Exhibit 10.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made
and entered into as of December 21, 2006, among EpiCept Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and the several purchasers signatory hereto (each
such purchaser is a "Purchaser" and collectively, the "Purchasers").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Securities Purchase
Agreement, dated as of the date hereof between the Company and each Purchaser
(the "Purchase Agreement").
The Company and each Purchaser hereby agrees as follows:
1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein
that are defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such
terms in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms
shall have the following meanings:
"Advice" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d).
"Effectiveness Date" means, with respect to the initial
Registration Statement required to be filed hereunder, the 90th
calendar day following the date hereof (the 120th calendar day in the
case of a "full review" by the Commission) and, with respect to any
additional Registration Statements which may be required pursuant to
Section 3(c), the 120th calendar day following the date on which the
Company first knows, or reasonably should have known, that such
additional Registration Statement is required hereunder; provided,
however, in the event the Company is notified by the Commission that
one of the above Registration Statements will not be reviewed or is no
longer subject to further review and comments, the Effectiveness Date
as to such Registration Statement shall be the fifth Trading Day
following the date on which the Company is so notified if such date
precedes the dates required above.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2(a).
"Event" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
"Event Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).
"Filing Date" means, with respect to the initial Registration
Statement required hereunder, the 45th calendar day following the date
hereof and, with respect to any additional Registration Statements
which may be required pursuant to Section 3(c), the 30th day following
the date on which the Company first knows, or reasonably should have
known that such additional Registration Statement is required
hereunder.
"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).
"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,
(ii) the Warrant Shares issuable, (iii) any additional shares issuable
in connection with any anti-dilution provisions in the Warrants
(without giving effect to any limitations on exercise set forth in the
Warrant) and (iv) any 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 and any additional registration
statements contemplated by Section 3(c), 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 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 Shareholder Questionnaire" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 3(a).
2. Shelf Registration.
(a) On or prior to each Filing Date, the Company shall prepare
and file with the Commission a "Shelf" Registration Statement covering
the resale of 100% of the Registrable Securities on such Filing Date
for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415.
The Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 (except if the Company
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is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities
on Form S-3, in which case such registration shall be on another
appropriate form in accordance herewith) and shall contain (unless
otherwise directed by at least an 85% majority in interest of the
Holders) substantially the "Plan of Distribution" attached hereto as
Annex A. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall use
its commercially reasonable best efforts to cause a 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
applicable Effectiveness Date, and shall use its best efforts to keep
such Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities
Act until 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"). The Company shall telephonically request
effectiveness of a Registration Statement as of 5:00 pm Eastern Time on
a Trading Day. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders via
facsimile of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement on the same
Trading Day that the Company telephonically confirms effectiveness with
the Commission, which shall be the date requested for effectiveness of
a Registration Statement. The Company shall, by 9:30 am Eastern Time on
the Trading Day after the Effective Date (as defined in the Purchase
Agreement), file a final Prospectus with the Commission as required by
Rule 424. Failure to so notify the Holder within 1 Trading Day of such
notification or effectiveness or failure to file a final Prospectus as
aforesaid shall be deemed an Event under Section 2(b).
(b) If: (i) a Registration Statement is not filed on or prior
to its Filing Date (if the Company files a Registration Statement
without affording the Holders the opportunity to review and comment on
the same as required by Section 3(a), the Company shall not be deemed
to have satisfied this clause (i)), or (ii) the Company fails to file
with the Commission a request for acceleration in accordance with Rule
461 promulgated under the Securities Act, within five Trading Days of
the date that the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever
is earlier) by the Commission that a Registration Statement will not be
"reviewed," or not subject to further review, or (iii) prior to its
Effectiveness Date, the Company fails to file a pre-effective amendment
and otherwise respond in writing to comments made by the Commission in
respect of such Registration Statement within 10 calendar days after
the receipt of comments by or notice from the Commission that such
amendment is required in order for a Registration Statement to be
declared effective, or (iv) a Registration Statement filed or required
to be filed hereunder is not declared effective by the Commission by
its Effectiveness Date, or (v) after the Effectiveness Date, a
Registration Statement ceases for any reason to remain continuously
effective as to all Registrable Securities for which it is required to
be effective, or the Holders are otherwise not permitted to utilize the
Prospectus therein to resell such Registrable Securities for more than
30 consecutive calendar days or more than an aggregate of 40 calendar
days during any 12-month period (which need not be consecutive calendar
days) (any such failure or breach being referred to as an "Event", and
for purposes of clause (i) or (iv) the date on which such Event occurs,
or for purposes of clause (ii) the date on which such five (5) Trading
Day period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause (iii) the date which
such ten (10) calendar day period is exceeded, or for purposes of
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clause (v) the date on which such 30 or 40 calendar day period, as
applicable, is exceeded being referred to as "Event Date"), then in
addition to any other rights the Holders may have hereunder or under
applicable law, on each such Event Date and on each monthly anniversary
of each such Event Date (if the applicable Event shall not have been
cured by such date) until the applicable Event is cured, the Company
shall pay to each Holder an amount in cash, as partial liquidated
damages and not as a penalty, equal to 1.5% of the aggregate purchase
price paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for any
Registrable Securities then held by such Holder. The parties agree that
(1) the Company shall not be liable for liquidated damages under this
Agreement with respect to any Warrants or Warrant Shares and (2) the
maximum aggregate liquidated damages payable to a Holder under this
Agreement shall be twenty-four percent (24%) of the aggregate
Subscription Amount paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement. If the Company fails to pay any partial liquidated damages
pursuant to this Section in full within seven days after the date
payable, the Company will pay interest thereon at a rate of 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
partial liquidated damages are due until such amounts, plus all such
interest thereon, are paid in full. The partial liquidated damages
pursuant to the terms hereof shall apply on a daily pro-rata basis for
any portion of a month prior to the cure of an Event.
3. Registration Procedures
In connection with the Company's registration obligations
hereunder, the Company shall:
(a) Not less than five (5) Trading Days prior to the filing of
each Registration Statement and not less than one (1) Trading Day prior
to the filing of 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 all such documents proposed to be filed, which
documents (other than those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
by reference) will be subject to the reasonable and prompt 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 each Holder to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning
of the Securities Act. The Company shall not file a Registration
Statement or any such Prospectus or any amendments or supplements
thereto to which the Holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities shall reasonably object in good faith; provided that, the
Company is notified of such objection in writing no later than five (5)
Trading Days after the Holders have been so furnished copies of a
Registration Statement or one (1) Trading Day after the Holders have
been so furnished copies of any related Prospectus or amendment or
supplement thereto. Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Company a
completed Questionnaire in the form attached to this Agreement as Annex
B (a "Selling Shareholder Questionnaire") not less than two (2) Trading
Days prior to the Filing Date or by the end of the fourth (4th) Trading
Day following the date on which such Holder receives draft materials in
accordance with this Section.
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(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 as promptly as
reasonably possible provide the Holders true and complete copies of all
correspondence from and to the Commission relating to a Registration
Statement (provided that the Company may excise any information
contained therein which would constitute material non-public
information as to any Holder which has not executed a confidentiality
agreement with the Company); and (iv) comply in all material respects
with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with
respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by 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) If during the Effectiveness Period, the number of
Registrable Securities at any time exceeds the number of shares of
Common Stock then registered in a Registration Statement, then the
Company shall file as soon as reasonably practicable but in any case
prior to the applicable Filing Date, an additional Registration
Statement covering the resale by the Holders of not less than 130% of
the number of such Registrable Securities.
(d) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold
(which notice shall, pursuant to clauses (iii) 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, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than one (1)
Trading Day prior to such filing) and (if requested by any such Person)
confirm such notice in writing no later than one Trading Day following
the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement is proposed to be
filed; (B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there will
be a "review" of such Registration Statement and whenever the
Commission comments in writing on 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
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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 remain confidential
to 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.
(e) Use its commercially reasonable best 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.
(f) Furnish to each Holder, without charge, 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 to the
extent requested by such Person, 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) 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 selling 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 of any
notice pursuant to Section 3(d).
(h) The Company shall effect a filing with respect to the
public offering contemplated by the Registration Statement (an "Issuer
Filing") with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
("NASD") Corporate Financing Department pursuant to NASD Rule
2710(b)(10)(A)(i) within one Trading Day of the date that the
Registration Statement is first filed with the Commission and pay the
filing fee required by such Issuer Filing. The Company shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to pursue the Issuer Filing until the
NASD issues a letter confirming that it does not object to the terms of
the offering contemplated by the Registration Statement. A copy of the
Issuer Filing and all related correspondence with respect thereto shall
be provided to FWS.
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(i) 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.
(j) If requested by the Holders, cooperate with the Holders to
facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates
representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee
pursuant to a 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.
(k) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section
3(d)(iii) through (vi), 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 (iii)
through (vi) of Section 3(d) 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 best 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(k) to
suspend the availability of a Registration Statement and Prospectus,
subject to the payment of partial liquidated damages pursuant to
Section 2(b), for a period not to exceed 60 calendar days (which need
not be consecutive days) in any 12 month period.
(l) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission.
(m) The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to
the Company a certified statement as to the number of shares of Common
Stock beneficially owned by such Holder and, if required by the
Commission, the natural persons thereof that have voting and
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dispositive control over the Shares. During any periods that the
Company is unable to meet its obligations hereunder with respect to the
registration of the Registrable Securities solely because any Holder
fails to furnish such information within three (3) Trading Days of the
Company's request, any liquidated damages that are accruing at such
time as to such Holder only shall be tolled and any Event that may
otherwise occur solely because of such delay shall be suspended as to
such Holder only, until such information is delivered to the Company.
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 any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is
then listed for trading, (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 (C) if
not previously paid by the Company in connection with an Issuer Filing, with
respect to any filing that may be required to be made by any broker through
which a Holder intends to make sales of Registrable Securities with NASD
Regulation, Inc. pursuant to the NASD Rule 2710, so long as the broker is
receiving no more than a customary brokerage commission in connection with such
sale, (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of
printing certificates for Registrable Securities, (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 securities exchange as
required hereunder. In no event shall the Company be responsible for any broker
or similar commissions of any Holder or, except to the extent provided for in
the Transaction Documents, any legal fees or other costs of the Holders.
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, members, partners,
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 (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of
a Person holding such titles, notwithstanding a lack of such title or
any other title) 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, members,
shareholders, partners, agents and employees (and any other Persons
with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles,
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notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title)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 (1) 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, or (2) any
violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act,
Exchange Act or any state securities law, or any rule or regulation
thereunder, in connection with the performance of its obligations under
this Agreement provided, however, that the Company will not be liable
in any such case to the extent that any Losses arise out of or are
based upon (i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission in the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto made in reliance upon
and in conformity with information regarding the Holder demanding such
indemnification furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder
expressly for use therein or to the extent that such information
relates to 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 a Registration Statement, such Prospectus
or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
(it being understood that the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for
this purpose) or (ii) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the
type specified in Section 3(d)(iii)-(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 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) 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
information relates to such Holder's proposed method of distribution of
Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in
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writing by such Holder expressly for use in a Registration Statement
(it being understood that the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for
this purpose), such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or (iii) in the case of an occurrence
of an event of the type specified in Section 3(d)(iii)-(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). 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 counsel to the 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 no more than 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 or
delayed. 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
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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 of 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
judicially determined to be not entitled to indemnification hereunder.
(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 fees or expenses incurred by such party in
connection with any Proceeding to the extent such party would have been
indemnified for such fees or expenses if the indemnification provided
for in this Section was available to such party in accordance with its
terms.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined
by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does
not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the
immediately preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 5(d), no Holder shall be required to contribute, in the
aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds
actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable
Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages
that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission,
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 respective 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
11
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 not assert or shall waive the defense that a remedy at
law would be adequate.
(b) No Piggyback on Registrations. Except as set forth on
Schedule 6(b) attached 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 initial
Registration Statement other than the Registrable Securities. The
Company shall not file any other registration statements until the
initial Registration Statement required hereunder is declared effective
by the Commission, provided that this Section 6(b) shall not prohibit
the Company from filing amendments to registration statements already
filed.
(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 Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice
from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described
in Section 3(d), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of
such Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement until it is
advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the
applicable Prospectus (as it may have been supplemented or amended) may
be resumed. The Company will use its best 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) 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 the stock
option or other employee benefit plans, then the Company shall send to
each Holder a written notice of such determination and, if within
fifteen (15) days after the date 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; provided, however, that, the Company shall
not be required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to this
Section 6(e) that are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144(k)
promulgated under the Securities Act or that are the subject of a then
effective Registration Statement.
12
(f) 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 each Holder 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.
(g) 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 Purchase Agreement.
(h) 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 (except by merger) or obligations
hereunder without the prior written consent of all of the Holders of
the then-outstanding Registrable Securities. Each Holder may assign
their respective rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as
permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
(i) 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 would have the effect of impairing the rights granted to the
Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions
hereof. Except as set forth on Schedule 6(i), 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.
(j) Execution and Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed
in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be
considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when
counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other
party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same
counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile
transmission or by e-mail delivery of a ".pdf" format data file, such
signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party
executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same
force and effect as if such facsimile or ".pdf" signature page were an
original thereof.
(k) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction,
validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be
determined in accordance with the provisions of the Purchase Agreement.
13
(l) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are
cumulative and not exclusive of any other remedies provided by law.
(m) 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.
(n) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for
convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement, and shall
not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.
(o) 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.
*************************
14
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this
Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
EPICEPT CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
Title: Chief Financial Officer
[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS FOLLOWS]
[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS TO EPCT RRA]
Name of Holder: __________________________
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Holder: __________________________
Name of Authorized Signatory: _________________________
Title of Authorized Signatory: __________________________
[SIGNATURE PAGES CONTINUE]
ANNEX A
Plan of Distribution
--------------------
Each Selling Stockholder (the "Selling Stockholders") of the common
stock 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 the Nasdaq
National Market or any other 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. A Selling Stockholder may use any one or more of the
following methods when selling shares:
o ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the
broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
o 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;
o purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the
broker-dealer for its account;
o an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the
applicable exchange;
o privately negotiated transactions;
o settlement of short sales entered into after the effective
date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is
a part;
o broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell
a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per
share;
o through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging
transactions, whether through an options exchange or
otherwise;
o a combination of any such methods of sale; or
o any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
The Selling Stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), if available, rather
than under this prospectus.
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, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this Prospectus, in the
case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission
in compliance with NASDR Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a
markup or markdown in compliance with NASDR IM-2440.
In connection with the sale of the common stock or interests therein,
the Selling Stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers
or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the
Common Stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The Selling
Stockholders may also sell shares of the common stock short and deliver these
securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the common
stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The Selling
Stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with
broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more
derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other
financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such
broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this
prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).
The Selling 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. Each Selling Stockholder has
informed the Company that it does not have any written or oral agreement or
understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Common
Stock. In no event shall any broker-dealer receive fees, commissions and markups
which, in the aggregate, would exceed eight percent (8%).
The Company is required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by
the Company incident to the registration of the shares. The Company has agreed
to indemnify the Selling Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages
and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
Because Selling Stockholders may be deemed to be "underwriters" within
the meaning of the Securities Act, they will be subject to the prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act including Rule 172 thereunder. In
addition, any securities covered by this prospectus which qualify for sale
pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather
than under this prospectus. There is no underwriter or coordinating broker
acting in connection with the proposed sale of the resale shares by the Selling
Stockholders.
We agreed to keep this prospectus effective until the earlier of (i)
the date on which the shares may be resold by the Selling Stockholders without
registration and without regard to any volume limitations by reason of Rule
144(k) under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect or (ii) all
of the shares have been sold pursuant to this prospectus or Rule 144 under the
Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect. The resale shares will be
sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under
applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the resale
shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in
the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification
requirement is available and is complied with.
Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any
person engaged in the distribution of the resale shares may not simultaneously
engage in market making activities with respect to the common stock for the
applicable restricted period, as defined in Regulation M, prior to the
2
commencement of the distribution. In addition, the Selling Stockholders will be
subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of
purchases and sales of shares of the common stock by the Selling Stockholders or
any other person. We will make copies of this prospectus available to the
Selling Stockholders and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of
this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including
by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).
3
ANNEX B
EPICEPT CORPORATION
SELLING SECURITYHOLDER NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE
The undersigned beneficial owner of common stock, par value $0.0001 per
share (the "Common Stock"), of EpiCept Corporation, a Delaware corporation (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-3 (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 21, 2006 (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 to include the Registrable Securities owned
by it and listed below in Item 3 (unless otherwise specified under such Item 3)
in the Registration Statement.
The undersigned hereby provides the following information to the Company and
represents and warrants that such information is accurate:
QUESTIONNAIRE
1. NAME.
(a) Full Legal Name of Selling Securityholder
--------------------------------------------------------------
(b) Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as (a)
above) through which Registrable Securities Listed in Item 3
below are held:
--------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Full Legal Name of Natural Control Person (which means a
natural person who directly or indirectly alone or with others
has power to vote or dispose of the securities covered by the
questionnaire):
--------------------------------------------------------------
2. ADDRESS FOR NOTICES TO SELLING SECURITYHOLDER:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fax:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact Person:
----------------------------------------------------------------
3. BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF REGISTRABLE SECURITIES:
(a) Type and Number of Registrable Securities beneficially owned
(not including the Registrable Securities that are issuable
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement):
--------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
2
4. BROKER-DEALER STATUS:7
(a) Are you a broker-dealer?
Yes [ ] No [ ]
(b) If "yes" to Section 4(a), did you receive your Registrable
Securities as compensation for investment banking services to
the Company.
Yes [ ] No [ ]
Note: If no, the Commission's staff has indicated that you should
be identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.
(c) Are you an affiliate of a broker-dealer?
Yes [ ] No [ ]
(d) If you are an affiliate of a broker-dealer, do you certify
that you 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?
Yes [ ] No [ ]
Note: If no, the Commission's staff has indicated that you should
be identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.
5. BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF OTHER SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY OWNED BY THE SELLING
SECURITYHOLDER.
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.
(a) Type and Amount of Other Securities beneficially owned by the
Selling Securityholder:
--------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
3
6. RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMPANY:
Except as set forth below, neither the undersigned nor any of its
affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (owners of
5% of more of the equity securities of the undersigned) has held any
position or office or has had any other material relationship with the
Company (or its predecessors or affiliates) during the past three
years.
State any exceptions here:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The undersigned agrees to promptly notify the Company of any
inaccuracies or changes in the information provided herein that may occur
subsequent to the date hereof at any time while the Registration Statement
remains effective.
By signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the
information contained herein in its answers to Items 1 through 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:
4
