EXHIBIT 10.3
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of July 6,
2004 by and between KIWA BIO-TECH PRODUCTS GROUP CORPORATION, a Utah corporation
in the process of reincorporating in Delaware, with its principal office located
at 00000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx - Xxxxx 000 Xxxx of Industry, California 91748 (the
"Company"), and CORNELL CAPITAL PARTNERS, LP, a Delaware limited partnership
(the "Investor").
WHEREAS:
A. In connection with the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement
by and between the parties hereto of even date herewith (the "Standby Equity
Distribution Agreement"), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to
the conditions of the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, to issue and sell
to the Investor that number of shares of the Company's common stock, par value
US$0.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), which can be purchased pursuant to the
terms of the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement for an aggregate purchase
price of up to Ten Million U.S. Dollars ($10,000,000). Capitalized terms not
defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Standby Equity
Distribution Agreement.
B. To induce the Investor to execute and deliver the Standby
Equity Distribution Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain
registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the
"1933 Act"), and applicable state securities laws.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the
Investor hereby agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
a. "Person" means a corporation, a limited liability
company, an association, a partnership, an organization, a business, an
individual, a governmental or political subdivision thereof or a governmental
agency.
b. "Register," "registered," and "registration" refer to
a registration effected by preparing and filing one or more Registration
Statements (as defined below) in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to
Rule 415 under the 1933 Act or any successor rule providing for offering
securities on a continuous or delayed basis ("Rule 415"), and the declaration or
ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement(s) by the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
c. "Registrable Securities" means the Investor's Shares,
as defined in the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement and shares of Common
Stock issuable to Investors pursuant to the Standby Equity Distribution
Agreement.
d. "Registration Statement" means a registration
statement under the 1933 Act which covers the Registrable Securities.
2. REGISTRATION.
a. Mandatory Registration. The Company shall prepare and
file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form X-0, XX-0 or on such other
form as is available. The Company shall cause such Registration Statement to be
declared effective by the SEC prior to the first sale to the Investor of the
Company's Common Stock pursuant to the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement.
b. Sufficient Number of Shares Registered. In the event
the number of shares available under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to
Section 2(a) is insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities which
the Investor has purchased pursuant to the Standby Equity Distribution
Agreement, the Company shall amend the Registration Statement, or file a new
Registration Statement (on the short form available therefore, if applicable),
or both, so as to cover all of such Registrable Securities which the Investor
has purchased pursuant to the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement as soon as
practicable, but in any event not later than fifteen (15) days after the
necessity therefore arises. The Company shall use commercially reasonable
efforts to cause such amendment and/or new Registration Statement to become
effective as soon as practicable following the filing thereof. For purposes of
the foregoing provision, the number of shares available under a Registration
Statement shall be deemed "insufficient to cover all of the Registrable
Securities" if at any time the number of Registrable Securities issuable on an
Advance Notice Date is greater than the number of shares available for resale
under such Registration Statement.
3. RELATED OBLIGATIONS.
a. The Company shall keep the Registration Statement
effective pursuant to Rule 415 at all times until the date on which the Investor
shall have sold all the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration
Statement (the "Registration Period"), which Registration Statement (including
any amendments or supplements thereto and prospectuses contained therein) shall
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.
b. The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such
amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to a
Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection with such
Registration Statement, which prospectus is to be filed pursuant to Rule 424
promulgated under the 1933 Act, as may be necessary to keep such Registration
Statement effective at all times during the Registration Period, and, during
such period, comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act with respect to the
disposition of all Registrable Securities of the Company covered by such
Registration Statement until such time as all of such Registrable Securities
shall have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of
disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth in such Registration
Statement. In the case of amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement
which are required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement (including pursuant to
this Section 3(b)) by reason of the
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Company's filing a report on Form 10-KSB, Form 10-QSB or Form 8-K or any
analogous report under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"1934 Act"), the Company shall have incorporated such report by reference into
the Registration Statement, if applicable, or shall file such amendments or
supplements with the SEC on the same day on which the 1934 Act report is filed
which created the requirement for the Company to amend or supplement the
Registration Statement.
c. The Company shall furnish to the Investor without
charge, (i) at least one copy of such Registration Statement as declared
effective by the SEC and any amendment(s) thereto, including financial
statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference, all
exhibits and each preliminary prospectus, (ii) ten (10) copies of the final
prospectus included in such Registration Statement and all amendments and
supplements thereto (or such other number of copies as such Investor may
reasonably request) and (iii) such other documents as such Investor may
reasonably request from time to time in order to facilitate the disposition of
the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor.
d. The Company shall use its best efforts to (i)
register and qualify the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration
Statement under such other securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions
in the United States as the Investor reasonably requests, (ii) prepare and file
in those jurisdictions, such amendments (including post-effective amendments)
and supplements to such registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to
maintain the effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii) take
such other actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and
qualifications in effect at all times during the Registration Period, and (iv)
take all other actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the
Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that
the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition
thereto to (w) make any change to its certificate of incorporation or by-laws,
(x) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be
required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (y) subject itself to general
taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (z) file a general consent to service of
process in any such jurisdiction. The Company shall promptly notify the Investor
of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension
of the registration or qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for
sale under the securities or "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction in the United
States or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat of any
proceeding for such purpose.
e. As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of
such event or development, the Company shall notify the Investor in writing of
the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in a
Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a
material fact or omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading (provided that in no event shall such
notice contain any material, nonpublic information), and promptly prepare a
supplement or amendment to such Registration Statement to correct such untrue
statement or omission, and deliver ten (10) copies of such supplement or
amendment to each Investor. The Company shall also promptly notify the Investor
in writing (i) when a prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective
amendment has been filed, and when a Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment has become effective (notification of such
effectiveness shall be delivered to the Investor by
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facsimile on the same day of such effectiveness), (ii) of any request by the SEC
for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related prospectus
or related information, and (iii) of the Company's reasonable determination that
a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate.
f. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the
issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of a
Registration Statement, or the suspension of the qualification of any of the
Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction within the United States of
America and, if such an order or suspension is issued, to obtain the withdrawal
of such order or suspension at the earliest possible moment and to notify the
Investor of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof or its receipt
of actual notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose.
g. At the reasonable request of the Investor, the
Company shall furnish to the Investor, on the date of the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement and thereafter from time to time on such dates as the
Investor may reasonably request (i) a letter, dated such date, from the
Company's independent certified public accountants in form and substance as is
customarily given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters in
an underwritten public offering, and (ii) an opinion, dated as of such date, of
counsel representing the Company for purposes of such Registration Statement, in
form, scope and substance as is customarily given in an underwritten public
offering, addressed to the Investor.
h. The Company shall make available for inspection by
(i) the Investor and (ii) one firm of accountants or other agents retained by
the Investor (collectively, the "Inspectors") all pertinent financial and other
records, and pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company
(collectively, the "Records"), as shall be reasonably deemed necessary by each
Inspector, and cause the Company's officers, directors and employees to supply
all information which any Inspector may reasonably request; provided, however,
that each Inspector shall agree, and the Investor hereby agrees, to hold in
strict confidence and shall not make any disclosure (except to an Investor) or
use of any Record or other information which the Company determines in good
faith to be confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors are so
notified, unless (a) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or
correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement or is otherwise
required under the 1933 Act, (b) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant
to a final, non-appealable subpoena or order from a court or government body of
competent jurisdiction, or (c) the information in such Records has been made
generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this
or any other agreement of which the Inspector and the Investor has knowledge.
The Investor agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such Records
is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or
through other means, give prompt notice to the Company and allow the Company, at
its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to
obtain a protective order for, the Records deemed confidential.
i. The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any
disclosure of information concerning the Investor provided to the Company unless
(i) disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state
securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid
or correct a misstatement or omission in any Xxxxxxxxxxxx
0
Xxxxxxxxx, (xxx) the release of such information is ordered pursuant to a
subpoena or other final, non-appealable order from a court or governmental body
of competent jurisdiction, or (iv) such information has been made generally
available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement
or any other agreement. The Company agrees that it shall, upon learning that
disclosure of such information concerning the Investor is sought in or by a
court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means,
give prompt written notice to the Investor and allow the Investor, at the
Investor's expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or
to obtain a protective order for, such information.
j. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts
either to cause all the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration
Statement (i) to be listed on each securities exchange on which securities of
the same class or series issued by the Company are then listed, if any, if the
listing of such Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules of such
exchange or to secure the inclusion for quotation on the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. OTC Bulletin Board for such Registrable Securities. The
Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its
obligation under this Section 3(j).
k. The Company shall cooperate with the Investor to the
extent applicable, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates (not bearing any restrictive legend) representing the Registrable
Securities to be offered pursuant to a Registration Statement and enable such
certificates to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may be, as the
Investor may reasonably request and registered in such names as the Investor may
request.
l. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the
Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement to be
registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities
as may be necessary to consummate the disposition of such Registrable
Securities.
m. The Company shall make generally available to its
security holders as soon as practical, but not later than ninety (90) days after
the close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form
complying with the provisions of Rule 158 under the 0000 Xxx) covering a
twelve-month period beginning not later than the first day of the Company's
fiscal quarter next following the effective date of the Registration Statement.
n. The Company shall otherwise use its best efforts to
comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC in connection with
any registration hereunder.
o. Within two (2) business days after a Registration
Statement which covers Registrable Securities is ordered effective by the SEC,
the Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal counsel for the Company to
deliver, to the transfer agent for such Registrable Securities (with copies to
the Investor) confirmation that such Registration Statement has been declared
effective by the SEC in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
p. The Company shall take all other reasonable actions
necessary to expedite and facilitate disposition by the Investor of Registrable
Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.
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4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTOR.
The Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company
of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(f) or the first
sentence of 3(e), the Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of
Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement(s) covering such
Registrable Securities until the Investor's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(e) or receipt of
notice that no supplement or amendment is required. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary, the Company shall cause its transfer agent to deliver unlegended
certificates for shares of Common Stock to a transferee of the Investor in
accordance with the terms of the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement in
connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which the
Investor has entered into a contract for sale prior to the Investor's receipt of
a notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in
Section 3(f) or the first sentence of 3(e) and for which the Investor has not
yet settled.
5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.
All expenses incurred in connection with registrations, filings or
qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, including, without limitation, all
registration, listing and qualifications fees, printers, legal and accounting
fees shall be paid by the Company.
6. INDEMNIFICATION.
With respect to Registrable Securities which are included in a
Registration Statement under this Agreement:
a. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company
will, and hereby does, indemnify, hold harmless and defend the Investor, the
directors, officers, partners, employees, agents, representatives of, and each
Person, if any, who controls the Investor within the meaning of the 1933 Act or
the 1934 Act (each, an "Indemnified Person"), against any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, costs, reasonable
attorneys' fees, amounts paid in settlement or expenses, joint or several
(collectively, "Claims") incurred in investigating, preparing or defending any
action, claim, suit, inquiry, proceeding, investigation or appeal taken from the
foregoing by or before any court or governmental, administrative or other
regulatory agency, body or the SEC, whether pending or threatened, whether or
not an indemnified party is or may be a party thereto ("Indemnified Damages"),
to which any of them may become subject insofar as such Claims (or actions or
proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of
or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact in a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment
thereto or in any filing made in connection with the qualification of the
offering under the securities or other "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction in
which Registrable Securities are offered ("Blue Sky Filing"), or the omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any final
prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the Company files any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or the omission or alleged omission
to state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements made
therein, in light of the circumstances under which the statements
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therein were made, not misleading; or (iii) any violation or alleged violation
by the Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law, including, without
limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation there under
relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a
Registration Statement (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii)
being, collectively, "Violations"). The Company shall reimburse the Investor and
each such controlling person promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due
and payable, for any legal fees or disbursements or other reasonable expenses
incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification
agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (x) shall not apply to a Claim by an
Indemnified Person arising out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the
Company by such Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with the
preparation of the Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof or
supplement thereto; (y) shall not be available to the extent such Claim is based
on a failure of the Investor to deliver or to cause to be delivered the
prospectus made available by the Company, if such prospectus was timely made
available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(e); and (z) shall not apply to
amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without
the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person.
b. In connection with a Registration Statement, the
Investor agrees to indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and
in the same manner as is set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its
directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement and each
Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act or
the 1934 Act (each an "Indemnified Party"), against any Claim or Indemnified
Damages to which any of them may become subject, under the 1933 Act, the 1934
Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim or Indemnified Damages arise out of or
is based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent, and only to the extent,
that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by the Investor expressly for use in
connection with such Registration Statement; and, subject to Section 6(d), the
Investor will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them
in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim; provided, however,
that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6(b) and the agreement
with respect to contribution contained in Section 7 shall not apply to amounts
paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior
written consent of the Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld; provided, further, however, that the Investor shall be liable under
this Section 6(b) for only that amount of a Claim or Indemnified Damages as does
not exceed the net proceeds to the Investor as a result of the sale of
Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Such indemnity
shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or
on behalf of such Indemnified Party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(b)
with respect to any prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified
Party if the untrue statement or omission of material fact contained in the
prospectus was corrected and such new prospectus was delivered to the Investor
prior to the Investor's use of the prospectus to which the Claim relates.
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c. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or
Indemnified Party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any
action or proceeding (including any governmental action or proceeding) involving
a Claim, such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall, if a Claim in
respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section
6, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement
thereof, and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and,
to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other
indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume control of the defense thereof
with counsel mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party and the Indemnified
Person or the Indemnified Party, as the case may be; provided, however, that an
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own
counsel with the fees and expenses of not more than one counsel for such
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party to be paid by the indemnifying party,
if, in the reasonable opinion of counsel retained by the indemnifying party, the
representation by such counsel of the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party
and the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any
other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The Indemnified
Party or Indemnified Person shall cooperate fully with the indemnifying party in
connection with any negotiation or defense of any such action or claim by the
indemnifying party and shall furnish to the indemnifying party all information
reasonably available to the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person which
relates to such action or claim. The indemnifying party shall keep the
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person fully apprised at all times as to the
status of the defense or any settlement negotiations with respect thereto. No
indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any action, claim or
proceeding effected without its prior written consent, provided, however, that
the indemnifying party shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition its
consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person, consent to entry of any judgment or
enter into any settlement or other compromise which does not include as an
unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person of a release from all liability in
respect to such claim or litigation. Following indemnification as provided for
hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be subrogated to all rights of the
Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person with respect to all third parties, firms
or corporations relating to the matter for which indemnification has been made.
The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a
reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not relieve such
indemnifying party of any liability to the Indemnified Person or Indemnified
Party under this Section 6, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is
prejudiced in its ability to defend such action.
d. The indemnification required by this Section 6 shall
be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the
investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or Indemnified Damages
are incurred.
e. The indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in
addition to (i) any cause of action or similar right of the Indemnified Party or
Indemnified Person against the indemnifying party or others, and (ii) any
liabilities the indemnifying party may be subject to pursuant to the law.
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7. CONTRIBUTION.
To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is
prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum
contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable
under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that:
(i) no seller of Registrable Securities guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 0000 Xxx) shall be entitled to
contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation; and (ii) contribution by any seller of Registrable
Securities shall be limited in amount to the net amount of proceeds received by
such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities.
8. REPORTS UNDER THE 1934 ACT.
With a view to making available to the Investor the benefits of Rule
144 promulgated under the 1933 Act or any similar rule or regulation of the SEC
that may at any time permit the Investors to sell securities of the Company to
the public without registration ("Rule 144") the Company agrees to:
a. make and keep public information available, as those
terms are understood and defined in Rule 144;
b. file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and
other documents required of the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so
long as the Company remains subject to such requirements (it being understood
that nothing herein shall limit the Company's obligations under Section 6.3 of
the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement) and the filing of such reports and
other documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
c. furnish to the Investor so long as the Investor owns
Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the
Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the
1933 Act and the 1934 Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly
report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the
Company, and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested to
permit the Investor to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without
registration.
9. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof
may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either
retroactively or prospectively), only by a written agreement between the Company
and the Investor. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this
Section 9 shall be binding upon the Investor and the Company. No consideration
shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or
modification of any provision of any of this Agreement unless the same
consideration also is offered to all of the parties to this Agreement.
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10. MISCELLANEOUS.
a. A Person is deemed to be a holder of Registrable
Securities whenever such Person owns or is deemed to own of record such
Registrable Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions,
notices or elections from two or more Persons with respect to the same
Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions,
notice or election received from the registered owner of such Registrable
Securities.
b. Any notices, consents, waivers or other
communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this
Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon
receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile
(provided confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically
generated and kept on file by the sending party); or (iii) one business day
after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, in each
case properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses and
facsimile numbers for such communications shall be:
If to the Company, to: Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation
00000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx - Xxxxx 000
Xxxx xx Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
With a copy to: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Markiles, LLP
00000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: V. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Esq.
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
If to the Investor, to: Cornell Capital Partners, LP
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx - Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxx
Portfolio Manager
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
With a copy to: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx - Xxxxx 000
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
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Any party may change its address by providing written notice to the other
parties hereto at least five days prior to the effectiveness of such change.
Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice,
consent, waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically
generated by the sender's facsimile machine containing the time, date, recipient
facsimile number and an image of the first page of such transmission or (C)
provided by a courier or overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence
of personal service, receipt by facsimile or receipt from a nationally
recognized overnight delivery service in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or
(iii) above, respectively.
c. Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy
under this Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right
or remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof.
d. The corporate laws of the State of Delaware shall
govern all issues concerning the relative rights of the Company and the
Investor. All other questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement
and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of
the State of New Jersey, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict
of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New Jersey or any other
jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction
other than the State of New Jersey. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the
non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Superior Courts of the State of New Jersey,
sitting in Xxxxxx County, New Jersey and the Federal District Court for the
District of New Jersey sitting in Newark, New Jersey, for the adjudication of
any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction
contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and
agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not
personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action
or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such
suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives
personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such
suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the
address for such notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service
shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve
process in any manner permitted by law. If any provision of this Agreement shall
be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or
unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the
remainder of this Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or
enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction.
EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE, AND AGREES NOT TO
REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN
CONNECTION HEREWITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
e. This Agreement, the Standby Equity Distribution
Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, and the Placement Agent Agreement constitute
the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof and thereof. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or
undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein and therein. This
Agreement, the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, and
the Placement Agent Agreement supersede all prior agreements and understandings
among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
11
f. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the permitted successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto.
g. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
h. This Agreement may be executed in identical
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall
constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement, once executed by a party,
may be delivered to the other party hereto by facsimile transmission of a copy
of this Agreement bearing the signature of the party so delivering this
Agreement.
i. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done
and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver
all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other
party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the
purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
j. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to
be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent and no
rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.
k. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and is not
for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other
Person.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Registration Rights
Agreement to be duly executed as of day and year first above written.
COMPANY:
KIWA BIO-TECH PRODUCTS GROUP CORPORATION
/s/ Xxx Xx
By: --------------------------------------
Name: Xxx Xx
Title: President and Chief Executive
Officer
INVESTOR:
CORNELL CAPITAL PARTNERS, LP
By: Yorkville Advisors, LLC
Its: General Partner
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx
By: --------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Portfolio Manager
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS
OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Attention:
Re: KIWA BIO-TECH PRODUCTS GROUP CORPORATION.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are counsel to Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and have represented the Company in connection with
that certain Standby Equity Distribution Agreement (the "Standby Equity
Distribution Agreement") entered into by and between the Company and Cornell
Capital Partners, LP (the "Investor") pursuant to which the Company issued to
the Investor shares of its Common Stock, par value US$____ per share (the
"Common Stock"). Pursuant to the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement, the
Company also has entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Investor
(the "Registration Rights Agreement") pursuant to which the Company agreed,
among other things, to register the Registrable Securities (as defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"1933 Act"). In connection with the Company's obligations under the Registration
Rights Agreement, on ____________ ____, the Company filed a Registration
Statement on Form ________ (File No. 333-_____________) (the "Registration
Statement") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") relating to
the Registrable Securities which names the Investor as a selling stockholder
thereunder.
In connection with the foregoing, we advise you that a member of the
SEC's staff has advised us by telephone that the SEC has entered an order
declaring the Registration Statement effective under the 1933 Act at [ENTER TIME
OF EFFECTIVENESS] on [ENTER DATE OF EFFECTIVENESS] and we have no knowledge,
after telephonic inquiry of a member of the SEC's staff, that any stop order
suspending its effectiveness has been issued or that any proceedings for that
purpose are pending before, or threatened by, the SEC and the Registrable
Securities are available for resale under the 1933 Act pursuant to the
Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
By:
----------------------------------------
cc: Cornell Capital Partners, LP
