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Exhibit 10.33    
  

 
 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT    
  

        This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of March 11, 2003, among
Dot Hill Systems Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and the investors signatory hereto (each such investor is a "Purchaser" and all such
investors are, collectively, the "Purchasers"). 

        This
Agreement is made pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of the date hereof among the Company and the Purchasers (the "Purchase
Agreement"). 

        The
Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows: 

        1.    Definitions    

        Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in the Purchase
Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings: 

        "Effectiveness Date" means the 90th calendar day (120th calendar day in the event of a review by the
Commission) following the Closing Date; provided, however, in the event that the Company is notified by the Commission that one of the above
Registration Statements will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further review and comments, the Effectiveness Date as to the Registration Statement shall be the fifth Trading Day following
the date on which the Company is so notified if such date precedes the dates required above. 

        "Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a). 

        "Filing Date" means the 5th calendar day following the effective date of the registration statement filed with the
Commission on January 17, 2003, File No. 333-102593, and currently under review. 

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

        "Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c). 

        "Indemnifying Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c). 

        "Prospectus" means the prospectus included in the Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or
supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement, and all other amendments and
supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus. 

        "Registrable Securities" means all of the Shares and the shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrant together with any securities issued
or issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization or similar event with respect to the foregoing but excluding in any case any shares sold into the public market in
reliance upon Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act ("Rule 144") or pursuant to an effective Registration Statement or which may
be sold into the public market pursuant to paragraph (k) of Rule 144. 

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        "Registration Statement" means the registration statement required to be filed hereunder, including (in each case) the Prospectus,
amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by
reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. 

        "Rule 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from
time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and 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 purpose and effect as such Rule. 

        "Shares" shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement. 

        "Warrants" shall mean the Common Stock purchase warrants issued to Roth Capital Partners, LLC pursuant to that certain Engagement Letter
dated March    , 2002 between Roth Capital Partners, LLC and the Company. 

        2.    Shelf Registration    

        (a)  On
or prior to the Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a "Shelf" Registration Statement covering the resale of all Registrable Securities
on such Filing Date for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 (unless the Company is not then
eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-3, in which case such registration shall be on another appropriate form in accordance herewith) and shall
contain (unless otherwise directed by the Holders and except to the extent the Company determines that modifications thereto are required under applicable law) the "Plan of Distribution" attached
hereto as Annex A. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to
be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing thereof, but in any event prior to the applicable Effectiveness Date, and shall use commercially reasonable
efforts to keep the Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the date which is two years after the date that the Registration Statement is declared effective by the
Commission or such earlier date when all Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement have been sold or may be sold without volume restrictions pursuant to Rule 144(k) as
determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to the Company's transfer agent and the affected Holders (the
"Effectiveness Period"). 

        (b)  [RESERVED]

        (c)  If:
(i) the Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to its Filing Date, the Company shall not be deemed to have satisfied clause (i)), or
(ii) the Company fails to file with the Commission a request for acceleration in accordance with Rule 461 promulgated under the Securities Act, within five Trading Days of the date that
the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the
Commission that the Registration Statement will not be "reviewed," or not subject to further review, or (iii) prior to its Effectiveness Date, the Company fails to file a
pre-effective amendment and otherwise respond in writing to comments made by the Commission in respect of the Registration Statement within fifteen Trading Days after the receipt of
comments by or notice from the Commission that such amendment is required in order for the Registration Statement to be declared effective, or (iv) the Registration Statement filed or required
to be filed hereunder is not declared effective by the Commission by its Effectiveness Date, or (v) after the Effectiveness Date, the Registration Statement ceases for any reason to remain
continuously effective as to all Registrable Securities for which it is required to be effective, or the Holders are not permitted to utilize the Prospectus therein to resell 

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such Registrable Securities for an aggregate of 30 calendar days during any 12 month period (which need not be consecutive calendar days) (any such failure or breach being referred to as an
"Event", and for purposes of clause (i) or (iv) the date on which such Event occurs, or for purposes of clause (ii) the date on
which such five Trading Day period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause (iii) the date which such 15 Trading Day period is exceeded, or for purposes of clause (v) the date on which
such 30 calendar day period, as applicable, is exceeded being referred to as "Event Date"), then, in addition to any other rights the Holders may have
hereunder or applicable law, on each such Event Date and every monthly anniversary thereof until the applicable Event is cured, the Company shall pay to each Holder an amount in cash, as liquidated
damages and not as a penalty, equal to 2.0% per month of the aggregate Subscription Amount paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. If the Company fails to pay any liquidated damages
pursuant to this Section in full within 3 days after the date payable, the Company will pay interest thereon 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 liquidated damages are due until such amounts, plus all such interest thereon, are paid in full. The liquidated damages
pursuant to the terms hereof shall apply on a pro-rata basis for any portion of a month prior to the cure of an Event. 

        3.    Registration Procedures    

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

        (a)  Not
less than three Trading Days prior to the filing of the Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (excluding any
document that would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference and excluding in any case any information for which an order granting confidential treatment thereof is in effect
or has been requested), the Company shall, (i) furnish to each Holder copies of all such documents proposed to be filed (other than those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference
and excluding in any case any information for which an order granting confidential treatment thereof is in effected has been requested), for review by each Holder, and (ii) cause its officers
and directors, counsel and independent certified public accountants to respond (subject to maintenance of any attorney-client privilege between the Company and its counsel) to such reasonable
inquiries as shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of respective counsel, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Company shall not file the
Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto to which the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities shall reasonably and in good faith object,
provided, the Company is notified of such objection in writing no later than 3 Trading Days after the Holders have been so furnished copies of such documents. 

        (b)  (i) Prepare
and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus used
in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period; (ii) cause the
related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement (subject to the terms of this Agreement), and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to
Rule 424; (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably possible, and in any event within 15 Trading Days, to any comments received from the Commission with respect to the Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto and as promptly as reasonably possible provide the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to the Transaction
Documents and the Holders; and (iv) comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance (subject to the terms of this Agreement) with the intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in
the Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented. 

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        (c)  [RESERVED]

        (d)  Notify
the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold (which notice shall, pursuant to clauses (ii) through (vi) hereof shall be accompanied by an
instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes have been made) as promptly as reasonably possible (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than five Trading Days prior
to such filing) 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 the Registration Statement is proposed to be filed; (B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a "review" of the Registration
Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on the Registration Statement (the Company shall provide true and complete copies thereof and all written responses thereto to each of the
Holders); and (C) with respect to the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any request by the Commission or any
other Federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of
any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation 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 the Registration Statement
ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement made in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material
respect or that requires any revisions to the Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading; and (vi) 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 the Registration Statement or Prospectus. 

        (e)  Promptly
deliver to each Holder, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each amendment or supplement
thereto as such Persons may reasonably request. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of
the selling Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto. 

        (f)    Use
commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the resale of such Registrable Securities as required under applicable securities or Blue Sky laws of each
State within the United States as any Holder requests in writing, to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period; provided, that the
Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or subject the Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is
not then so subject. 

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

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        (h)  Upon
the occurrence of any event contemplated this Section 3, as promptly as reasonably possible under the circumstances taking into account the Company's good
faith assessment of any adverse consequences to the Company and its stockholders of the premature disclosure of such event, prepare a supplement or amendment, including a post-effective
amendment, to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document
so that, as thereafter delivered, neither the Registration Statement nor such Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Company notifies the Holders in accordance with clauses
(ii) through (v) of Section 3(d) above to suspend the use of the use of any Prospectus until the requisite changes to such Prospectus have been made, or the Company otherwise
notifies the Holders of its election to suspend the availability of the Registration Statement and Prospectus pursuant to clause (vi) of Section 3(d), then the Holders shall suspend use
of such Prospectus. The Company will use reasonable efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as is practicable, except that in the case of suspension of the
availability of the Registration Statement and Prospectus pursuant to clause (vi) of Section 3(d), the Company shall not be required to take such action until such time as it shall
determine that the continued availability of the Registration Statement and Prospectus is no longer not in the best interests of the Company. The Company shall be entitled to exercise its right under
this Section 3(h) to suspend the availability of the
Registration Statement and Prospectus, subject to the payment of liquidated damages pursuant to Section 2(c), for a period not to exceed 60 consecutive days or for multiple periods not to
exceed 90 days in any 12 month period. 

        (i)    Use
its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission. 

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

        (k)  The
Company may require, at any time prior to the third Trading Day prior to the Filing Date, each Holder to furnish to the Company a statement as to the number of
shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Holder and, if requested by the Commission, the controlling person thereof, within three Trading days of the Company's request. During any periods
that the Company is unable to meet its obligations hereunder with respect to the registration of the Registrable Securities solely because any Holder fails to furnish such information within three
Trading Days of the Company's request, any liquidated damages that are accruing at such time shall be tolled and any Triggering Event that may otherwise occur solely because of such delay shall be
suspended, until such information is delivered to the Company. 

        4.    Registration Expenses.    All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement
by the Company shall be borne by the Company whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to the Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing sentence
shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings required to be made with the
Principal Market on which the Common Stock is then listed for trading, and (B) in compliance with applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation, fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company in connection with Blue Sky qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities and determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Securities for
investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as requested by the Holders), (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities
and of printing prospectuses requested by the Holders), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for 

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the Company and (v) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In addition, the
Company shall be responsible for all of its internal expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation, all
salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit and the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the
Registrable Securities on any securities exchange as required hereunder. In no event shall the Company be responsible for any broker or similar commissions or, except to the extent provided for in the
Transaction Documents, any legal fees or other costs of the Holders. 

        5.    Indemnification    

        (a)    Indemnification by the Company.    The Company shall, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement,
indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the officers, directors, agents, partners, 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 and employees of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, agents, partners and employees of each such controlling Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law,
from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, costs of preparation and reasonable attorneys' fees) and expenses (collectively, "Losses"), as
incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment
or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except to the extent, but only
to the extent, that (1) such untrue statements or omissions or alleged untrue statements or omissions are based upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by
such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and
expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (2) in the
case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(d)(ii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in
writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 6(e). The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the
institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement of which the Company is aware. 

        (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 determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction in a final judgment not subject to appeal or review) arising out of or based upon any 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 arising out of or based upon: (i) such Holder's failure to comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act or (ii) 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 such 

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untrue statement or omission is contained in any information so furnished in writing by such Holder to the Company specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or such Prospectus or to
the extent that (1) such untrue statements or omissions are based upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the
extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of distribution of
Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment
or supplement thereto or (2) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(d)(ii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after
the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 6(e). 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 such failure shall have prejudiced the Indemnifying Party. 

        An
Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be
at the expense of such Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have
failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named parties to any such
Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that a material conflict of
interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing
that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and the expense of one such counsel
for each Holder shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of which
any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding. 

        Subject
to the terms of this Agreement, all 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 

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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 5(a) or 5(b) is unavailable to an
Indemnified Party (by reason of public policy or otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and 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 5(c), any
reasonable attorneys' or other reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or expenses if
the indemnification provided for in this Section was available to such party in accordance with its terms. 

        The
parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of
allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), no Holder shall
be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable Securities subject to the
Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. 

        The
indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the Indemnified Parties. 

        6.    Miscellaneous    

        (a)    Amendments and Waivers.    The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not
be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company and the Holders
of at least 75% 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 Holders and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of at least 50% of the Registrable Securities to which such
waiver or consent relates; provided, however, that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance
with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence. 

        (b)    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 and to the extent specified in Schedule 6(b) hereto, 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. 

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        (c)  [RESERVED] 

        (d)    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. 

        (e)    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 Sections 3(d), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under the
Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement contemplated by Section 3(h), or until it is advised in
writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement. The Company may provide appropriate stop orders to enforce the provisions of this paragraph. 

        (f)    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 the 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 send to each Holder written notice of such determination and, if within fifteen days after receipt of such notice,
any such Holder shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in the Registration Statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such holder requests to be registered; provided,
that, the Company shall not be required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 6(f) that are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144(k) promulgated under the
Securities Act. 

        (g)    Notices.    Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided
hereunder shall be delivered as set forth in the Purchase Agreement. 

        (h)    Successors and Assigns.    This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and
permitted assigns of each of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company may not assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of Holders of a
majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities. Each Holder may assign their respective rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement. 

        (i)    Counterparts.    This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed
shall be deemed to be an original and, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission, such signature
shall create a valid binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature were the original
thereof. 

        (j)    Governing Law.    All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this
Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party hereby
irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection
herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed 

9

 

herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit,
action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof
to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained
herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law,
any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. If either party shall commence a Proceeding to enforce
any provisions of this Agreement, then the prevailing party in such Proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its attorneys fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the
investigation, preparation and prosecution of such Proceeding. 

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

        (l)    Severability.    If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and
shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their reasonable efforts to
find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to
be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal,
void or unenforceable. 

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

        (n)    Independent Nature of Purchasers' Obligations and Rights.    The obligations of each Purchaser hereunder is
several and not joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser hereunder, and no Purchaser shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Purchaser hereunder.
Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers
as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert with respect to such obligations or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Purchaser shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not
be necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose. 

********************

10

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

	 	 	Dot Hill Systems Corp
	

 	
 	
By:	

/s/  JAMES L. LAMBERT      
 Name:    James L. Lambert

Title:    Chief Executive Officer and President

[PURCHASERS' SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW] 

11

 

[PURCHASER'S SIGNATURE PAGE TO RRA] 

	 	 	Trusco Capital Management, Inc.
	

 	
 	
By:	

/s/  PATRICK PAPARELLI      
 Patrick Paparelli
 Managing Director

[PURCHASERS' SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW] 

12

 

[PURCHASER'S SIGNATURE PAGE TO RRA] 

	 	 	Omicron Master Trust
	 	 	By: Omicron Capital L.P., as subadvisor
	 	 	By: Omicron Capital Inc., its general partner
	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/  BRUCE BERNSTEIN      
 Bruce Bernstein
 President

[PURCHASERS' SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW] 

13

 

[PURCHASER'S SIGNATURE PAGE TO RRA] 

	 	 	Midsummer Investment, Ltd.
	

 	
 	
By:	

/s/  MICHAEL A. AMSALEM      
 Name:    Michael A. Amsalem

Title:    Director

[PURCHASERS' SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW] 

14

 

[PURCHASER'S SIGNATURE PAGE TO RRA] 

	 	 	Islandia, L.P.
	

 	
 	
By:	

/s/  RICHARD BERNER      
 Name:    Richard Berner

Title:    President of the general partner

[PURCHASERS' SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW] 

15

 

[PURCHASER'S SIGNATURE PAGE TO RRA] 

	 	 	Cranshire Capital, L.P.
	

 	
 	
By:	

/s/  MITCHELL P. KOPIN      
 Name:    Mitchell P. Kopin

Title:    President of Downsview Capital, Inc.
 Its general partner

[PURCHASERS' SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW] 

16

 

[PURCHASER'S SIGNATURE PAGE TO RRA] 

	 	 	Westpark Capital, L.P.
	

 	
 	
By:	

/s/  PATRICK J. BROSNAHAN      
 Name:    Patrick J. Brosnahan

Title:    General Partner

[PURCHASERS' SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW] 

17

 

[PURCHASER'S SIGNATURE PAGE TO RRA] 

	 	 	The Pinnacle Fund, L.P.
	

 	
 	
By:	

/s/  BARRY M. KITT      
 Name:    Barry M. Kitt

Title:    Partner

[PURCHASERS' SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW] 

18

 

[PURCHASER'S SIGNATURE PAGE TO RRA] 

	 	 	Southwell Partners LP
	

 	
 	
By:	

/s/  WILSON JAEGGLI      
 Name:    Wilson Jaeggli

Title:    General Partner

[PURCHASERS' SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW] 

19

 

[PURCHASER'S SIGNATURE PAGE TO RRA] 

	 	 	Atlas Capital Master Fund, L.P.
	 	 	By: Atlas Capital L.P. & Atlas Capital Offshore Fund Ltd.,

Its General Partners
	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/  ROBERT H. ALPERT      
 Name:    Robert H. Alpert

Title:    President

[PURCHASERS' SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW] 

20

 

[PURCHASER'S SIGNATURE PAGE TO RRA] 

	 	 	Atlas Capital(Q.P.) L.P.
	 	 	By: Atlas Capital Management L.P., its GP

By: RHA, Inc., its GP
	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/  ROBERT H. ALPERT      
 Name:    Robert H. Alpert

Title:    President

[PURCHASERS' SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW] 

21

 

[PURCHASER'S SIGNATURE PAGE TO RRA] 

	 	 	Walker Smith Capital Master Fund
	

 	
 	
By:	

/s/  REID WALKER      
 Name:    Reid Walker

Title:    Member

[PURCHASERS' SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW] 

22

 

[PURCHASER'S SIGNATURE PAGE TO RRA] 

	 	 	WS Opportunity Master Fund
	

 	
 	
By:	

/s/  PATRICK WALKER      
 Name:    Patrick Walker

Title:    Member

[PURCHASERS' SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW] 

23

 

[PURCHASER'S SIGNATURE PAGE TO RRA] 

	 	 	Walker Smith International Fund, Ltd.
	

 	
 	
By:	

/s/  REID WALKER      
 Name:    Reid Walker

Title:    Member

[PURCHASERS' SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW] 

24

 

[PURCHASER'S SIGNATURE PAGE TO RRA] 

	 	 	WS Opportunity Fund International, L.P.
	

 	
 	
By:	

/s/  PATRICK WALKER      
 Name:    Patrick Walker

Title:    Member

25

 
 

ANNEX A    
  

 
 

Plan of Distribution    
  

        The Selling Stockholders and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their
shares of Common Stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. The Selling
Stockholders may use any one or more of the following methods when selling shares: 

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

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

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

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

	•
	privately
negotiated transactions;

	•
	short
sales

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

	•
	a
combination of any such methods of sale; and

	•
	any
other method permitted pursuant to applicable law. 

        The
Selling Stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus. Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling
Stockholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the Selling Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent
for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated. The Selling Stockholders do not expect these commissions and discounts to exceed what is customary in the types of
transactions involved. 

        The
selling stockholder may from time to time pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the Shares or common stock or Warrants 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 under this prospectus, or under an amendment to this
prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act of 1933 amending 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 the shares of common stock in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling
beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus. 

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

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

QuickLinks

Exhibit 10.33

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

ANNEX A

Plan of DistributionQuickLinks
 -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document
  

 
 

Exhibit 10.34    
  

 
 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT    
  

        This Registration Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of March 4, 2003, among
Dot Hill Systems Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and the investors signatory hereto (each such investor is a
"Purchaser" and all such investors are, collectively, the "Purchasers"). 

        This
Agreement is made pursuant to the Private Securities Purchase Agreements dated as of the date hereof among Benjamin Monderer and each of the Purchasers (the
"Purchase Agreements"). 

        The
Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows: 

        1.    Definitions.    Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined
in the Purchase Agreements shall have the meanings given such terms in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings: 

        "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission. 

        "Common Stock" means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share, and any securities into which such common stock shall
hereinafter been reclassified into. 

        "Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2. 

        "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 

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

        "Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c). 

        "Indemnifying Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c). 

        "Person" means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited
liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind. 

        "Principal Market" shall initially mean the American Stock Exchange and shall also include the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ
Small-Cap Market, the American Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ National Market, whichever is at the time the principal trading exchange or market for the Common Stock, based upon share
volume. 

        "Proceeding" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial
proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened. 

        "Prospectus" means the prospectus included in the Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or
supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement, and all other amendments and
supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus. 

        "Registrable Securities" means all of the shares of Common Stock transferred to the Purchasers from Benjamin Monderer pursuant to the
Purchase Agreements, but excluding in any case any 

1

 

shares sold into the public market in reliance upon Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act ("Rule 144") or pursuant to an
effective Registration Statement or which may be sold into the public market pursuant to paragraph (k) of Rule 144. 

        "Registration Statement" means the registration statement required to be filed hereunder including the Prospectus, amendments and
supplements to such registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or
deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement. 

        "Rule 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from
time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and 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 purpose and effect as such Rule. 

        "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. 

        2.    Registration.    Unless otherwise objected to by the Commission, the Company agrees to use commercially
reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the Commission a pre-effective amendment to the registration statement filed with the Commission on January 17, 2003, File
No. 333-102593, and under review (the "Existing Registration Statement") covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities for
an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. If the Commission objects to such inclusion, the Company agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file
with the Commission a "Shelf" Registration Statement covering the resale of all Registrable Securities within 5 days of the effective date of the Existing Registration Statement for an offering
to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 (unless the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the
Registrable Securities on Form S-3, in which case such registration shall be on another appropriate form in accordance herewith). Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company
agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as reasonably practicable after the filing thereof, and
shall use commercially reasonable efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the date which is two years after the date that such Registration
Statement is declared effective by the Commission or such earlier date when all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold or may be sold without volume restrictions
pursuant to Rule 144(k) as determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to the Company's transfer agent (the
"Effectiveness Period"). 

        3.    Registration Procedures.    In connection with the Company's registration obligations hereunder, the Company
agrees to: 

        (a)  Not
less than three business days prior to the filing of the Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (excluding any
document that would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference and excluding in any case any information for which an order granting confidential treatment thereof is in effect
or has been requested), furnish to each Holder copies of all such documents proposed to be filed (other than those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference and excluding in any case any
information for which an order granting confidential treatment thereof is in effected has been requested), for review by each Holder. The Company shall not file the Registration Statement or any such
Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto to which the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities shall reasonably and in good faith object, provided, the 

2

 

Company is notified of such objection in writing no later than 2 business days after the Holders have been so furnished copies of such documents. 

        (b)  (i) Prepare
and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus used
in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period; (ii) cause the
related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement (subject to the terms of this Agreement), and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to
Rule 424; and (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably possible to any comments received from the Commission with respect to the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and as
promptly as reasonably possible provide the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to the Holders. 

        (c)  Notify
the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold (which notice shall, pursuant to clauses (ii) through (vi) hereof shall be accompanied by an
instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes have been made) as promptly as reasonably possible and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing as
promptly as reasonably possible following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is proposed to be filed;
(B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a "review" of 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); and (C), with respect to the Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any request by the Commission or any other Federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to the Registration
Statement or Prospectus; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities
or the initiation 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 the Registration Statement ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement made in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document
incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires any revisions to the Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (vi) 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 the
Registration Statement or Prospectus. 

        (d)  As
promptly as reasonably practicable deliver to each Holder as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each amendment or
supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by
each of the selling Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto. 

        (e)  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 

3

 

Statement, which certificates, subject to the U.S. securities laws, shall be free of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in
such names as any such Holders may request. 

        (f)    Upon
the occurrence of any event contemplated this Section 3, as promptly as reasonably possible under the circumstances taking into account the Company's good
faith assessment of any adverse consequences to the Company and its stockholders of the premature disclosure of such event, prepare a supplement or amendment, including a post-effective
amendment, to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document
so that, as thereafter delivered, neither the Registration Statement nor such Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Company notifies the Holders in accordance with clauses
(ii) through (v) of Section 3(d) above to suspend the use of the use of any Prospectus until the requisite changes to such Prospectus have been made, or the Company otherwise
notifies the Holders of its election to suspend the availability of the Registration Statement and Prospectus pursuant to clause (vi) of Section 3(d), then the Holders shall suspend use
of such Prospectus. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as is practicable, except that in the case of suspension of
the availability of the Registration Statement and Prospectus pursuant to clause (vi) of Section 3(d), the Company shall not be required to take such action until such time as it shall
determine that the continued availability of the Registration Statement and Prospectus is no longer not in the best interests of the Company. 

        (g)  The
Company may require, at any time prior to the third business day prior to the date the Company files the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement
thereto, each Holder to furnish to the Company a statement as to the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Holder and the controlling person thereof and any other information
reasonably necessary for purposes of preparing and filing a Registration Statement, within three business days of the Company's request. 

        4.    Registration Expenses.    All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement
by the Company shall be borne by the Company whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to the Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing sentence
shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings required to be made with the
Principal Market on which the Common Stock is then listed for trading, and (B) in compliance with applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation, fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company in connection with Blue Sky qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities and determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Securities for
investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as requested by the Holders), (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities
and of printing prospectuses requested by the Holders), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and (v) fees and
expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the
Company be responsible for any broker or similar commissions or, except to the extent provided for in the Transaction Documents, any legal fees or other costs of the Holders. 

4

 

        5.    Indemnification.    

        (a)    Indemnification by the Company.    The Company shall, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement,
indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the officers, directors, agents, 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 and employees of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act
or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and
all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, costs of preparation and reasonable attorneys' fees) and expenses (collectively,
"Losses"), as incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement,
any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made) not misleading, except to the extent, but only to the extent, that (1) such untrue statements or omissions or alleged untrue statements or omissions are based upon information
regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of
distribution of
Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment
or supplement thereto or (2) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(d)(ii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after
the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 6(e). The Company
shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement of which the Company is
aware. 

        (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 determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction in a final judgment not subject to appeal or review) arising out of or based upon any 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 arising out of or based upon: (i) such Holder's failure to comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act or (ii) 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 such untrue
statement or omission is contained in any information so furnished in writing by such Holder to the Company specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement or such Prospectus or to the
extent that (1) such untrue statements or omissions are based upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the
extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder
expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (2) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type
specified in Section 3(d)(ii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the 

5

 

Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 6(e). 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 such failure shall have prejudiced the Indemnifying Party. 

        An
Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be
at the expense of
such Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to
assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named parties to any such Proceeding (including
any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that a material conflict of interest is likely to
exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to
employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and the expense of one such counsel for each Holder
shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not
be unreasonably withheld. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified
Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding. 

        Subject
to the terms of this Agreement, all 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 business days of written notice thereof to the
Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder; provided, that the 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 5(a) or 5(b) is unavailable to an
Indemnified Party (by reason of public policy or otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and 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 

6

 

fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth
in Section 5(c), any reasonable attorneys' or other reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for
such fees or expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section was available to such party in accordance with its terms. 

        The
parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of
allocation that does not
take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), no Holder shall be required to
contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds
the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. 

        The
indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the Indemnified Parties. 

        6.    Miscellaneous.    

        (a)    Amendments and Waivers.    The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not
be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company and the Holders
of at least 50% 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 Holders and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of at least 50% of the Registrable Securities to which such
waiver or consent relates; provided, however, that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance
with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence. 

        (b)    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. 

        (c)    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 Sections 3(c), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under the
Registration Statement until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement contemplated by Section 3(f), or until it is advised in
writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement. The Company may provide appropriate stop orders to enforce the provisions of this paragraph. 

        (d)    Notices.    Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided
hereunder shall be delivered as set forth in the Purchase Agreements. 

        (e)    Successors and Assigns.    This Agreement and the rights, benefits and obligations hereunder shall not be
transferred or assigned without the written consent of the Company 

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        (f)    Counterparts.    This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed
shall be deemed to be an original and, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission, such signature
shall create a valid binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature were the original
thereof. 

        (g)    Governing Law.    All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this
Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of California, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party
hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the County of San Diego, California, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection
herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally
subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served
in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and
sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Each party hereto hereby
irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby. If either party shall commence a Proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, then the prevailing party in such Proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for
its attorneys fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such Proceeding. 

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

        (i)    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. 

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

        (k)    Independent Nature of Purchasers' Obligations and Rights.    The obligations of each Purchaser hereunder is
several and not joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser hereunder, and no Purchaser shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Purchaser hereunder.
Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers
as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert with respect to such obligations or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Purchaser shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not
be necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose. 

********************

8

 

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

	 	 	DOT HILL SYSTEMS CORP
	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/  PRESTON ROMM      
 Name: Preston Romm

Title: VP Finance and CFO

[SIGNATURE
PAGE OF PURCHASERS FOLLOWS] 

9

 
[SIGNATURE
PAGE OF PURCHASERS] 

	TRUSCO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
	

By:	

/s/  PATRICK PAPARELLI      
 Patrick Paparelli, Managing Director	

 
	
CAPITAL VENTURES INTERNATIONAL

By: Heights Capital Management, its authorized signatory
	

By:	

/s/  MARTIN KOBINGER      
	

 
	 	Name:	Martin Kobinger	 
	 	Title:	Investment Manager	 
	
OMICRON MASTER TRUST

By: Omicron Capital L.P., as subadvisor

By: Omicron Capital Inc., its general partner
	

By:	

/s/  BRUCE BERNSTEIN      
 Bruce Bernstein, President	

 
	
MIDSUMMER INVESTMENT, LTD.
	

By:	

/s/  MICHAEL A. AMSALEM      
	

 
	 	Name:	Michael A. Amsalem	 
	 	Title:	Director	 
	
CRANSHIRE CAPITAL, L.P.
	

By:	

/s/  MITCHELL P. KOPIN      
	

 
	 	Name:	Mitchell P. Kopin	 
	 	Title:	President Downsview Capital, the general partner	 
	
[FULLER & THALER ASSET MANAGEMENT]
	

By:	

 	

 	

 
	 	
	 
	 	Name:	 	 
	 	Title:	 	 

10

QuickLinks

Exhibit 10.34

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

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