Exhibit 10.2
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
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This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
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entered into as of May 4, 2000, among Aquatic Cellulose International
Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the "Company"), and the investors signatory
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hereto (each such investor is a "Purchaser" and all such investors are,
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collectively, the "Purchasers").
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This Agreement is made pursuant to the Secured Convertible Debenture
Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof among the Company and the
Purchasers (the "Purchase Agreement").
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The Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions
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Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are
defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in
the Purchase Agreement. All references to $ (dollars) shall be to US$ (United
States dollars). As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that
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directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or under common control with
such Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control," when used with
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respect to any Person, means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms of "affiliated," "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings
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correlative to the foregoing.
"Business Day" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day which
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shall be a federal legal holiday in the United States or Canada or a day on
which banking institutions in the State of New York or the province of British
Columbia, Canada are authorized or required by law or other government actions
to close.
"Closing Date" shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase
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Agreement.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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"Common Stock" means the Company's common stock, $.001 par value, or
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such securities that such stock shall hereafter be reclassified into.
"Debentures" means the Company's 12% Secured Convertible Debentures in
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the aggregate principal amount of $1,500,000 issued to the Purchasers in
accordance with the Purchase Agreement.
"Effectiveness Date" means the 120/th/ day following the Closing Date.
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"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
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2(a).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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"Filing Date" means the 60/th/ day following the Closing Date.
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"Holder" or "Holders" means the holder or holders, as the case may be,
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from time to time, of Registrable Securities.
"Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
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"Indemnifying Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).
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"Losses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
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"Person" means an individual or a corporation, partnership, trust,
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incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability
company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or political subdivision
thereof) or other entity of any kind.
"Proceeding" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding
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(including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as
a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in the Registration
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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 the 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 the shares of Common Stock issuable
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upon conversion in full of the Debentures and exercise in full of the Warrants.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statement and any
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additional registration statements contemplated by Section 2(a), 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 144" means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
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the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
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"Rule 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
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the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Rule 424" means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
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the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
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rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Special Counsel" means one special counsel to the Holders, for which
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the Holders will be reimbursed by the Company pursuant to Section 4.
"Warrants" shall mean the Common Stock purchase warrants issued to the
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Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
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2. Shelf Registration
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(a) On or prior to the Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and
file with the Commission a "Shelf" Registration Statement covering the resale of
all Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a continuous basis
pursuant to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on Form S-1 (or such
other appropriate form as the Holders may consent for the registration of
Registrable Securities contemplated by this Agreement) and shall contain (except
if otherwise directed by the Holders) the "Plan of Distribution" attached hereto
as Annex A, and cause the Registration Statement to become effective and remain
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effective as provided herein. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause
the Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as
promptly as possible after the filing thereof, but in any event prior to the
Effectiveness Date, and shall use its best efforts to keep such Registration
Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the date which
is two years after the date that such Registration Statement is declared
effective by the Commission or such earlier date when all Registrable Securities
covered by such Registration Statement have been sold or may be sold without
volume restrictions pursuant to Rule 144(k) as determined by the counsel to the
Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and
acceptable to the Company's transfer agent and the affected Holders (the
"Effectiveness Period"), provided, that the Company shall not be deemed to have
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used its best efforts to keep the Registration Statement effective during the
Effectiveness Period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in the
Holders not being able to sell the Registrable Securities covered by such
Registration Statement during the Effectiveness Period, unless such action is
required under applicable law or the Company has filed a post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement and the Commission has not declared it
effective. Not later than ten days after the Company first meets the
registration eligibility and transaction requirements for the use of Form S-3
(or any successor form) for registration of the offer and sale by the Purchasers
of Registrable Securities, the Company shall file a Registration Statement on
Form S-3 (or any successor form) with respect to the Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement previously filed pursuant to this Section
2(a) or convert such previously filed Registration Statement pursuant to Rule
429 under the 1933 Act and use its best efforts to have such Registration
Statement (or such amendment) declared effective as soon as practicable
thereafter.
(b) The initial Registration Statement required to be filed hereunder
shall include (but not be limited to) a number of shares of Common Stock equal
to no less than the sum of (i) 200% of the number of shares of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion in full of the outstanding principal amount of the
Debentures, assuming all interest is paid in shares of Common Stock, that the
Debentures remain outstanding for one year, and that such conversion occurred at
a price equal to the lesser of (a) $0.60 and (b) 70% of the average of the
lowest three inter-day prices (which need not occur on consecutive Trading Days)
during the ten Trading Days immediately preceding the Closing Date and (ii) the
number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise in full of the Warrants.
(c) If (a) the initial Registration Statement is not filed on or
prior to the Filing Date (if the Company files such Registration Statement
without affording the Holder the opportunity to review and comment on the same
as required by Section 3(a) hereof, the Company shall not be deemed to have
satisfied this clause (a)), or (b) the Company fails to file with the
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Commission a request for acceleration in accordance with Rule 461 promulgated
under the Securities Act, within five days of the date that the Company is
notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that a
Registration Statement will not be "reviewed," or not subject to further review,
or (c) the initial Registration Statement filed hereunder is not declared
effective by the Commission on or prior to the Effectiveness Date, or (d) after
a Registration Statement is filed with and declared effective by the Commission,
such Registration Statement ceases to be effective as to all Registrable
Securities at any time prior to the expiration of the Effectiveness Period
without being succeeded within ten Business Days by an amendment to such
Registration Statement or by a subsequent Registration Statement filed with and
declared effective by the Commission, or (e) the Common Stock shall not be
quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board or shall be suspended or delisted from trading
on the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq National
Market or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market (each, a "Subsequent Market") for more than
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three days (which need not be consecutive days), or (f) the conversion rights of
the Holders pursuant to the Debentures are suspended for any reason, or (g) an
amendment to a Registration Statement is not filed by the Company with the
Commission within ten Business Days of the Commission's notifying the Company
that such amendment is required in order for such Registration Statement to be
declared effective (any such failure or breach being referred to as an "Event,"
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and for purposes of clauses (a), (c), (f) the date on which such Event occurs,
or for purposes of clause (b) the date on which such five day period is
exceeded, or for purposes of clauses (d) and (g) the date which such 10 Business
Day-period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause (e) the date on which such
three day-period is exceeded, being referred to as "Event Date"), then, on the
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Event Date and each monthly anniversary thereof, until the applicable Event is
cured, the Company shall pay to each Holder 2.0% of the purchase price paid by
such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, in cash or at the Holder's
option, in stock as liquidated damages and not as a penalty. If the Holder
elects to receive such liquidated damages in stock, then the number of shares
issuable to such Holder shall be determined based upon a price which is equal to
the average of the three lowest inter-day prices (as defined in the Debenture)
during the ten Trading Days immediately preceding the Event Date or the monthly
anniversary thereof. If the Company fails to pay any liquidated damages pursuant
to this Section in full within seven (7) days after the date payable, the
Company will pay interest thereon at a rate of 18% per annum (or such lesser
maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable law) to the Holder,
accruing daily from the date such liquidated damages first were incurred until
such amounts, plus all such interest thereon, are paid in full. The liquidated
damages pursuant to the terms hereof shall apply on a pro-rata basis for any
portion of a month prior to the cure of an Event.
3. Registration Procedures
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In connection with the Company's registration obligations hereunder,
the Company shall:
(a) Not less than five Business Days prior to the filing of the
Registration Statement or any related Prospectus (other than a Prospectus filed
pursuant to Rule 424) and not less than two Business Days prior to the filing of
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 the Holders and their Special Counsel copies of all such
documents
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proposed to be filed, which documents (other than those incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated by reference) will be subject to the review of such Holders
and their Special Counsel, 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 the Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any
amendments or supplements thereto to which the Holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities and their Special Counsel shall reasonably object.
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep the
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,
and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; (iii)
respond as promptly as reasonably possible, and in any event within ten Business
Days, to any comments received from the Commission with respect to the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and as promptly as reasonably
possible provide the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from
and to the Commission relating to the 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 the
Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the
intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in the
Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) File additional Registration Statements if the number of
Registrable Securities at any time exceeds 85% of the number of shares of Common
Stock then registered in a Registration Statement. The Company shall have twenty
days to file and ninety days to have declared effective such additional
Registration Statements after notice of such requirement which is given by the
Holders.
(d) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold and
their Special Counsel as promptly as reasonably possible (and, in the case of
(i)(A) below, not less than five Business Days prior to such filing) and (if
requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than one
Business Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is proposed
to be filed; (B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there will be
a "review" of such Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments
in writing on such Registration Statement (the Company shall provide true and
complete copies thereof and all written responses thereto to each of the
Holders); and (C) with respect to the 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 the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for
additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement covering any or
all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that
pur-
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pose; (iv) if at any time any of the representations and warranties of the
Company contained in any agreement contemplated hereby ceases to be true and
correct in all material respects; (v) of the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption
from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such
purpose; and (vi) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes
the financial statements included in the Registration Statement ineligible for
inclusion therein or any statement made in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by
reference untrue in any material respect or that requires any revisions to the
Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(e) Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued,
obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or
exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in
any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.
(f) Furnish to each Holder and their Special Counsel, without
charge, at least one conformed copy of each 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 the extent requested by such Person (including those previously furnished or
incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such documents with the
Commission.
(g) Promptly deliver to each Holder and their Special Counsel,
without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each
form of prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may
reasonably request. The Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus
and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders in
connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by
such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.
(h) Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its
best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders and
their Special Counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or
exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable
Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder requests in writing, to
keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective
during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or things
necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the
Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement; provided, that the
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Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any
jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or subject the Company to any
material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(i) Cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation
and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered
to a transferee pursuant to a
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Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free, to the extent
permitted by the Purchase Agreement, of all restrictive legends, and to enable
such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such
names as any such Holders may request.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section
3(d)(vi), as promptly as reasonably possible, prepare a supplement or amendment,
including a post-effective amendment, to the Registration Statement or a
supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so
that, as thereafter delivered, neither the Registration Statement nor such
Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
(k) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission.
4. Registration Expenses. All fees and expenses incident to the
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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
the Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing
sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees
(including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings
required to be made with any Subsequent Market on which the Common Stock is then
listed for trading, and (B) in compliance with state securities or Blue Sky laws
(including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Holders 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 the Holders of
a majority of Registrable Securities may designate)), (ii) printing expenses
(including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for
Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses if the printing of
prospectuses is requested by the holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities included in the Registration Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone
and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company
and Special Counsel for the Holders, (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 securities exchange as required hereunder.
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5. Indemnification
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(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall,
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notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless
each Holder, the officers, directors, agents, brokers (including brokers who
offer and sell Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or
any failure to perform under a margin call of Common Stock), investment advisors
and employees of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act) and the officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling
Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any
and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without
limitation, costs of preparation and attorneys' fees) and expenses
(collectively, "Losses"), as incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue
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or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or 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 (1) 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
in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such
Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or (2) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section
3(d)(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(e). The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of
the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding of which the Company is
aware in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall, severally and not
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jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers,
agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the
directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses (as
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment not subject
to appeal or review) arising solely out of or based solely upon any untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any
Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement
thereto, or arising solely out of or based solely upon any omission of a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading 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 the Registration
Statement or such Prospectus or to the extent that (1) 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
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reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in
the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or (2) in the case of an occurrence of an event
of the type specified in Section 3(d)(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(e). 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
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be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an
"Indemnified Party"), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person
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from whom indemnity is sought (the "Indemnifying Party") in writing, and the
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Indemnifying Party shall 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 proximately and materially
adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.
An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel
in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party
or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such
fees and expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to
assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named
parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both
such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party
shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to
exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the
Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the
Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the
expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the
right to assume the defense thereof and such counsel shall be at the expense of
the Indemnifying Party). 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.
All fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable
fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with investigating or
preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this
Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within ten
Business Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party (regardless of
whether it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified Party is not entitled to
indemnifica-
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tion hereunder; provided, that the Indemnifying Party may require such
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Indemnified Party to undertake to reimburse all such fees and expenses to the
extent it is finally judicially determined that such Indemnified Party is not
entitled to indemnification hereunder).
(d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under Section 5(a)
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or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party (by reason of public policy or
otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such
Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and
Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that
resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question,
including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission
or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to
information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or
payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject
to the limitations set forth in Section 5(c), any reasonable attorneys' or other
reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any
Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or
expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section was available to
such party in accordance with its terms.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata
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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. No Person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.
The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section
are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the
Indemnified Parties.
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6. Miscellaneous
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(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a
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Holder,of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the
Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all
rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages,
will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The
Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate
compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the
provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any
action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the
defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any of its
--------------------------
subsidiaries has entered, as of the date hereof, nor shall the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any
agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights
granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the
provisions hereof. Except as and to the extent specified in Schedule 6(b)
-------------
hereto, 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.
(c) No Piggyback on Registrations. Except as and to the extent
-----------------------------
specified in Schedule 6(b) hereto, 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 Registration Statement other than the
Registrable Securities, and the Company shall not after the date hereof enter
into any agreement providing any such right to any of its security holders.
(d) 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 the
Registration Statement.
(e) Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock. 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
requested by the Commission, the controlling person thereof.
(f) 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 Sections 3(d)(ii),
3(d)(iii), 3(d)(iv), 3(d)(v) or 3(d)(vi), such Holder will forthwith discontinue
disposition of such Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement
until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or
amended Registration Statement contemplated by Section 3(j), or until it is
advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the applicable
------
Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any
additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement. The
Company may provide appropriate stop orders to enforce the provisions of this
paragraph.
12
(g) Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time during the
------------------------
Effectiveness Period there is not an effective Registration Statement covering
all of the Registrable Securities and the Company shall determine to prepare and
file with the Commission a registration statement relating to an offering for
its own account or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its
equity securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under
the Securities Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to
be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or
equity securities issuable in connection with stock option or other employee
benefit plans, then the Company shall send to each Holder written notice of such
determination and, if within fifteen days after receipt of such notice, any such
Holder shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such
registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such
holder requests to be registered.
(h) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement,
----------------------
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company
and the Holders of at least two-thirds 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 at least a majority 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.
(i) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or
-------
deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified in this Section prior to 6:30 p.m. (New
York City time) on a Business Day, (ii) the Business Day after the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified in the Purchase Agreement later than 6:30
p.m. (New York City time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m. (New York City
time) on such date, (iii) the Business Day following the date of mailing, if
sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual
receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address
for such notices and communications shall be as follows:
If to the Company: Aquatic Cellulose International Corporation
0000 00/xx/ Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxxx VIT 5N6
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
With copies to: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
00000 Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
13
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
If to a Purchaser: To the address set forth under such Purchaser's name on
the signature pages hereto.
If to any other Person who is then the registered Holder:
To the address of such Holder as it appears in the
stock transfer books of the Company
or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same
manner, by such Person.
(j) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the
----------------------
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of
the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company may not
assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of
each Holder. Each Holder may assign their respective rights hereunder in the
manner and to the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
(k) 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.
(l) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction,
-------------
validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by
and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of
New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each
party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and
federal courts sitting in the City of New York, borough of Manhattan, for the
adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any
transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably
waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim
that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that
such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably
waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any
such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the
address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such
service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice
thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right
to serve process in any manner permitted by law.
(m) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative
-------------------
and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
14
(n) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
------------
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties
hereto shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative
means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated
by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and
declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the
remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of
such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(o) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
--------
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(p) Shares Held by the Company and its Affiliates. Whenever the
---------------------------------------------
consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable
Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or
its Affiliates (other than any Holder or transferees or successors or assigns
thereof if such Holder is deemed to be an Affiliate solely by reason of its
holdings of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in determining
whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required
percentage.
(q) Independent Nature of Purchasers' Obligations and Rights. The
--------------------------------------------------------
obligations of each Purchaser hereunder is several and not joint with the
obligations of any other Purchaser hereunder, and no Purchaser shall be
responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other
Purchaser hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or
document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant
hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a
partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or
create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert with
respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Each Purchaser shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights, including
without limitation the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be
necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any
proceeding for such purpose.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW]
15
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement as of the date first written above.
AQUATIC CELLULOSE
INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
By:_________________________________
Name:
Title:
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE PAGES OF PURCHASER TO FOLLOW]
16
AJW PARTNERS, LLC
By: SMS Group, LLC
By:____________________________________
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title:
Address for Notice:
AJW Partners, LLC
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx X
Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
With copies to:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000 and (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
17
NEW MILLENNIUM CAPITAL PARTNERS II, LLC
By: First Street Manager II, LLC
By____________________________________
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title:
Address for Notice:
New Millennium Capital Partners II, LLC
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx X
Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
With copies to:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000 and (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
18
Annex A
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Plan of Distribution
--------------------
The Selling Stockholders and any of their pledgees, assignees and
successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their shares
of Common Stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the
shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or
negotiated prices. The Selling Stockholders may use any one or more of the
following methods when selling shares:
. ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer
solicits purchasers;
. block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as
agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to
facilitate the transaction;
. purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer
for its account;
. an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
exchange;
. privately negotiated transactions;
. Short Sales;
. broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a specified
number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
. a combination of any such methods of sale; and
. any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
The Selling Stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the
Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.
The Selling Stockholders may also engage in short sales against the box,
puts and calls and other transactions in securities of the Company or
derivatives of Company securities and may sell or deliver shares in connection
with these trades. The Selling Stockholders may pledge their shares to their
brokers under the margin provisions of customer agreements. If a Selling
Stockholder defaults on a margin loan, the broker may, from time to time, offer
and sell the pledged shares.
Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other
brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions
or discounts from the Selling
Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of
shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated. The Selling
Stockholders do not expect these commissions and discounts to exceed what is
customary in the types of transactions involved.
The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved
in selling the shares may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of
the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions
received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the
shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or
discounts under the Securities Act.
The Company is required to pay all fees and expenses incident to the
registration of the shares, including fees and disbursements of counsel to the
Selling Stockholders. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling
Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act.
