REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered
into as of February 1, 2006, among Baseline Oil & Gas Corp., a Nevada
corporation (the "Company"), and the purchasers signatory hereto (each such
purchaser is a "Purchaser" and all such purchasers are, collectively, the
"Purchasers").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as
of _______________, 2006 among the Company and the Purchasers (the "Purchase
Agreement").
The Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are
defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in
the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the 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 120th calendar day following the
date hereof 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 SEC 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 tenth 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 60th calendar day following the final Closing
Date under the Purchase Agreement, with respect to any additional Registration
Statements which may be required pursuant to Section 3(c), the 15th 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).
"Proceeding" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or
proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial
proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.
"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in a Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the
Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with
respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable
Securities covered by a Registration Statement, and all other amendments and
supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all
material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in
such Prospectus.
"Registrable Securities" means (i) all of the shares of common stock
sold pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement; (ii) all Warrant Shares,
and (iii) any securities 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 SEC 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 SEC having substantially the same
purpose and effect as such Rule.
"Rule 424" means Rule 424 promulgated by the SEC 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 SEC having substantially the same
purpose and effect as such Rule.
2. Registration.
(a) On or prior to each Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and
file with the SEC a 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 SB-2 (except if the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the
Registrable Securities on Form SB-2, in which case such registration shall be on
another appropriate form in accordance herewith) and shall contain (unless
otherwise directed by the Holders) substantially the "Plan of Distribution"
attached hereto as Annex A. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company
shall use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared
effective under the Securities Act 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, but in any event not to exceed five years from the date hereof (the
"Effectiveness Period"). The Company shall immediately notify the Holders via
facsimile of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement on the same day
that the Company receives notification of the effectiveness from the SEC.
Failure to so notify the Holder within five Trading Days of such notification
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 SEC a request for acceleration in
accordance with Rule 461 promulgated under the Securities Act, within ten
Trading Days of the date that the Company is notified (orally or in writing,
whichever is earlier) by the SEC 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 SEC in respect of such
Registration Statement within 15 calendar days after the receipt of comments by
or notice from the SEC 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 SEC 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
unless approved by Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities, the
Holders are not permitted to utilize the Prospectus therein to resell such
Registrable Securities for more than 15 consecutive calendar days but no more
than an aggregate of 25 calendar days during any 12-month period (which need not
be consecutive calendar days; provided that such number of days shall not
include the 15 calendar days following the filing of any Form 8-K, Form 10-QSB
or Form 10-KSB, or other comparable form, for purposes of filing a
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement) (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 ten Trading Day period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause (iii)
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the date which such 15 calendar day period is exceeded, or for purposes of
clause (v) the date on which such 15 or 25 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, at its election, deliver to each Holder
either (i) cash or (ii) an amount of additional shares of the Company's common
stock, in either case having a market value equal to one percent of the amount
the Purchaser invested and an equal value of cash or shares of the Company's
common stock, as the case may be for each 30-day period thereafter until the
Effective Date, the cure of an Event or until the Registrable Securities may be
sold by the Purchaser, as full liquidated damages and not as a penalty. If the
Company fails to pay cash or issue any additional shares damages pursuant to
this Section, a further additional amount of cash or shares of the Company's
common stock in an amount equal to two percent of the amount the Purchaser
invested shall be due to Purchaser. The 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 three Trading Days prior to the filing of each
Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto, the Company shall, (i) furnish to each Holder copies of all such
documents proposed to be filed, 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 shall reasonably object in good faith, provided that, the
Company is notified of such objection in writing no later than 3 Trading Days
after the Holders have been so furnished copies of such documents. Each Holder
agrees to furnish to the Company a completed Questionnaire in the form attached
to this Agreement as Annex B (a "Selling Holder Questionnaire") not less than
two Trading Days prior to the Filing Date or by the end of the second Trading
Day following the date on which such Holder receives draft materials in
accordance with this Section.
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the SEC 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 SEC 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 SEC with respect to a Registration Statement or any amendment
thereto; and (iv) comply in all material respects with the provisions of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act applicable to the Company 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 90% of the number of shares of the Company's
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 100% of the number of such Registrable Securities.
(d) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold (which
notice shall, pursuant to clauses (ii) through (vi) hereof, be accompanied by an
instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes
have been made) as promptly as reasonably possible (and, in the case of (i)(A)
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below, not less than five Trading Days prior to such filing) and 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 SEC notifies the
Company whether there will be a "review" of such Registration Statement and
whenever the SEC 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 SEC 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 SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority of any
stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement covering any
or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for
that purpose; (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification
of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the
initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such purpose; (v) of the
occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes the financial statements
included in a Registration Statement ineligible for inclusion therein or any
statement made in a Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any
material respect or that requires any revisions to a Registration Statement,
Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of a Registration Statement
or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (vi) the
occurrence or existence of any pending corporate development with respect to the
Company that the Company in good faith believes may be material and that, in the
reasonable determination of the Company, makes it not in the best interest of
the Company to allow continued availability of the 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 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 SEC.
(g) Promptly deliver to each Holder, without charge, as many copies
of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each
amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request in
connection with resales by the Holder of Registrable Securities. 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 on any notice pursuant to Section 3(d).
(h) Prior to any resale of Registrable Securities by a Holder, use
its reasonable best 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.
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(i) 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 and applicable law, of all restrictive
legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations
and registered in such names as any such Holders may request.
(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by this Section 3,
as promptly as reasonably possible under the circumstances taking into account
the Company's good faith assessment of any adverse consequences to the Company
and its stockholders of the premature disclosure of such event, prepare a
supplement or amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to a Registration
Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required
document so that, as thereafter delivered, neither a Registration Statement nor
such Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading. If the Company notifies the Holders in accordance with clauses
(ii) through (vi) of Section 3(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. Subject to the other provisions hereof,
the Company will use its 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(j) 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 25
calendar days (which need not be consecutive days) in any 12 month period.
(k) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC in
all material respects.
(l) The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the
Company a certified statement as to the number of shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned by such Holder and, if required by the SEC, the person
thereof that has voting and 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 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 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
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 the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then
listed for trading, and (B) in compliance with applicable state securities or
Blue Sky laws reasonably agreed to by the Company in writing (including, without
limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company in connection with
Blue Sky qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities and
determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Securities for investment
under the laws of such jurisdictions as requested by the Holders), (ii) printing
expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for
Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses if the printing of
prospectuses is reasonably requested by the holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement), (iii) messenger,
telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Company, (v) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such
insurance, and (vi) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the
Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement. In addition, the Company shall be responsible for all of its
internal expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation, all
salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or
accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit and the fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any
securities exchange as required hereunder. In no event shall the Company be
responsible for any broker or similar commissions or, except to the extent
provided for in the Transaction Documents, any legal fees or other costs of the
Holders.
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5. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless
each Holder, the officers, directors, agents, brokers (including brokers who
offer and sell Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or
any failure to perform under a margin call of Common Stock), investment advisors
and employees of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act) and the officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling
Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any
and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without
limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees) and expenses (collectively, "Losses"),
as incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement, any
Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto
or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission
or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form
of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made) not misleading, except to the extent, but only to the extent,
that (i) such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information
regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder
expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such information relates to
such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of distribution of Registrable
Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved 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)(ii)-(vi), the
use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has
notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and
prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 6(d).
The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or
assertion of any Proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement of which the Company is aware.
(b) Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall, severally and not
jointly, indemnify and hold harmless 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 (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 (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 (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(d). In no event shall the liability of
any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the
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 to the extent that such failure shall have
prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.
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An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate
counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but
the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such
Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in
writing to pay such fees and expenses; (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have
failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel
reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3)
the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties)
include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such
Indemnified Party shall reasonably believe that a material conflict of interest
is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party
and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies
the Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at
the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the
right to assume the defense thereof and the reasonable fees and expenses of one
separate counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party). The
Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding
effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the
Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of
which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.
Subject to the terms of this Agreement, all reasonable fees
and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to
the extent incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such
Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the
Indemnified Party, as incurred, within ten Trading Days 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 not
entitled to indemnification hereunder, determined based upon the relative faults
of the parties.
(d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under Section 5(a)
or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party (by reason of public policy or
otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such
Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and
Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that
resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question,
including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission
or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to
information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or
payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject
to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, any reasonable attorneys' or
other reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any
Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or
expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section was available to
such party in accordance with its terms.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro
rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into
account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), no Holder shall
be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount
by which the proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the
Registrable Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any
damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission, except in
the case of fraud by such Holder.
The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have
to the Indemnified Parties.
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6. Miscellaneous.
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a
Holder, of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the
Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all
rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages,
will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The
Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate
compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the
provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any
action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the
defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Piggyback on Registrations. 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 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 SEC,
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 the
Registration Statement.
(d) Discontinued Disposition. Each Holder agrees by its acquisition
of such Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company
of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section 3(d), such
Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities
under a Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement, or until it is
advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the applicable
Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any
additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement. Subject
to the other provisions hereof, 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), except for the 15 calendar
days following the filing of any Form 8-K, Form 10-QSB or Form 10-K, or other
comparable form.
(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 SEC 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 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, 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.
(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.
8
(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 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(b),
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
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.
(k) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction,
validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be determined
with the provisions of the Purchase Agreement.
(l) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative
and not exclusive of any 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 of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning 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.
********************
9
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights
Agreement as of the date first written above.
BASELINE OIL & GAS CORP.
By
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Name
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Title
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[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS FOLLOWS]
10
[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS TO BASELINE OIL & GAS CORP.]
Name of Investing Entity:
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Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity:
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Name of Authorized Signatory:
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Title of Authorized Signatory:
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[SIGNATURE PAGES CONTINUE]
11
Plan of Distribution
Each Selling Stockholder (the "Selling Stockholders") of the common stock
("Common Stock") of Baseline Oil & Gas Corp., a Nevada corporation (the
"Company"), 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
Trading 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 date of this
prospectus;
o broker dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a
specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
o a combination of any such methods of sale;
o through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging
transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise; 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. Each Selling Stockholder does not expect these commissions and
discounts relating to its sales of shares to exceed what is customary in the
types of transactions involved.
In connection with the sale of our 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 our 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 agreement or understanding,
directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Common Stock.
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. 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. Each Selling
Stockholder has advised us that they have not entered into any agreements,
understandings or arrangements with any underwriter or broker-dealer regarding
the sale of the resale shares. 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(e) under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect or (ii) all
of the shares have been sold pursuant to the 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 our common stock for a period of two
business days prior to the 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 our 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.
BASELINE OIL & GAS CORP.
Selling Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire
The undersigned beneficial owner of common stock, par value $0.__ per
share (the "Common Stock"), of Baseline Oil & Gas Corp., a Nevada corporation
(the "Company"), (the "Registrable Securities") understands that the Company has
filed or intends to file with the Securities and Exchange SEC (the "SEC") a
registration statement on Form SB 2 (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 _______________, 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
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(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:
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(c) Full Legal Name of Natural Control Person (which means a natural
person who directly you indirectly alone or with others has power to vote or
dispose of the securities covered by the questionnaire):
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2. Address for Notices to Selling Securityholder:
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Telephone:
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Fax:
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Email:
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Contact Person:
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3. Beneficial Ownership of Registrable Securities:
(a) Type and Principal Amount of Registrable Securities beneficially
owned:
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4. Broker-Dealer Status:
(a) Are you a broker-dealer?
Yes [ ] No [ ]
Note: If yes, the SEC's staff has indicated that you should be
identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.
(b) Are you an affiliate of a broker-dealer?
Yes [ ] No [ ]
(c) 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 SEC'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:
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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:
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The undersigned agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies
or changes in the information provided herein that may occur subsequent to the
date hereof at any time while the Registration Statement remains effective.
By signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the
information contained herein in its answers to Items 1 through 6 and the
inclusion of such information in the Registration Statement and the related
prospectus. 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:
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By
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Name
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Title
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PLEASE FAX A COPY OF THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE, AND
RETURN THE ORIGINAL BY OVERNIGHT MAIL, TO:
