any
amendments or supplements thereto to which the Holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities or the Special Counsel shall reasonably object within
three (3) Business Days after their receipt thereof. In the event of
any such objection, the Holders shall provide the Company with any requested
revisions to such prospectus or supplement within two (2) Business Days after
such objection.
(b) (i)
Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective
amendments, to the Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep the
Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable
Securities for the Effectiveness Period and to the extent any Registrable
Securities are not included in such Registration Statement for reasons other
than the failure of the Holder to comply with Section 3(m) hereof, shall prepare
and file with the Commission such amendments to the Registration Statement
or
such additional Registration Statements as are appropriate in order to register
for resale under the Securities Act all 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
(or any similar provisions then in force) promulgated under the Securities
Act;
(iii) respond as promptly as reasonably practicable, and in no event later
than
ten (10) Business Days to any comments received from the Commission with respect
to the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and as promptly as
reasonably practicable provide the Holders true and complete copies of all
correspondence from and to the Commission relating to the Registration
Statement, but not, without the prior written consent of the Holders, any
comments that would result in the disclosure to the Holders of material and
non-public information concerning the Company; and (iv) comply in all material
respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with
respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by the
Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the
intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in the
Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.
Subject to the payment of any liquidated damages that may be payable pursuant
to
Section 7(e), the Company shall not be deemed to be in breach of this Section
3(b) if it fails to register any Registrable Securities or file a Registration
Statement, in either case, in order to comply with any SEC Guidance; provided
that the Company uses diligent efforts to advocate with the Commission for
the
registration of all or a greater portion of Registrable Securities.
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(c) Notify
Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold and the Special Counsel as promptly
as reasonably practicable (A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement
or
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is proposed to be filed
(but in no event in the case of this subparagraph (A), less than three (3)
Business Days prior to date of such filing); (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 such Registration Statement;
and
(C) with respect to the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment,
when the same has become effective, and after the effectiveness thereof: (i)
of
any request by the Commission or any other Federal or state governmental
authority for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or
Prospectus or for additional information; (ii) of the issuance by the Commission
of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any
Proceedings for that purpose; (iii) 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; and (iv) if the financial statements included in the Registration
Statement become ineligible for inclusion therein or of the occurrence of any
event that makes any statement made in the 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 the
Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case
of
the 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. Without limitation to any remedies to which the Holders
may be entitled under this Agreement, if any of the events described in Section
3(c)(C)(i), 3(c)(C)(ii), 3(c)(C)(iii) or 3(c)(C)(iv) occur, the Company shall
use its best efforts to respond to and correct the event.
(d) Use
its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued, use best efforts
to
obtain the withdrawal of, (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or exemption
from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable time.
(e) If
requested by any Holder of Registrable Securities, (i) promptly incorporate
in a
Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement
such information as the Company reasonably agrees should be included therein
and
(ii) make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such
post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company
has
received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment.
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(f) Furnish
to each Holder and the Special Counsel, without charge, at least one conformed
copy of each Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, including
financial statements and schedules, 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.
(g) Promptly
deliver to each Holder and the Special Counsel, without charge, as many copies
of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each
amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request; and
the
Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or
supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders in connection with the
offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus
and
any amendment or supplement thereto.
(h) Prior
to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to
register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders and the Special
Counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption
from
such registration or qualification) 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 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 necessary or advisable to
enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities
covered by a Registration Statement; provided, however, 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 it 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.
(i) Cooperate
with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to a
Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free, to the extent
permitted by applicable law and the Purchase Agreement, of all restrictive
legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations
and registered in such names as any Holder may request at least two (2) Business
Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities. In connection therewith,
the
Company shall promptly after the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
cause an opinion of counsel 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.
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(j) Following
the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(c)(C)(iv), as promptly
as
possible, prepare a supplement or amendment, including a post-effective
amendment, to the Registration Statement 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, neither the Registration Statement nor such 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 light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(k) Cause
all Registrable Securities relating to such Registration Statement to be listed
on any United States securities exchange, quotation system, market or
over-the-counter bulletin board on which similar securities issued by the
Company are then listed.
(l) Comply
in all material respects with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission and make generally available to its security holders earnings
statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act
and
Rule 158 not later than 45 days after the end of any 3-month period (or 90
days
after the end of any 12-month period if such period is a fiscal year) commencing
on the first day of the first fiscal quarter of the Company after the effective
date of the Registration Statement, which statement shall conform to the
requirements of Rule 158.
(m) 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, if required by the Commission, the natural persons thereof that
have
voting and dispositive control over the shares. During any periods that the
Company is unable to meet its obligations hereunder with respect to the
registration of the Registrable Securities solely because any Holder fails
to
furnish such information within three Trading Days of the Company’s request, any
liquidated damages that are accruing at such time as to such Holder only shall
be tolled, and the Company may exclude from such registration the Registrable
Securities of any such Holder who fails to furnish such information within
a
reasonable time prior to the filing of each Registration Statement, supplemented
Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement, until such information is
delivered to the Company. Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Company a
completed questionnaire in the form attached to this Agreement as Annex B (a “Selling
Shareholder
Questionnaire”) not less than two (2) Trading Days prior to the Filing
Date or by the end of the fourth (4th)
Trading Day following the date on which such Holder receives draft materials
in
accordance with this Section.
If
the
Registration Statement refers to any Holder by name or otherwise as the holder
of any securities of the Company, then such Holder shall have the right to
require (if such reference to such Holder by name or otherwise is not required
by the Securities Act or any similar federal statute then in force) the deletion
of the reference to such Holder in any amendment or supplement to the
Registration Statement filed or prepared subsequent to the time that such
reference ceases to be required.
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Each
Holder 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)(C)(i), 3(c)(C)(ii), 3(c)(C)(iii), 3(c)(C)(iv), or
3(n), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable
Securities under the Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the
copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement
contemplated by Section 3(j), or 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; provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
Section 3(m), the Holders shall not be prohibited from selling Registrable
Securities under the Registration Statement as a result of any event of the
kind
described in this Section 3(m) for more than an aggregate of 60 days in any
12-month period.
(n) If
(i) there is material non-public information regarding the Company which the
Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) reasonably determines
not to be in the Company’s best interest to disclose and which the Company is
not otherwise required to disclose, or (ii) there is a significant business
opportunity (including, but not limited to, the acquisition or disposition of
assets (other than in the ordinary course of business) or any merger,
consolidation, tender offer or other similar transaction) available to the
Company which the Board reasonably determines not to be in the Company’s best
interest to disclose and which the Company would be required to disclose under
the Registration Statement, then the Company may (i) postpone or suspend filing
or effectiveness of a registration statement or (ii) notify the Holders that
the
Registration Statement may not be used in connection with any sales of the
Company’s securities, in each case, for a period not to exceed 30 consecutive
days, provided that the Company may not postpone or suspend its obligation
under
this Section 3(n) for more than 60 days in the aggregate during any 12 month
period (each, a “Blackout
Period”).
4. Registration
Expenses.
All
fees
and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement
by
the Company shall be borne by the Company whether or not the Registration
Statement is filed or becomes effective and whether or not any Registrable
Securities are sold pursuant to the 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 each
securities exchange, quotation system, market or over-the-counter bulletin
board
on which Registrable Securities are required hereunder to be listed, (B) with
respect to filings required to be made with the Commission, and (C) in
compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without
limitation, reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of Special Counsel
in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities and
determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Securities for investment
under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Holders of a majority of Registrable
Securities may designate)), (ii) printing expenses (including, without
limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities and
of
printing or photocopying prospectuses), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery
expenses, (iv) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires
such insurance, (v) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the
Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Company’s independent public
accountants (including, in the case of an underwritten offering, the expenses
of
any comfort letters or costs associated with the delivery by independent public
accountants of a comfort letter or comfort letters) and legal counsel, and
(vi)
reasonable and documented fees and expenses of the Special Counsel in connection
with any Registration Statement hereunder. 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, the
fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable
Securities on any securities exchange as required hereunder.
10
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, brokers (including brokers who offer and sell Registrable Securities
as
principal as a result of a pledge or any failure to perform under a margin
call
of Common Stock), investment advisors 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, 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, costs of preparation and
reasonable attorneys’ fees) and expenses (collectively, “Losses”), as incurred,
arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or
relating to 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 form of prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except
to
the extent, but only to the extent, that (i) such untrue statements or omissions
are based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing
to
the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, which information was
reasonably relied on by the Company for use therein or to the extent that such
information relates to (x) such Holder and was reviewed and expressly approved
in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement,
such
Prospectus or such form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or (y) such Holder’s proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities
as set forth in Exhibit A (or as such
Holder otherwise informs the Company in writing); or (ii) in the case of an
occurrence of an event of the type described in Section 3(c)(C)(ii),
3(c)(C)(iii), 3(c)(C)(iv) or 3(n), the use by a Holder of an outdated or
defective Prospectus after the delivery to the Holder of written notice from
the
Company that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt
by
such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 3(m); 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. The Company shall notify the Holders promptly
of the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding of which the Company
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) to this Agreement) and shall survive the transfer of the
Registrable Securities by the Holders.
(b) Indemnification
by
Holders. Each Holder shall, 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 and
employees of such controlling Persons, to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, from and against all Losses, as incurred, arising solely out
of
or based solely upon any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
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 of 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 the light of the circumstances under which they were
made) not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent, that (i) such
untrue statement or omission is contained in or omitted from any information
so
furnished in writing by such Holder to the Company specifically for inclusion
in
the Registration Statement or such Prospectus and that such information was
reasonably relied upon by the Company for use in the Registration Statement,
such Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or to the extent
that such information relates to (x) such Holder and was reviewed and expressly
approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration
Statement, such Prospectus, or such form of prospectus or in any amendment
or
supplement thereto or (y) such Holder’s proposed method of distribution of
Registrable Securities as set forth in Exhibit A (or as such
Holder otherwise informs the Company in writing), (ii) in the case of an
occurrence of an event of the type described in Section 3(c)(C)(ii),
3(c)(C)(iii), 3(c)(C)(iv) or 3(n), the use by a Holder of an outdated or
defective Prospectus after the delivery to the Holder of written notice from
the
Company that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt
by
such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 3(m) or (iii) such Holder’s
failure to comply with the Prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act through no fault of the Company; 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.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Holder shall
be
liable under this Section 5(b) for only that amount as does not exceed the
net
proceeds to such Holder as a result of the sale of Registrable Securities
pursuant to such Registration Statement.
11
(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 promptly shall 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.
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; or (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
in writing 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 reasonable expense of the Indemnifying
Party). 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. 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 and does
not
impose any monetary or other obligation or restriction on the Indemnified
Party.
All
reasonable 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 ten (10)
Business Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party, which notice
shall be delivered no more frequently than on a monthly basis (regardless of
whether it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified Party is not entitled
to
indemnification hereunder; provided, that the Indemnifying Party may require
such Indemnified Party to undertake to reimburse all such fees and expenses
to
the extent it is finally judicially determined that such Indemnified Party
is
not entitled to indemnification hereunder).
12
(d) Contribution.
If a
claim for indemnification under Section 5(a) or 5(b) is unavailable to an
Indemnified Party because of a failure or refusal of a governmental authority
to
enforce such indemnification in accordance with its terms (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. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, the Holder shall be required to contribute under
this
Section 5(d) for only that amount as does not exceed the net proceeds to such
Holder as a result of the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement.
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. 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. The indemnity and contribution agreements herein are in addition to
and
not in diminution or limitation of any indemnification provisions under the
Purchase Agreement.
6. Rule
144.
As
long
as any Holder owns Purchased Shares, Conversion Shares, Warrants or Warrant
Shares, the Company covenants 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. As long as any Holder owns Purchased Shares, Conversion
Shares, Warrants or Warrant Shares, 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 Purchased Shares, Conversion Shares,
Warrants 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 Purchased Shares, Conversion Shares,
Warrants and Warrant Shares. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall
deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer
as
to whether it has complied with such requirements.
13
7. 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) No
Inconsistent
Agreements. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Purchase Agreement,
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to an agreement
currently in effect, nor shall the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on or
after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to
its
securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this
Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, other than with respect to the rights of the
holders of the Company’s currently outstanding warrants and convertible notes
and the common stock underlying such warrants and convertible notes, without
the
written consent of the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable
Securities, the Company shall not grant to any Person the right to request
the
Company to register any securities of the Company under the Securities Act
unless the rights so granted are subject in all respects to the rights of the
Holders set forth herein, and are not otherwise in conflict with the provisions
of this Agreement.
(c) Notice
of
Effectiveness. Within two (2) Business Days after the Registration
Statement which includes the Registrable Securities is ordered effective by
the
Commission, the Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal counsel for the
Company to deliver, to the transfer agent for such Registrable Securities (with
copies to the Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in such
Registration Statement) confirmation that the Registration Statement has been
declared effective by the Commission in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
B.
(d) Piggy-Back
Registrations. If at any time when there is not an effective Registration
Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities, the Company shall
determine to prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement
relating to an offering for its own account or the account of others under
the
Securities Act of any of its equity securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form
S-8 (each as promulgated under the Securities Act) 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 employee benefit plans and other than
with
respect to the rights of the holders of the Company’s currently outstanding
warrants and convertible notes and the common stock underlying such warrants
and
convertible notes, the Company shall send to each Holder of Registrable
Securities written notice of such determination and, if within seven (7)
Business Days after receipt of such notice, any such Holder shall so request
in
writing (which request shall specify the Registrable Securities intended to
be
disposed of by the Holder), the Company will cause the registration under the
Securities Act of all Registrable Securities which the Company has been so
requested to register by the Holder, to the extent required to permit the
disposition of the Registrable Securities so to be registered, provided that
if
at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any
securities and prior to the effective date of the registration statement filed
in connection with such registration, the Company shall determine for any reason
not to register or to delay registration of such securities, the Company may,
at
its election, give written notice of such determination to such Holder and,
thereupon, (i) in the case of a determination not to register, shall be relieved
of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with
such
registration (but not from its obligation to pay expenses in accordance with
Section 4 hereof), and (ii) in the case of a determination to delay registering,
shall be permitted to delay registering any Registrable Securities being
registered pursuant to this Section 7(d) for the same period as the delay in
registering such other securities. The Company shall include in such
registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such
Holder requests to be registered. In the case of an underwritten public
offering, if the managing underwriter(s) or underwriter(s) should reasonably
object to the inclusion of the Registrable Securities in such registration
statement, then if the Company after consultation with the managing underwriter
should reasonably determine that the inclusion of such Registrable Securities,
would materially adversely affect the offering contemplated in such registration
statement, and based on such determination recommends inclusion in such
registration statement of fewer or none of the Registrable Securities of the
Holders, then (x) the number of Registrable Securities of the Holders included
in such registration statement shall be reduced pro-rata among such Holders
(based upon the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in
the
registration), if the Company after consultation with the underwriter(s)
recommends the inclusion of fewer Registrable Securities, or (y) none of the
Registrable Securities of the Holders shall be included in such registration
statement, if the Company after consultation with the underwriter(s) recommends
the inclusion of none of such Registrable Securities; provided, however, that
if
securities are being offered for the account of other persons or entities as
well as the Company, such reduction shall not represent a greater fraction
of
the number of Registrable Securities intended to be offered by the Holders
than
the fraction of similar reductions imposed on such other persons or entities
(other than the Company).
14
(e) Failure
to File Registration
Statement; Failure to Become Effective and Other Events. The Company and
the Holders agree that the Holders will suffer damages if the Registration
Statement is not filed on or prior to the Filing Date and maintained in the
manner contemplated herein during the Effectiveness Period. The Company and
the
Holders further agree that it would not be feasible to ascertain the extent
of
such damages with precision. Accordingly, if (i) the Registration Statement
is
not filed on or prior to the Filing Date, or (ii) the Company fails to file
with
the Commission a request for acceleration in accordance with Rule 461
promulgated under the Securities Act within five (5) Business Days of the date
that the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by
the
Commission that a Registration Statement will not be “reviewed,” or not subject
to further review, or (iii) a Registration Statement registering for resale
all
of the Initial Shares is not declared effective by the Commission by the
Effectiveness Date of the Initial Registration Statement with the aggregate
number of such Initial Shares divided among all Holders on a pro-rata basis
based on their purchase of the Securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement,
or
(iv) all of the Registrable Securities are not registered for resale pursuant
to
one or more effective Registration Statements on or before October 30, 2008,
or
(v) the Registration Statement is filed with and declared effective by the
Commission but thereafter ceases to be effective as to all applicable
Registrable Securities at any time prior to the expiration of the Effectiveness
Period, without being succeeded immediately by a subsequent Registration
Statement filed with the Commission, except as otherwise permitted by this
Agreement, including pursuant to Section 3(n), or (vi) trading in the Common
Stock shall be suspended or if the Common Stock is delisted from each securities
exchange, quotation system, market or over-the-counter bulletin board on which
Registrable Securities are required hereunder to be listed (each an “Exchange”), without
immediately being listed on any other Exchange, for any reason for more than
five (5) Business Days, other than pursuant to Section 3(n), or (vii) the
Company refuses or fails to effect any exercise of Warrants into Warrant Shares
in accordance with the terms of the Warrants for any reason without the consent
of the particular Holder (any such failure or breach being referred to as an
“Event”), the Company
shall, as the remedy for same, pay in cash as liquidated damages for such
failure and not as a penalty to each Holder an amount equal to one percent
(1%)
of such Holder’s Subscription Amount for the initial thirty (30) day period
until the applicable Event has been cured, which shall be pro rated for such
periods less than thirty (30) days and one percent (1%) of such Holder’s
Subscription Amount for each subsequent thirty (30) day period until the
applicable Event has been cured which shall be pro rated for such periods less
than thirty days (the “Periodic Amount”). Payments
to be made pursuant to this Section 7(e) shall be due and payable immediately
upon demand in immediately available cash funds. The parties agree that the
Periodic Amount represents a reasonable estimate on the part of the parties,
as
of the date of this Agreement, of the amount of damages that may be incurred
by
the Holders if the Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to the Filing
Date and maintained in the manner contemplated herein during the Effectiveness
Period or if any other Event as described herein has occurred. The parties
further agree that the maximum aggregate liquidated damages payable to a Holder
under this Section 7(e) shall be 10% of the aggregate Subscription Amount paid
by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Company shall remain obligated to cure the breach or correct
the condition that caused the Event, and the Holder shall have the right to
take
any action necessary or desirable to enforce such obligation. Each
Holder of Registrable Securities acknowledges that, notwithstanding any
provision of this Agreement, no damages shall be payable in connection with
the
Company’s imposition of a Blackout Period in accordance with Section 3(n) of
this Agreement.
15
(f) Specific
Enforcement,
Consent to Jurisdiction.
(i) The
Company and the Holders acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would
occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached.
It
is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent or cure breaches of the provisions of this Agreement
and
to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, this being in addition
to any other remedy to which any of them may be entitled by law or
equity.
(ii) Each
of the Company and the Holders (i) hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in New York City, New
York
for the purposes of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating
to
this Agreement and (ii) hereby waives, and agrees not to assert in any such
suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to
the
jurisdiction of such court, that the suit, action or proceeding is brought
in an
inconvenient forum or that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is
improper. Each of the Company and the Holders consents to process being served
in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof 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 in this Section 7(f) shall affect or limit any right to serve
process in any other manner permitted by law.
(g) Amendments
and
Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of
this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or
consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless
the
same shall be in writing and signed by the Company and the Holders of at least
66% or more of the Registrable Securities (including, for this purpose, any
Registrable Securities issuable upon conversion or exercise (as applicable)
of
any Preferred Stock or Warrant). If a Registration Statement does not register
all of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a waiver or amendment done in
compliance with the previous sentence, then the number of Registrable Securities
to be registered for each Holder shall be reduced pro rata among all Holders
and
each Holder shall have the right to designate which of its Registrable
Securities shall be omitted from such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with
respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders and that
does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given
by Holders of the Registrable Securities to which such waiver or consent
relates; provided, however, that the provisions of this sentence may not be
amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions
of
the immediately preceding sentence. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
this Agreement may be amended by the Company with the consent of SCO Capital
Partners LLC and without the consent of the other Purchasers by supplementing
Schedule 1 with
respect to Purchasers in any Additional Closing pursuant to Section 2.1 of
the
Purchase Agreement and by adding any such Purchaser as a party to this
Agreement, provided that any such Purchaser agrees to be bound by this Agreement
by executing a counterpart signature page to this Agreement.
16
(h) 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 earlier of (i) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication
is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile telephone number specified for
notice prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on a Business Day, (ii) the
next
Business Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication
is
delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number specified in this Section on
a
day that is not a Business Day or later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time,
on
any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on such date, (iii)
the Business Day following the date of mailing, if sent by nationally recognized
overnight courier service such as Federal Express or (iv) actual receipt by
the
party to whom such notice is required to be given. The addresses for such
communications shall be with respect to each Holder at its address set forth
under its name on Schedule 1 attached
hereto, or with respect to the Company, addressed to:
Access
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
Attention:
President
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
or
to
such other address or addresses or facsimile number or numbers as any such
party
may most recently have designated in writing to the other parties hereto by
such
notice. Copies of notices to the Company shall be sent to:
Xxxxxxx
XxXxxxxxx LLP
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxx, III
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
Copies
of
notices to any Holder shall be sent to the addresses, if any, listed on Schedule 1 attached
hereto.
(i) Successors
and
Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the parties and their successors and permitted assigns and shall inure to the
benefit of each Holder and its successors and assigns; provided, that the
Company may not assign this Agreement or any of its rights or obligations
hereunder without the prior written consent of each Holder; and provided,
further, that each Holder may assign its rights hereunder in the manner and
to
the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
17
(j) Assignment
of Registration
Rights. The rights of each Holder hereunder, including the right to have
the Company register for resale Registrable Securities in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement, shall be automatically assignable by each Holder to
any
transferee of such Holder of all or a portion of the Purchased Shares, the
Warrants, the Warrant Shares or the Registrable Securities 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 (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 assignees is restricted under the Securities Act and
applicable state securities laws, (iv) at or before the time the Company
receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this Section 7(j),
the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by
all
of the provisions of this Agreement, and (v) such transfer shall have been
made
in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Purchase Agreement. The
rights to assignment shall apply to the Holders (and to subsequent) successors
and assigns.
The
Company may require, as a condition of allowing such assignment in connection
with a transfer of Purchased Shares, Warrants, Warrant Shares or Registrable
Securities (i) that the Holder or transferee of all or a portion of the
Purchased Shares, the Warrants, the Warrant Shares or the Registrable Securities
as the case may be, furnish to the Company a written opinion of counsel that
is
reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that such transfer may be
made without registration under the Securities Act, (ii) that the Holder or
transferee execute and deliver to the Company an investment letter in form
and
substance acceptable to the Company and (iii) that the transferee be an
“accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) promulgated under the Securities
Act.
(k) Counterparts;
Facsimile. 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 electronic means or 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.
(l) Governing
Law. This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the
State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of law
thereof.
(m) Cumulative
Remedies.
Unless otherwise provided herein, the remedies provided herein are cumulative
and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(n) 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 in any
respect, 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.
(o) Headings.
The
headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this
Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions
hereof.
(p) Obligations
of
Purchasers. The Company acknowledges that the obligations of each
Purchaser under this Agreement, are several and not joint with the obligations
of any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser shall be responsible in any way for
the
performance of the obligations of any other Purchaser under this
Agreement. The decision of each Purchaser to enter into to this
Agreement has been made by such Purchaser independently of any other
Purchaser. The Company further acknowledges that nothing contained in
this Agreement, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant hereto, 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 or as a group with respect to such obligations
or the transactions contemplated hereby. Each Purchaser shall be
entitled to independently 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.
18
Each
Purchaser has been represented by its own separate legal counsel in their review
and negotiation of this Agreement and with respect to the transactions
contemplated hereby. For reasons of administrative convenience only, this
Agreement has been prepared by Special Counsel (counsel for SCO Capital Partners
LLC) and the Special Counsel will perform certain duties under this Agreement.
Such counsel does not represent all of the Purchasers but only SCO Capital
Partners LLC. The Company has elected to provide all Purchasers with the same
terms and Agreement for the convenience of the Company and not because it was
required or requested to do so by the Purchasers. The Company
acknowledges that such procedure with respect to this Agreement in no way
creates a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert
or as
a group with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby
or thereby.
(q) No
Other Shares on
Registrations; Prohibition on Filing Other Registration Statements.
Neither the Company nor any of its security holders (other than the Holders
in
such capacity pursuant hereto) may include securities of the Company in any
Registration Statements other than the Registrable Securities. The
Company shall not file any other registration statements until all Registrable
Securities are registered pursuant to a Registration Statement that is declared
effective by the Commission, provided that this Section 7(q) shall not prohibit
the Company from filing amendments to registration statements filed prior to
the
date of this Agreement.
[signature
page follows]
19
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amended and Restated
Investor Rights Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized
persons as of the date first indicated above.
COMPANY:
ACCESS
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:
/s/ Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title:
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
20
PURCHASERS:
Print
Exact Name:
Name:
Title:
[Omnibus
Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Amended and Restated
Investor
Rights Agreement (2008) Signature Page]
21
EXHIBIT
A
PLAN
OF
DISTRIBUTION
We
are
registering the shares of common stock on behalf of the selling security
holders. Sales of shares may be made by selling security holders, including
their respective donees, transferees, pledgees or other successors-in-interest
directly to purchasers or to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or through
agents. Sales may be made from time to time on the ________________, any other
exchange or market upon which our shares may trade in the future, in the
over-the-counter market or otherwise, at market prices prevailing at the time
of
sale, at prices related to market prices, or at negotiated or fixed prices.
The
shares may be sold by one or more of, or a combination of, the
following:
-
|
a
block trade in which the broker-dealer so engaged will attempt to
sell the
shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block
as
principal to facilitate the transaction (including crosses in which
the
same broker acts as agent for both sides of the
transaction);
|
-
|
purchases
by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by such broker-dealer,
including resales for its account, pursuant to this
prospectus;
|
-
|
ordinary
brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits
purchases;
|
-
|
through
options, swaps or derivatives;
|
-
|
in
privately negotiated transactions;
|
-
|
in
making short sales or in transactions to cover short
sales;
|
- put
or call option transactions relating to the shares;
- through
the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether
through an options exchange or otherwise;
- a
combination of any such methods of sale; or
- any
other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
The
selling security holders may effect these transactions by selling shares
directly to purchasers or to or through broker-dealers, which may act as agents
or principals. These broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of
discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling security holders and/or
the purchasers of shares for whom such broker-dealers may act as agents or
to
whom they sell as principals, or both (which compensation as to a particular
broker-dealer might be in excess of customary commissions). The selling security
holders have advised us that they have not entered into any agreements,
understandings or arrangements with any underwriters or broker-dealers regarding
the sale of their securities.
22
The
selling security holders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers
or other financial institutions. In connection with those transactions, the
broker-dealers or other financial institutions may engage in short sales of
the
shares or of securities convertible into or exchangeable for the shares in
the
course of hedging positions they assume with the selling security holders.
The
selling security holders may also enter into options or other transactions
with
broker-dealers or other financial institutions which require the delivery of
shares offered by this prospectus to those broker-dealers or other financial
institutions. The broker-dealer or other financial institution may then resell
the shares pursuant to this prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if required
by applicable law, to reflect those transactions).
The
selling security holders and any broker-dealers that act in connection with
the
sale of shares may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of Section
2(11) of the Securities Act of 1933, and any commissions received by
broker-dealers or any profit on the resale of the shares sold by them while
acting as principals may be deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions
under the Securities Act. The selling security holders may agree to indemnify
any agent, dealer or broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving
sales of the shares against liabilities, including liabilities arising under
the
Securities Act. We have agreed to indemnify each of the selling security holders
and each selling security holder has agreed, severally and not jointly, to
indemnify us against some liabilities in connection with the offering of the
shares, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
The
selling security holders will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements
of the Securities Act. We have informed the selling security holders that the
anti-manipulative provisions of Regulation M promulgated under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 may apply to their sales in the market.
Selling
security holders also may resell all or a portion of the shares in open market
transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act, provided they
meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of Rule 144.
Upon
being notified by a selling security holder that a material arrangement has
been
entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale of shares through a block trade,
special offering, exchange distribution or secondary distribution or a purchase
by a broker or dealer, we will file a supplement to this prospectus, if required
pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, disclosing:
-
|
the
name of each such selling security holder and of the participating
broker-dealer(s);
|
-
|
the
number of shares involved;
|
-
|
the
initial price at which the shares were
sold;
|
-
|
the
commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to the
broker-dealer(s), where applicable;
|
-
|
that
such broker-dealer(s) did not conduct any investigation to verify
the
information set out or incorporated by reference in this prospectus;
and
|
-
|
other
facts material to the transactions.
|
23
In
addition, if required under applicable law or the rules or regulations of the
Commission, we will file a supplement to this prospectus when a selling security
holder notifies us that a donee or pledgee intends to sell more than 500 shares
of common stock.
We
are
paying all expenses and fees customarily paid by the issuer in connection with
the registration of the shares. The selling security holders will bear all
brokerage or underwriting discounts or commissions paid to broker-dealers in
connection with the sale of the shares.
24
EXHIBIT
B
FORM
OF
NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
[Name
and
Address of Transfer Agent]
Re: Access
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Dear
[______]:
We
are
counsel to Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and have
represented the Company in connection with that certain Amended and
Restated
Preferred
Stock and Warrant Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) dated as
of __________________, 2007 by and among the Company and the buyers named
therein (collectively, the “Holders”) pursuant to which
the Company issued to the Holders its Series A convertible preferred stock
(the
“PreferredStock”)
convertible into
shares of its Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), and warrants
to purchase shares of the Common Stock (the “Warrants”). Pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement, the Company has also entered into an Amended and Restated
Investor Rights Agreement with the Holders (the “Investor Rights Agreement”)
pursuant to which the Company agreed, among other things, to register the shares
of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, in payment
of
dividends on the Preferred stock and upon exercise of the Warrants, under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). In connection with the
Company’s obligations under the Investor Rights Agreement, on ____________ ___,
2006, the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form S-__ (File No.
333-_____________) (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) relating to the
Registrable Securities which names each of the Holders as a selling
securityholder thereunder.
In
connection with the foregoing, we advise you that a member of the SEC’s staff
has advised us by telephone that the SEC has entered an order declaring the
Registration Statement effective under the 1933 Act at [ENTER TIME OF
EFFECTIVENESS] on [ENTER DATE OF EFFECTIVENESS] and we have no knowledge, after
telephonic inquiry of a member of the SEC’s staff, that any stop order
suspending its effectiveness has been issued or that any proceedings for that
purpose are pending before, or threatened by, the SEC and the Registrable
Securities are available for resale under the 1933 Act pursuant to the
Registration Statement.
Very
truly yours,
By:__________________________________
cc: [LIST
NAMES OF HOLDERS]
25
Annex
B
[__________
Selling
Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire
The
undersigned beneficial owner of common stock (the “Registrable
Securities”) of [_______, a [_______ corporation (the “Company”),
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 Amended and
Restated Investor Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights
Agreement”) to which this document is annexed. A copy of the
Registration Rights Agreement is available from the Company upon request at
the
address set forth below. 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 in the Registration Statement.
33
The
undersigned hereby provides the following information to the Company and
represents and warrants that such information is accurate:
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 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 this
Questionnaire):
|
|
2. Address
for Notices to Selling
Securityholder:
|
Telephone:
|
Fax:
|
Contact
Person:
|
|
3. Broker-Dealer
Status:
|
|
(a)
|
Are
you a broker-dealer?
|
Yes No
|
(b)
|
If
“yes” to Section 3(a), did you receive your Registrable Securities as
compensation for investment banking services to the
Company?
|
Yes No
Note:
|
If
“no” to Section 3(b), the Commission’s staff has indicated that you should
be identified as an underwriter in the Registration
Statement.
|
|
(c)
|
Are
you an affiliate of a
broker-dealer?
|
Yes No
|
(d)
|
If
you are an affiliate of a broker-dealer, do you certify that you
purchased
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 No
Note:
|
If
“no” to Section 3(d), the Commission’s staff has indicated that you should
be identified as an underwriter in the Registration
Statement.
|
|
4. Beneficial
Ownership of Securities of the Company Owned by the Selling
Securityholder.
|
Except
as set forth below in this Item 4, the undersigned is not the beneficial or
registered owner of any securities of the Company other than the securities
issuable pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
|
(a)
|
Type
and Amount of other securities beneficially owned by the Selling
Securityholder:
|
26
|
5. 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:
|
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
at any time while the Registration Statement remains effective.
By
signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the information
contained herein in its answers to Items 1 through 5 and the inclusion of such
information in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus and any amendments or supplements
thereto. The undersigned understands that such information
will be relied upon by the Company in connection with the preparation or
amendment of the Registration Statement and the related prospectus.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Notice
and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its duly
authorized agent.
Date: Beneficial
Owner:
By:
Name:
Title:
PLEASE
FAX A COPY OF THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE, AND RETURN
THE ORIGINAL BY OVERNIGHT MAIL, TO:
27