EXHIBIT 99.3
EXHIBIT A
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of December 23, 2003, by and among Viragen, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and the purchasers signatory hereto (each such
purchaser, a "Purchaser" and collectively, the "Purchasers").
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Securities Purchase
Agreement, dated as of the date hereof 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).
"Common Stock" means the common stock of the Company, $0.01 par
value per share.
"Effectiveness Date" means, with respect to the initial Registration
Statement required to be filed hereunder, the earlier of (a) the 90th
calendar day following the date of the Purchase Agreement, and (b) the
fifth Trading Day following the date on which the Company is notified by
the Commission that the Registration Statement will not be reviewed or is
no longer subject to further review and comments.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(a).
"Event" shall have the meaning set fort in Section 2(b).
"Filing Date" means, with respect to the Registration Statement
required to be filed hereunder, the 30th calendar day following the date
of the Purchase Agreement.
"Holder" or "Holders" means the holder or holders, as the case may
be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.
"Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5(c).
"Indemnifying Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5(c).
"Losses" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
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"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 the 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 the Registration Statement, and all
other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including
post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or
deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.
"Registrable Securities" means all of the Shares and the Warrant
Shares, together with any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon
any stock split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization or
similar event with respect to the foregoing.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statements required
to be filed hereunder, including (in each case) the Prospectus, amendments
and supplements to the 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 the
registration statement.
"Rule 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Rule 424" means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Shares" means the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement.
"Warrants" means the Warrants issued pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement.
"Warrant Shares" shall mean the shares of Common Stock issued upon
exercise of the Warrants.
2. Registration.
(a) On or prior to the Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and
file with the Commission the Registration Statement covering the resale of
all of the Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a
continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. The
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Registration Statement required hereunder shall be on Form S-3 (except if
the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable
Securities on Form S-3, in which case the Registration shall be on another
appropriate form in accordance herewith). The Registration Statement
required hereunder shall contain (except if 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
commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be
declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after
the filing thereof, but in any event not later than the Effectiveness
Date, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the
Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act
until the date when all Registrable Securities covered by the Registration
Statement have been sold or may be sold without volume restrictions
pursuant to Rule 144(k) as determined by the counsel to the Company
pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and
acceptable to the Company's transfer agent and the affected Holders (the
"Effectiveness Period").
(b) If: (i) a Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to the
Filing Date (if the Company files a Registration Statement without
affording the Holder the opportunity to review and comment on the same as
required by Section 3(a), the Company shall not be deemed to have
satisfied this clause (i)), or (ii) the Company fails to file with the
Commission a request for acceleration in accordance with Rule 461
promulgated under the Securities Act, within five Trading Days of the date
that the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier)
by the Commission that a Registration Statement will not be "reviewed," or
is not subject to further review, or (iii) prior to the date when such
Registration Statement is first declared effective by the Commission, the
Company fails to file a pre-effective amendment and otherwise respond in
writing to comments made by the Commission in respect of such Registration
Statement within 10 Trading Days after the receipt of comments by or
notice from the Commission that such amendment is required in order for a
Registration Statement to be declared effective, or (iv) a Registration
Statement filed or required to be filed hereunder is not declared
effective by the Commission on or before the Effectiveness Date, or (v)
after a Registration Statement is first declared effective by the
Commission, it ceases for any reason to remain continuously effective as
to all Registrable Securities for which it is required to be effective, or
the Holders are not permitted to utilize the Prospectus therein to resell
such Registrable Securities, for in any such case 15 consecutive days but
no more than an aggregate of 25 consecutive days during any 12 month
period (which need not be consecutive Trading Days)(any such failure or
breach being referred to as an "Event," and for purposes of clause (i) or
(iv) the date on which such Event occurs, or for purposes of clause (ii)
the date on which such five Trading Day period is exceeded, or for
purposes of clause (iii) the date which such 10 Trading Day period is
exceeded, or for purposes of clause (v) the date on which such 15 or 25
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: (x) on each such Event Date the Company shall pay to
each Holder an amount in cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a
penalty, equal to 1.5% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such Holder
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for any Registrable Securities then
held by such Holder; and (y) on each monthly anniversary of each such
Event Date (if the applicable
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Event shall not have been cured by such date) until the applicable Event
is cured, the Company shall pay to each Holder an amount in cash, as
partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to 1.5% of the
aggregate purchase price paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement for any Registrable Securities then held by such Holder. If the
Company fails to pay any liquidated damages pursuant to this Section in
full within seven days after the date payable, the Company will pay
interest thereon at a rate of 15% per annum (or such lesser maximum amount
that is permitted to be paid by applicable law) to the Holder, accruing
daily from the date such liquidated damages are due until such amounts,
plus all such interest thereon, are paid in full. 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 five Trading Days prior to the filing of the
Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto, the Company shall, (i) furnish to the Holders copies
of all such documents proposed to be filed (including documents
incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference to the extent requested
by such Person) which documents will be subject to the review of such
Holders, and (ii) cause its officers and directors, counsel and
independent certified public accountants to respond to such inquiries as
shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of respective counsel to
conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities
Act. The Company shall not file 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 5 Trading Days after the Holders have been so
furnished copies of such documents.
(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep the
Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable
Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period and prepare and file
with the Commission such additional Registration Statements in order to
register for resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable
Securities; (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or
supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented
or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; (iii) respond as promptly as
reasonably possible to any comments received from the Commission with
respect to the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and, as
promptly as reasonably possible, upon request, provide the Holders true
and complete copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission
relating to the Registration Statement; and (iv) comply in all material
respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act
with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by
the Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with
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the intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in
the Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so
supplemented.
(c) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold as
promptly as reasonably possible and (if requested by any such Person)
confirm such notice in writing promptly following the day (i)(A) when a
Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement is proposed to be filed; (B) when the Commission
notifies the Company whether there will be a "review" of the Registration
Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on the
Registration Statement (the Company shall upon request provide true and
complete copies thereof and all written responses thereto to each of the
Holders); and (C) with respect to the Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any
request by the Commission or any other Federal or state governmental
authority during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement
for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus
or for additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission or
any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the 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; and (v) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time that
makes the financial statements included in the Registration Statement
ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement made in the Registration
Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that
requires any revisions to the Registration Statement, Prospectus or other
documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(d) Use commercially reasonable efforts to avoid the issuance of,
or, if issued, obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the
qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable
Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable
moment.
(e) Furnish to each Holder, without charge, at least one conformed
copy of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, including
financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated therein by reference to the extent requested by such
Person, and all exhibits to the extent requested by such Person (including
those previously furnished or incorporated by reference) promptly after
the filing of such documents with the Commission.
(f) Promptly deliver to each Holder, without charge, as many copies
of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and
each amendment or
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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(c).
(g) Prior to any resale of Registrable Securities by a Holder, use
its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate
with the selling Holders in connection with the registration or
qualification (or exemption from the Registration or qualification) of
such Registrable Securities for the resale by the Holder under the
securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States
as any Holder reasonably requests in writing, to keep each the
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 the Registration Statement;
provided, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to
do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, subject
the Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not
then so subject or file a general consent to service of process in any
such jurisdiction.
(h) If requested by 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 the Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free,
to the extent permitted by the Purchase Agreement, of all restrictive
legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such
denominations and registered in such names as any such Holders may
request.
(i) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section
3(c)(v), as promptly as reasonably possible, prepare a supplement or
amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to the Registration
Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and file
any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered, neither the
Registration Statement nor such Prospectus will contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the
Company notifies the Holders in accordance with clauses (ii) through (v)
of Section 3(c) above to suspend the use of the use of any Prospectus
until the requisite changes to such Prospectus have been made, then the
Holders shall suspend use of such Prospectus. The Company will use its
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(i) to suspend the availability of a
Registration Statement and Prospectus, subject to the payment of
liquidated damages pursuant to Section 2(b), for a period not to exceed 60
days (which need not be consecutive days) in any 12 month period.
(j) Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission.
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(k) The Company may require each Holder to furnish to the Company a
certified statement as to the number of shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned by such Holder and, if required by the Commission, the
person 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 shall be tolled and any Event that may otherwise
occur solely because of such delay shall be suspended, 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), (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 the 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.
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 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 the
Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or
arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or
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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 or alleged untrue statements or
omissions are based upon information regarding such Holder furnished in
writing to the Company by such Holder 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 for use in the 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(c)(ii)-(v), 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 of
which the Company is aware in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall, severally and not
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
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 for inclusion in the Registration Statement or such Prospectus
or (ii) to the extent that (1) such untrue statements or omissions are
based upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the
Company by such Holder 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 approved in
writing by such Holder 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(c)(ii)-(v), the use by such Holder of an
outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such
Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior
to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 6(d).
In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater
in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such
Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such
indemnification obligation.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall
be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder
(an "Indemnified
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Party"), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person from whom
indemnity is sought (the "Indemnifying Party") in writing, and the
Indemnifying Party shall have the right to assume the defense thereof,
including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Party and the payment of all fees and expenses incurred in
connection with defense thereof; provided, that the failure of any
Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying
Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement, except
(and only) to the extent that it shall be finally determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or
further review) that such failure shall have prejudiced the Indemnifying
Party.
An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel
in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the
fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such
Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed
in writing to pay such fees and expenses; (2) the Indemnifying Party shall
have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to
employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any
such Proceeding; or (3) the named parties to any such Proceeding
(including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and
the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised
by counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same
counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying
Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying
Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense
of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right
to assume the defense thereof and 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
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Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions
that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and
Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material
fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by,
such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by
a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to
the limitations set forth in this Agreement, any reasonable attorneys' or
other reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection
with any Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified
for such fees or expenses if the indemnification provided for in this
Section was available to such party in accordance with its terms.
The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into
account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d),
no Holder shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in
excess of the amount by which the proceeds actually received by such
Holder from the sale of the Registrable Securities subject to the
Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission, except in the case of fraud by
such Holder.
The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section
are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to
the Indemnified Parties.
6. Miscellaneous
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a
Holder, of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or
the Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise
all rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of
damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this
Agreement. The Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would
not provide adequate compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a
breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further
agrees that, in the event of any action for specific performance in
respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that a remedy at law
would be adequate.
(b) No Piggyback on Registrations. 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 a Registration Statement other than the
Registrable Securities, and the Company shall not after the date hereof
enter into any agreement providing any such right to any of its security
holders. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, no Person has any right
to cause
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the Company to effect the registration under the Securities Act of any
securities of the Company. The Company shall not file any other
registration statement until after the Effective Date.
(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(c), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such
Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until such
Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or
amended Registration Statement or until it is advised in writing (the
"Advice") by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be
resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any additional or
supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement. The Company may
provide appropriate stop orders to enforce the provisions of this
paragraph, provided that any such suspensions shall be subject to
liquidated damages pursuant to Section 2(b).
(e) Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time during the
Effectiveness Period there is not an effective Registration Statement
covering all of the Registrable Securities and the Company shall determine
to prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement relating
to an offering for its own account or the account of others under the
Securities Act of any of its equity securities, other than on Form S-4 or
Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the Securities Act) or their then
equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in
connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or equity
securities issuable in connection with the stock option or other employee
benefit plans, then the Company shall send to each Holder a written notice
of such determination and, if within fifteen 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, subject to customary
underwriter cutbacks applicable to all holders of registration rights;
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 certain 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.
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(g) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or
deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be made in
accordance with the provisions of 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. Each
Holder may assign their respective rights hereunder in the manner and to
the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
(i) Execution and Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed
to be an original and, all of which taken together shall constitute one
and the same Agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered by
facsimile transmission, such signature shall create a valid binding
obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is
executed) the same with the same force and effect as if such facsimile
signature were the original thereof.
(j) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction,
validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be
determined with the provisions of the Purchase Agreement.
(k) Cumulative Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative
and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(l) Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the
parties hereto shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to find and
employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same
result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or
restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of
the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions,
covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be
hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
(m) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(n) Independent Nature of Purchasers' Obligations and Rights. The
obligations of each Purchaser hereunder are several and not joint with the
obligations of any other Purchaser hereunder, and no Purchaser shall be
responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other
Purchaser hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or
document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Purchaser
pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers
as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of
entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting
in concert with respect to such obligations or the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. Each Purchaser
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shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights, including without
limitation the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be
necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in
any proceeding for such purpose.
*************************
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration
Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
VIRAGEN, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
_____________________________________
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Executive Vice President/CFO
[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS FOLLOWS]
[PURCHASER'S SIGNATURE PAGE TO VRA RRA]
PALISADES MASTER FUND, L.P.
By: PEF ADVISORS, LLC, its authorized agent
By: _____________________________________
Name:
Title:
[PURCHASERS' SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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[PURCHASER'S SIGNATURE PAGE TO VRA RRA]
CRESCENT INTERNATIONAL LTD
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
[PURCHASERS' SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
-- 16
[PURCHASER'S SIGNATURE PAGE TO VRA RRA]
ALPHA CAPITAL AG
By: ____________________________________
Name:
Title:
[PURCHASERS' SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
-- 17
[PURCHASER'S SIGNATURE PAGE TO VRA RRA]
BRISTOL INVESTMENT FUND, LTD.
By: ___________________________________
Name:
Title:
[PURCHASERS' SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
-- 18
[PURCHASER'S SIGNATURE PAGE TO VRA RRA]
GRYPHON MASTER FUND, LP
By: __________________________________
Name:
Title:
[PURCHASERS' SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
-- 19
[PURCHASER'S SIGNATURE PAGE TO VRA RRA]
PEF ADVISORS, LLC
By: __________________________________
Name:
Title:
[PURCHASERS' SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
-- 20
[PURCHASER'S SIGNATURE PAGE TO VRA RRA]
PEF ADVISORS, LTD
By: __________________________________
Name:
Title:
-- 21
ANNEX A
Plan of Distribution
The Selling Stockholders (the "Selling Stockholders") of the common stock
("Common Stock") of Viragen, Inc. (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 any stock exchange, market or trading facility
on which the shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at
fixed or negotiated prices. The Selling Stockholders may use any one or more of
the following methods when selling shares:
- ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the
broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
- block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell
the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of
the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;
- purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the
broker-dealer for its account;
- an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the
applicable exchange;
- privately negotiated transactions;
- settlement of short sales;
- broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell
a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per
share;
- a combination of any such methods of sale;
- through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging
transactions, whether through an options exchange or
otherwise; or
- 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. The Selling Stockholders do not expect these commissions and
discounts 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
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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. The Selling Stockholders have
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.
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