EXHIBIT 4.5
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of May __, --------- 2006, by and among Nutrition 21, Inc., a
New York corporation (the "Company"), and CD Investment Partners, Ltd. -------
(the "Purchaser"). ---------
This Agreement is being entered into pursuant to the Common Stock
and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of the date hereof between the Company
and the Purchaser (the "Purchase Agreement").
The Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein 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 meaning set forth in Section 3(m).
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that
directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or under common control with
such Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control," when used with
respect to any Person, means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms of "affiliated," "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings
correlative to the foregoing.
"Board" shall have meaning set forth in Section 3(n).
"Business Day" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day
which shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the
State of New York generally are authorized or required by law or other
government actions to close.
"Closing Date" means the date of the closing of the purchase and
sale of the Shares and the Warrant pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Common Stock" means the Company's Common Stock, par value $.005 per
share.
"Effectiveness Date" means with respect to the Registration
Statement the earlier of (A) the nintieth (90th) day following the Closing Date
(or in the event the Registration Statement receives a "full review" by the
Commission, the one hundred twentieth (120th) day following the Closing Date) or
(B) the date which is within three (3) Business Days after the date on which the
Commission informs the Company that (i) the Commission will not review the
Registration Statement or (ii) the Company may request the acceleration of the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement and the Company makes such request;
provided that, if the Effectiveness Date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or any
other day which shall be a legal holiday or a day on which the Commission is
authorized or required by law or other government actions to close, the
Effectiveness Date shall be the following Business Day.
"Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.
"Event" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(d).
"Event Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(d).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Filing Date" means the thirtieth (30th) day following the Closing
Date; provided that, if the Filing Date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or any other
day which shall be a legal holiday or a day on which the Commission is
authorized or required by law or other government actions to close, the
Effectiveness Date shall be the following Business Day.
"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).
"Person" means an individual or a corporation, partnership, trust,
incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability
company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or political subdivision
thereof) or other entity of any kind.
"Proceeding" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or
proceeding (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 in such Prospectus.
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"Registrable Securities" means (i) the __________ shares of Common
Stock issued to the Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and (ii) the
shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant issued to the
Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statements and any
additional registration statements contemplated by Section 2, 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 in such registration
statement.
"Rule 144" means Rule 144 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 158" means Rule 158 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 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 416" means Rule 416 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.
"Warrant" means the warrant to purchase _________ shares of Common
Stock issued to the Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
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2. Resale Registration.
On or prior to the Filing Date the Company shall prepare and file
with the Commission a "resale" Registration Statement providing for the resale
of all Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a continuous basis
pursuant to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 (except if
the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable
Securities on Form S-3, in which case such registration shall be on another
appropriate form in accordance herewith and the Securities Act and the rules
promulgated thereunder). Such Registration Statement shall cover to the extent
allowable under the Securities Act and the rules promulgated thereunder
(including Rule 416), such indeterminate number of additional shares of Common
Stock resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions with
respect to the Registrable Securities. The Company shall (i) not permit any
securities other than the Registrable Securities to be included in the
Registration Statement, provided that the Company shall be permitted to include
in the Registration Statement, at its option and solely for its convenience,
other similar securities issued by the Company (i.e. common stock previously
issued by the Company or common stock issued or issuable on exercise of warrants
previously issued by the Company) and (ii) use its best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as
promptly as possible after the filing thereof, but in any event prior to the
Effectiveness Date, and to keep such Registration Statement continuously
effective under the Securities Act until such date as is the earlier of (x) the
date when all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have
been sold or (y) the date on which the Registrable Securities may be sold
without any restriction pursuant to Rule 144(k) as determined by the counsel to
the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter, addressed to the Company's
transfer agent to such effect (the "Effectiveness Period"). The Company shall
request that the effective time of the Registration Statement be 4:00 p.m.
Eastern Time on the effective date. If at any time and for any reason, an
additional Registration Statement is required to be filed because at such time
the actual number of shares of Common Stock into which the Warrant is
exercisable exceeds the number of shares of Registrable Securities remaining
under the Registration Statement, the Company shall have twenty (20) Business
Days to file such additional Registration Statement, and the Company shall use
its best efforts to cause such additional Registration Statement to be declared
effective by the Commission as soon as possible, but in no event later than
sixty (60) days after filing.
3. Registration Procedures.
In connection with the Company's registration obligations hereunder,
the Company shall:
(a) Prepare and file with the Commission on or prior to the Filing
Date, a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or if the Company is not then
eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-3 such
registration shall be on another appropriate form in accordance herewith and the
Securities Act and the rules promulgated thereunder) in accordance with the plan
of distribution as set forth on Exhibit A hereto and in accordance with
applicable law, and cause the Registration Statement to become effective and
remain effective as provided herein; provided, however, that not less than five
(5) Business Days prior to the filing of the Registration Statement or any
related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (including any
document that would be incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall (i)
furnish to the Holders, copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which
documents (other than those incorporated by reference) 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 the Holders, to conduct a reasonable
review of the documents. 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
writing within five (5) Business Days of their receipt thereof.
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(b) (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement 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 as necessary 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 (or any similar provisions then in force) promulgated
under the Securities Act; (iii) respond as promptly as possible, but in no event
later than ten (10) Business Days, to any comments received from the Commission
with respect to the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and to
provide the Holders, within such ten (10) Business Day period, true and complete
copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to the
Registration Statement; (iv) file the final prospectus pursuant to Rule 424 of
the Securities Act no later than 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the Business Day
following the date the Registration Statement is declared effective by the
Commission; and (v) 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
Effectiveness Period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by
the Holders thereof set forth in the Registration Statement as so amended or in
such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities as promptly as
possible (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than three (3) Business
Days prior to such filing, and in the case of (iii) below, on the same day of
receipt by the Company of such notice from the Commission) and (if requested by
any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than one (1) Business
Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is filed; (B) when the
Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a "review" of such
Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on such
Registration Statement and (C) with respect to the Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any
request by the Commission or any other Federal or state governmental authority
for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for
additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement covering any or
all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation or threatening of any
Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) if at any time any of the representations and
warranties of the Company contained in any agreement contemplated hereby ceases
to be true and correct in all material respects; (v) of the receipt by the
Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification
or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in
any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such
purpose; and (vi) of the occurrence of any event that makes 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 the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
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(d) Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued,
obtain the withdrawal of, as promptly as possible, (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.
(e) If requested by the Holders of a majority in interest of the
Registrable Securities, (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement such information as the
Company reasonably agrees should be included therein and (ii) make all required
filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon
as practicable after the Company has received notification of the matters to be
incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment.
(f) If requested by any Holder, furnish to such Holder, without
charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and each
amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, all documents
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and all exhibits
to the extent requested by such Person (including those previously furnished or
incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such documents with the
Commission.
(g) If requested by any Holder, 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; and subject to the provisions of Sections 3(m) and 3(n), the
Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or
supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders in connection with the
offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and
any amendment or supplement thereto.
(h) If requested by any Holder, prior to any public offering of
Registrable Securities, use its best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate
with the selling Holders in connection with the registration or qualification
(or exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable
Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder requests in writing, to
keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective
during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or things
necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the
Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in
any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action that
would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it
is not then so subject or subject the Company to any material tax in any such
jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.
(i) Cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation
and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold
pursuant to a Registration Statement, which certificates, to the extent
permitted by the Purchase Agreement and applicable federal and state securities
laws, shall be free of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable
Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as any
Holder may request in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities.
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(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section
3(c)(vi), as promptly as 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 the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(k) Use its best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities
relating to the Registration Statement to be listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market
or any other securities exchange, quotation system or market, if any, on which
similar securities issued by the Company are then listed or traded as and when
required pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
(l) Comply in all material respects with all applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission and make generally available to its security
holders all documents filed or required to be filed with the Commission.
(m) The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the
Company information regarding such Holder and the distribution of such
Registrable Securities as is required by law to be disclosed in the Registration
Statement, Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, and the Company
may exclude from such registration the Registrable Securities of any such Holder
who unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time
after receiving such request.
If the Registration Statement refers to any Holder by name or
otherwise as the holder of any securities of the Company, then such Holder shall
have the right to require (if such reference to such Holder by name or otherwise
is not required by the Securities Act or any similar federal statute then in
force) the deletion of the reference to such Holder in any amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement filed or prepared subsequent to the
time that such reference ceases to be required.
Each Holder covenants and agrees that it will not sell any
Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until the Company has
electronically filed the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented as
contemplated in Section 3(g) and notice from the Company that the Registration
Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto have become effective as
contemplated by Section 3(c).
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)(ii), 3(c)(iii), 3(c)(iv), 3(c)(v),
3(c)(vi) or 3(n), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such
Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until such Holder's
receipt of the copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration
Statement contemplated by Section 3(j), or until it is advised in writing (the
"Advice") by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be
resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any additional or
supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement.
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(n) At any time following the date that the Registration Statement
is declared effective by the Commission, if (i) there is material non-public
information regarding the Company which the Company's Board of Directors (the
"Board") determines not to be in the Company's best interest to disclose and
which the Company is not otherwise required to disclose, (ii) there is a
significant business opportunity (including, but not limited to, the acquisition
or disposition of assets (other than in the ordinary course of business) or any
merger, consolidation, tender offer or other similar transaction) available to
the Company which the Board determines not to be in the Company's best interest
to disclose, or (iii) the Company is required to file a post-effective amendment
to the Registration Statement to incorporate the Company's quarterly and annual
reports and audited financial statements on Forms 10-Q and 10-K, then the
Company may (x) postpone or suspend filing of a registration statement for a
period not to exceed thirty (30) consecutive days or (y) postpone or suspend
effectiveness of a registration statement for a period not to exceed twenty (20)
consecutive days; provided that the Company may not postpone or suspend
effectiveness of a registration statement under this Section 3(n) for more than
forty-five (45) days in the aggregate during any three hundred sixty (360) day
period; provided, however, that no such postponement or suspension shall be
permitted for consecutive twenty (20) day periods arising out of the same set of
facts, circumstances or transactions.
4. Registration Expenses.
All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance
with this Agreement by the Company, except as and to the extent specified in
this Section 4, shall be borne by the Company whether or not the Registration
Statement is filed or becomes effective and 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
Nasdaq Capital Market and each other securities exchange or market on which
Registrable Securities are required hereunder to be listed, if any, (B) with
respect to filing fees required to be paid to the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. and the NASD Regulation, Inc. and (C) in compliance
with state securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation,
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company in connection with
Blue Sky qualifications of the Registrable Securities)), (ii) printing expenses
(including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for
Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses if the printing of
prospectuses is requested by the holders of a majority of the Registrable
Securities included in the Registration Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone
and delivery expenses incurred by the Company, (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, including, without limitation, the Company's
independent public accountants (including the expenses of any comfort letters or
costs associated with the delivery by independent public accountants of a
comfort letter or comfort letters). 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, the
fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable
Securities on any securities exchange as required hereunder.
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5. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless
each Holder, the officers, directors, managers, partners, members, shareholders,
agents, brokers, investment advisors and employees of each of them, each Person
who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities
Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, agents and
employees of each such controlling Person, to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, costs of preparation and
attorneys' fees) and expenses (collectively, "Losses"), as incurred, arising out
of or relating to any violation of securities laws or 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 supplement thereto, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made) not misleading, except to the extent, but only to the
extent, that such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon
information regarding such Holder or such other Indemnified Party furnished in
writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein. 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 and employees of such controlling Persons, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as
incurred, arising solely out of or based solely upon any untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or any
form of prospectus, or arising solely out of or based solely upon any omission
of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or
supplement thereto, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made) not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement or omission is contained in any information so furnished in writing by
such Holder or other Indemnifying Party to the Company specifically for
inclusion in the Registration Statement or such Prospectus. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, each Holder shall be liable under
this Section 5(b) for only that amount as does not exceed the net proceeds to
such Holder as a result of the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement.
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(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 promptly shall notify the Person
from whom indemnity is sought (the "Indemnifying Party) in writing, and the
Indemnifying Party shall be entitled 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
proximately and materially adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.
An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel
in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party
or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such
fees and expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to
assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named
parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both
such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such parties 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 one 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 such counsel shall
be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying Party shall not
be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written
consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. No
Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified
Party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened Proceeding in respect
of which any Indemnified Party is a party and indemnity has been sought
hereunder, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such
Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of
such Proceeding.
All 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 (10) Business Days of written notice thereof to the
Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an
Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder; provided, that
the Indemnified Party shall reimburse all such fees and expenses to the extent
it is finally judicially determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled
to indemnification hereunder).
(d) Contribution. If a claim for indemnification under Section 5(a)
or 5(b) is due but unavailable to an Indemnified Party because of a failure or
refusal of a governmental authority to enforce such indemnification in
accordance with its terms (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
benefits received by the Indemnifying Party on the one hand and the Indemnified
Party on the other from the offering of the Common Stock and Warrant to the
Purchaser. If, but only if, the allocation provided by the foregoing sentence is
not permitted by applicable law, the allocation of contribution shall be made in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits
referred to in the foregoing sentence but also the relative fault, as
applicable, 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
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Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact,
has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by, such
Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result
of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth
in Section 5(c), any reasonable attorneys' or other reasonable fees or expenses
incurred by such party in connection with any Proceeding to the extent such
party would have been indemnified for such fees or expenses if the
indemnification provided for in this Section was available to such party in
accordance with its terms. In no event shall any selling Holder be required to
contribute an amount under this Section 5(d) in excess of the net proceeds
received by such Holder upon sale of such Holder's Registrable Securities
pursuant to the Registration Statement giving rise to such contribution
obligation.
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.
No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The indemnity and
contribution agreements contained in this Section are in addition to any
liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the Indemnified Parties
pursuant to the law.
6. Rule 144.
As long as any Holder owns any of the Warrant or Registrable
Securities, the Company covenants to timely file (or obtain extensions in
respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports
required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and, upon the request of any Holder, to
promptly furnish such Holder with true and complete copies of all such filings.
As long as any Holder owns any of the Warrant or Registrable Securities, if the
Company is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act, it will prepare and furnish to the Holders and make publicly
available in accordance with Rule 144(c) promulgated under the Securities Act
annual and quarterly financial statements, together with a discussion and
analysis of such financial statements in form and substance substantially
similar to those that would otherwise be required to be included in reports
required by Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as well as any other
information required thereby, in the time period that such filings would have
been required to have been made under the Exchange Act. The Company further
covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder may reasonably
request in writing, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such
Person to sell the Shares and the Warrant Shares without registration under the
Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144
promulgated under the Securities Act, including providing any legal opinions
relating to such sale pursuant to Rule 144. Upon the request of any Holder, the
Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly
authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
11
7. Miscellaneous.
(a) Remedies. In the event of a breach by the Company or by a
Holder, of any of their obligations under this Agreement, such Holder or the
Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all
rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages,
will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The
Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate
compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the
provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any
action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the
defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.
(b) No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has, as of the date hereof entered into and currently in effect,
nor shall the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on or after the date of this
Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that is
inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or
otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. Except as disclosed in Schedule
2.1(c) of the Purchase Agreement or the Commission Documents, neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries has previously entered into any agreement
currently in effect granting any registration rights with respect to any of its
securities to any Person. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
without the written consent of the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding
Registrable Securities, the Company shall not grant to any Person the right to
request the Company to register any securities of the Company, under the
Securities Act unless the rights so granted are subject in all respects to the
prior rights in full of the Holders set forth herein, and are not otherwise in
conflict with the provisions of this Agreement.
(c) No Piggyback on Registrations. Neither the Company nor any of
its security holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto or
as disclosed on Schedule 2.1(c) of the Purchase Agreement or holders of
securities contemplated by Section 2 above) may include securities of the
Company in the Registration Statement. The Company shall not after the date
hereof enter into any agreement providing such right to any of its
securityholders, unless the right so granted is subject in all respects to the
prior rights in full of the Holders set forth herein, and is not otherwise in
conflict with the provisions of this Agreement.
(d) Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time when there is not an
effective Registration Statement covering (i) Shares or (ii) Warrant Shares the
Company shall determine to prepare and file with the Commission a registration
statement relating to an offering for its own account or the account of others
under the Securities Act of any of its equity securities, other than on Form S-4
or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the Securities Act) or their then
equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in connection with
any acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities issuable in
connection with stock option or other employee benefit plans, the Company shall
send to each Holder written notice of such determination and, if within thirty
(30) days after receipt of such notice, or within such shorter period of time as
may be specified by the Company in such written notice as may be necessary for
the Company to comply with its obligations with respect to the timing of the
filing of such registration statement, any such Holder shall so request in
writing (which request shall specify the Registrable Securities intended to be
disposed of by such Holder), the Company will cause the registration under the
12
Securities Act of all Registrable Securities which the Company has been so
requested to register by such Holder, to the extent requisite to permit the
disposition of the Registrable Securities so to be registered, provided that if
at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any
securities and prior to the effective date of the registration statement filed
in connection with such registration, the Company shall determine for any reason
not to register or to delay registration of such securities, the Company may, at
its election, give written notice of such determination to such Holder and,
thereupon, (i) in the case of a determination not to register, shall be relieved
of its obligation under this Section 7(d) to register any Registrable Securities
in connection with such registration (but not from its obligation to pay
expenses in accordance with Section 4 hereof), and (ii) in the case of a
determination to delay registering, shall be permitted to delay registering any
Registrable Securities being registered pursuant to this Section 7(d) for the
same period as the delay in registering such other securities. The Company shall
include in such registration statement all or any part of such Registrable
Securities such Holder requests to be registered; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to
this Section 7(d) that are eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144(k) of the
Securities Act. In the case of an underwritten public offering, if the managing
underwriter(s) or underwriter(s) should reasonably object to the inclusion of
the Registrable Securities in such registration statement, then if the Company
after consultation with the managing underwriter should reasonably determine
that the inclusion of such Registrable Securities would materially adversely
affect the offering contemplated in such registration statement, and based on
such determination recommends inclusion in such registration statement of fewer
or none of the Registrable Securities of the Holders, then (x) the number of
Registrable Securities of the Holders included in such registration statement
shall be reduced pro-rata among such Holders (based upon the number of
Registrable Securities requested to be included in the registration), if the
Company after consultation with the underwriter(s) recommends the inclusion of
fewer Registrable Securities, or (y) none of the Registrable Securities of the
Holders shall be included in such registration statement, if the Company after
consultation with the underwriter(s) recommends the inclusion of none of such
Registrable Securities; provided, however, that if securities are being offered
for the account of other persons or entities as well as the Company, such
reduction shall not represent a greater fraction of the number of Registrable
securities intended to be offered by the Holders than the fraction of similar
reductions imposed on such other persons or entities (other than the Company).
(e) Failure to File Registration Statement and Other Events. The
Company and the Purchaser agree that the Holders will suffer damages if the
Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to the Filing Date and not
declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the Effectiveness Date and
maintained in the manner contemplated herein during the Effectiveness Period or
if certain other events occur. The Company and the Holders further agree that it
would not be feasible to ascertain the extent of such damages with precision.
Accordingly, if (A) the Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to the
Filing Date, or (B) the Registration Statement is not declared effective by the
Commission on or prior to the Effectiveness Date (or in the event an additional
13
Registration Statement is filed because the actual number of shares of Common
Stock into which the Warrant is exercisable exceeds the number of shares of
Common Stock initially registered is not filed and declared effective with the
time periods set forth in Section 2), or (C) the Company fails to file with the
Commission a request for acceleration in accordance with Rule 461 promulgated
under the Securities Act within three (3) Business Days of the date that the
Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the
Commission that a Registration Statement will not be "reviewed," or not subject
to further review, or (D) the Registration Statement is filed with and declared
effective by the Commission but thereafter ceases to be effective as to all
Registrable Securities at any time prior to the expiration of the Effectiveness
Period, without being succeeded promptly by a subsequent Registration Statement
filed with and declared effective by the Commission in accordance with Section 2
hereof, or (E) the Company has breached Section 3(n), or (F) trading in the
Common Stock shall be suspended or if the Common Stock is delisted from the
Nasdaq Capital Market (or other principal exchange on which the Common Stock is
listed or traded) for any reason for more than three (3) Business Days in the
aggregate without subsequent listing on another exchange or the quotation of the
Common Stock on the OTC Bulletin Board (any such failure or breach being
referred to as an "Event," and for purposes of clauses (A) and (B) the date on
which such Event occurs, or for purposes of clause (C) the date on which such
three (3) Business Day period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause (D) after
more than fifteen (15) Business Days, or for purposes of clause (F) the date on
which such three (3) Business Day period is exceeded, being referred to as
"Event Date"), the Company shall pay an amount in cash as liquidated damages to
each Holder equal to one percent (1%) of the Holder's initial investment in the
Shares from the Event Date, less any number of Shares that have been sold by
such Holder, for each calendar month (prorated for shorter periods) until the
applicable Event is cured; provided, however, that in no event shall the amount
of liquidated damages payable at any time and from time to time to any Holder
pursuant to this Section 7(e) exceed an aggregate of eighteen percent (18%) of
the amount of the Holder's initial investment in the Shares. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this paragraph (e), if (i) any of the Events
described in clauses (A), (B), (C), (D) or (F) shall have occurred, (II) on or
prior to the applicable Event Date, the Company shall have exercised its rights
under Section 3(n) hereof and (III) the postponement or suspension permitted
pursuant to such Section 3(n) shall remain effective as of such applicable Event
Date, then the applicable Event Date shall be deemed instead to occur on the
second Business Day following the termination of such postponement or
suspension. Liquidated damages payable by the Company pursuant to this Section
7(e) shall be payable on the first (1st) Business Day of each thirty (30) day
period following the Event Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, in no event shall any liquidated damages be payable with
respect to the Warrant or the Warrant Shares.
(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 the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities outstanding.
14
(g) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or
deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed given and effective on the earlier of (i) the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile
(evidenced by a successful transmission) at the facsimile telephone number
specified for notice prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on a Business Day,
(ii) the Business Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or
communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile telephone number
specified for notice later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on any date and
earlier than 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on such date, (iii) the Business
Day following the date of mailing, if sent by overnight delivery by nationally
recognized overnight courier service or (iv) actual receipt by the party to whom
such notice is required to be given. The addresses for such communications shall
be with respect to each Holder at its address set forth under its name on the
signature page attached hereto with copies to its legal counsel named therein,
or with respect to the Company, addressed to:
Nutrition 21, Inc.
0 Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Chief Executive Officer and General
Counsel
Tel. No.: (000) 000-0000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
with copies (which copies
shall not constitute notice
to the Company) to: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Tel. No.: (000) 000-0000
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
or to such other address or addresses or facsimile number or numbers as any such
party may most recently have designated in writing to the other parties hereto
by such notice. Copies of notices to each Holder (in addition to the legal
counsel set forth on the signature page attached hereto) shall be sent to Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP, 0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
00000, Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq., Telephone No.: (000) 000-0000,
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000.
(h) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted assigns
and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder and its successors and assigns.
The Company may not assign this Agreement or any of its rights or obligations
hereunder without the prior written consent of each Holder. The Purchaser may
assign its rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted under
the Purchase Agreement.
(i) Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights of each Holder
hereunder, including the right to have the Company register for resale
Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, shall be
automatically assignable by each Holder to any Person of all or a portion of the
Shares or Registrable Securities if: (i) such Holder agrees in writing with the
transferee or assignee to assign such rights, and a copy of such agreement is
furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such assignment, (ii)
the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment,
furnished with written notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or
assignee, and (b) the securities with respect to which such registration rights
are being transferred or assigned, (iii) following such transfer or assignment
the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignees is
restricted under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, (iv)
at or before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by
clause (ii) of this Section, the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with
the Company to be bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement, and (v) such
transfer shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of
the Purchase Agreement. The rights to assignment shall apply to the Holders (and
to subsequent) successors and assigns.
15
(j) 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 and
shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and
delivered to the other parties hereto, it being understood that all parties need
not sign the same counterpart. 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; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York,
without giving effect to any of the conflicts of law principles which would
result in the application of the substantive law of another jurisdiction. This
Agreement shall not be interpreted or construed with any presumption against the
party causing this Agreement to be drafted. The Company and the Holders agree
that venue for any dispute arising under this Agreement will lie exclusively in
the state or federal courts located in New York County, New York, and the
parties irrevocably waive any right to raise forum non conveniens or any other
argument that New York is not the proper venue. The Company and the Holders
irrevocably consent to personal jurisdiction in the state and federal courts of
the state of New York. The Company and the Holders consent to process being
served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such
party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees
that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and
notice thereof. Nothing in this Section 7(k) shall affect or limit any right to
serve process in any other manner permitted by law. The Company and the Holders
hereby agree that the prevailing party in any suit, action or proceeding arising
out of or relating to this Agreement or the Purchase Agreement, shall be
entitled to reimbursement for reasonable legal fees from the non-prevailing
party. The parties hereby waive all rights to a trial by jury.
(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 to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable in any
respect, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set
forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be
affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their
reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same
or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision,
covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the
intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms,
provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be
hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
16
(n) Headings. The headings herein are for convenience only, do not
constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect
any of the provisions hereof.
(o) Shares Held by the Company and its Affiliates. Whenever the
consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable
Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or
its Affiliates (other than any Holder or transferees or successors or assigns
thereof if such Holder is deemed to be an Affiliate solely by reason of its
holdings of such Registrable Securities) shall not be counted in determining
whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required
percentage.
(p) Independent Nature of the Purchaser. The Company acknowledges
that the obligations of the Purchaser under the Transaction Documents are
several and not joint with the obligations of any third party purchaser of the
Company's securities, and the Purchaser shall not be responsible in any way for
the performance of the obligations of any third party purchaser of the Company's
securities. The Company acknowledges that the decision of the Purchaser to
purchase Securities pursuant to the Transaction Documents has been made by the
Purchaser independently of any third party purchaser of the Company's
securities. Nothing contained herein or in any other Transaction Document or any
agreement of any such third party purchaser, and no action taken by the
Purchaser pursuant to any of the Transaction Documents or any such third party
purchaser pursuant thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchaser and any
third party purchaser of the Company's securities as a partnership, an
association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity or group, or create a
presumption that the Purchaser and any such third party purchaser of the
Company's securities are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect
to any matters. The Purchaser acknowledges that no third party purchaser of the
Company's securities has acted as agent for the Purchaser in connection with
making its investment hereunder and that no third party purchaser of the
Company's securities will be acting as agent of the Purchaser in connection with
17
monitoring its investment in the Securities or enforcing its rights under the
Transaction Documents. The Company acknowledges that the Purchaser shall be
entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, (including, without
limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of the other
Transaction Documents), and it shall not be necessary for any third party
purchaser of the Company's securities to be joined as an additional party in any
proceeding for such purpose. To the extent that any such third party purchasers
purchase the same or similar securities as the Purchaser hereunder or on the
same or similar terms and conditions or pursuant to the same or similar
documents, all such matters are solely in the control of the Company, not the
action or decision of the Purchaser, and would be solely for the convenience of
the Company and not because it was required or requested to do so by the
Purchaser or any such third party purchaser. For clarification purposes only and
without implication that the contrary would otherwise be true, the transactions
contemplated by the Transaction Documents include only the transaction between
the Company and the Purchaser and do not include any other transaction between
the Company and any other third party purchaser of the Company's securities. The
Purchaser acknowledges that it has retained its own individual counsel with
respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
18
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Registration
Rights Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized persons as
of the date first indicated above.
NUTRITION 21, INC.
By:_____________________________________
Name:
Title:
CD INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LTD.
By: CD Capital Management, LLC
Its: Investment Manager
By: ______________________________________
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, President
Address:
CD Investment Partners, Ltd.
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
with a copy to:
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, LLP
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx and Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
19
Exhibit A
Plan of Distribution
The selling security holders and any of their pledgees, donees, assignees
and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their
shares of common stock being offered under this prospectus on any stock
exchange, market or trading facility on which shares of our common stock are
traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated
prices. The selling security holders may use any one or more of the following
methods when disposing of 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 resales 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 to cover short sales made after the date that the registration
statement of which this prospectus is a part is declared effective
by the Commission;
o broker-dealers may agree with the selling security holders to sell a
specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
o a combination of any of these methods of sale; and
o any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
The shares may also be sold under Rule 144 under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended ("Securities Act"), if available, rather than under this
prospectus. The selling security holders have the sole and absolute discretion
not to accept any purchase offer or make any sale of shares if they deem the
purchase price to be unsatisfactory at any particular time.
The selling security holders may pledge their shares to their brokers
under the margin provisions of customer agreements. If a selling security holder
defaults on a margin loan, the broker may, from time to time, offer and sell the
pledged shares.
Broker-dealers engaged by the selling security holders may arrange for
other broker-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive
commissions or discounts from the selling security holders (or, if any
broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in
amounts to be negotiated, which commissions as to a particular broker or dealer
may be in excess of customary commissions to the extent permitted by applicable
law.
20
If sales of shares offered under this prospectus are made to
broker-dealers as principals, we would be required to file a post-effective
amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. In
the post-effective amendment, we would be required to disclose the names of any
participating broker-dealers and the compensation arrangements relating to such
sales.
The selling security holders and any broker-dealers or agents that are
involved in selling the shares offered under this prospectus may be deemed to be
"underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with these
sales. Commissions received by these 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. Any broker-dealers or agents
that are deemed to be underwriters may not sell shares offered under this
prospectus unless and until we set forth the names of the underwriters and the
material details of their underwriting arrangements in a supplement to this
prospectus or, if required, in a replacement prospectus included in a
post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus
is a part.
The selling security holders and any other persons participating in the
sale or distribution of the shares offered under this prospectus will be subject
to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations
under that act, including, to the extent applicable, Regulation M. These
provisions may restrict activities of, and limit the timing of purchases and
sales of any of the shares by, the selling security holders or any other person.
Furthermore, under Regulation M, to the extent applicable, persons engaged in a
distribution of securities may be prohibited from simultaneously engaging in
market making and other activities with respect to those securities for a
specified period of time prior to the commencement of such distributions,
subject to specified exceptions or exemptions. All of these limitations may
affect the marketability of the shares.
If any of the shares of common stock offered for sale pursuant to this
prospectus are transferred other than pursuant to a sale under this prospectus,
then subsequent holders could not use this prospectus until a post-effective
amendment or prospectus supplement is filed, naming such holders. We offer no
assurance as to whether any of the selling security holders will sell all or any
portion of the shares offered under this prospectus.
We have agreed to pay all fees and expenses we incur incident to the
registration of the shares being offered under this prospectus. However, each
selling security holder and purchaser is responsible for paying any discounts,
commissions and similar selling expenses they incur.
We and the selling security holders have agreed to indemnify one another
against certain losses, damages and liabilities arising in connection with this
prospectus, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
21
