exv10w10



 





Exhibit 10.10




 

 








AUSAM ENERGY CORPORATION




REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

dated as of July 3, 2007




 

 






 









 












AUSAM ENERGY CORPORATION




REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT




     This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”), is made and entered into as of July 3,
2007, by and among Ausam Energy Corporation, a body corporate incorporated pursuant to the laws of
the Province of Alberta, Canada (the “Company”) and each of the Holders.



     WHEREAS, prior to the date hereof, certain of the Holders purchased Common Shares or other
securities issued by the Company which are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares; and



     WHEREAS, certain of the Holders own or have the right to purchase or otherwise acquire Common
Shares; and



     WHEREAS, the Company and the Holders deem it to be in their respective best interests to set
forth their rights in connection with public offerings and sales of the Common Shares; and



     WHEREAS, the Company has agreed to provide the Holders certain registration rights with
respect to the Registrable Shares, as set forth in this Agreement;



     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants and obligations
hereinafter set forth, the Company and each of the Holders hereby agree as follows:



     Section 1. Definitions.




          As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:




          “Agreement” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the opening paragraph of this Agreement.




          “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.




          “Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other Federal agency at the
time administering the Securities Act.




          “Common Shares” means the common shares of the Company.




          “Company” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the opening paragraph of this Agreement.




          “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor
Federal statute, and the rules and regulations, of the Commission promulgated thereunder, all as
the same shall be in effect from time to time.




          “Holders” means the holders of Common Shares or other securities issued by the Company which
are convertible into or exchangeable Common Shares and the holders of rights to purchase or
otherwise acquire Common Shares which shall have executed a counterpart




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signature page hereto, and includes any successor to, or assignee or transferee of, any such Person
or entity which agrees in writing to be treated as an Holder hereunder and to be bound by the terms
and comply with all applicable provisions hereof.




          “Information” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(i) of this Agreement.




          “Inspectors” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(i) of this Agreement.




          “Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, general partnership, limited partnership,
limited liability partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, limited
liability company, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political
subdivision thereof.




          “Records” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(i) of this Agreement.




          “Registrable Shares” means (i) any Common Shares held by the Holders or which the Holders
have the right to purchase or otherwise acquire (including, but not limited to, by way of
conversion or exchange) and (ii) any Common Shares which may be issued or distributed or be
issuable in respect of such Common Shares by way of conversion, concession, stock dividend or
stock split or other distribution, recapitalization or reclassification or similar transaction,
but with respect to such shares, only so long as such shares constitute Restricted Shares.




          “Restricted Shares” means Common Shares held by the Holders or which the Holders have the
right to purchase or otherwise acquire. As to any particular Restricted Shares, once issued, such
Restricted Shares shall cease to be Restricted Shares when (i) a registration statement covering
such Registrable Shares has been declared effective by the Commission and such Registrable Shares
have been sold or disposed of pursuant to such effective registration statement; (ii) such
Registrable Shares have been disposed of pursuant to any Section of Rule 144 (or any similar
provision then in force under the Securities Act); (iii) such Registrable Shares are held by the
Company or one of its subsidiaries; (iv) such Registrable Shares have been sold in a private
transaction in which the transferor’s rights under this Agreement are not assigned to the
transferee of such securities; or (v) such Registrable Shares become eligible for resale under
Rule 144(k) (or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act).




          “Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto
or any complementary rule thereto (such as Rule 144A).




          “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor Federal
statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in
effect from time to time.




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     Section 2. Registration on Form S-1.




          As soon as practicable the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to obtain audited
financial statements as of and for its three fiscal years ended December 31, 2006 prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles meeting the requirements of the
Commission for a registration statement on Form S-1 relating to the sale of the Common Shares. At
such time as the Company shall have obtained audited financial statements as of and for its three
fiscal years ended December 31, 2006 prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles meeting the applicable requirements of the Commission, the Company shall prepare, and
as soon as practicable file with the Commission, a registration statement on Form S-1 (or any
other form for which the Company is then eligible) covering the resale by the Holders of all
Registrable Shares then held by the Holders. The Company shall use its reasonable efforts to have
the registration statement declared effective by the Commission as soon as practicable. By 9:30
a.m. on the business day following the effective date of the registration statement, the Company
shall file with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424 under the Securities Act the final
prospectus to be used in connection with sales pursuant to such registration statement.




     Section 3. Preparation and Filing.




          If and whenever the Company is under an obligation pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement to use its reasonable efforts to effect the registration of any Registrable Shares, the
Company shall, as expeditiously as practicable:




          (a) prepare and file with the Commission as soon as practicable the requisite
registration statement to effect such registration;




          (b) furnish, at least five business days before filing a registration statement that
registers such Registrable Shares, a prospectus relating thereto or any amendments or
supplements relating to such a registration statement or prospectus (in each case including,
without limitation, all exhibits) to each Holder, copies of all such documents proposed to be
filed; provided, that the Company shall not file any part of any such documents to which any
Holder shall have reasonably objected on the grounds that it does not comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or of the rules or regulations
thereunder;




          (c) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be
necessary to keep such registration statement effective until all of such Registrable Shares are no
longer Restricted Securities and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to
the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Shares;




          (d) notify in writing on a timely basis the Holders (i) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to any comments by the Commission with respect to such registration statement or prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any
request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing thereof or for additional information with respect thereto, (ii) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the
issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such registration
statement




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or prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or the initiation or threatening of any
proceeding for that purpose and (iii) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
respect to the suspension of the qualification of such Registrable Shares for sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purposes;




          (e) use its reasonable efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Shares under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Holders reasonably request
and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the Holders to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Shares
owned by the Holders; provided, however, that the Company will not be required to qualify generally
to do business, subject itself to general taxation or consent to general service of process in
any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to do so but for this paragraph (e) or
to provide any material undertaking or make any changes in its bylaws or articles of
incorporation which the Board determines to be contrary to the best interests of the Company or to modify
any of its contractual relationships then existing;




          (f) furnish to the Holders holding such Registrable Shares such number of copies
of a summary prospectus, if any, or other prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as the
Holders may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of such

Registrable Shares;




          (g) without limiting subsection (e) above, use its reasonable efforts to cause such
Registrable Shares to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or
authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company to
enable the Holders holding such Registrable Shares to consummate the disposition of such
Registrable Shares;




          (h) notify the Holders holding such Registrable Shares on a timely basis at any time when a
prospectus relating to such Registrable Shares is required to be delivered under the Securities
Act within the appropriate period mentioned in subparagraph (a) of this Section 3, of the
happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration
statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading in light of the circumstances then existing and, at the request of the Holders prepare
and furnish to the Holders a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of
such prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the offerees of such
shares, such prospectus shall not include 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 not
misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;




          (i) subject to the execution of confidentiality agreements in form and substance satisfactory
to the Company, make available upon reasonable notice and during normal business hours, for
inspection by the Holders holding such Registrable Shares, any underwriter participating in any
disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent
retained by the Holders or underwriter (collectively, the “Inspectors”), all pertinent financial
and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the




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Company (collectively, the “Records”), as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to
exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and
employees to supply all information (together with the Records, the “Information”) reasonably
requested by any such Inspector in connection with such registration statement. Any of the
Information which the Company determines in good faith to be confidential, and of which
determination the Inspectors are so notified, shall not be disclosed by the Inspectors unless
(i) the disclosure of such Information is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or
omission in the registration statement, (ii) the release of such Information is ordered pursuant
to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction or (iii) such Information
has been made generally available to the public; the Holders agree that they will, upon learning
that disclosure of such Information is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, give notice
to the Company and allow the Company, at the Company’s expense, to undertake appropriate action
to prevent disclosure of the Information deemed confidential;




          (j) provide a transfer agent and registrar (which may be the same entity and which may be
the Company) for such Registrable Shares;




          (k) issue certificates evidencing such Registrable Shares to any underwriter to which the
Holders holding such Registrable Shares may sell shares in such offering;




          (1) subject to all the other provisions of this Agreement, use its reasonable efforts to
take all other steps necessary to effect the registration of such Registrable Shares
contemplated hereby.




          Each Holder of the Registrable Shares, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of any
event of the kind described in Section 3(h) hereof, shall forthwith discontinue disposition of
the Registrable Shares pursuant to the registration statement covering such Registrable Shares
until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated
by Section 3(h) hereof, and, if so directed by the Company, such Holder shall deliver to the
Company all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession, of the
prospectus covering such Registrable Shares at the time of receipt of such notice.




     Section 4. Expenses.




          All expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions relating to the Registrable
Shares, as provided below) incurred by the Company in complying with Section 3, including,
without limitation, all registration and filing fees (including all expenses incident to filing
with the NASD), fees and expenses of complying with securities and blue sky laws, printing
expenses and fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants shall be paid by the
Company; provided, however, that all underwriting discounts and selling commissions applicable
to the Registrable Shares shall be borne by the Holders selling such Registrable Shares, in
proportion to the number of Registrable Shares sold by each such Holder.




     Section 5. Mergers, etc.




          The Company shall not, directly or indirectly, enter into any merger, consolidation or reorganization in which the Company shall not be the surviving entity unless the




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surviving entity shall, prior to such merger, consolidation or reorganization, agree in writing to
assume the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, and for that purpose references
hereunder to “Registrable Shares” shall be deemed to include the common equity interests or other
securities, if any, which the Holders would be entitled to receive in exchange for Registrable
Shares under any such merger, consolidation or reorganization, provided that, to the extent the
Holders receive securities that are by their terms convertible into common equity interests of the
issuer thereof, then any such common equity interests as are issued or issuable upon conversion of
said convertible securities shall be included within the definition of “Registrable Shares.”




     Section 6. Information by Holders.




          The Holders shall furnish to the Company such written information regarding the Holders and
the distribution proposed by the Holders as the Company may reasonably request in writing and as
shall be reasonably required in connection with any registration, qualification or compliance
referred to in this Agreement.




     Section 7. Rule 144; Rule 144A.




          (a) If the Company shall have filed a registration statement pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Exchange Act or a registration statement pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to file the
reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act (or, if the Company
is not required to file such reports, will, upon the request of any Holder of Registrable Shares,
use its reasonable efforts to make publicly available other information) and will use its
reasonable efforts to take such further action as any Holder of Registrable Shares may reasonably
request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Registrable Shares without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided
by Rule 144. Upon the request of any Holder of Registrable Shares, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements. After
any sale of Registrable Shares pursuant to this Section 13, the Company shall, to the extent
allowed by law, cause any restrictive legends to be removed and any transfer restrictions to be
rescinded with respect to such Registrable Shares.




          (b) In order to permit the Holders of Registrable Shares to sell the same, if they so desire, pursuant to Rule 144A, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to comply with
all rules and regulations of the Commission applicable in connection with use of Rule 144A. Prospective transferees of Registrable Shares that are Qualified Institutional Buyers (as
defined in Rule 144A), which would be purchasing such Registrable Shares in reliance upon Rule 144A, may request from the Company information regarding the business, operations and assets of the Company.
As soon as practicable after receipt by the Company of any such request, the Company shall deliver to any such prospective transferee copies of annual audited and
quarterly unaudited financial statements of the Company and such other information as may be required to be supplied by the Company for it to comply with Rule 144A.




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     Section 8. No Conflict of Rights; Future Rights.




          The Company shall not, after the date hereof, grant any registration rights that conflict with
or adversely affect the rights granted to the Holders hereby. If at any time following the date
hereof, the Company shall grant to any present or future holder of securities of the Company rights
to in any manner cause or participate in any Registration Statement of the Company that are
superior to or otherwise conflict with the rights granted to the Holders hereby, then this
Agreement shall be amended to provide the Holders with rights equal to those granted after the date
hereof.




     Section 9. Termination.




          This Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force or effect when (i) there shall no
longer be any Registrable Shares outstanding, or (ii) all of the Registrable Shares may be sold
without registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Rule 144(k).




     Section 10. Successors and Assigns.




          This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the Company, the Holders and, subject
to Section 11, the respective successors and assigns of the Company and the Holders.




     Section 11. Assignment.




          Any Holder may assign its rights hereunder to any purchaser or transferee of Registrable
Shares; provided, however, that such purchaser or transferee shall, as a condition to the
effectiveness of such assignment, be required to execute a counterpart to this Agreement agreeing
to be treated as an Holder whereupon such purchaser or transferee shall have the benefits of, and
shall be subject to the restrictions contained in, this Agreement as if such purchaser or
transferee was originally included in the definition of Holders herein and had originally been a
party hereto.




     Section 12. Entire Agreement.




          This Agreement and the other writings referred to herein contain the entire agreement between
the Holders and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and
contemporaneous arrangements or understandings with respect thereto.




     Section 13. Notices.




          All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder to any party shall be
deemed to be sufficient if contained in a written instrument delivered in person or sent by
telecopy, nationally-recognized overnight courier or. first class registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to such party at the address set forth below
or such other address as may hereafter be designated in writing by such party to the other
parties:





	 	(i)	 	If to the Company:




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Ausam Energy Corporation

1122 Fourth Street S.W., Suite 1430

Calgary, Alberta T2R 1Ml

Telephone: (403) 215-2380

Facsimile: (403) 206-1457

Attention: Chief Executive Officer and President



with a copy to:



Mark Kelly, Esq.

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500

Houston, Texas 77002

Telephone: (713) 758-4592

Facsimile: (713) 615-5531





	 	(ii)	 	If to the Holders, to each Holder’s address set forth on Schedule I.





          All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to have been
delivered (a) in the case of personal delivery or delivery by telecopy, on the date of such
delivery, (b) in the case of dispatch by nationally-recognized overnight courier, on the next
business day following such dispatch and (c) in the case of mailing, on the third business day
after the posting thereof.




     Section 14. Modifications; Amendments: Waivers.




          The terms and provisions of this Agreement may not be modified or amended, nor may any
provision be waived, except pursuant to a writing signed by the Company and the Holders of at
least a majority of the Registrable Shares then outstanding.




     Section 15. Remedies; Specific Performance.




          (a) Each Holder shall have all rights and remedies reserved for such Holder pursuant to this
Agreement and all rights and remedies which such Holder has been granted at any time under any
other agreement or contract and all of the rights which such Holder has under any law or equity.
Any Person having any rights under any provision of this Agreement will be entitled to enforce
such rights specifically, to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this
Agreement and to exercise all other rights granted by law or equity.




          (b) The parties hereto recognize and agree that money damages may be insufficient to
compensate the Holders of any Registrable Shares for breaches by the Company of the terms hereof
and, consequently, that the equitable remedies of injunctive relief and of specific performance of
the terms hereof will be available in the event of any such breach. If any action should be
brought in equity to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement, none of the parties hereto
shall raise the defense that there is an adequate remedy at law.




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     Section 16. Severability.




          It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced
to the fullest extent permissible under the law and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in
which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, in the event that any provision of this Agreement would
be held in any jurisdiction to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any reason, such
provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating the remaining
provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any
other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn
so as not be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such
jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement
or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.




     Section 17. Counterparts.




          This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, and each such counterpart
hereof shall be deemed to be an original instrument, but all such counterparts together shall
constitute but one agreement.




     Section 18. Headings.




          The headings of the various sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of
reference only and shall not be deemed to be a part of this Agreement.




     Section 19. Governing Law.




          This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed wholly therein.




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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this Registration Rights Agreement on
the date first written above.



	 	 	 	 	 
	 	THE COMPANY:



AUSAM ENERGY CORPORATION

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Richard Lummis	 
	 	 	Richard Lummis 	 
	 	 	Vice President, Legal and Compliance and
Corporate Secretary 	 
	 



Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement




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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of
the date first written above.



	 	 	 	 	 
	 	THE HUFF ENERGY FUND, L.P.



By  WRH ENERGY PARTNERS, L.L.C., 

       General Partner

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/
Bryan Bloom	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 



Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement




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Schedule I

List of Holders with Addresses




The Huff Energy Fund, L.P.

67 Park Place, 9th Floor

Morristown, NJ 07960





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