REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit 4.1
This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of December 31, 2010, among United American Petroleum Corp., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and the purchaser signatory hereto (the “Purchaser”).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement and the Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Note, dated as of the date hereof between the Company and the Purchaser (the “Note”).
The Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined in the Note shall have the meanings given such terms in the Note. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Advice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d).
“Effectiveness Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
“Filing Date” means, with respect to the Registration Statement required hereunder, the 120th calendar day following the later of the date of this Agreement.
“Holder” or “Holders” means the holder or holders, as the case may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.
“Indemnified Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
“Indemnifying Party” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
“Losses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
“Plan of Distribution” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
“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.
“Registrable Securities” means all of (i) the Shares issuable pursuant to the Note, (ii) the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants to purchase Company Common Stock issued in connection with the Notes (the “Warrants”), and (iii) any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization or similar event with respect to the foregoing.
“Registration Statement” means the registration statements required to be filed hereunder, including (in each case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
“Rule 415” means Rule 415 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (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 purpose and 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 purpose and effect as such rule.
“Selling Securityholder Questionnaire” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
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2. Shelf Registration.
(a) On or prior to the Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement covering the resale of 100% of the Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. Such Registration Statement shall contain (unless otherwise directed by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement) the “Plan of Distribution” section substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex A, with such changes as are reasonably required to respond to the actual plan of distribution or any comments to such section by the Commission and to comply with then applicable securities laws. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing thereof, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the earlier of (A) the date that is two years after the date on which all the Shares are issued to the Holders, (B) the date on which there ceases to be outstanding any Registrable Securities, and (C) the date on which the Company receives an opinion from its legal counsel to the effect that all Registrable Securities can be freely traded without the continued effectiveness of a Registration Statement (the “Effectiveness Period”).
(b) The parties hereto agree that the Company will not be required to use a Registration Statement for any registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the public, and the Company will in no event be required to cooperate with or pay for any such underwritten offering.
3. Registration Procedures.
In connection with the Company’s registration obligations hereunder, the Company shall:
(a) Not less than three Trading Days prior to the filing of each Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (including any document that would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall, (i) furnish to each Holder copies of the “Principal and Selling Stockholders” and “Plan of Distribution” sections of such Registration Statement or other documents proposed to be filed, if such sections have been revised since the previous filing of such Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto, which documents (other than those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference) will be subject to the review of such Holders, 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 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 a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement shall reasonably object in good faith, provided that, the Company is notified of such objection in writing no later than two Trading Days after the Holders have been so furnished copies of such documents. Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Company a completed Questionnaire in the form attached to this Agreement as Annex B (a “Selling Securityholder Questionnaire”) not less than ten days after written request therefore has been made by the Company.
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, to a Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep a Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period and prepare and file with the Commission such additional Registration Statements in order to register for resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities; (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement (subject to the terms of this Agreement), and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably possible to any comments received from the Commission with respect to a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and, upon written request by any Holder of at least 25% of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement, as promptly as reasonably possible provide such Holders with true and complete copies of all material written correspondence from and to the Commission relating to a Registration Statement; and (iv) comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance (subject to the terms of this Agreement) with the intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) Use its commercially reasonable efforts to notify the Holders (which notice shall, pursuant to clauses (ii) through (vi) hereof, be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes have been made) as promptly as reasonably possible and (if requested by any Holder of at least 25% of the Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement) confirm such notice in writing (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement has been 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 such Registration Statement; and (C) with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any request by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; (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 a 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 a Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of a 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (vi) the occurrence or existence of any pending corporate development with respect to the Company that the Company believes may be material and that, in the determination of the Company, makes it not in the best interest of the Company to allow continued availability of a Registration Statement or Prospectus; provided that any and all of such information shall be kept confidential by each Holder until such information otherwise becomes public, unless disclosure by a Holder is required by law; provided, further, notwithstanding each Holder’s agreement to keep such information confidential, the Holders make no acknowledgement that any such information is material, non-public information.
(d) Use its commercially reasonable 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, at the earliest practicable moment.
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(e) Furnish to each Holder, without charge, to the extent requested in writing by such Holder, at least one conformed copy of each such Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and all exhibits to such Registration Statement (including those previously furnished or incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such documents with the Commission.
(f) Promptly deliver to each Holder, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto as such Holder may reasonably request in writing in connection with resales by such Holder. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, except after the giving on any notice pursuant to Section 3(c).
(g) Prior to any resale of Registrable Securities by a Holder, use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from the registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for the resale by the Holder under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder reasonably requests in writing, to keep each 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 each Registration Statement; provided, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, subject the Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction.
(h) If requested by a selling Holder, cooperate with such Holder to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee pursuant to a Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free, to the extent permitted by applicable law, of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as any such Holder may request.
(i) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by this Section 3, as promptly as reasonably possible under the circumstances taking into account the Company’s good faith assessment of any adverse consequences to the Company and its stockholders of the premature disclosure of such event, prepare a supplement or amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to a Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered, neither a Registration Statement nor such Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Company notifies the Holders in accordance with clauses (ii) through (vi) of Section 3(c) above to suspend the use of any Prospectus until the requisite changes to such Prospectus have been made, then the Holders shall suspend use of such Prospectus. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as is practicable. The Company shall be entitled to exercise its right under this Section 3(i) to suspend the availability of a Registration Statement and Prospectus for a period not to exceed 40 Trading Days (which need not be consecutive days) in any 12 month period.
(j) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission until the end of the Effectiveness Period.
(k) The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the Company a certified statement as to the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Holder and, if required by the Commission, the Person who has voting and dispositive control over the such shares. The Company shall have no obligation to keep a Prospectus usable or to give notice that a Prospectus is not usable by a particular Holder, and the Company will have no liability for, to the extent such Prospectus is not usable by such Holder because current information with respect to such Holder is not included therein because such Holder has not provided information to the Company in accordance with Section 3(a) or this Section 3(k).
(l) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, it shall not be a breach or violation of any obligation of the Company hereunder if the Company fails to take any action otherwise required hereunder because, in its reasonable determination, such action would require the Company to disclose material, non-public information that the Company has a bona fide business or legal reason for not disclosing regardless of whether the Company caused such material, non-public information to exist.
4. Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the Company whether or not 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 NASDAQ Global Market, NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Capital Market, the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, LLC, the OTC Bulletin Board, or the Pink OTC Markets Inc.,(as applicable, the Company’s “Trading Market”) on which the Common Stock is then listed for trading, and (B) in compliance with applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws reasonably agreed to by the Company in writing (including without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company in connection with Blue Sky qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities and determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Securities for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as requested in writing by the Holders), (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (v) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance, and (vi) 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 Trading Market as required hereunder. In no event shall the Company be responsible for any broker or similar commissions or, except to the extent provided for in the Transaction Documents, any legal fees or other costs of the Holders.
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5. Indemnification
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the officers, directors, agents, brokers (including brokers who offer and sell Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or any failure to perform under a margin call of Common Stock), investment advisors and employees of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) and expenses (collectively, “Losses”), as incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except to the extent, but only to the extent, that (i) such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, 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 expressly approved or was not objected to in writing by such Holder expressly for use in a Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (it being understood that each Holder has expressly approved Annex A hereto for this purpose) or (ii) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(c)(ii)-(vi), the use by such 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 the Advice contemplated in Section 6(d). The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement of which the Company is aware.
(b) Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless each other Holder, 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, to the extent arising out of or based solely upon: (x) such Holder’s failure to comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, or (y) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(c)(ii)-(vi), the use by such 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 the Advice contemplated in Section 6(d) or (z) 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 in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (i) to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information so furnished in writing by such Holder to the Company specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement or such Prospectus or (ii) to the extent that such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, 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 expressly approved or was not objected to in writing by such Holder expressly for use in a Registration Statement (it being understood that each Holder has expressly approved Annex A hereto for this purpose), such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto. 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 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 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 reasonably believe that a material 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 the reasonable fees and expenses of one separate counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, all reasonable fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within ten Trading Days following written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party; provided, that the Indemnified Party shall promptly reimburse the Indemnifying Party for that portion of such fees and expenses applicable to such actions for which such Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder, determined based upon the relative faults of the parties.
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(d) Contribution. If the indemnification under Section 5(a) or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold an Indemnified Party harmless for any Losses, then each Indemnifying Party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party, 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 this Agreement, 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 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, except in the case of fraud by such Holder.
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.
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) No Piggyback on Registrations. Neither the Company nor any of its security holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto) may include securities of the Company in the initial Registration Statement other than the Registrable Securities.
(c) Compliance. Each Holder covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to it in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.
(d) Discontinued Disposition. Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section 3(c), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement or until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as it practicable. The Company agrees and acknowledges that any periods during which the Holder is required to discontinue the disposition of the Registrable Securities hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2(b).
(e) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company and the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of all of the Registrable Securities to which such waiver or consent relates; provided, however, that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence.
(f) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be delivered as set forth in the Note.
(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 all of the Holders of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities except in the case of a merger (or similar transaction) in which case the surviving entity shall succeed to the rights and obligations of the Company. Each Holder may assign their respective rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted under the Note; provided, however; that at least $100,000 of Registerable Securities are assigned to an assignee who seeks to assert registration rights under this agreement.
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(h) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has entered, as of the date hereof, nor shall the Company or any of its subsidiaries, during the period beginning on or after the date of this Agreement and ending at the end of the Effectiveness Period, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities, that would have the effect of impairing the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has previously entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to any of its securities to any Person that have not been satisfied in full.
(i) Execution and Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission, such signature shall create a valid binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature were the original thereof.
(j) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be determined with the provisions of the Note.
(k) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(l) 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 commercially 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.
(m) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(n) Independent Nature of Holders’ Obligations and Rights. The obligations of each Holder hereunder are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Holder hereunder, and no Holder shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Holder hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Holder pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Holders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Holders are in any way acting in concert with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Holder 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 Holder to be joined as an additional party in any Proceeding for such purpose.
[Signature page to follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
Company:
a Nevada corporation
By: _________________________________________
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Its: Treasurer
Purchaser:
By: ___________________________
Name: ___________________________
Its: ___________________________
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ANNEX A
Plan of Distribution
We are registering the shares of common stock on behalf of the selling stockholders. A “selling stockholder” is a person named on page ___ and also includes any donee, pledgee, transferee, assignee, distributee or other successor-in-interest selling shares received after the date of this prospectus from a selling stockholder as a gift, pledge, partnership or limited liability company distribution or other non-sale related transfer. The selling stockholders may offer their shares of common stock at prevailing market prices, at prices related to the prevailing market prices, at negotiated prices or at fixed prices or in competitively bid transactions. Each selling stockholder reserves the right to accept or reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of shares, whether the purchase is to be made directly or through agents.
The selling stockholders may offer their shares of common stock at various times in one or more of the following transactions:
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in ordinary brokers’ transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers;
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purchases by a broker-dealer for its account pursuant to this prospectus;
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in transactions involving cross or block trades;
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in transactions “at the market” to or through market makers in the common stock or into an existing market for the common stock;
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in other ways not involving market makers or established trading markets, including direct sales of the shares to purchasers or sales of the shares effected through agents;
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through transactions in options, swaps or other derivatives which may or may not be listed on an exchange;
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in privately negotiated transactions;
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in transactions to cover short sales;
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in underwritten transactions; or
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in a combination of any of the foregoing transactions.
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The selling stockholders also may sell all or a portion of their shares in open market transactions in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act provided that they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of that rule.
From time to time, one or more of the selling stockholders may pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares owned by them. If the selling stockholders default in performance of their secured obligations, the pledges or secured parties may offer and sell the shares from time to time by this prospectus. The selling stockholders also may transfer and donate shares in other circumstances. The number of shares beneficially owned by selling stockholders will decrease as and when the selling stockholders transfer or donate their shares or default in performing obligations secured by their shares. The plan of distribution for the shares offered and sold under this prospectus will otherwise remain unchanged, except that the transferees, donees, pledges, other secured parties or other successors-in-interest will be selling stockholders for purposes of this prospectus.
The selling stockholders may sell short the common stock. The selling stockholders may deliver this prospectus in connection with such short sales and use the shares offered by this prospectus to cover such short sales.
The selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers in connection with distributions of the shares or otherwise. In such transactions, the broker-dealers may engage in short sales of the shares in the course of hedging the positions they assume with the selling stockholder, including positions assumed in connection with distributions of the shares by such broker-dealers. A selling stockholder also may enter into option or transactions with broker-dealers that involve the delivery of shares to the broker-dealers, who may then resell or otherwise transfer such shares. In addition, a selling stockholder may loan or pledge shares to a broker-dealer, which may sell the loaned shares or, upon a default by the selling stockholder of the secured obligation, may sell or otherwise transfer the pledged shares.
We have advised the selling stockholders that during such times as they may be engaged in a distribution of the shares, they are required to comply with Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act. With some exceptions, Regulation M prohibits any selling stockholder, any affiliated purchasers and other persons who participate in such a distribution from bidding for or purchasing, or attempting to induce any person to bid for or purchase, any security which is the subject of the distribution until the entire distribution is complete.
The selling stockholders may use broker-dealers to sell their shares of common stock. If this occurs, broker-dealers will either receive discounts or commission from the selling stockholders, or they will receive commissions from the purchasers of shares of common stock for whom they acted as agents. These brokers may act as dealers by purchasing any and all of the shares covered by this prospectus either as agents for others or as principals for their own accounts and reselling these securities under the prospectus.
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The selling stockholders and any broker-dealers or other persons acting on behalf of parties that participate in the distribution of the shares may be considered underwriters under the Securities Act. As such, any commissions or profits they receive on the resale of the shares may be considered underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Neither we nor any selling stockholders can presently estimate the amount of such compensation.
As of the date of this prospectus, we are not aware of any agreement, arrangement or understanding between any broker or dealer and any of the selling stockholders with respect to the offer or sale of the shares under this prospectus. If we become aware of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, to the extent required under the Securities Act, we will file a supplemental prospectus to disclose:
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the name of any the broker-dealers;
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the number of shares involved;
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the price at which the shares are to be sold;
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the number of shares involved;
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the price at which the shares are to be sold;
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the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to broker-dealers, where applicable;
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that the broker-dealers did not conduct any investigation to verify the information set out in this prospectus, as supplemented; and
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other facts material to the transaction.
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In addition, when we are notified by a selling stockholder that a donee, pledgee, transferee, assignee, distributee or other successor-in-interest intends to sell more than 500 shares of common stock, we will file a supplement to this prospectus.
Certain of the agreements with the selling stockholders contain reciprocal indemnification provisions between us and the selling stockholders to indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, which may be based upon, among other things, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact.
We have agreed to pay substantially all of the expenses incidental to the registration, offering and sale to the public of the shares of common stock covered by this prospectus, other than commissions, fees and discounts of underwriters, brokers, dealers and agents, if any.
It is possible that a significant number of shares could be sold at the same time. Such sales, or the perception that such sales could occur, may adversely affect prevailing market prices for the common stock.
This offering by any selling stockholder will terminate on the date on which the selling stockholder has sold all of such selling stockholder’s shares.
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Annex B
[___________]
Selling Securityholder Questionnaire
The undersigned beneficial owner of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), United American Petroleum Corp. (the “Company”), (the “Registrable Securities”) understands that the Company has filed or intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1 (the “Registration Statement”) for the registration and resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the Registrable Securities, in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 31, 2010 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), among the Company and the Purchasers named therein. A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement is available from the Company upon request at the address set forth below. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement.
Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling securityholder in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus. Accordingly, holders and beneficial owners of Registrable Securities are advised to consult their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being named as a selling securityholder in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus.
NOTICE
The undersigned beneficial owner (the “Selling Securityholder”) of Registrable Securities hereby elects have the resale of the Registrable Securities owned by it and listed below in Item 3 (unless otherwise specified under such Item 3) covered by the Registration Statement.
You must complete and return this questionnaire to the Company in order for your Registrable Securities to be included in the Registration Statement.
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The undersigned hereby provides the following information to the Company and represents and warrants that such information is accurate:
QUESTIONNAIRE
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1.
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Name.
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(a)
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Full Legal Name of Selling Securityholder
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________________________________________________________ | |
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(b)
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Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as (a) above) through which Registrable Securities Listed in Item 3 below are held:
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________________________________________________________ | |
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(c)
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Full Legal Name of Natural Control Person (which means a natural person who directly or indirectly alone or with others has power to vote or dispose of the securities covered by the questionnaire):
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________________________________________________________ | |
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2. Address for Notices to Selling Securityholder:
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Telephone: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Fax: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Email: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Contact Person: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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3. Beneficial Ownership of Registrable Securities:
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(a)
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Type and Number of Registrable Securities beneficially owned:
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_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | |
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | |
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | |
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4. Broker-Dealer Status:
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(a)
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Are you a broker-dealer?
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Yes o No o
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(b)
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If “yes” to Section 4(a), did you receive your Registrable Securities as compensation for investment banking services to the Company?
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Yes o No o
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Note:
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If no, the Commission’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.
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(c)
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Are you an affiliate of a broker-dealer?
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Yes o No o
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(d)
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If you are an affiliate of a broker-dealer, do you certify that you bought the Registrable Securities in the ordinary course of business, and at the time of the purchase of the Registrable Securities to be resold, you had no agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Registrable Securities?
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Yes o No o
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Note:
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If no, the Commission’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.
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5. Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company Owned by the Selling Securityholder.
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Except as set forth below in this Item 5, the undersigned is not the beneficial or registered owner of any securities of the Company other than the Registrable Securities listed above in Item 3.
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(a)
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Type and Amount of other securities of the Company beneficially owned by the Selling Securityholder:
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_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | |
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | |
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | |
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6. Relationships with the Company:
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Except as set forth below, neither the undersigned nor any of its affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (owners of 5% of more of the equity securities of the undersigned) has held any position or office or has had any other material relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or affiliates) during the past three years.
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State any exceptions here:
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_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | |
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | |
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | |
The undersigned agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies or changes in the information provided herein that may occur subsequent to the date hereof at any time while the Registration Statement remains effective.
By signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the information contained herein in its answers to Items 1 through 6 and the inclusion of such information in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto. The undersigned understands that such information will be relied upon by the Company in connection with the preparation or amendment of the Registration Statement and the related prospectus.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its duly authorized agent.
Dated: _____________________ Beneficial Owner: ________________________
By: ___________________________________
Name:
Title:
PLEASE FAX A COPY OF THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE, AND RETURN THE ORIGINAL BY OVERNIGHT MAIL, TO:
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