irix-ex104_8.htm



 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is dated as of March 2, 2021 by and between IRIDEX Corporation, a company duly incorporated and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), and Topcon America Corporation, a company duly incorporated and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Investor”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, this Agreement is made pursuant to the Investment Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between the Company and the Investor (the “Investment Agreement”).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other valuable consideration received, and with the intent to be legally bound, the Company and the Investor hereby agree as follows:

1.Definitions.   Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined in the Investment Agreement will have the respective meanings given such terms in the Investment Agreement.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth in this Section 1:

“Advice” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(d).

“Availability Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(f).

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Commission Positions” means written comments pertaining solely to Rule 415 (or which challenge the right of an Investor to have its Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement filed hereunder without being deemed an underwriter) which are received by the Company from the Commission to a filed Registration Statement, a copy of which shall have been provided by the Company to the Holders, which either (i) require the Company to limit the number of Registrable Securities which may be included therein to a number which is less than the number of Registrable Securities not already covered by an existing and effective Registration Statement or (ii) require the Company to either exclude Registrable Securities held by specified Holders or deem such Holders to be underwriters with respect to Registrable Securities they seek to include in such Registration Statement.

“Cut Back Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c).

“Effective Date” means, as to a Registration Statement, the date on which such Registration Statement is first declared effective by the Commission.

“Effectiveness Date” means (a) with respect to the initial Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a), the earlier of: (i) the expiration of the Lock-up Period (or, in the event of a “full review” by the Commission, the 120th calendar day following the Lock-up Period) and (ii) the fifth Trading Day following the date on which the Company is notified by 

 



 

the Commission that the initial Registration Statement will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further review and comments; (b) with respect to any additional Registration Statements required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a), the earlier of: (i) the 90th day following the applicable Filing Date for such additional Registration Statement(s) and (ii) the fifth Trading Day following the date on which the Company is notified by the Commission that such additional Registration Statement(s) will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further review; and (c) with respect to any additional Registration Statements required to be filed solely due to SEC Restrictions, the earlier of: (i) the 90th day following the applicable Restriction Termination Date and (ii) the fifth Trading Day following the date on which the Company is notified by the Commission that such Registration Statement will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further review and comments.

“Effectiveness Period” means, as to any Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement, the period commencing on the Effective Date of such Registration Statement and ending on the earliest to occur of (a) such time as all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been publicly sold by the Holders of the Registrable Securities included therein, or (b) such time as all of the Registrable Securities by such Registration Statement may be sold by the Holders without public information requirements, volume or manner-of-sale restrictions pursuant to Rule 144, in each case as determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to the Company’s transfer agent and the affected Holders.

“Event of Default” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).

“Event Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(b).

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Filing Date” means (a) with respect to the initial Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a), sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of the Lock-up Period; (b) with respect to any additional Registration Statements required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a), the later of the 15th day following the Effective Date for the last Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement under Section 2(a) and the earliest practical date on which the Company is permitted by SEC Guidance to file such additional Registration Statement related to the Registrable Securities; and (c) with respect to any additional Registration Statements required to be filed due to SEC Restrictions, the 15th day following the applicable Restriction Termination Date.

 “Holder” or “Holders” means any holder or holders, as the case may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.

“Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(c).

“Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(c).

“Lock-up Period” means the period starting from the Closing and ending on the date that is six (6) months anniversary of the Closing, during which time the Shares will be subject to certain transfer restrictions as provided under Section 4.1(d) of the Investment Agreement.

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“Losses” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

“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 a 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 a Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

“Registrable Securities” means: (i) the Shares and (ii) any securities issued or issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization or similar event, or any price adjustment as a result of such stock splits, reverse stock splits or similar events with respect to any of the Shares.

“Registration Statement” means the initial registration statement required to be filed in accordance with Section 2(a) and any additional registration statements required to be filed under this Agreement, including in each case the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statements or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

“Restriction Termination Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c).

“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 172” means Rule 172 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.

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“SEC Guidance” means (i) any publicly-available written or oral guidance of the Commission staff, or any comments, requirements or requests of the Commission staff and (ii) the Securities Act.

“SEC Restrictions” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c).

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Shares” means the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to the Investor pursuant to the Investment Agreement.

“Transfer Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(n).

2.Registration.

(a)On or prior to its applicable Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement covering the resale of all Registrable Securities not already covered by an existing and effective Registration Statement.  The Registration Statement also 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, recapitalizations or other adjustments with respect to the Registrable Securities.  Each Registration Statement required to be filed under this Agreement shall be filed on Form S-3 (or if the Company is not then eligible to utilize Form S-3 to register for resale the Registrable Securities, it shall utilize such other available form appropriate for such purpose) and shall contain (except if otherwise required pursuant to written comments received from the Commission upon a review of such Registration Statement, other than as to the characterization of any Holder as an underwriter, which shall not occur without such Holder’s written consent) the “Plan of Distribution” substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex A.  The Company shall promptly notify the Holders via facsimile or by e-mail of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement on the same Trading Day that the Company telephonically confirms effectiveness with the Commission.  The Company shall cause each Registration Statement required to be filed under this Agreement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as soon as practicable but, in any event, no later than its Effectiveness Date, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep each such Registration Statement continuously effective during its entire Effectiveness Period.  By 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Business Day immediately following the Effective Date of each 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 (whether or not such filing is technically required under such Rule).  Failure to file a final Prospectus as foresaid shall be deemed an Event of Default under Section 6.  If for any reason other than due solely to SEC Restrictions, a Registration Statement is effective but not all outstanding Registrable Securities are registered for resale pursuant thereto, then the Company shall prepare and file by the applicable Filing Date an additional Registration Statement to register the resale of all such unregistered Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415.  The Registration Statement shall not include any shares of Common Stock or other securities for the account of any other holder of Common Stock without the prior written consent of the Holders, which such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

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(b)The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities, in accordance with the SEC Guidance (including without limitation, the Manual of Publicly Available Telephone Interpretations D.29) for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415.   

(c)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2, if, after advocating with the Commission in accordance with Section 2(b), due to Commission Positions, the Company is nonetheless unable to include all Registrable Securities in the Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) without characterizing any Holder as an underwriter then the Company may, following not less than three (3) Trading Days prior written notice to the Holders along with the calculations as to such Holder’s allotment, (i) use its reasonable best efforts to cause as many Registrable Securities for as many Holders as possible to be included in the Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(b) and remove from the Registration Statement all other Registrable Securities (the “Cut Back Shares”), (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to promptly file amendments to the Registration Statement and promptly file a new Registration Statement, in either case, to cover the maximum number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered by the Commission, or (iii) withdraw the Registration Statement and promptly file a new Registration Statement covering the maximum number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered by the Commission, on Form S‐3 or such other form available to register for resale the Registrable Securities as a secondary offering, and (iv) agree to such restrictions and limitations on the registration and resale of the Registrable Securities in each case as the Commission may require in order for the Commission to allow each such Registration Statement to become effective; provided, that in no event may the Company name any Holder as an underwriter without such Holder’s prior written consent (such restrictions and limitations on the registration and resale, the “SEC Restrictions”).  Unless the SEC Restrictions otherwise require, any cut-back imposed pursuant to this Section 2(c) shall be allocated among the Registrable Securities of the Holders on a pro rata basis (based on initial subscription amounts under the Investment Agreement).  The required Effectiveness Date for such Registration Statement will be tolled until such time as the Company is able to effect the registration of the Cut Back Shares in accordance with any SEC Restrictions (such date, the “Restriction Termination Date”).  From and after the Restriction Termination Date, all provisions of this Section 2 shall again be applicable to the Cut Back Shares (which, for avoidance of doubt, retain their character as “Registrable Securities”) so that the Company will be required to file with and cause to be declared effective by the Commission such additional Registration Statements in the time frames set forth herein as necessary to ultimately cause to be covered by effective Registration Statements all Registrable Securities.

(d)Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Company a completed Questionnaire in the form attached to this Agreement as Annex B (a “Selling Holder Questionnaire”).  The Company shall not be required to include the Registrable Securities of a Holder in a Registration Statement  who fails to furnish to the Company a fully completed Selling Holder Questionnaire at least two Trading Days prior to the Filing Date (subject to the requirements set forth in Section 3(a)).

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3.Registration Procedures.

In connection with the Company’s registration obligations hereunder, the Company shall:

(a)Not less than five (5) Trading Days prior to the filing of a Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, the Company shall (i) furnish to each Holder copies of such Registration Statement, prospectus, amendment or supplement proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the review of such Holders, and (ii) cause its officers and directors, counsel and independent registered public accountants to respond to such inquiries as shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of respective counsel to each Holder, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act.  The Company shall not file a 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, provided that, the Company is notified of such objection in writing no later than five (5) Trading Days after the Holders have been so furnished copies of a Registration Statement or amendments or supplements thereto or one (1) Trading Day after the Holders have been so furnished copies of any related Prospectus.  The Company shall not file a Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto in which the “Selling Stockholder” section thereof differs from the disclosure received from a Holder in its Selling Holder Questionnaire (as amended or supplemented).  The Company shall not file a Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto in which it (i) characterizes any Holder as an underwriter, (ii) excludes a particular Holder due to such Holder refusing to be named as an underwriter, or (iii) reduces the number of Registrable Securities being registered on behalf of a Holder except pursuant to, in the case of subsection (iii), the Commission Positions, without, in each case, such Holder’s express written authorization.

(b)(i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, to each Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable Securities for its Effectiveness Period, prepare and file with the Commission such additional Registration Statements in order to register for resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities and advise the Holders in writing when the Effectiveness Period has expired; (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably practicable to any comments received from the Commission with respect to each Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and, as promptly as reasonably practicable, but no fewer than five (5) Trading Days after their receipt from or prior to filing with the Commission, provide true and complete copies of and permit counsel designated by the Holders to review each Registration Statement, all amendments and supplements thereto and all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to such Registration Statement that would not result in the disclosure to the Holders of material and non-public information concerning the Company; and (iv) comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the Registration Statement(s) and the disposition of all Registrable Securities, as applicable, covered by each Registration Statement.

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(c)If during the Effectiveness Period, the number of Registrable Securities at any time exceeds 100% of the number of shares of Common Stock then registered in a Registration Statement, then the Company shall file as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any case prior to the applicable Filing Date, an additional Registration Statement covering the resale by the Holders of not less than the number of such Registrable Securities.

(d)Use all reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities covered by each 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.

(e)Notify the Holders as promptly as practicable (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than three Trading Days prior to such filing and, in the case of (v) below, not less than three Trading Days prior to the financial statements in any Registration Statement becoming ineligible for inclusion therein) and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than one Trading Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement is proposed to be 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 (the Company shall provide true and complete copies thereof and all written responses thereto to each of the Holders, but not information which the Company believes would constitute material and non-public information); and (C) with respect to each 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 a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission or any other Governmental Authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such purpose; (v) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes the financial statements included in a Registration Statement ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement made in such 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 such Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of such Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (vi) of the occurrence or existence of any pending corporate development with respect to the Company that the Company believes may be material and that, in the determination of the Company, makes it not in the best interest of the Company to allow continued availability of a Registration Statement or Prospectus, provided, that, any and all of such information shall remain confidential to each Holder until such information otherwise becomes public, unless disclosure by a Holder is required by law; provided, further, that notwithstanding each Holder’s agreement to keep such information confidential, each such Holder makes no acknowledgement that any such information is material, non-public information.

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(f)Otherwise use all reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including Rule 172, notify the Holders promptly if the Company no longer satisfies the conditions of Rule 172 and take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to facilitate the registration of the Registrable Securities hereunder; 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 twelve months, beginning after the effective date of each Registration Statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act, including Rule 158 promulgated thereunder (for the purpose of this Section 3(f), “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).

(g)Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued, obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order stopping or suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.

(h)Furnish to each Holder and their legal counsel promptly after the same is prepared and publicly distributed, filed with the Commission, or received by the Company (but not later than three (3) Business Days after the filing date, receipt date or sending date, as the case may be), without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, each preliminary prospectus, free-writing prospectus and Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto, and each letter written by or on behalf of the Company to the Commission or the staff of the Commission, and each item of correspondence from the Commission or the staff of the Commission, in each case, relating to such Registration Statement (other than any portion thereof which contains information for which the Company has sought confidential treatment), such number of copies of a Prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, any free-writing prospectus and all amendments and supplements thereto and such other documents as each Holder may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder that are covered by each Registration Statement, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference to the extent requested by such Person, and all exhibits to the extent requested by such Person (including those previously furnished) promptly after the filing of such documents with the Commission; provided, that any such item that is available on the EDGAR system (or successor thereto) need not be furnished in physical form. 

(i)The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cooperate with any broker-dealer through which a Holder proposes to resell its Registrable Securities in effecting a filing with the FINRA Corporate Financing Department pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110, as requested by any such Holder, and the Holders shall pay the filing fee required by such filing within two (2) Business Days of request therefor.

(j)Promptly deliver to each Holder, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request.  The Company hereby consents to the 

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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.

(k)Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, register or qualify such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of all jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder may request, 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 the Registration Statement(s); provided that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, subject the Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction.

(l)Cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee pursuant to the Registration Statement(s), which certificates shall be free, to the extent permitted by the Investment Agreement, of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as any such Holders may request.

(m)Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(e)(v), as promptly as reasonably practicable, prepare a supplement or amendment, including a post‐effective amendment, to the affected Registration Statement(s) 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, no Registration Statement nor any Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(n)Upon the earlier of (i) Rule 144(b)(i) becoming available to the Company, (ii) any sale pursuant to Rule 144 (assuming the transferor is not an Affiliate of the Company) or (iii) such time as a legend is no longer required under applicable requirements of the Securities Act or other applicable Law (including controlling judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued by the Commission), the Company shall (A) deliver to the transfer agent for the Common Stock (the “Transfer Agent”) irrevocable instructions that the Transfer Agent shall reissue a certificate representing shares of Common Stock without legends upon receipt by such Transfer Agent of the legended certificates for such shares, together with either (1) a customary representation by the Investor that Rule 144(b)(i) or Rule 144 applies to the shares of Common Stock represented thereby or (2) in connection with any sale of Common Stock by an Investor pursuant to the registration contemplated by this Agreement, and (B) cause its counsel to deliver to the Transfer Agent one or more blanket opinions to the effect that the removal of such legends in such circumstances may be effected under the Securities Act.  From and after the earlier of such dates, upon an Investor’s written request, the Company shall promptly cause certificates evidencing the Investor’s Shares to be replaced with certificates which do not bear such restrictive legends.

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(o)With a view to making available to the Investor the benefits of Rule 144 (or its successor rule) and any other rule or regulation of the Commission that may at any time permit the Investor 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 resold pursuant to Rule 144(b)(i)(1) 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 Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Exchange Act; and (iii) furnish to the Investor upon request, as long as the Investor owns any Registrable Securities, (A) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, (B) a copy of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and (C) such other information as may be reasonably requested in order to avail the Holder of any rule or regulation of the Commission that permits the selling of any such Registrable Securities without registration.

(p)Use commercially reasonable efforts to take all other steps necessary or reasonably required to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement contemplated hereby.

4.Registration Expenses.  All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the Holders whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to a 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 Commission, (B) with respect to filings required to be made with any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed for trading, (C) in compliance with applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws), (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is reasonably requested by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities, in the aggregate, included in the Registration Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (v) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance, and (vi) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  In addition, the Company shall be responsible for all of its internal expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit and the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange as required hereunder.

5.Events of Default and Remedies.

(a)It shall be considered an “Event of Default” if:

1.a Registration Statement is not declared effective by the Commission on or prior to its required Effectiveness Date;

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2.by the second Business Day immediately following the Effective Date, the Company shall not have filed a “final” prospectus for the Registration Statement with the Commission under Rule 424(b) in accordance with the terms hereof (whether or not such a prospectus is technically required by such Rule);

3.after its Effective Date, without regard for the reason thereunder or efforts therefor, such Registration Statement ceases for any reason to be effective and available to the Holders as to all Registrable Securities to which it is required to cover at any time prior to the expiration of its Effectiveness Period for more than an aggregate of 60 Trading Days during any 12-month period (which need not be consecutive);

4.after a Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission, sales cannot be made pursuant to such Registration Statement for a period of 30 days for any reason (including by reason of a stop order or the Company’s failure to update the Registration Statement); or

5.the Company defaults in any way with its obligations under Section 5 or Section 6, and such default (other than with respect to Section 5 for which there shall be no cure period) continues for longer than 30 days.

(b)For purposes of this Section 5, the date on which such Event of Default occurs, or for purposes of clause (a)(3) the date which such 30 Trading Day-period is exceeded, being referred to as an “Event Date”), then in addition to any other rights the Holders may have hereunder or under applicable law, on each such Event Date and on each monthly anniversary of each such Event Date (if the applicable Event shall not have been cured by such date) until the applicable Event is cured, the Company shall pay to each Holder an amount in cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to one percent (1.0%) of the aggregate Investment Amount paid by such Holder pursuant to the Investment Agreement.  The parties agree that in no event will the Company be liable for liquidated damages under this Agreement in excess of three percent (3.0%) of the aggregate Investment Amount of such Holder under the Investment Agreement.  The partial liquidated damages pursuant to the terms hereof shall apply on a daily pro-rata basis for any portion of a month prior to the cure of an Event, and shall cease to accrue (unless earlier cured) upon the expiration of the Effectiveness Period.  The period during which an Event of Default is continuing is referred to herein as a “Blackout Period”.  If the Company fails to pay any partial liquidated damages pursuant to this Section 5 in full within seven days after the date payable, the Company will pay interest on the liquidated damages at a rate of 18% per annum (or such lesser maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable law) to the Holder, accruing daily from the date such partial liquidated damages are due until such amounts, plus all such interest thereon, are paid in full.  The payments described above shall not affect the right of the Holders to seek any other relief including injunctive relief or request registration pursuant to Section 2.  The amounts payable pursuant to this paragraph shall be paid monthly within five Business Days of the last day of each month following the commencement of the Blackout Period until the termination of the Blackout Period.  Such payments shall be made to the Holders in cash.

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6.Indemnification.

(a)Indemnification by the Company.  The Company shall, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the officers, directors, agents, brokers (including brokers who offer and sell Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or any failure to perform under a margin call of Common Stock), investment advisors, partners, members and employees (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles, notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) 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, members, stockholders, partners, agents and employees (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles, notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) of each such controlling Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, contingencies, costs (including, without limitation, reasonable costs of preparation and reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements and other expenses incurred in connection with investigating, preparing or defending any action, claim or proceeding, pending or threatened and the costs of enforcement thereof) and expenses (collectively, “Losses”), as incurred, arising out of or relating to (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (ii) any blue sky application or other document executed by the Company specifically for that purpose or based upon written information furnished by the Company filed in any state or other jurisdiction in order to qualify any or all of the Registrable Securities under the securities laws thereof, (iii) any failure to register or qualify the Registrable Securities included in any such Registration Statement in any state where the Company or its agents has affirmatively undertaken or agreed in writing that the Company will undertake such registration or qualification on any Holder’s behalf, and will reimburse for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, contingency or expense or (iv) any violation or alleged violation by the Company or its agents of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder, in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, except to the extent, but only to the extent, that (A) such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (B) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(e)(ii)-(v), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of any Advice or an amended or supplemented Prospectus, but only if and to the extent that following the receipt of the Advice or the amended or supplemented Prospectus the misstatement or omission giving rise to such Loss would have been corrected.  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.

12



 

(b)Indemnification by Holders. Each Holder shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers, agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as incurred, arising solely out of or based solely upon: (x) such Holder’s failure to comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act or (y) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, 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 not misleading to the extent, but only to the extent that, (1) such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use in such Registration Statement or such Prospectus, such Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (2) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(e)(ii)-(v), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of an Advice or an amended or supplemented Prospectus, but only if and to the extent that following the receipt of the Advice or the amended or supplemented Prospectus the misstatement or omission giving rise to such Loss would have been corrected.  In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

(c)Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. If any Proceeding shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an “Indemnified Party”), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person from whom indemnity is sought (the “Indemnifying Party”) in writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall 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; (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and such counsel shall be at the expense of the 

13



 

Indemnifying Party).  The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.  No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, effect any settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.

All reasonable fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within ten Trading Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder; provided, that the Indemnifying Party may require such Indemnified Party to undertake to 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 6(a) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold an Indemnified Party harmless for any Losses (by reason of public policy or otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action, statement or omission.  The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 6(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.

The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 6(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6(d), no Holder shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

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.

14



 

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, each Holder or the Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement.  The Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

(b)No Piggyback on Registrations.  Except as set forth on Schedule 7(b) attached hereto or as otherwise agreed in writing by the Holders, neither the Company nor any of its security holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto) may include securities of the Company in a Registration Statement other than the Registrable Securities and the Company shall not during the Effectiveness Period file any other registration statements until all Registrable Securities are registered pursuant to a Registration Statement that is declared effective by the Commission, provided that this Section 7(b) shall not prohibit the Company from filing amendments to registration statements filed prior to the date of this Agreement.

(c)Compliance.  Each Holder covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to it in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement.

(d)Discontinued Disposition.  Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section 3(e), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement or until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement.  The Company will use its best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as is practicable.  The Company agrees and acknowledges that any periods during which the Holder is required to discontinue the disposition of the Registrable Securities hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2(b).

(e)Piggy-Back Registrations. If at any time during the Effectiveness Period there is not an effective Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities and the Company shall determine to prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement relating to an offering for its own account or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the Securities Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities issuable in connection with stock option or other employee benefit plans, then the Company shall deliver to each Holder written notice of such determination and, if within fifteen calendar days after delivery of such notice, any such Holder shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such registration statement 

15



 

all or any part of such Registrable Securities eligible for inclusion on such registration statement that such Holder requests to be registered, subject to customary underwriter cutbacks applicable to all holders of registration rights.

(f)Amendments and Waivers.  The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this Section 7(f), 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 no less than a majority in interest of the then outstanding Registrable Securities.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of certain Holders and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities to which such waiver or consent relates; provided, that no amendment or waiver to any provision of this Agreement relating to naming any Holder or requiring the naming of any Holder as an underwriter may be effected in any manner without such Holder’s prior written consent.  Section 2(a) may not be amended or waived except by written consent of each Holder affected by such amendment or waiver.  

(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 earliest of (a) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile (provided the sender receives a machine-generated confirmation of successful transmission) at the facsimile number specified in this Section prior to 6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on a Trading Day, (b) the next Trading Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number specified in this Section on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, (c) the Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (d) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given.  The address for such notices and communications shall be as follows:

 


		
	
Notice to the Investor: 
	
111 Bauer Drive Oakland, NJ 07436. United States
E-mail: rsamuels@topcon.com
Attention: Randy Samuels, Executive Vice President & General Counsel

	
with a copy to:
	
75-1, Hasunuma-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 174-8580, Japan 
E-mail: k.koizumi@topcon.co.jp
Attention: Kanako Koizumi, Legal & Export Control Dept., General Administration & Legal Div.




16



 


		
	
and with a copy to:
	
Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
JP Tower, 2-7-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-7036, Japan
E-mail: yutaka_kuroda@noandt.com
Attention: Yutaka Kuroda

	
Notice to the Company:
	
IRIDEX Corporation
1212 Terra Bella Avenue
Mountain View, CA 94043
E-mail: dbruce@iridex.com
Attention: Chief Executive Officer, David Bruce

	
with a copy to:
	
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.
650 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto, CA  94304
Attention: Philip Oettinger
Facsimile: (650) 565-3564
Email: poettinger@wsgr.com




 

or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same manner, by such Person.

(h)Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder.  The Company may not assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Holder.  Each Holder may assign their respective rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as the Investor’s rights under the Investment Agreement are permitted to be transferred.

(i)No Inconsistent Agreements. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered, as of the date hereof, 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 would have the effect of impairing the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.  Except as set forth on Schedule 7(i), neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has previously entered into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to any of its securities to any Person that have not been satisfied in full.

(j)Execution and Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.  In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, 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 or “.pdf” signature page were the original thereof.

17



 

(k)Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of California without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule.  

(l)Submission to Arbitration.  Any dispute, claim or controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the other agreements and documents contemplated hereby or the breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation or validity thereof, including the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate, shall be determined by arbitration in San Francisco, California, before one (1) arbitrator who shall be mutually appointed by the Parties. The arbitration shall be administered by JAMS (or any like organization successor thereto) pursuant to its JAMS International Arbitration Rules and Procedures. The arbitrator shall follow any applicable federal law and California state law in rendering an award. Judgment on the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. This clause shall not preclude the Parties from seeking provisional remedies in aid of arbitration from a court of appropriate jurisdiction. The Parties further understand and agree that the arbitrator’s decision shall be final and binding to the fullest extent permitted by law and enforceable by any court having jurisdiction thereof. No discovery will be permitted in connection with the arbitration, unless it is expressly authorized by the arbitrator upon showing of substantial need by a Party seeking discovery. 

(m)Wavier of Jury Trial.  EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LEGAL ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER IN THE EVENT OF A LEGAL ACTION, (B) SUCH PARTY HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (C) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (D) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 7(m).

(n)Cumulative Remedies.  The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

(o)Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their 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.

18



 

(p)Headings.  The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the provisions hereof.  

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK;

SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW]

 

 

19



 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.

 


			
	
IRIDEX Corporation

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
/s/ David Bruce

	
Name:
	
 
	
David Bruce

	
Title:
	
 
	
Chief Executive Officer




 




[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.

 


			
	
Topcon America Corporation

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
/s/ Randy Samuels

	
Name:
	
 
	
Randy Samuels

	
Title:
	
 
	
President




 

 

 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]



 

 

Annex A

Plan of Distribution

Each Selling Stockholder (the “Selling Stockholders”) of the securities and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their securities covered hereby on the Nasdaq Stock Market or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the securities are traded or in private transactions.  These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices.  A Selling Stockholder may use any one or more of the following methods when selling securities:


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





	
 
	
•
	
block trades in which the broker‐dealer will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;





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





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





	
 
	
•
	
privately negotiated transactions;





	
 
	
•
	
settlement of short sales; 





	
 
	
•
	
in transactions through broker-dealers that agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a specified number of such securities at a stipulated price per security;





	
 
	
•
	
through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;





	
 
	
•
	
a combination of any such methods of sale; or





	
 
	
•
	
any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.




The Selling Stockholders may also sell securities under Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), if available, rather than under this prospectus.

Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales.  Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the Selling Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of securities, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this Prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with FINRA Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with FINRA IM-2440.  

 



 

In connection with the sale of the securities or interests therein, the Selling Stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume.  The Selling Stockholders may also sell securities short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities.  The Selling Stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or create one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of securities offered by this prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).

The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the securities may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales.  In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the securities purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act.  Each Selling Stockholder has informed the Company that it does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the securities. 

The Company is required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the Company incident to the registration of the securities.  The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.  

Because Selling Stockholders may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, they will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act including Rule 172 thereunder.  In addition, any securities covered by this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 rather than under this prospectus. The Selling Stockholders have advised us that there is no underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with the proposed sale of the resale securities by the Selling Stockholders.

We agreed to keep this prospectus effective until the earlier of (i) the date on which the securities may be resold by the Selling Stockholders without registration and without regard to any volume or manner-of-sale limitations by reason of Rule 144, without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information under Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect or (ii) all of the securities have been sold pursuant to this prospectus or Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect.  The resale securities will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the resale securities covered hereby may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.

Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in the distribution of the resale securities may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to the common stock for the applicable restricted period, as defined in Regulation M, prior to the commencement of the distribution.  In addition, the Selling Stockholders will be subject 

 



 

to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of securities of the common stock by the Selling Stockholders or any other person.  We will make copies of this prospectus available to the Selling Stockholders and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).

 




 



 

Annex B

IRIDEX Corporation

Selling Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire

The undersigned beneficial owner of common stock (the “Common Stock”), of IRIDEX Corporation, a company duly incorporated and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), understands that the Company has filed or intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a Registration Statement for the registration and resale of the Registrable Securities, in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 2, 2021 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), among the Company and the Investor named therein.  A copy of the Registration Rights Agreement is available from the Company upon request at the address set forth below.  All capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement.

The undersigned hereby provides the following information to the Company and represents and warrants that such information is accurate:


	
1.
	
Name.





	
 
	
(a)
	
Full Legal Name of Selling Securityholder




 


	
	
 

	
 




 


	
 
	
(b)
	
Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as (a) above) through which Registrable Securities Listed in Item 3 below are held:




 


	
	
 

	
 




 


	
 
	
(c)
	
Full Legal Name of Natural Control Person (which means a natural person who directly or indirectly alone or with others has power to vote or dispose of the securities covered by the questionnaire):





	
	
 




 

 



 


	
2.
	
Address for Notices to Selling Securityholder:





		
	
 

	
 

	
 

	
 
	
Telephone:

	
 
	
 

	
 
	
Fax:

	
 
	
 

	
 
	
Contact Person:

	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 




 


	
3.
	
Beneficial Ownership of Registrable Securities:




Type and Amount of Registrable Securities beneficially owned:

 


	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 




 

4.  Broker-Dealer Status:


	
 
	
(a)
	
Are you a broker-dealer?




Yes   ☐            No   ☐


	
 
	
Note:
	
If yes, the Commission’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.





	
 
	
(b)
	
Are you an affiliate of a broker-dealer?




Yes   ☐            No   ☐


	
 
	
(c)
	
If you are an affiliate of a broker-dealer, do you certify that you bought the Registrable Securities in the ordinary course of business, and at the time of the purchase of the Registrable Securities to be resold, you had no agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Registrable Securities?




Yes   ☐            No   ☐


	
 
	
Note:
	
If no, the Commission’s staff has indicated that you should be identified as an underwriter in the Registration Statement.




 



 


	
5.
	
Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company Owned by the Selling Securityholder.




Except as set forth below in this Item 5, the undersigned is not the beneficial or registered owner of any securities of the Company other than the Registrable Securities listed above in Item 3.

Type and Amount of Other Securities beneficially owned by the Selling Securityholder:


	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 




 

 


	
6.
	
Relationships with the Company:




Except as set forth below, neither the undersigned nor any of its affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (owners of 5% of more of the equity securities of the undersigned) has held any position or office or has had any other material relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or affiliates) during the past three years.

State any exceptions here:


	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 




 

 

The Company has advised each Selling Stockholder that it is the view of the Commission that it may not use shares registered on the Registration Statement to cover short sales of Common Stock made prior to the date on which the Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission, in accordance with 1997 Securities and Exchange Commission Manual of Publicly Available Telephone Interpretations Section A.65.  If a Selling Stockholder uses the prospectus for any sale of the Common Stock, it will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.  The Selling Stockholders will be responsible to comply with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder promulgated, including, without limitation, Regulation M, as applicable to such Selling Stockholders in connection with resales of their respective shares under the Registration Statement.

The undersigned agrees to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies or changes in the information provided herein that may occur subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the Effective Date for the Registration Statement.

By signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the information contained herein in its answers to Items 1 through 6 and the inclusion of such information in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus.  The undersigned understands that such information will be relied upon by the Company in connection with the preparation or amendment of the Registration Statement and the related prospectus.

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Selling Securityholder Notice and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its duly authorized agent.

 


	
Dated:
	
 
	
 
	
Beneficial Owner: 
	
 




 


	
By:
	
 

	
 
	
Name:

	
 
	
Title:




 

PLEASE FAX A COPY OF THE COMPLETED AND EXECUTED NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE, AND RETURN THE ORIGINAL BY OVERNIGHT MAIL, TO:

 

Iridex Corporation

1212 Terra Bella Avenue

Mountain View, CA 94043