ex_443781.htm


Exhibit 10.1


 


EXECUTION VERSION


 


 


 


REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


 


This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of November 2, 2022 by and among Compass Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the “Investors” named in that certain Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the Company and the Investors (the “Purchase Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Purchase Agreement unless otherwise defined herein.


 


The parties hereby agree as follows:


 


1. Certain Definitions.


 


As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings: “Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.


 


“Effectiveness Deadline” means, with respect to the Registration Statement, February 1, 2023.


 


“Investors” means the Investors identified in the Purchase Agreement and any Affiliate or permitted transferee of any Investor who is a subsequent holder of Registrable Securities.


 


“Prospectus” means (i) the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, 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 such Registration Statement and by all other amendments and supplements to the prospectus, including post- effective amendments and all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus and (ii) any “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”).


 


“Register,” “registered” and “registration” refer to a registration made by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or similar document in compliance with the 1933 Act, and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement or document.


 


“Registrable Securities” means (i) the Purchased Shares and (ii) any other securities issued or issuable with respect to or in exchange for Registrable Securities, whether by merger, charter amendment or otherwise; provided, that a security shall cease to be a Registrable Security upon sale pursuant to a Registration Statement or Rule 144 under the 1933 Act.


 


“Registration Statement” means any registration statement of the Company under the 1933 Act that covers the resale of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement.


 


“Required Investors” means the Investors holding a majority of the Registrable Securities outstanding from time to time.


 


2. Registration.


 


(a) Registration Statements.


 


(i)    Promptly following the Closing Date but in any case no later than 30 days after the Closing Date (the “Filing Deadline”), the Company shall prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) one Registration Statement covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities. Subject to any SEC comments, such Registration Statement shall include the plan of distribution attached hereto as Exhibit A. Such Registration Statement also shall cover, to the extent allowable under the 1933 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. Such Registration Statement shall


 





 










 








 


not include any shares of Common Stock or other securities for the account of any other holder without the prior written consent of the Required Investors. Such Registration Statement (and each amendment or supplement thereto, and each request for acceleration of effectiveness thereof) shall be provided in accordance with Section 4(c) to the Investors prior to its filing or other submission. If a Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities is not filed with the SEC on or prior to the Filing Deadline, the Company will make pro rata payments to each Investor, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, in an amount equal to 1% of the aggregate amount invested by such Investor for each 30-day period or pro rata for any portion thereof following the Filing Deadline for which no Registration Statement is filed with respect to the Registrable Securities. Such payments shall constitute the Investors’ exclusive monetary remedy for such events, but shall not affect the right of the Investors to seek injunctive relief. Such payments shall be made to each Investor in cash no later than three Business Days after the end of each 30-day period (the “Payment Date”). Interest shall accrue at the rate of 1% per month on any such liquidated damages payments that shall not be paid by the Payment Date until such amount is paid in full. The parties agree that the maximum aggregate liquidated damages payable to a holder of Registrable Securities under this Agreement shall be 5.0% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for the Registrable Securities then held by such holder.


 


(ii)    The Registration Statement referred to in Section 2(a)(i) shall be on Form S-3. In the event that Form S-3 is not available for the registration of the resale of Registrable Securities hereunder at the Filing Deadline, the Company shall (i) register the resale of the Registrable Securities on such other form as is available to the Company and (ii) so long as Registrable Securities remain outstanding, promptly following the date upon which the Company becomes eligible to use a registration statement on Form S-3 to register the Registrable Securities for resale (the “Qualification Date”), but in no event more than 30 days after the Qualification Date (the “Qualification Deadline”), the Company shall file a registration statement on Form S-3 covering the Registrable Securities (or a post-effective amendment on Form S-3 to a registration statement on Form S-1) (a “Shelf Registration Statement”); provided that the Company shall maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement then in effect until such time as a Shelf Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities has been declared effective by the SEC.


 


(b) Expenses. The Company will pay all reasonable expenses associated with the filing of any Registration Statement, including filing and printing fees, the Company’s counsel and accounting fees and expenses, costs associated with clearing the Registrable Securities for sale under applicable state securities laws and listing fees, and including selling stockholder counsel fees in an amount not to exceed $50,000, but excluding discounts, commissions and fees of underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers or similar securities industry professionals with respect to the Registrable Securities being sold.


 


(c) Effectiveness.


 


(i)    The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable, but no later than the Effectiveness Deadline. The Company shall notify the Investors by e-mail as promptly as practicable, and in any event, within 48 hours, after any Registration Statement is declared effective and shall simultaneously provide the Investors with copies of any related Prospectus to be used in connection with the sale or other disposition of the securities covered thereby. If (A) a Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities is not declared effective by the SEC prior to the earlier of (i) 5 Business Days after the SEC informs the Company that no review of such Registration Statement will be made or that the SEC has no further comments on such Registration Statement or (ii) the Effectiveness Deadline or (B) after a Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC, sales cannot be made pursuant to such Registration Statement for any reason (including without limitation by reason of a stop order, or the Company’s failure to update such Registration Statement), but excluding any Allowed Delay (as defined below), then the Company will make pro rata payments to each Investor then holding Registrable Securities, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, in an amount equal to 1% of the aggregate amount invested by such Investor for each 30-day period or pro rata for any portion thereof following the date by which such Registration Statement should have been effective (the “Blackout Period”). Such payments shall constitute the Investors’ exclusive monetary remedy for such events, but shall not affect the right of the Investors to seek injunctive relief. The amounts payable as liquidated damages pursuant to this paragraph shall be paid monthly within three Business Days of the last day of each month following the commencement of the Blackout Period until the termination of the Blackout Period (the “Blackout Period Payment Date”). Such payments shall be made to each Investor in cash. Interest shall accrue at the rate of 1% per month on any such liquidated damages payments that shall not be paid by the Blackout Payment Date until such amount is paid in full.


 


 





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(ii)    For not more than 30 consecutive days or for a total of not more than 60 days in any 12 month period, the Company may suspend the use of any Prospectus included in any Registration Statement contemplated by this Section 2 in the event that the Company determines in good faith that such suspension is necessary to (A) delay the disclosure of material non-public information concerning the Company, the disclosure of which at the time is not, in the good faith opinion of the Company, in the best interests of the Company or (B) amend or supplement the affected Registration Statement or the related Prospectus so that such Registration Statement or 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, in the case of the Prospectus in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (an “Allowed Delay”); provided, that the Company shall promptly (a) notify each Investor in writing of the commencement of an Allowed Delay, but shall not (without the prior written consent of an Investor) disclose to such Investor any material non-public information giving rise to an Allowed Delay, (b) advise the Investors in writing to cease all sales under such Registration Statement until the end of the Allowed Delay and


 


(c)    use commercially reasonable efforts to terminate an Allowed Delay as promptly as practicable. With respect to each Investor, at such time when Rule 144 is available for the resale of such Investor’s Registrable Securities without restriction, the time periods referenced in the first sentence of this paragraph shall not limit duration of an Allowed Delay with respect such Investor’s Registrable Securities.


 


(d) Rule 415; Cutback. If at any time the SEC takes the position that the offering of some or all of the Registrable Securities in a Registration Statement is not eligible to be made on a delayed or continuous basis under the provisions of Rule 415 under the 1933 Act or requires any Investor to be named as an “underwriter,” the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to persuade the SEC that the offering contemplated by such Registration Statement is a valid secondary offering and not an offering “by or on behalf of the issuer” as defined in Rule 415 and that none of the Investors is an “underwriter.” The Investors shall have the right to together select one legal counsel designated by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to review and oversee any registration or matters pursuant to this Section 2(d), including participation in any meetings or discussions with the SEC regarding the SEC’s position and to comment on any written submission made to the SEC with respect thereto. No such written submission with respect to this matter shall be made to the SEC to which the Investors’ counsel reasonably objects. In the event that, despite the Company’s commercially reasonable efforts and compliance with the terms of this Section 2(d), the SEC refuses to alter its position, the Company shall (i) remove from such Registration Statement such portion of the Registrable Securities (the “Cut Back Shares”) and/or (ii) agree to such restrictions and limitations on the registration and resale of the Registrable Securities as the SEC may require to assure the Company’s compliance with the requirements of Rule 415 (collectively, the “SEC Restrictions”); provided, however, that the Company shall not agree to name any Investor as an “underwriter” in such Registration Statement without the prior written consent of such Investor. Any cut-back imposed on the Investors pursuant to this Section 2(d) shall be allocated among the Investors on a pro rata basis and shall be applied first to any of the Registrable Securities of such Investor as such Investor shall designate, unless the SEC Restrictions otherwise require or provide or the Investors otherwise agree. No liquidated damages shall accrue as to any Cut Back Shares until such date as the Company is able to effect the registration of such Cut Back Shares in accordance with any SEC Restrictions applicable to such Cut Back Shares (such date, the “Restriction Termination Date”). In furtherance of the foregoing, each Investor shall provide the Company with prompt written notice of its sale of substantially all of the Registrable Securities under such Registration Statement such that the Company will be able to file one or more additional Registration Statements covering the Cut Back Shares. From and after the Restriction Termination Date applicable to any Cut Back Shares, all of the provisions of this Section 2 (including the Company’s obligations with respect to the filing of a Registration Statement and its obligations to use commercially reasonable efforts to have such Registration Statement declared effective within the time periods set forth herein and the liquidated damages provisions relating thereto) shall again be applicable to such Cut Back Shares; provided, however, that (i) the Filing Deadline and/or the Qualification Deadline, as applicable, for such Registration Statement including such Cut Back Shares shall be 10 Business Days after such Restriction Termination Date, and (ii) the date by which the Company is required to obtain effectiveness with respect to such Cut Back Shares shall be the 90th day immediately after the Restriction Termination Date.


 


3. Secondary Offering. If the Company proposes to effect a secondary sale of shares of the Company’s Common Stock of its stockholders by means of an underwritten offering or a block trade of at least (i) 3,000,000 shares of Registrable Securities (as adjusted for any stock split, dividend, combination or other recapitalization from the date hereof) or (ii) an estimated market value of at least $10,000,000 (a “Secondary Offering”), the Company shall promptly give notice of such Secondary Offering at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the anticipated filing date


 





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of the prospectus or supplement relating to such Secondary Offering to the Investors and thereupon shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect, as expeditiously as possible, the offering in such Secondary Offering of subject to the restrictions set forth in this Section 3, all Registrable Securities for which the Investors have requested (such requesting Investors, “Requesting Investors”) to be included in such Secondary Offering within five (5) Business Days after the Company has delivered notice of the Secondary Offering, all to the extent necessary to permit the disposition (in accordance with the intended methods thereof as aforesaid) of the Registrable Securities so to be offered. All Investors proposing to distribute their securities through such Secondary Offering shall enter into an underwriting agreement or other agreement(s), including, if requested by the managing underwriter or investment bank, any lock-up or market standoff agreements, in customary form with the underwriter(s) or investment bank(s) selected for such Secondary Offering as may be mutually agreed upon among the Company, the underwriter(s) or investment bank(s) and the selling stockholders in such Secondary Offering. In connection with a Secondary Offering, the Company shall enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement or other agreement(s), in usual and customary form as may be mutually agreed upon among the Company, the underwriter(s) or investment bank(s) and the selling stockholders in such Secondary Offering. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 3, if the managing underwriter in good faith advises the Requesting Investors and the Company in writing that the inclusion of all Registrable Securities proposed to be included by the Requesting Investors would materially and adversely interfere with the successful marketing of such offering, then the number of shares, including the Registrable Securities, that may be included in such Secondary Offering shall be allocated among the selling stockholders in such Secondary Offering as follows: (i) first, the shares of common stock to be included in such Secondary Offering by the selling stockholders in such Secondary Offering and the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Secondary Offering by the Requesting Investors in proportion (as nearly as practicable) to the number of shares of common stock or Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by each such selling stockholder and such Requesting Investors or in such other proportion as shall mutually be agreed to by all such selling stockholders and Requesting Investors in such Secondary Offering; and (ii) second to the Company, if the Company desires to sell any shares of Common Stock or other securities in such offering.


 


4. Company Obligations. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, and pursuant thereto the Company will, as expeditiously as possible:


 


(a)    use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and to remain continuously effective for a period that will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement as amended from time to time, have been sold, and (ii) the later of (A) the date that is five years after the date of this Agreement and (B) with respect to each Investor, the date on which Rule 144 is available for the resale of all of such Investor’s Registrable Securities (the “Effectiveness Period”) and advise the Investors promptly in writing when the Effectiveness Period has expired;


 


(b)    prepare and file with the SEC such supplements, amendments and post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement and the related Prospectus as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period and to comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), with respect to the distribution of all of the Registrable Securities covered thereby;


 


(c)    provide copies to and permit any counsel designated by the Investors to review each Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto no fewer than three days prior to their filing with the SEC and not file any document to which such counsel reasonably objects; provided, however, for the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall not be required to provide such copies of its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or other 1934 Act filings;


 


(d)    furnish to each Investor whose Registrable Securities are included in any Registration Statement (i) promptly after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC, if requested by the Investor, one copy of any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, each preliminary prospectus and Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto, and each letter written by or on behalf of the Company to the SEC or the staff of the SEC, and each item of correspondence from the SEC or the staff of the SEC, in each case relating to such Registration Statement (other than any portion of any thereof which contains information for which the Company has sought confidential treatment), and (ii) such number of copies of a Prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, and all


 





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amendments and supplements thereto and such other documents as each Investor may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor;


 


(e)    use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness and, (ii) if such order is issued, obtain the withdrawal of any such order at the earliest practical moment;


 


(f)    prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the Investors and their counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of such Registrable Securities for the offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions requested by the Investors and do any and all other commercially reasonable acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the distribution in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (i) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 4(f), (ii) subject itself to general taxation in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be so subject but for this Section 4(f), or (iii) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction;


 


(g)    use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange, interdealer quotation system or other market on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;


 


(h)    promptly notify the Investors, at any time prior to the end of the Effectiveness Period, upon discovery that, or upon the happening of any event as a result of which, the Prospectus includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing, and promptly prepare, file with the SEC and furnish to such holder a supplement to or an amendment of such Prospectus as may be necessary so that 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) otherwise use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act, including, without limitation, (i) Rule 172 under the 1933 Act, file any final Prospectus, including any supplement or amendment thereof, with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act, (ii) promptly inform the Investors in writing if, at any time during the Effectiveness Period, the Company does not satisfy the conditions specified in Rule 172 and, as a result thereof, the Investors are required to deliver a Prospectus in connection with any disposition of Registrable Securities and take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to facilitate the registration of the Registrable Securities hereunder, (iii) and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than the Availability Date (as defined below), an earnings statement covering a period of at least 12 months, beginning after the effective date of each Registration Statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act, including Rule 158 promulgated thereunder (for the purpose of this subsection 4(i), “Availability Date” means the 45th day following the end of the fourth fiscal quarter that includes the effective date of such Registration Statement, except that, if such fourth fiscal quarter is the last quarter of the Company’s fiscal year, “Availability Date” means the 90th day after the end of such fourth fiscal quarter);


 


(j)    with a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule 144 (or its successor rule) and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Investors to sell shares of Common Stock to the public without registration, the Company covenants and agrees to: (i) make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144, until the earlier of (A) six months after such date as all of the Registrable Securities may be sold without restriction by the holders thereof pursuant to Rule 144 or any other rule of similar effect or (B) such date as all of the Registrable Securities shall have been resold; (ii) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the 1934 Act; and (iii) furnish to each Investor upon request, as long as such Investor owns any Registrable Securities, (A) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of the 1934 Act (to the extent not previously addressed by the representation on the cover of the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as applicable, filed by the Company), (B) a copy of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form


 





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10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and (C) such other information as may be reasonably requested in order to avail such Investor of any rule or regulation of the SEC that permits the selling of any such Registrable Securities without registration; and


 


(k)    take all other commercially reasonable actions necessary to enable, expedite or facilitate the Investors’ disposal of their Registrable Securities by means of a Registration Statement as contemplated hereby.


 


5. Due Diligence Review; Information. If any Investor is required under applicable securities laws to be described in a Registration Statement as an “underwriter,” the Company shall, upon reasonable prior notice, make available, during normal business hours, for inspection and review by the Investors, advisors to and representatives of the Investors (who may or may not be affiliated with the Investors and who are reasonably acceptable to the Company) (collectively, the “Inspectors”), all pertinent financial and other records, and all other corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the “Records”) as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose of such review, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees, within a reasonable time period, to supply all such information reasonably requested by the Inspectors (including, without limitation, in response to all questions and other inquiries reasonably made or submitted by any of them), prior to and from time to time after the filing and effectiveness of such Registration Statement for the sole purpose of enabling such Investor and its accountants and attorneys to conduct such due diligence solely for the purpose of establishing a due diligence defense to underwriter liability under the 1933 Act; provided, however, that each Inspector shall agree to hold in strict confidence and shall not make any disclosure (except to such Investor) or use of any Record or other information which the Company determines in good faith to be confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors are so notified, unless (a) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement or is otherwise required under the 1933 Act, (b) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a final, non- appealable subpoena or order from a court or government body of competent jurisdiction, or (c) the information in such Records has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this or any other Transaction Document.


 


Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not disclose material nonpublic information to the Investors, or to advisors to or representatives of the Investors, unless prior to disclosure of such information the Company identifies such information as being material nonpublic information and provides the Investors, such advisors and representatives with the opportunity to accept or refuse to accept such material nonpublic information for review and any Investor wishing to obtain such information enters into an appropriate confidentiality agreement with the Company with respect thereto.


 


6. Obligations of the Investors.


 


(a)    Each Investor shall furnish in writing to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it, as shall be reasonably required to effect the registration of such Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request. At least five Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of any Registration Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor of the information the Company requires from such Investor if such Investor elects to have any of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement. An Investor shall provide such information to the Company at least two Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement if such Investor elects to have any of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement.


 


(b)    Each Investor, by its acceptance of the Registrable Securities, agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of a Registration Statement hereunder, unless such Investor has notified the Company in writing of its election to exclude all of its Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement.


 


(c)    Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of either (i) the commencement of an Allowed Delay pursuant to Section 2(c)(ii) or (ii) the happening of an event pursuant to Section 4(h) hereof, such Investor will as promptly as practicable discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to any


 





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Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities, until the Investor is advised by the Company that such dispositions may again be made.


 


7. Indemnification.


 


(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Investor and its officers, directors, members, employees and agents, successors and assigns, and each other person, if any, who controls such Investor within the meaning of the 1933 Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they may become subject under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any preliminary Prospectus or final Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof or any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or any state securities law or any rule or regulation thereunder, in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement and, in each case, will reimburse such Investor, and each such officer, director or member and each such controlling person for any legal or other documented, out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability (i) arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in conformity with information furnished by such Investor or any such controlling person in writing specifically for use in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or (ii) is finally judicially determined to have resulted from an Investor’s bad faith, gross negligence, recklessness, fraud or willful misconduct.


 


(b) Indemnification by the Investors. Each Investor agrees, severally but not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company, its directors, officers, employees, stockholders and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the 1933 Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expense (including reasonable attorney fees) resulting from any untrue statement of a material fact or any omission of a material fact required to be stated in any Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent that such untrue statement of material fact or omission is contained in any information furnished in writing by such Investor to the Company specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto. In no event shall the liability of an Investor be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such Investor upon the sale of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement giving rise to such indemnification obligation.


 


(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Any person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided that any person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such person unless (a) the indemnifying party has agreed in writing to pay such fees or expenses, (b) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such person or (c) in the reasonable judgment of any such person, based upon written advice of its counsel, a conflict of interest exists between such person and the indemnifying party with respect to such claims (in which case, if the person notifies the indemnifying party in writing that such person elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such claim on behalf of such person); and provided, further that the failure of any indemnified party to give written notice as provided herein shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations hereunder, except to the extent that such failure to give notice shall materially adversely affect the indemnifying party in the defense of any such claim or litigation. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for fees or expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all such indemnified parties. No indemnifying party will, except with the consent of the indemnified party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect of such claim or litigation.


 





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(d) Contribution. If for any reason the indemnification provided for in the preceding paragraphs (a) and (b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient to hold it harmless, other than as expressly specified therein, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act shall be entitled to contribution from any person not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. In no event shall the aggregate liability a holder of Registrable Securities under Section 7(c) and Section 7(b) be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by it upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such contribution obligation. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7(a), 7(b) and 7(c), any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 7(d).


 


8. Miscellaneous.


 


(a) Effective Date. This Agreement shall be effective as of the Closing Date, and if the Closing Date has not occurred on or prior to the fifth trading day following the date of the Purchase Agreement, unless otherwise mutually agreed, then this Agreement shall be null and void.


 


(b) Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement may be amended only by a writing signed by the Company and the Required Investors. The Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, only if the Company shall have obtained the written consent to such amendment, action or omission to act, of the Required Investors.


 


(c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made as set forth in Section 9.4 of the Purchase Agreement.


 


(d) Assignments and Transfers by Investors. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Investors and their respective successors and assigns. An Investor may transfer or assign, in whole or from time to time in part, to one or more persons its rights hereunder in connection with the transfer of Registrable Securities by such Investor to such person, provided that such Investor complies with all laws applicable thereto, and the provisions of the Purchase Agreement, and provides written notice of assignment to the Company promptly after such assignment is effected, and such person agrees in writing to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein.


 


(e) Assignments and Transfers by the Company. This Agreement may not be assigned by the Company (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the Required Investors, provided, however, that in the event that the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, share exchange or similar business combination transaction in which the Common Stock is converted into the equity securities of another Person, from and after the effective time of such transaction, such Person shall, by virtue of such transaction, be deemed to have assumed the obligations of the Company hereunder, the term “Company” shall be deemed to refer to such Person and the term “Registrable Securities” shall be deemed to include the securities received by the Investors in connection with such transaction unless such securities are otherwise freely tradable by the Investors after giving effect to such transaction.


 


(f) Benefits of the Agreement. The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective permitted successors and assigns of the parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.


 


(g) Counterparts; Faxes. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may also be executed electronically, which shall be deemed an original.


 





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(h) Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.


 


(i) Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof but shall be interpreted as if it were written so as to be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the parties hereby waive any provision of law which renders any provisions hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any respect.


 


(j) Further Assurances. The parties shall execute and deliver all such further instruments and documents and take all such other actions as may reasonably be required to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and to evidence the fulfillment of the agreements herein contained.


 


(k) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.


 


(l) Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York without regard to the choice of law principles thereof. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York located in New York County and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York for the purpose of any suit, action, proceeding or judgment relating to or arising out of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Service of process in connection with any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on each party hereto anywhere in the world by the same methods as are specified for the giving of notices under this Agreement. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit, action or proceeding and to the laying of venue in such court. Each party hereto irrevocably waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such courts and irrevocably waives any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO REQUEST A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND REPRESENTS THAT COUNSEL HAS BEEN CONSULTED SPECIFICALLY AS TO THIS WAIVER.


 


(m) Subsequent Registration Rights. The Company shall not enter into any agreement granting registration rights that are superior to or that would adversely affect the registration rights set forth in this Agreement without the written consent of the Required Investors.


 


(n) Opt-Out Requests. An Investor shall have the right, at any time and from time to time (including after receiving information regarding any potential public offering), to elect by giving ten (10) Business Days' notice to the Company to not receive any notice that the Company otherwise is required to deliver pursuant to this Agreement by delivering to the Company a written statement signed by such Investor that it does not want to receive any notices hereunder (an “Opt-Out Request”); in which case and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall not be required to, and shall not deliver any notice or other information required to be provided to Investors hereunder to the extent that the Company reasonably expects that it would result in an Investor acquiring material non-public information within the meaning of Regulation FD promulgated under the Exchange Act. An Opt-Out Request may state a date on which it expires or, if no such date is specified, shall remain in effect indefinitely. An Investor who previously has given the Company an Opt-Out Request may revoke such request at any time by giving ten (10) Business Days' notice to the Company, and there shall be no limit on the ability of an Investor to issue and revoke subsequent Opt-Out Requests.


 


 


 


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We are registering the shares of common stock to permit the resale of these shares of common stock by the holders of the common stock from time to time after the date of this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the selling stockholders of the shares of common stock. We will bear all fees and expenses incident to our obligation to register the shares of common stock, except that, if the shares of common stock are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the selling stockholders will be responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions or agent’s commissions.


 


The selling stockholders may sell all or a portion of the shares of our common stock beneficially owned by them and offered hereby from time to time directly or through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. The shares of common stock may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. These sales may be effected in transactions, which may involve crosses or block transactions,


 


	
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			on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale;

			
	
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			in the over-the-counter market;

			
	
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			in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market;

			
	
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			through the writing of options, whether such options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise;

			
	
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			ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

			
	
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			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;

			
	
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			purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

			
	
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			distributions to members, partners, stockholders or other equityholders of the selling stockholders;

			
	
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			an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

			
	
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			privately negotiated transactions;

			
	
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			short sales;

			
	
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			sales pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act;

			
	
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			broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholder to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;

			
	
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			a combination of any such methods of sale; and

			
	
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			any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

			



 


If the selling stockholders effect such transactions by selling shares of our common stock to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, such underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling stockholders or commissions from purchasers of the shares of our common stock for whom they may act as agent or to whom they may sell as principal (which discounts, concessions or commissions as to particular underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may be in excess of those customary in the types of transactions involved). In connection with sales of the shares of our common stock or otherwise, the selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short sales of the shares of our common stock in the course of hedging in positions they assume. The selling stockholders may also sell shares of our common stock short and deliver shares of our common stock covered by this prospectus to close out short positions and to return borrowed shares in connection with such short sales. The selling stockholders may also loan or pledge shares of our common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such shares.


 


The selling stockholders may pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares of our common stock owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of common stock from time to time pursuant to this prospectus or other applicable provisions of the Securities Act, amending, if necessary, the list of selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling stockholders under this prospectus. The selling stockholders also may transfer and donate the shares of our common stock in other circumstances in which case the transferees, donees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.


 


The selling stockholders and any broker-dealer participating in the distribution of the shares of our common stock may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any commission paid, or any discounts or concessions allowed to, any such broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or


 





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discounts under the Securities Act. At the time a particular offering of the shares of our common stock is made, a prospectus supplement, if required, will be distributed which will set forth the aggregate amount of shares of our common stock being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any broker-dealers or agents, any discounts, commissions and other terms constituting compensation from the selling stockholders and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to broker-dealers.


 


Under the securities laws of some states, the shares of our common stock may be sold in such states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the shares of our common stock may not be sold unless such shares have been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied with.


 


There can be no assurance that any selling stockholder will sell any or all of the shares of our common stock registered pursuant to the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part.


 


The selling stockholders and any other person participating in such distribution will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, Regulation M of the Exchange Act, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the shares of our common stock by the selling stockholders and any other participating person. Regulation M may also restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the shares of our common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of our common stock. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the shares of our common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of our common stock.


 


We will pay all expenses of the registration of the shares of our common stock pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, including, without limitation, SEC filing fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or “blue sky” laws; provided, however, that the selling stockholders will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any. We will indemnify the selling stockholders against liabilities, including some liabilities under the Securities Act, or the selling stockholders will be entitled to contribution. We may be indemnified by the selling stockholders against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, that may arise from any written information furnished to us by the selling stockholder specifically for use in this prospectus or we may be entitled to contribution.


 


Once sold under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, the shares of our common stock will be freely tradable in the hands of persons other than our affiliates.


 


 


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