REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
10.2
This
Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and
entered into as of September 9, 2009, 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(d).
“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 United
States 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 in
either case 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 60th
calendar day following the Closing Date; provided, however, that if
the Filing Deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or other day that the Commission
is closed for business, the Filing Deadline shall be extended to the next
business day on which the Commission is open for business.
“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).
“Knowledge” means with respect
to any statement made to the knowledge of a party, that the statement is based
upon the actual knowledge of the executive officers of such party having
responsibility for the matter or matters that are the subject of the
statement.
“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
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx, LLC, Riverbank Capital Securities, Inc. and Xxxxxxx
Securities, 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.
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“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.
“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 Stockholder 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 in a transaction in which the requirements of paragraph (c)(1) thereof do
not apply.
“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 Stockholder
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.
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“Trading Day” means (i) a day
on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and may be 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 may be 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.
“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.
“Transfer Agent” means
American Stock Transfer and Trust Company or any successor transfer agent for
the Company, or a Successor transfer agent to the Company.
“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.
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Registration.
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(a) On
or prior to the 30th
calendar day following the Closing Date, 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”); provided,
however, that if the 30th
calendar day following the Closing Date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or other day
that the Commission is closed for business, such deadline shall be extended to
the next business day on which the Commission is open for
business. 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; (ii) permit counsel
of such holders (subject to Section 4, at such holders expense) to review and
participate in discussions regarding the Company’s response to the Commission
regarding the application of 415 to the Registration Statement, (iii) use its
reasonable best efforts to file amendments to the Initial Registration Statement
as required by the Commission and/or (iv) if required by the Commission,
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”).
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(b) The
Company shall use its reasonable commercial 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 and shall use
its reasonable commercial 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, (ii) the date that all Registrable
Securities covered by such Registration Statement may be sold pursuant to Rule
144 in transactions in which the requirements of paragraph (c)(1) thereof do not
apply, as determined by counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion
letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to the 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 promptly notify the Holders via
facsimile or e-mail of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement and 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.
(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 the “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 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
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(d) Each
Holder agrees to furnish to the Company a completed and executed Selling
Stockholder 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 Stockholder 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) 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.
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Registration
Procedures
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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 that differs substantively from the Initial Registration
Statement or the Prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement
thereto, (i) furnish to each Holder copies of all such documents proposed
to be filed, which documents (other than those incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference) will be subject to the review of such Holder, and
(ii) 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 respective counsel to each Holder, to conduct a reasonable
investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Company shall not
file a Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any amendments or
supplements thereto to which the Holders of 67% of the Registrable Securities
shall reasonably object in good faith, provided that the
Company is notified of such objection in writing no later than three Trading
Days after the Holders have been so furnished copies of a Registration Statement
or any related Prospectus or amendments or supplements thereto. During any
periods that the Company is unable to meet its obligations hereunder with
respect to the registration of the Registrable Securities because the Holders of
67% of the Registrable Securities exercise their rights under this section to
object to the filing of a Registration Statement, any liquidated damages that
are accruing, at such time shall be tolled and any Event that may otherwise
occur because of the exercise of such rights or such delay shall be suspended,
until the Holders of 67% of the Registrable Securities no longer object to the
filing of such Registration Statement (provided that such
tolling shall only occur if the Company uses commercially reasonable efforts to
resolve such objection).
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(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; (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.
(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, 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, in the case of (vi) below, not more than one Trading Day
after the Company obtains Knowledge of such proceeding) 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) the receipt by the Company 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 commercial 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.
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(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.
(g) Prior
to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its reasonable commercial
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 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 effective Registration Statement nor
Prospectus in use thereunder 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.
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(k) In
order to enable the Holders to sell Shares or Warrant Shares under Rule 144,
until such time as all of the Shares and Warrant Shares have either been sold or
are eligible for sale without restriction pursuant to Rule 144, 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 one 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.
(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 Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority (“FINRA”)
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.
(m) If
requested by a Holder, the Company shall effect a filing with respect to the
public offering contemplated by the Registration Statement (an “Issuer Filing”) with the
FINRA Corporate Financing Department pursuant to FINRA
Rule 5510(b)(10)(A)(i) within five Trading Days of the date of such
request. The Company shall pay the filing fee required by such Issuer
Filing and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to pursue the Issuer
Filing until the FINRA issues a letter confirming that it does not object to the
terms of the offering contemplated by the Registration Statement. A
copy of the Issuer Filing and all related correspondence with respect thereto
shall be provided to the Placement Agents and, upon request, to any
Holder.
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, accountants and other advisors for any Holder
except as specifically provided below) 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. Further, upon request, the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and
disbursements of one firm or counsel (which firm or counsel shall be experienced
in securities matters and designated by Holders owning a majority of the
Registrable Securities) to act as counsel for the Holders in connection with the
preparation and filing of the Registration Statement; provided, however, that the
amount of fees and disbursements reimbursable pursuant to this Section shall be
limited to $10,000 in the aggregate. In no event shall the Company be
responsible for any broker or similar commissions or any legal fees, accounting
fees, the fees of other advisors or other costs of the Holders.
9
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(d) 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.
10
(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.
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.
11
(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.
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.
12
(c) Compliance. Each
Holder covenants and agrees that it (i) 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 provided the Company delivers notice to
such Holder in writing that the conditions set forth in Rule 172 of the
Securities Act are not met and that, accordingly, such Holder is obligated to
deliver prospectus upon such sales, and (ii) 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.
(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 X. Xxxxxxx,
Esq.
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13
If
to a Purchaser:
|
To
the address set forth under such Purchaser's name on the signature pages
hereof.
|
|
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.
(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 or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format file, 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 this Agreement, then the
prevailing party in such Proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for
its reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the
investigation preparation and prosecution of such Proceeding.
14
(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.
(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.
15
(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.
[REMAINDER
OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE
PAGES TO FOLLOW]
16
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as
of the date first written above.
ZIOPHARM
ONCOLOGY, INC.
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By:
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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:
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ADDRESS
FOR NOTICE
|
|||
c/o:
|
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Street:
|
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City/State/Zip:
|
|||
Attention:
|
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Tel:
|
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Fax:
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Email:
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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 shareholders
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 shareholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the Securities
Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.
A-1
Broker-dealers
engaged by the selling shareholders 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 FINRA Rule 2440; and in the
case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with FINRA
IM-2440 or the successor to such FINRA rules.
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.
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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 Securities and Exchange
Commission. 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.
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