REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated
as of _______, 2003, is entered into by and among Altair Nanotechnologies Inc.,
a corporation incorporated under the Business Corporation Act of Canada, with
headquarters located at 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
(the "Company"), and the undersigned buyers, each of which is listed on and has
signed a separate counterpart signature page hereto (each, a "Buyer" and
collectively, the "Buyers").
WHEREAS:
A. Pursuant to a Confidential Offering Summary dated July 28, 2003 (the
"Summary"), the Company has offered and sold certain Units (as defined in the
Summary) to the Buyers; and
B. To induce the Buyers to purchase the Units, the Company has agreed
to provide certain registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor
statute (collectively, the "1933 Act"), and applicable state securities laws, as
set forth herein,
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the
mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each
of the Buyers hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
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As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
a. "Common Stock" means the common shares of the Company, no
par value.
b. "Investor" means a Buyer, any transferee or assignee
thereof to whom a Buyer assigns its rights under this Agreement and who agrees
to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with Section
10 and any transferee or assignee thereof to whom a transferee or assignee
assigns its rights under this Agreement and who agrees to become bound by the
provisions of this Agreement in accordance with Section 10.
c. "Person" means a corporation, a limited liability company,
an association, a partnership, an organization, a business, an individual, a
governmental or political subdivision thereof or a governmental agency.
d. "Register," "registered," and "registration" refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing one or more Registration
Statements (as defined below) in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to
Rule 415 under the 1933 Act or any successor rule providing for offering
securities on a continuous basis ("Rule 415"), and the declaration or ordering
of effectiveness of such Registration Statement(s) by the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
e. "Registrable Securities" means, with respect to each Buyer,
the Common Stock included in the Units purchased by such Buyer, the Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of the Warrants included in the Units purchased by such
Buyer and any shares of capital stock issued or issuable with respect to such
Common Stock, Warrants or Warrant shares as a result of any stock split, stock
dividend, recapitalization, exchange, anti-dilution rights, liquidated damages
payment or similar event or otherwise, without regard to any limitation on the
exercise of the Warrants.
f. "Registration Statement" means a registration statement of
the Company filed pursuant to Rule 415 under the 0000 Xxx.
g. "Warrants" means the Series 2003E Warrants included in the
Units.
2. REGISTRATION.
a. Mandatory Registration. The Company shall prepare, and, as
soon as practicable, but in no event later than thirty (30) calendar days after
the date hereof, file with the SEC a Registration Statement or Registration
Statements (as is necessary) on Form S-3 (or if such form is unavailable, such
other form as is available for registration) covering the resale of all of the
Registrable Securities. The initial Registration Statement prepared pursuant
hereto shall register for resale at least that number of shares of Company
Common Stock equal to the number of Registrable Securities as of the date
immediately preceding the date the Registration Statement is initially filed
with the SEC, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3(b). The Company
shall use its best efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective
by the SEC as soon as practicable, but in no event later than one hundred twenty
(120) calendar days after the date hereof.
b. Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time prior to the
expiration of the Registration Period (as defined in Section 3(a)), the Company
proposes to file with the SEC a Registration Statement relating to an offering
for its own account or the account of others under the 1933 Act of any of its
securities (other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (or their equivalents at such
time) relating to 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), if all of the
Registrable Securities are not then registered under a currently effective
Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly send to each Investor written
notice of the Company's intention to file a Registration Statement and of such
Investor's rights under this Section 2(b) and, if within twenty (20) days after
receipt of such notice, such Investor shall so request in writing, the Company
shall include in such Registration Statement all or any part of the Registrable
Securities such Investor requests to be registered, subject to the priorities
set forth in Section 2(b) below. No right to registration of Registrable
Securities under this Section 2(b) shall be construed to limit any registration
required under Section 2(a). The obligations of the Company under this Section
2(b) may be waived by the Buyers. If an offering in connection with which an
Investor is entitled to registration under this Section 2(b) is an underwritten
offering, then each Investor whose Registrable Securities are included in such
Registration Statement shall, unless otherwise agreed by the Company, offer and
sell such Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering using the same
underwriter or underwriters and, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, on
the same terms and conditions as other shares of Company common stock included
in such underwritten offering. If a registration pursuant to this Section 2(b)
is to be an underwritten public offering and the managing underwriter(s) advise
the Company in writing that in their reasonable good faith opinion, marketing or
other factors dictate that a limitation on the number of shares of Company
common stock which may be included in the Registration Statement is necessary to
facilitate and not adversely affect the proposed offering, then the Company
shall include in such registration: (1) first, all securities the Company
proposes to sell for its own account; (2) second, up to the full number of
securities proposed to be registered for the account of the holders of
securities entitled to inclusion of their securities in the Registration
Statement by reason of demand registration rights; and (3) third, the securities
requested to be registered by the Investors and other holders of securities
entitled to participate in the registration, as of the date hereof, drawn from
them pro rata based on the number each has requested to be included in such
registration.
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c. Allocation of Registrable Securities. The initial number of
Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement and each increase
in the number of Registrable Securities included therein shall be allocated pro
rata among the Investors based on the number of Registrable Securities held, or
which could be held, by each Investor at the time the Registration Statement
covering such initial number of Registrable Securities or increase thereof is
declared effective by the SEC. In the event that an Investor sells or otherwise
transfers any of such Person's Registrable Securities, each transferee shall be
allocated a pro rata portion of the then remaining number of Registrable
Securities included in such Registration Statement for such transferor. Any
shares of Common Stock included in a Registration Statement and which remain
allocated to any Person which ceases to hold any Registrable Securities shall be
allocated to the remaining Investors, pro rata based on the number of
Registrable Securities then held by such Investors.
d. Legal Counsel. Subject to Section 5 hereof, each Buyer
shall have the right to select one legal counsel to review and oversee any
offering pursuant to this Section 2 ("Legal Counsel"). The Company shall
reasonably cooperate with Legal Counsel in performing the Company's obligations
under this Agreement.
e. Ineligibility for Form S-3. In the event that Form S-3 is
not available for any registration of Registrable Securities hereunder, the
Company shall (i) register the sale of the Registrable Securities on another
appropriate form and (ii) undertake to register the Registrable Securities on
Form S-3 as soon as such form is available, provided that the Company shall
maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement then in effect until
such time as a Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the Registrable
Securities has been declared effective by the SEC.
f. Rule 416. The Company and the Investors each acknowledge
that each Registration Statement prepared in accordance hereunder shall include
an indeterminate number of Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 416 under the
1933 Act so as to cover any and all Registrable Securities which may become
issuable (i) to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or
similar transactions and (ii) if permitted by law, by reason of the
anti-dilution provisions contained in the Warrants in accordance with the terms
thereof (collectively, the "Rule 416 Securities"). In this regard, the Company
agrees to use all reasonable efforts to ensure that the maximum number of
Registrable Securities which may be registered pursuant to Rule 416 under the
1933 Act are covered by each Registration Statement and, absent guidance from
the SEC or other definitive authority to the contrary, the Company shall use all
reasonable efforts to affirmatively support and to not take any position adverse
to the position that each Registration Statement filed hereunder covers all of
the Rule 416 Securities. If the Company determines that the Registration
Statement filed hereunder does not cover all of the Rule 416 Securities, the
Company shall immediately (i) provide to each Investor written evidence setting
forth the basis for the Company's position and the authority therefor and (ii)
prepare and file an amendment to such Registration Statement or a new
Registration Statement in accordance with Section 2(g).
g. Sufficient Number of Shares Registered. In the event the
number of shares available under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to
Section 2(a) is insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities or an
Investor's allocated portion of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section
2(c), the Company shall amend the Registration Statement, or file a new
Registration Statement (on the short form available therefor, if applicable), or
both, so as to cover at least one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of such
Registrable Securities in each case, as soon as practicable, but in any event
not later than fifteen (15) days after the necessity therefor arises. The
Company shall use it best efforts to cause such amendment and/or new
Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable following the
filing thereof. For purposes of the foregoing provision, the number of shares
available under a Registration Statement shall be deemed "insufficient to cover
all of the Registrable Securities" if at any time the number of Registrable
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Securities is greater than the number of shares of Common Stock available for
resale under such Registration Statement. For purposes of the calculation set
forth in the foregoing sentence, any restrictions on the exercisability of the
Warrants shall be disregarded and such calculation shall assume that the
Warrants are then exercisable into shares of Common Stock.
3. RELATED OBLIGATIONS.
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Whenever an Investor has requested that any Registrable
Securities be registered pursuant to Section 2(b) or at such time as the Company
is obligated to file a Registration Statement with the SEC pursuant to Section
2(a) or 2(g), the Company will use its best efforts to effect the registration
of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of
disposition thereof and, pursuant thereto, the Company shall have the following
obligations:
a. Registration. The Company shall promptly prepare and file
with the SEC a Registration Statement with respect to the Registrable Securities
(on or prior to the thirtieth (30th) calendar day after the date hereof for the
registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a)) and use its
best efforts to cause such Registration Statement relating to the Registrable
Securities to become effective as soon as possible after such filing (but in no
event later than one hundred twenty (120) calendar days after the date hereof
for the registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(a)), and
keep such Registration Statement effective pursuant to Rule 415 at all times
until the earlier of (i) the date as of which the Investors may sell all of the
Registrable Securities without restriction pursuant to Rule 144(k) promulgated
under the 1933 Act (or successor thereto) or (ii) the date on which (A) the
Investors shall have sold all the Registrable Securities and (B) none of the
Warrants is outstanding (the "Registration Period"), which Registration
Statement (including any amendments or supplements thereto and prospectuses
contained therein) shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were
made, not misleading.
b. Amendments. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC
such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to a
Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection with such
Registration Statement, which prospectus is to be filed pursuant to Rule 424
promulgated under the 1933 Act, as may be necessary to keep such Registration
Statement effective at all times during the Registration Period, and, during
such period, comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act with respect to the
disposition of all Registrable Securities of the Company covered by such
Registration Statement until such time as all of such Registrable Securities
shall have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of
disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth in such Registration
Statement.
c. Disclosure Materials. The Company shall furnish to each
Investor whose Registrable Securities are included in any Registration
Statement, without charge, upon request (i) promptly after the same is prepared
and filed with the SEC, at least one copy of such Registration Statement and any
amendment(s) thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all
documents incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits, (ii) upon the
effectiveness of any Registration Statement, (10) copies of the prospectus
included in such Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements
thereto (or such other number of copies as such Investor may reasonably request)
and (iii) such other documents, including copies of any preliminary or final
prospectus, as such Investor may reasonably request from time to time in order
to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such
Investor.
d. State Securities Laws. The Company shall use reasonable
efforts to (i) register and qualify the Registrable Securities covered by a
Registration Statement under such other securities or "blue sky" laws of such
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jurisdictions in the United States as Legal Counsel or any Investor reasonably
requests, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions, such amendments
(including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registrations and
qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the effectiveness thereof during
the Registration Period, (iii) take such other actions as may be necessary to
maintain such registrations and qualifications in effect at all times during the
Registration Period and (iv) take all other actions reasonably necessary or
advisable to qualify the Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection
therewith or as a condition thereto to (x) qualify to do business in any
jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this
Section 3(d), (y) subject itself to general taxation in any such jurisdiction or
(z) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction. The
Company shall promptly notify Legal Counsel and each Investor who holds
Registrable Securities of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the registration or qualification of any of the
Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or "blue sky" laws of any
jurisdiction in the United States or its receipt of actual notice of the
initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.
e. Underwriting Agreement. In the event Investors who hold a
majority of the Registrable Securities being offered in the offering select
underwriters for the offering, the Company shall enter into and perform its
obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form,
including, without limitation, customary indemnification and contribution
obligations, with the underwriters of such offering.
f. Notification. As promptly as practicable after becoming
aware of such event, the Company shall notify Legal Counsel and each Investor in
writing of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus
included in a Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue
statement of a material fact or omission to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and promptly prepare a
supplement or amendment to such Registration Statement to correct such untrue
statement or omission, and deliver ten (10) copies of such supplement or
amendment to Legal Counsel and each Investor (or such other number of copies as
Legal Counsel or such Investor may reasonably request). The Company shall also
promptly notify Legal Counsel and each Investor in writing (i) when a prospectus
or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, and
when a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment has become
effective (notification of such effectiveness shall be delivered to Legal
Counsel and each Investor by facsimile on the same day of such effectiveness and
by overnight mail), (ii) of any request by the SEC for amendments or supplements
to a Registration Statement or related prospectus or related information and
(iii) of the Company's reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment
to a Registration Statement would be appropriate.
g. Stop-Order and Suspension. The Company shall use its best
efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of
effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or the suspension of the
qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction
and, if such an order or suspension is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such
order or suspension at the earliest possible moment and to notify Legal Counsel
and each Investor who holds Registrable Securities being sold (and, in the event
of an underwritten offering, the managing underwriters) of the issuance of such
order and the resolution thereof or its receipt of actual notice of the
initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose.
h. Requested Information. At the request of any Investor, the
Company shall furnish to such Investor, on the date of the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement and thereafter from time to time on such dates as an
Investor may reasonably request (i) if required by an underwriter, a letter,
dated such date, from the Company's independent certified public accountants in
form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public
accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the
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underwriters, and (ii) if required by an underwriter, an opinion, dated as of
such date, of counsel representing the Company for purposes of such Registration
Statement, in form, scope and substance as is customarily given in an
underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters and the Investors.
i. Inspection. In connection with the preparation of any
Registration Statement, the Company shall make available for inspection by (i)
any Investor, (ii) Legal Counsel, (iii) any underwriter participating in any
disposition pursuant to a Registration Statement, (iv) one firm of accountants
or other agents retained by the Investors and (v) one firm of attorneys retained
by such underwriters (collectively, the "Inspectors") all pertinent financial
and other records, and pertinent corporate documents and properties of the
Company (collectively, the "Records"), as shall be reasonably deemed necessary
by each Inspector, and cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to
supply all information which any Inspector may reasonably request; provided,
however, that each Inspector shall hold in strict confidence and shall not make
any disclosure (except to an Investor) or use of any Record or other information
which the Company determines in good faith to be confidential, and of which
determination the Inspectors are so notified, unless (a) the disclosure of such
Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any
Registration Statement or is otherwise required under the 1933 Act, (b) the
release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a final, non-appealable subpoena
or order from a court or government body of competent jurisdiction or (c) the
information in such Records has been made generally available to the public
other than by disclosure in violation of this or any other agreement of which
the Inspector has knowledge. Each Investor agrees that it shall, upon learning
that disclosure of such Records is sought in or by a court or governmental body
of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to the
Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action
to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, the Records
deemed confidential.
j. Confidential Information. The Company shall hold in
confidence and not make any disclosure of information concerning an Investor
provided to the Company unless (i) disclosure of such information is necessary
to comply with federal or state securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such
information is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any
Registration Statement, (iii) the release of such information is ordered
pursuant to a subpoena or other final, non-appealable order from a court or
governmental body of competent jurisdiction or (iv) such information has been
made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of
this Agreement or any other agreement. The Company agrees that it shall, upon
learning that disclosure of such information concerning an Investor is sought in
or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other
means, give prompt written notice to such Investor and allow such Investor, at
the Investor's expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure
of, or to obtain a protective order for, such information.
k. Listing. The Company shall use reasonable efforts either to
(i) cause all the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to
be listed on each securities exchange on which securities of the same class or
series issued by the Company are then listed, if any, if the listing of such
Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange or
(ii) secure designation and quotation of all the Registrable Securities covered
by the Registration Statement on the Nasdaq National Market System or, if,
despite the Company's best efforts to satisfy the preceding clause (i) or (ii),
the Company is unsuccessful in satisfying the preceding clause (i) or (ii), to
secure the inclusion for quotation on The Nasdaq SmallCap Market for such
Registrable Securities and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to
arrange for at least two market makers to register with the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. as such with respect to such Registrable Securities.
"Reasonable efforts" shall not include approving a reverse stock split,
consolidation or similar transaction. The Company shall pay all fees and
expenses in connection with satisfying its obligation under this Section 3(l).
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l. Certificates. The Company shall cooperate with the
Investors who hold Registrable Securities being offered to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legend)
representing the Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to a Registration
Statement and enable such certificates to be in such denominations or amounts,
as the case may be, as the Investors may reasonably request and registered in
such names as the Investors may request.
m. Transfer Agent. The Company shall provide a transfer agent
and registrar of all such Registrable Securities not later than the effective
date of such Registration Statement.
n. Underwriter Requests. If requested by the managing
underwriters or an Investor, the Company shall: (i) immediately incorporate in a
prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the
managing underwriters and the Investors agree should be included therein
relating to the sale and distribution of Registrable Securities, including,
without limitation, information with respect to the number of Registrable
Securities being sold to such underwriters, the purchase price being paid
therefor by such underwriters and any other terms of the underwritten (or best
efforts underwritten) offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such
offering; (ii) make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment as soon as notified of the matters to be incorporated
in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; and (iii) supplement
or make amendments to any Registration Statement if requested by an Investor or
any underwriter of such Registrable Securities.
o. Best Efforts. The Company shall use its best efforts to
cause the Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration
Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies
or authorities as may be necessary to consummate the disposition of such
Registrable Securities.
p. Compliance With Laws. The Company shall otherwise use its
best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC in
connection with any registration hereunder and the Company shall use its best
efforts to file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and documents
required of the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act (as defined in
Section 6(a)).
q. Confirmation. Upon request, within five (5) business days
after the Registration Statement which includes the Registrable Securities is
ordered effective by the SEC, the Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal
counsel for the Company to deliver, to the transfer agent for such Registrable
Securities (with copies to the Investors whose Registrable Securities are
included in such Registration Statement) confirmation that the Registration
Statement has been declared effective by the SEC in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A.
r. Disposition. The Company shall take all other reasonable
actions necessary to expedite and facilitate disposition by the Investors of
Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.
4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTORS.
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a. At least seven (7) days prior to the first anticipated
filing date of the Registration Statement, the Company shall notify each
Investor in writing of the information the Company requires from each such
Investor if such Investor elects to have any of such Investor's Registrable
Securities included in such Registration Statement. It shall be a condition
precedent to the obligations of the Company to complete the registration
pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities of a
particular Investor that such Investor shall furnish to the Company such
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information regarding itself and the Registrable Securities held by it as shall
be reasonably required to effect the registration of such Registrable Securities
and shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the
Company may reasonably request.
b. Each Investor by such Investor's acceptance of the
Registrable Securities agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably
requested by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of any
Registration Statement hereunder, unless such Investor has notified the Company
in writing of such Investor's election to exclude all of such Investor's
Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement.
c. In the event any Investor elects to participate in an
underwritten public offering pursuant to Section 2, each such Investor agrees to
enter into and perform such Investor's obligations under an underwriting
agreement, in usual and customary form, including, without limitation, customary
indemnification and contribution obligations, with the managing underwriter of
such offering and take such other actions as are reasonably required in order to
expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities.
5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.
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All reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and
commissions, incurred in connection with registrations, filings or
qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, including, without limitation, all
registration, listing and qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, and
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company (but not fees and
disbursements of Legal Counsel) shall be paid by the Company.
6. INDEMNIFICATION.
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In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a
Registration Statement under this Agreement:
a. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will,
and hereby does, indemnify, hold harmless and defend each Investor who holds
such Registrable Securities, the directors, officers, partners, employees,
agents, representatives of, and each Person, if any, who controls any Investor
within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "1934 Act"), and any underwriter (as defined in the 0000 Xxx) for
the Investors, and the directors and officers of, and each Person, if any, who
controls, any such underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934
Act (each, an "Indemnified Person"), against any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, costs, attorneys' fees,
amounts paid in settlement or expenses, joint or several (collectively,
"Indemnified Damages"), incurred in investigating, preparing or defending any
action, claim, suit, inquiry, proceeding, investigation or appeal taken from the
foregoing by or before any court or governmental, administrative or other
regulatory agency, body or the SEC, whether pending or threatened, whether or
not an Indemnified Person is or may be a party thereto (collectively, "Claims"),
to which any of them may become subject insofar as such Claims (or actions or
proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of
or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact in a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment
thereto or in any filing made in connection with the qualification of the
offering under the securities or other "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction in
which Registrable Securities are offered ("Blue Sky Filing"), or the omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
preliminary prospectus if used prior to the effective date of such Registration
Statement, or contained in the final prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if
the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or
the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary to
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make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which the
statements therein were made, not misleading, (iii) any violation or alleged
violation by the Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law,
including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or
regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement or (iv) any material violation
of this Agreement (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iv) being,
collectively, "Violations"). The Company shall reimburse the Investors and each
such underwriter or controlling person, promptly as such expenses are incurred
and are due and payable, for any legal fees or other reasonable expenses
incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification
agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (i) shall not apply to a Claim by an
Indemnified Person arising out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the
Company by such Indemnified Person or underwriter for such Indemnified Person
expressly for use in connection with the preparation of the Registration
Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto, if such
prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(d);
(ii) with respect to any preliminary prospectus, shall not inure to the benefit
of any such Person from whom the Person asserting any such Claim purchased the
Registrable Securities that are the subject thereof (or to the benefit of any
Person controlling such Person) if the untrue statement or omission of material
fact contained in the preliminary prospectus was corrected in the prospectus, as
then amended or supplemented, if such prospectus was timely made available by
the Company pursuant to Section 3(d), and the Indemnified Person was promptly
advised in writing not to use the incorrect prospectus prior to the use giving
rise to a violation and such Indemnified Person, notwithstanding such advice,
used it; (iii) shall not be available to the extent such Claim is based on a
failure of the Investor to deliver or to cause to be delivered the prospectus
made available by the Company, if such prospectus was timely made available by
the Company pursuant to Section 3(d); (iv) shall not apply to amounts paid in
settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written
consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; and
(v) shall not apply to the extent such Claim is based upon the failure of an
Investor to comply with governing laws and regulations. Such indemnity shall
remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on
behalf of the Indemnified Person and shall survive the transfer of the
Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 10.
b. In connection with any Registration Statement in which an
Investor is participating, each such Investor agrees to severally and not
jointly indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same
manner as is set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each
of its officers who signs the Registration Statement, each Person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act
(collectively and together with an Indemnified Person, an "Indemnified Party"),
against any Claim or Indemnified Damages to which any Indemnified Party may
become subject, under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such
Claim or Indemnified Damages arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in
each case to the extent, and only to the extent, that such Violation (i) occurs
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by such Investor expressly for use in connection with such Registration
Statement (ii) is based on a failure of the Investor to deliver or to cause to
be delivered the prospectus made available by the Company, if such prospectus
was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(d), or (iii) is
based on the failure of the Investor to comply with governing laws and
regulations; and, subject to Section 6(d), such Investor will reimburse any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with
investigating or defending any such Claim; provided, however, that the indemnity
agreement contained in this Section 6(b) and the agreement with respect to
contribution contained in Section 7 shall not apply to amounts paid in
9
settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written
consent of such Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld;
provided, further, however, that the Investor shall be liable under this Section
6(b) for only that amount of a Claim or Indemnified Damages as does not exceed
the net proceeds to such Investor as a result of the sale of Registrable
Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Such indemnity shall remain
in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of
such Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable
Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 10. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this
Section 6(b) with respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the
benefit of any Indemnified Party if the untrue statement or omission of material
fact contained in the preliminary prospectus was corrected on a timely basis in
the prospectus, as then amended or supplemented.
c. The Company shall be entitled to receive indemnities from
underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers and similar securities industry
professionals participating in any distribution, to the same extent as provided
above, with respect to information such persons so furnished in writing
expressly for inclusion in the Registration Statement.
d. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any
action or proceeding (including any governmental action or proceeding) involving
a Claim, such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall, if a Claim in
respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section
6, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement
thereof, and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and,
to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other
indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume control of the defense thereof
with counsel mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party and the Indemnified
Person or the Indemnified Party, as the case may be; provided, however, that an
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own
counsel with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if, in
the reasonable opinion of counsel retained by the indemnifying party, the
representation by such counsel of the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
and the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any
other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The Company shall
pay reasonable fees for only one separate legal counsel for the Investors, and
such legal counsel shall be selected by the Investors holding a majority in
interest of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement to
which the Claim relates. The Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person shall
cooperate fully with the indemnifying party in connection with any negotiation
or defense of any such action or claim by the indemnifying party and shall
furnish to the indemnifying party all information reasonably available to the
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person which relates to such action or claim.
The indemnifying party shall keep the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person
fully apprised at all times as to the status of the defense or any settlement
negotiations with respect thereto. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any
settlement of any action, claim or proceeding effected without its written
consent, provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall not unreasonably
withhold, delay or condition its consent. No indemnifying party shall, without
the consent of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person, consent to entry of
any judgment or enter into any settlement or other compromise which does not
include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff
to such Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person of a release from all liability
in respect to such claim or litigation. Following indemnification as provided
for hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be subrogated to all rights of the
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person with respect to all third parties, firms
or corporations relating to the matter for which indemnification has been made.
The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a
reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not relieve such
indemnifying party of any liability to the Indemnified Person or Indemnified
Party under this Section 6, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is
prejudiced in its ability to defend such action.
10
e. The indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be
made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the
investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or Indemnified Damages
are incurred.
f. The indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in
addition to (i) any cause of action or similar right of the Indemnified Party or
Indemnified Person against the indemnifying party or others and (ii) any
liabilities the indemnifying party may be subject to pursuant to law.
7. CONTRIBUTION.
------------
To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is
prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum
contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable
under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that:
(i) no seller of Registrable Securities guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 0000 Xxx) shall be entitled to
contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation; and (ii) contribution by any seller of Registrable
Securities shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds received by
such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities.
8. REPORTS UNDER THE 1934 ACT.
--------------------------
With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits
of Rule 144 promulgated under the 1933 Act or any other similar rule or
regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Investors to sell
securities of the Company to the public without registration ("Rule 144"), the
Company agrees to, until such time as all of the Registrable Securities may be
sold without restriction pursuant to Rule 144(k):
a. make and keep public information available, as those terms
are understood and defined in Rule 144;
b. file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other
documents required of the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so long as
the Company remains subject to such requirements and the filing of such reports
and other documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
c. furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns
Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the
Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the
1933 Act and the 1934 Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly
report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the
Company and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested to
permit the investors to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without
registration.
9. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES.
------------------
The Company agrees that the Buyers will suffer damages if the
Company violates any provision of or fails to fulfill its obligations pursuant
to this Agreement (a "Registration Default") and that it would not be possible
to ascertain the extent of such damages. Accordingly, in the event of such
Registration Default, the Company hereby agrees to pay liquidated damages
("Liquidated Damages") to each Buyer following the occurrence of such
Registration Default in an amount determined by multiplying (i) one percent (1%)
of such Buyer's portion of the Purchase Price (as defined in the Securities
Purchase Agreement) by (ii) the percentage derived by dividing (A) the actual
number of days elapsed from the last day of the date of the Registration Default
11
or the prior 30-day period, as applicable, to the day such Registration Default
has been completely cured by (B) 30, in cash, or at the Buyer's option, in the
number of shares of Company common stock equal to the quotient of (v) the dollar
amount of the Liquidated Damages on the Payment Date (as defined below) by (w)
the closing bid price of the Company's common stock as of the date of the
Registration Default (as quoted in the Principal Market or the market or
exchange where the Company's common stock is then traded). The Liquidated
Damages payable pursuant hereto shall be payable within five (5) business days
from the end of the calendar month commencing on the first calendar month in
which the Registration Default occurs (each, a "Payment Date").
10. ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
---------------------------------
The rights under this Agreement shall be automatically
assignable by the Investors to any transferee of all or any portion of
Registrable Securities if: (i) the Investor agrees in writing with the
transferee or assignee to assign such rights, and a copy of such agreement is
furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such assignment; (ii)
the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment,
furnished with written notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or
assignee, and (b) the securities with respect to which such registration rights
are being transferred or assigned; (iii) immediately following such transfer or
assignment the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or
assignee is restricted under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws;
provided, however, that the transferee or assignee may subsequently transfer or
assign all or any portion of the Registrable Securities if an exemption from
registration under the 1933 Act is applicable to such transfer or assignment;
(iv) at or before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated
by clause (ii) of this sentence the transferee or assignee agrees in writing
with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein; and (v)
such transfer shall have been made in accordance with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Purchase Agreement.
11. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
--------------------------------
Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance
thereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either
retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company
and Investors who then hold two-thirds (2/3) of the Registrable Securities. Any
amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 11 shall be binding
upon each Investor and the Company. No such amendment shall be effective to the
extent that it applies to less than all of the holders of the Registrable
Securities. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or
consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of any of this Agreement
unless the same consideration also is offered to all of the parties to this
Agreement.
12. MISCELLANEOUS.
-------------
a. A Person is deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities
whenever such Person owns or is deemed to own of record such Registrable
Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or
elections from two or more Persons with respect to the same Registrable
Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions, notice or
election received from the registered owner of such Registrable Securities.
b. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications
required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in
writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when
delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided
confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and
kept on file by the sending party); or (iii) one business day after deposit with
a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, in each case properly
addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers
for such communications shall be:
12
If to the Company:
Altair Nanotechnologies Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Chief Executive Officer
With a copy to:
Altair Nanotechnologies Inc.
000 Xxxxxx Xxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Chief Financial Officer
Stoel Rives LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
If to a Buyer, to it at the address and facsimile number set forth on the
Schedule of Buyers attached hereto, with copies to such Buyer's representatives
as set forth on the Schedule of Buyers, or at such other address and/or
facsimile number and/or to the attention of such other person as the recipient
party has specified by written notice given to each other party five days prior
to the effectiveness of such change.
c. Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under
this Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or
remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof.
d. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in all
respects by the internal laws of the State of Illinois (except for the proper
application of the United States federal securities laws), without giving effect
to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State
of Illinois or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the
laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of Illinois. Each party hereby
irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal
courts sitting the City of Chicago, for the adjudication of any dispute
hereunder. If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable
in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that
jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of any provision of this
Agreement in any other jurisdiction.
e. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. There are no
restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth
or referred to herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof.
13
f. Subject to the requirements of Section 10, this Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the permitted successors and
assigns of each of the parties hereto.
g. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
h. This Agreement may be executed in identical counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one
and the same agreement. This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be
delivered to the other party hereto by facsimile transmission of a copy of this
Agreement bearing the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.
i. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and
performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all
such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other
party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the
purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
j. All consents and other determinations to be made by the
Investors pursuant to this Agreement shall be made, unless otherwise specified
in this Agreement, by Investors holding a majority of the Registrable
Securities, determined as if all of the Warrants then outstanding have been
converted into Registrable Securities without regard to any limitation on
exercise of the Warrants.
k. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be
the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent and no rules
of strict construction will be applied against any party.
l. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the
benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person.
* * * * * *
14
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of day and year first above written.
COMPANY:
ALTAIR NANOTECHNOLOGIES INC.
By:
-------------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Title: CEO
BUYER:
-----------------------------------------------------
[print name]
By:
-------------------------------------------------
Name:
-----------------------------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------------------------
Contact Information for Buyer:
-----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
Attn:
-----------------------------------------------
Phone:
-----------------------------------------------
Facsimile:
------------------------------------------
15
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS
OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
[TRANSFER AGENT]
Attn: ___________________
Re: Altair Nanotechnologies Inc.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are counsel to Altair Nanotechnologies Inc., a corporation
incorporated under the laws of the Canada (the "Company"), and have represented
the Company in connection with that certain Stock Purchase and Subscription
Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") entered into by and among the Company and
the buyers named therein (collectively, the "Holders") pursuant to which the
Company issued to the Holders shares of its common stock, no par value (the
"Common Stock") and Warrants exercisable into its Common Stock (the "Warrant
Shares"). Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company also has entered into
a Registration Rights Agreement with the Holders (the "Registration Rights
Agreement") pursuant to which the Company agreed, among other things, to
register the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement), including the Common Stock and Warrant Shares, under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"). In connection with the Company's
obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, on __________, 2003, the
Company filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. _____________) (the
"Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC") relating to the Registrable Securities which names each of the Holders as
a selling stockholder thereunder.
In connection with the foregoing, we 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,
[ISSUER'S COUNSEL]
By:_________________________
cc: [LIST NAMES OF HOLDERS]
