EXHIBIT 10.9
Published on December 26, 2007
Exhibit
10.9
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS
AGREEMENT
This
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made
and entered into as of December 24, 2007, by and between Rexahn Pharmaceuticals,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and each
other party that is a signatory hereto (collectively, the “Purchaser”).
Recital
The
parties have agreed to enter into this Agreement in connection with, and as
a
condition to the Closing under, the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as
of
December 17, 2007, by and between the Company and the Purchaser (the “Purchase
Agreement”).
Agreement
NOW,
THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement,
and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and adequacy of which
are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Purchaser agree as
follows:
1. Definitions. In
addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, (a) capitalized
terms that are not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to such
terms in the Purchase Agreement, and (b) the following terms have the
meanings indicated:
“Actual
Minimum”
means, as of any date, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common
Stock
then issued or potentially issuable in the future pursuant to the Transaction
Documents, including Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise in full of all
Warrants.
“Effective
Date” means
the date on which the Registration Statement is first declared effective by
the
SEC.
“Filing
Date” means,
with respect to the Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to
Section 2,
the 60th day following the date on which the Common Stock is listed for trading
on the American Stock Exchange.
“Holder”
means
any
holder, from time to time, of Registrable Securities.
“Post-Effective
Amendment” means a post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement.
“Post-Effective
Amendment
Filing Deadline” means the 10th Trading Day after the Registration
Statement ceases to be effective pursuant to the applicable securities laws
due
to the passage of time or the occurrence of an event requiring the Company
to
file a Post-Effective Amendment.
“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 1933 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 any Common Stock (including Warrant Shares) issued or
issuable pursuant to the Transaction Documents, together with any securities
issued or issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution,
recapitalization or similar event with respect to the foregoing; provided, however, that any
Common Stock will cease to be a Registrable Security when (i) it has been sold
under the Registration Statement, or (ii) it may be transferred pursuant to
Rule
144 under the 1933 Act.
“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.
“Required
Effectiveness
Date” means, with respect to the Registration Statement required to be
filed hereunder, the 90th day (or the 120th day in the event the Company
receives comments to the Registration Statement from the SEC) following the
Filing Date.
“Required
Holders”
means the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities.
“Rule 415,”
“Rule 424”
and “Rule 461”
means
Rule 415, Rule 424 and Rule 461, respectively, promulgated by the
SEC pursuant to the 1933 Act, as such Rules may be amended from time to time,
or
any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC having substantially
the same effect as such Rule.
List
of Additional
Definitions. The following is a list of additional terms used
in this Agreement and a reference to the Section hereof in which such term
is
defined:
|
Term
|
Section
|
|
Advice
|
6
|
|
Effectiveness
Period
|
2(a)
|
|
Event
|
2(c)
|
|
Event
Date
|
2(c)
|
|
Indemnified
Party
|
5(c)
|
|
Indemnifying
Party
|
5(c)
|
|
Losses
|
5(a)
|
|
Purchaser
Counsel
|
3(a)
|
2. Shelf
Registration.
(a) On
or prior to the Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC
a
“Shelf” Registration Statement covering the resale of all Registrable Securities
eligible to be registered under the 1933 Act and rules and practices of the
SEC
for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to
Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on Form SB-2
(or Form S-3 if the Company is then eligible to use such Form) and shall contain
(except if otherwise directed by the Holders) the “Plan of Distribution”
attached hereto as Annex A. The
Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be
declared effective under the 1933 Act as promptly as possible after the filing
thereof, but in any event prior to the Required Effectiveness Date, and shall
use its best efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective
under the 1933 Act until the earliest of (i) the fifth anniversary of the
Effective Date, (ii) when all Registrable Securities are eligible for
resale pursuant to subsection (k) of Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, and
(iii) when all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration
Statement have been sold (the “Effectiveness
Period”). The Company shall notify each Holder in writing
promptly (and in any event within one Business Day) after receiving notification
from the SEC that a Registration Statement has been declared
effective.
(b) The
Registration Statement to be filed hereunder shall cover the sale by the Holders
of 120% of the Actual Minimum number of shares of Common Stock issuable under
the Transaction Documents. As promptly as possible, and in any event
no later than the Post-Effective Amendment Filing Deadline, the Company shall
prepare and file with the SEC a Post-Effective Amendment, if required under
this
Agreement. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the
Post-Effective Amendment to be declared effective by the SEC as promptly as
possible after the filing thereof, but in any event prior to the 15th Trading
Day after the Post-Effective Amendment Filing Deadline. The Company
shall notify the Purchaser in writing promptly (and in any event within one
Business Day) after receiving notification from the SEC that the Post-Effective
Amendment has been declared effective.
(c) If: (i) the
Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to the Filing Date (if the
Company files such Registration Statement without affording the Purchaser the
opportunity to review and comment on the same as required by Section 3(a)
hereof, the Company shall not be deemed to have satisfied this clause (i)),
or (ii) the Company fails to file with the SEC a request for acceleration
in accordance with Rule 461 promulgated under the 1933 Act, within five
Trading Days after the date that the Company is notified (orally or in writing,
whichever is earlier) by the SEC that a Registration Statement will not be
“reviewed,” or will not be subject to further review, or (iii) the
Registration Statement filed hereunder is not declared effective by the SEC
by
the Required Effectiveness Date, or (iv) a Post-Effective Amendment is not
filed on or prior to the Post-Effective Amendment Filing Deadline or is not
declared effective on or prior to the 15th Trading Day after the Post-Effective
Amendment Filing Deadline, or (v) the Common Stock is not listed or quoted,
or is suspended from trading on an Eligible Market for a period of five
consecutive Trading Days, or (vi) the Company fails for any reason to
deliver a certificate evidencing any Securities to the Purchaser within five
Trading Days after delivery of such certificate is required pursuant to any
Transaction Document or the exercise rights of the Purchaser pursuant to the
Transaction Documents are otherwise suspended for any reason (any such failure
or breach being referred to as an “Event,” and for
purposes of clause (i), (iii) or (iv) the date on which such
Event occurs, or for purposes of clause (ii) and (vi) the date on
which such five Trading Day period is exceeded, or for purposes of
clause (v) the date on which such three Trading Day period is exceeded,
being referred to as “Event Date”), then:
(x) on each such Event Date the Company shall pay to the Purchaser an
amount in cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to
2%
of the aggregate purchase price paid by the Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement; and (y) on each monthly anniversary of each such Event Date
thereof (if the applicable Event shall not have been cured by such date) until
the applicable Event is cured, the Company shall pay to the Purchaser an amount
in cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to 2% of
the
aggregate purchase price paid by the Purchaser pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement; provided,
however, that the maximum amount of such liquidated damages shall not
exceed a total equal to 10% of the aggregate purchase price paid by the
Purchaser under the Purchase Agreement. Such payments shall be in
partial compensation to the Purchaser and shall not constitute the Purchaser’s
exclusive remedy for such events. If the Company fails to pay any
liquidated damages pursuant to this Section 2 in full
within seven 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 Purchaser, accruing daily from the date such
liquidated damages are due until such amounts, plus all such interest thereon,
are paid in full.
(d) During
the period subsequent to the Filing Date and prior to the Effective Date, the
Company shall not prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement
relating to an offering for its own account or the account of others under
the
1933 Act of any of its equity securities.
(e) Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, after 60 consecutive Trading Days
of
continuous effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed and declared
effective pursuant to this Agreement, the Company may, by written notice to
the
Purchaser, suspend sales under a Registration Statement after the Effective
Date
thereof and/or require that the Purchaser immediately cease the sale of shares
of Common Stock pursuant thereto and/or defer the filing of any subsequent
Registration Statement if the Company is engaged in a material merger,
acquisition or sale and the Board of Directors determines in good faith, by
appropriate resolutions, that, as a result of such activity, (A) it would
be materially detrimental to the Company (other than as relating solely to
the
price of the Common Stock) to file a Registration Statement at such time and
(B) it is in the best interests of the Company to defer proceeding with
such registration at such time. Upon receipt of such notice, the
Purchaser shall immediately discontinue any sales of Registrable Securities
pursuant to such registration until the Purchaser has received copies of a
supplemented or amended Prospectus or until the Purchaser is advised in writing
by the Company that the then-current Prospectus may be used and has received
copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed
incorporated by reference in such Prospectus. In no event, however,
shall this right be exercised to suspend sales beyond the period during which
(in the good faith determination of the Company’s Board of Directors) the
failure to require such suspension would be materially detrimental to the
Company. The Company’s rights, under this Section 2(e) may
be exercised for a period of no more than 45 days in the aggregate in any
12-moth period, of which no more than 20 days may be
consecutive. Immediately after the end of any suspension period under
this Section 2(e),
the Company shall take all necessary actions (including filing any required
supplemental prospectus) to restore the effectiveness of the applicable
Registration Statement and the ability of the Purchaser to publicly resell
their
Registrable Securities pursuant to such effective Registration
Statement. The provisions of Sections 3(b)
and 3(d) hereof
shall not be applicable during the pendency of any suspension period under
this
Section 2(e).
(f) Rule
415
Limitations. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, if the SEC refuses to declare a registration
statement filed pursuant to this Agreement effective as a valid secondary
offering under Rule 415 promulgated under the 1933 Act due to the number of
Registrable Securities sought to be included in such registration statement
relative to the number of shares of Acquirer Common Stock outstanding or the
number of outstanding shares of Acquirer Common Stock held by non-affiliates
or
for any other reason, then, without any liability under this Agreement or any
further obligation to register such excess Registrable Securities, the Company
shall be permitted to reduce the number
of Registrable Securities included in such
registration statement to an amount that does
not exceed an amount that the SEC allows for the offering
thereunder to qualify as a valid secondary offering under Rule
415. The Company shall not be liable for damages under this Agreement
as to any Registrable Securities that are not
permitted by the SEC to
be included in a
registration statement due to SEC guidance relating to
Rule 415.
3. Registration
Procedures.
(a) Not
less than three 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 any single counsel designated by the Purchaser (“Purchaser Counsel”)
copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents (other than
those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference) will be subject
to
the review of the Purchaser and Purchaser Counsel and (ii) cause its officers
and directors, counsel and independent certified public accountants to respond
to such inquiries as shall be necessary to conduct a reasonable investigation
within the meaning of the 1933 Act. The Company shall not file a
Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any amendments or supplements
thereto to which the Required Holders shall reasonably object in writing in
their good faith within three days of receipt.
(b) (i) The
Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments, including
post-effective amendments, to each 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 and prepare and file with the SEC such additional
Registration Statements in order to register for resale under the 1933 Act
all
of the Registrable Securities; (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be
amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement, and as so
supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(iii) respond as promptly as reasonably possible, and in any event within
ten business days to comments received from the SEC with respect to the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and, as promptly as reasonably
possible, upon request, provide the Purchaser with true and complete copies
of
all correspondence from and to the SEC relating to the Registration Statement;
and (iv) comply in all material respects, to the extent applicable to the
Company, with the provisions of the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act with respect
to
the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by the Registration
Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended methods
of disposition by the Purchaser thereof set forth in the Registration Statement
as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.
(c) The
Company shall notify Purchaser Counsel as promptly as reasonably possible,
and
(if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than
one Trading Day thereafter, of any of the following events: (i) the SEC
notifies the Company whether there will be a “review” of any Registration
Statement; (ii) the SEC comments in writing on any Registration Statement;
(iii) any Registration Statement or any Post-Effective Amendment is
declared effective; (iv) the SEC or any other Federal or state governmental
authority requests any amendment or supplement to any Registration Statement
or
Prospectus or requests additional information related thereto; (v) the SEC
issues any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement
or initiates any proceedings for that purpose; (vi) the Company receives
notice of any suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification
of
any Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation
or
threat of any proceeding for such purpose; or (vii) an event has occurred
which requires a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or
a
supplement to the prospectus included therein.
(d) The
Company shall use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of or, if issued,
to
obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of any
Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or
exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale
in
any jurisdiction, as soon as possible.
(e) The
Company shall promptly deliver to Purchaser Counsel, without charge, an
electronic copy of the 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 use of such
Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by the Purchaser in
connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered
by
such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.
(f) The
Company shall promptly deliver to the Purchaser and Purchaser Counsel, 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. The Company hereby consents to the use of such
Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by the Purchaser in
connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered
by
such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.
(g) (i) In
the time and manner required by each Trading Market, the Company shall prepare
and file with such Trading Market an additional shares listing application
covering all of the Registrable Securities; (ii) take all steps necessary
to cause such Registrable Securities to be approved for listing on each Trading
Market as soon as possible thereafter; (iii) provide to the Purchaser
evidence of such listing; and (iv) maintain the listing of such Registrable
Securities on each such Trading Market or another Eligible
Market.
(h) Prior
to any public offering of Registrable Securities, the Company shall use its
best
efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Purchaser and
Purchaser Counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or
exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable
Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions within the United States as the Purchaser reasonably requests
in
writing, to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption
therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all
other
acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such
jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration
Statement.
(i) Subject
to compliance by the Purchaser with Section 6
hereof, the Company shall cooperate with the Purchaser to facilitate the timely
preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities
to
be delivered to a transferee pursuant to a Registration Statement, which
certificates shall be free, to the extent permitted by this Agreement, of all
restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such
denominations and registered in such names as the Purchaser may
request.
(j) Upon
the occurrence of any event described in Section 3(c)(vii),
as promptly as reasonably possible, the Company shall 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 such supplement, amendment
or
any other document as may be required so that, as thereafter delivered, neither
the Registration Statement nor such Prospectus shall 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.
(k) If
Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being offered pursuant
to a
Registration Statement select underwriters for the offering, the Company shall
enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in
usual
and customary form, including, without limitation, by providing customary legal
opinions, comfort letters and indemnification and contribution
obligations.
(l) The
Company shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
SEC.
4. Registration
Expenses. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses incident
to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company,
including without limitation (a) all registration and filing fees and
expenses, including without limitation those related to filings with the SEC,
any Trading Market and in connection with applicable state securities or Blue
Sky laws, (b) printing expenses (including without limitation expenses of
printing certificates for Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses
requested by the Purchaser), (c) messenger, telephone and delivery
expenses, (d) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company,
(e) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in
connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and (f) all listing fees to be paid by the Company to the Trading
Market.
5. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification
by the
Company. The Company shall, notwithstanding any termination of
this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser, and its officers,
directors, partners, members, agents, investment advisors and employees, each
Person who controls the Purchaser (within the meaning of Section 15 of the
1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act) and the officers, directors,
partners, members, 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, settlement costs and expenses, including without
limitation costs of preparation of legal action and reasonable attorneys’ fees
(collectively, “Losses”), as
incurred, arising out of or based upon 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 based upon any omission or alleged
omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus
or
supplement thereto, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made) not misleading, except to the extent, but only to the extent, that
(i) such untrue statements, alleged untrue statements, omissions or alleged
omissions are based solely upon information regarding the Purchaser furnished
in
writing to the Company by the Purchaser or its counsel or other Person acting
on
behalf of the Purchaser expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such
information relates to the Purchaser or the Purchaser’s proposed method of
distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved
in writing by the Purchaser or its counsel or other Person acting on behalf
of
the Purchaser expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus
or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or
(ii) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in
Section 3(c)(v)-(vii),
the use by the Purchaser of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the
Company has notified the Purchaser in writing that the Prospectus is outdated
or
defective and prior to the receipt by the Purchaser of the Advice contemplated
in Section 6. The
Company shall notify the Purchaser promptly of the institution, threat or
assertion of any proceeding of which the Company is aware in connection with
the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Indemnification
by the
Purchaser. The Purchaser shall 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 1933 Act and
Section 20 of the 1934 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 arising solely out of or based
solely upon any untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or 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 (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus
or supplement thereto, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made) not misleading to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement or omission is contained in any information so furnished in writing
by
the Purchaser to the Company specifically for inclusion in such Registration
Statement or such Prospectus or to the extent that (i) such untrue
statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding the
Purchaser furnished in writing to the Company by the Purchaser expressly for
use
therein, or to the extent that such information relates to the Purchaser or
the
Purchaser’s proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was
reviewed and expressly approved in writing by the Purchaser or its counsel
or
other person acting on behalf of the Purchaser expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any
amendment or supplement thereto or (ii) in the case of an occurrence of an
event of the type specified in Section 3(c)(v)-(vii),
the use by the Purchaser of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the
Company has notified the Purchaser in writing that the Prospectus is outdated
or
defective and prior to the receipt by the Purchaser of the Advice contemplated
in Section 6. In
no event shall the liability of any selling Purchaser hereunder be greater
in
amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by the Purchaser
upon
the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification
obligation.
(c) Conduct
of Indemnification
Proceedings. (i) 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 be entitled to assume the defense
thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Party and the payment of all fees and expenses incurred in
connection with defense thereof; provided, however, 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.
(ii) 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: (i) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay
such fees and expenses; or (ii) 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
(iii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded
parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and
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 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
(i) a conflict of interest exists between the Indemnified Party and the
Indemnifying Party or (ii) such settlement includes an unconditional
release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the
subject matter of such proceeding.
(iii) 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 5) 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,
however, that the Indemnifying Party shall reimburse all such fees and
expenses to the extent it is finally judicially determined that such Indemnified
Party is not entitled to indemnification hereunder).
(d) Contribution. (i) If
a claim for indemnification under Section 5(a) or
(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 5
was available to such party in accordance with its terms.
(ii) 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),
the Purchaser shall not be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount
in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds actually received by the
Purchaser from the sale of the Registrable Securities subject to the proceeding
exceeds the amount of any damages that the Purchaser has otherwise been required
to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.
6. Dispositions. The
Purchaser agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements
of the 1933 Act as applicable to it in connection with sales of Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement. The Purchaser
further agrees that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence
of any event of the kind described in Sections 2(f) or
3(c)(v),
(vi) or
(vii),
the Purchaser
will discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under the
Registration Statement until the Purchaser’s receipt of the copies of the
supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement contemplated
by
Section 3(j), or
until it is advised in writing (the “Advice”) by the
Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either
case, has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or
Registration Statement. The Company may provide appropriate stop
orders to enforce the provisions of this paragraph.
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) 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 Required
Holders.
(c) 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 is inconsistent with the rights granted
to
the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions
hereof. Except as and to the extent specified in the applicable
schedule to the Purchase Agreement, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary
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.
(d) No
Piggyback on
Registrations. 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 the Registration Statement other than the
Registrable Securities, and the Company shall not after the date hereof enter
into any agreement providing any such right to any of its security holders
other
than upon written consent of the Required Holders, unless the rights so granted
are subject in all respects to the prior rights in full of the Holders set
forth
herein and are not otherwise in conflict with the provisions of this
Agreement.
(e) Shareholder
Obligations. The selling Holders shall furnish to the Company
such information regarding themselves and the Registrable Securities held by
them as shall be required to effect the registration of their Registrable
Securities, and the Company may exclude from the registration statement the
shares of any Holder that does not do so on a timely basis.
(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 SEC
a
registration statement relating to an offering for its own account or the
account of others under the 1933 Act of any of its equity securities, other
than
on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the 1933 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 such registration statement all or any
part of such Registrable Securities such holder requests to be
registered. The selling Holders shall enter into and timely perform
their obligations under the underwriting agreement, if any, and shall execute
other customary agreements necessary or appropriate to facilitate the offering,
including without limitation custody agreements and powers of
attorney.
(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 at the facsimile telephone number
specified in this Section 7(g) prior to
18:30 (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 telephone number specified in this Agreement on
a day
that is not a Trading Day or later than 18:30 (New York City time) and earlier
than 24:00 (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 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 each
Holder. The Purchaser may assign its rights and obligations hereunder
to a transferee or assignee of Registrable Securities in the manner and to
the
extent permitted under the Purchase Agreement.
(i) Assignment
of Registration
Rights. The rights of each Holder hereunder, including the
right to have the Company register for resale Registrable Securities in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, shall be automatically assignable
by each Holder to any Affiliate of such Holder or any other Holder or Affiliate
of any other Holder of all or a portion of the Preferred Stock or the
Registrable Securities if: (i) the Holder agrees in writing with
the transferee or assignee to assign such assignment, (ii) the Company is,
within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with
written notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or assignee,
and (b) the securities with respect to which such registration rights are
being transferred or assigned, (iii) following such transfer or assignment
the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignees is
restricted under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, (iv) at
or before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by
clause (ii) of this Section 7(i), the
transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all
of
the provisions of this Agreement, (v) such transfer shall have been made in
accordance with the applicable requirements of the Purchase Agreement, and
(vi) at least 80,000 shares of Registrable Securities (appropriately
adjusted for any stock dividend, split or combination of the Common Stock)
are
being transferred to such transferee or assignee in connection with such
assignment of rights. In addition, each Holder shall have the right
to assign its rights hereunder to any other Person who is a transferee of
Registrable Securities with the prior written consent of the Company, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The rights to assignment
shall apply to the Holders (and to subsequent) successors and
assigns.
(j) Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when
so
executed shall be deemed to be an original and, all of which taken together
shall constitute one and the same Agreement. In the event that any
signature is delivered by facsimile transmission, such signature shall create
a
valid binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such
signature is executed) the same with the same force and effect as if such
facsimile signature were the original thereof.
(k) GOVERNING
LAW; VENUE; WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL. ALL QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE CONSTRUCTION,
VALIDITY, ENFORCEMENT AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY
AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA
WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES. EACH PARTY HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE SEOUL CENTRAL
DISTRICT COURT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA, FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE
HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR WITH ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY
OR DISCUSSED HEREIN (INCLUDING WITH RESPECT TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY OF THE
TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS), 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, OR 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 VIA REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL OR
OVERNIGHT DELIVERY (WITH EVIDENCE OF DELIVERY) TO SUCH PARTY AT THE ADDRESS
IN
EFFECT FOR NOTICES TO IT UNDER THIS WARRANT 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. THE COMPANY AND THE PURCHASER HEREBY
WAIVE ALL RIGHTS TO A TRIAL BY JURY.
(l) Cumulative
Remedies. The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not
exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
(m) Severability. If
any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held 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.
(n) Headings. The
headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall
not
limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
[Signature
page
follows]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement
as
of the date first written above.
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REXAHN
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
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By:
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/s/ Chang H. Ahn | |
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Name:
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Chang
H. Ahn
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|
|
Title:
|
CEO
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[Name
of Holder]
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||
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By:
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||
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Name:
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||
|
Title:
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||
[Signature
page to Registration
Rights Agreement]
Annex
A
Plan
of
Distribution
The
selling stockholders 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 Purchaser;
|
|
|
·
|
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 1933
Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.
The
selling stockholders may also engage in short sales against the box, puts and
calls and other transactions in our securities or derivatives of our securities
and may sell or deliver shares in connection with these trades.
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. Any profits on the resale of shares of common stock by a
broker-dealer acting as principal might be deemed to be underwriting discounts
or commissions under the 1933 Act. Discounts, concessions,
commissions and similar selling expenses, if any, attributable to the sale
of
shares will be borne by a selling stockholder. The selling
stockholders may agree to indemnify any agent, dealer or broker-dealer that
participates in transactions involving sales of the shares if liabilities are
imposed on that person under the 1933 Act.
The
selling stockholders may from time to time pledge or grant a security interest
in some or all of the shares of common stock owned by them and, if they default
in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties
may offer and sell the shares of common stock from time to time under this
prospectus after we have filed an amendment to this prospectus under
Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the 1933 Act 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
and may sell the shares of common stock from time to time under this prospectus
after we have filed an amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or
other applicable provision of the 1933 Act 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 and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in
selling the shares of common stock may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the
meaning of the 1934 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 of common stock purchased by them may be deemed to be
underwriting commissions or discounts under the 1933 Act.
We
are
required to pay all fees and expenses incident to the registration of the shares
of common stock, including the fees and disbursements of counsel to the selling
stockholders. We have agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders
against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities
under the 1933 Act.
The
selling stockholders have advised us that they have not entered into any
agreements, understandings or arrangements with any underwriters or
broker-dealers regarding the sale of their shares of common stock, nor is there
an underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with a proposed
sale
of shares of common stock by any selling stockholder. If we are
notified by any selling stockholder that any material arrangement has been
entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale of shares of common stock, if
required, we will file a supplement to this prospectus. We have
advised each Selling Stockholder that it may not use shares registered on this
Registration Statement to cover short sales made prior to the date on which
this
Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the
Commission. If the selling stockholders use this prospectus for any
sale of the shares of common stock, they will be subject to the prospectus
delivery requirements of the 1933 Act.
The
anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the 1934 Act may apply to
sales of our common stock and activities of the selling
stockholders.