Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement

Exhibit 10.2

EXECUTION VERSION

 

Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement

 

This Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of February 7, 2021, is among ARYA Sciences Acquisition Corp III, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”) and the other parties hereto identified as a “Holder” on the signature pages and Schedule A hereto (each, a “Holder” and collectively, the “Holders”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Business Combination Agreement dated as of the date hereof (the “Business Combination Agreement”), among the Company, Mako Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”), and Nautilus Biotechnology, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Nautilus”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company, Merger Sub and Nautilus are parties to the Business Combination Agreement, pursuant to which, among other things, on the Closing Date, Merger Sub will merge (the “Merger”) with and into Nautilus, with Nautilus surviving the Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and the Company will redomesticate as a Delaware corporation and change its name to “Nautilus Biotechnology, Inc.”;

 

WHEREAS, the Company, ARYA Sciences Holdings III, a Cayman Islands exempted limited company (the “Sponsor”) and the Independent Directors (as defined herein, and, together with the Sponsor, the “Original Holders”) are parties to the Registration and Shareholder Rights Agreement dated as of August 11, 2020 (the “Prior Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, the (i) Holders designated as “New Holders” on Schedule A (the “New Holders”) and (ii) Perceptive Life Sciences Master Fund Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Perceptive”), will receive upon consummation of the Merger shares of the Company’s Common Stock on the Closing Date pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, Perceptive and certain other Holders have entered into those certain Subscription Agreements, dated as of February 7, 2021, and the Company has agreed to issue and sell to Perceptive and certain other Holders, the number of shares of Common Stock set forth in such Subscription Agreements in exchange for the purchase price set forth therein, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein; and WHEREAS, contingent upon and effective as of the Effective Time (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), the parties to the Prior Agreement desire to terminate the Prior Agreement and to provide for certain rights and obligations included herein and to include the New Holders and Perceptive.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms and variations thereof have the meanings set forth below:

 

“Adverse Disclosure” shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company, after consultation with outside counsel to the Company, (i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (ii) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.

 

“Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

“Block Trade” means any non-marketed underwritten offering taking the form of a block trade to a financial institution, “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) or institutional “accredited” investor (as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act), bought deal, over-night deal or similar transaction that does not include “road show” presentations to potential investors requiring substantial marketing effort from management over multiple days, the issuance of a “comfort letter” by the Company’s auditors, or the issuance of a legal opinion by the Company’s legal counsel.

 

 “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

“Business Combination” shall mean any merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more businesses, involving the Company.

 

“Business Day” means a day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.

 

“Change in Control” means the transfer (whether by tender offer, merger, stock purchase, consolidation or other similar transaction), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, to a person or group of affiliated persons of the Company’s voting securities if, after such transfer, such person or group of affiliated persons would hold more than 50% of outstanding voting securities of the Company (or surviving entity) or would otherwise have the power to control the board of directors of the Company or to direct the operations of the Company.

 

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Common Stock” means the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

 

“Company” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

“Demand Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

 

“Demand Requesting Holder” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

 

“Demanding Holders” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.1.

 

“Effective Time” shall have the meaning set forth in the Business Combination Agreement.

 

“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

“Form S-1” means a Registration Statement on Form S-1 or any comparable successor form or forms thereto.

 

“Form S-3” means a Registration Statement on Form S-3 or any comparable successor form or forms thereto.

 

“Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.

 

“Independent Directors” means ▇▇▇▇ Wider, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.

 

“Liquidation Event” shall mean any of the following that occur following the Effective Time, (i) the acquisition of the Company by another entity by means of any transaction or series of related transactions to which the Company is party (including, without limitation, any stock acquisition, reorganization, sale of voting control, merger or consolidation but excluding any sale of stock for capital raising purposes) other than a transaction or series of related transactions in which the holders of the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such transaction or series of related transactions retain, immediately after such transaction or series of related transactions, as a result of shares in the Company held by such holders prior to such transaction or series of related transactions, at least a majority of the total voting power represented by the outstanding voting securities of the Company or such other surviving or resulting entity (or if the Company or such other surviving or resulting entity is a wholly-owned subsidiary immediately following such acquisition, its parent); (ii) a sale, lease, transfer, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole by means of any transaction or series of related transactions, except where such sale, lease, transfer, exclusive license or other disposition is to a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company; or (iii) any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary.

 

 

“Maximum Number of Securities” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.4.

 

“Misstatement” shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading.

 

“New Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

“New Registration Statement” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.4.

 

“Original Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

“Perceptive Holders” means the Sponsor and Perceptive.

 

“Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.1.

 

“Prior Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

“PIPE Shares” means shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to those certain Subscription Agreements between certain Holders and the Company dated on or about February 7, 2021.

 

“Pro Rata” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.4.

 

“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.

 

“Registrable Security”, “Registrable Securities” shall mean (a) any outstanding share of Common Stock or any other equity security (including the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any other equity security) of the Company held by a Holder as of the Closing Date (including, without limitation, the PIPE Shares and any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement) and (b) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to any such share of Common Stock by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or reorganization; provided, however, that, as to any particular Registrable Security, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (A) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement; (B) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company to the transferee, and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (C) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; or (D) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction.

 

“Registration” shall mean a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.

 

“Registration Expenses” shall mean the out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration or Underwritten Offering, including, without limitation, the following:

 

(A)          all registration and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.) and any securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed;

 

(B)          fees and expenses of compliance with securities or Blue Sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with Blue Sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);

 

(C)          printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;

 

(D)          reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;

 

(E)          reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration or Underwritten Offering; and

 

(F)        reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders or the majority-in interest of the Takedown Requesting Holders (including if such Underwritten Takedown is in the form of a Block Trade), as applicable.

 

“Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement that covers the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement, and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

 

“Requesting Holder” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.5.

 

“Resale Shelf Registration Statement” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.1.

 

“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

 

“Selling Holders” means any Holder electing to sell any of its Registrable Securities in a Registration.

 

“SEC Guidance” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.4.

 

“Sponsor” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals.

 

“Takedown Requesting Holder” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.5.

 

“Transfer” means to, directly or indirectly, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, hypothecate or similarly dispose of, either voluntarily or involuntarily, or to enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or similar disposition of, any interest owned by a person or any interest (including a beneficial interest) in, or the ownership, control or possession of, any interest owned by a person.

 

“Underwriter” shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.

 

“Underwritten Registration” or “Underwritten Offering” shall mean a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public, including for the avoidance of doubt an Underwritten Shelf Takedown.

 

“Underwritten Shelf Takedown” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.3.5.

 

 ARTICLE II
REGISTRATION

 

Section 2.1. Demand Registration.

 

2.1.1          Request for Registration. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.4 hereof, at any time and from time to time following the Effective Time (but subject to Article V), (i) New Holders holding at least a majority in interest of the then-outstanding number of Registrable Securities held by all New Holders including or (ii) the Perceptive Holders holding at least a majority in interest of the then-outstanding number of Registrable Securities held by all Perceptive Holders (such New Holders or Perceptive Holders, as the case may be, the “Demanding Holders”), may make a written demand for Registration of all or part of their Registrable Securities on Form S-3 (or, if Form S-3 is not available to be used by the Company at such time, on Form S-1 or another appropriate form permitting Registration of such Registrable Securities for resale by such Demanding Holders), which written demand shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such Registration and the intended method(s) of distribution thereof (such written demand a “Demand Registration”). The Company shall, within ten (10) days of the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, notify, in writing, all other Holders of Registrable Securities of such demand, and each Holder of Registrable Securities who thereafter wishes to include all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration (each such Holder that includes all or a portion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Registration, a “Demand Requesting Holder”) shall so notify the Company, in writing, within five (5) days after the receipt by the Holder of the notice from the Company. Upon receipt by the Company of any such written notification from a Demand Requesting Holder(s) to the Company, such Demand Requesting Holder(s) shall be entitled to have their Registrable Securities included in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration and the Company shall effect, as soon thereafter as practicable, but not more than sixty (60) days immediately after the Company’s receipt of the Demand Registration, the Registration of all Registrable Securities requested by the Demanding Holders and Demand Requesting Holders pursuant to such Demand Registration; provided that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any Registration under this subsection 2.1.1 if the Demanding Holders and Demand Requesting Holders propose to sell Registrable Securities with aggregate proceeds of less than $25,000,000. Under no circumstances shall the Company be obligated to effect more than an aggregate of (i) two (2) Registrations pursuant to a Demand Registration under this subsection 2.1.1 initiated by New Holders, or (iii) two (2) Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration under this subsection 2.1.1 initiated by Perceptive Holders.

 

2.1.2          Effective Registration. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 2.1.1 above or any other part of this Agreement, a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration shall not count as a Registration unless and until (i) the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration has been declared effective by the Commission and (ii) the Company has complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect thereto; provided, further, however, that if, after such Registration Statement has been declared effective, an offering of Registrable Securities in a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration is subsequently interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission, federal or state court or any other governmental agency, the Registration Statement with respect to such Registration shall be deemed not to have been declared effective for purposes of counting Registrations under subsection 2.1.1 above unless and until (i) such stop order or injunction is removed, rescinded or otherwise terminated, and (ii) a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating such Demand Registration thereafter affirmatively elect to continue with such Registration and accordingly notify the Company in writing, but in no event later than five (5) days, of such election; provided, further, however, that the Company shall not be obligated or required to file another Registration Statement until the Registration Statement that has been previously filed with respect to a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration becomes effective or has been terminated.

 

2.1.3          Underwritten Offering. Subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1.4 and Section 2.4 hereof, if a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders advise the Company as part of their Demand Registration that the offering of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration shall be in the form of an Underwritten Offering, then the right of such Demanding Holder or Demand Requesting Holder (if any) to include its Registrable Securities in such Registration shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such Underwritten Offering and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering to the extent provided herein. All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.1.3 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders, such Underwriter(s) to be reasonably acceptable to the Company.

 

 

2.1.4          Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration, in good faith, advises the Company, the Demanding Holders and the Demand Requesting Holders (if any) in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and the Demand Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell and the Common Stock, if any, as to which a Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by any other stockholders who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Securities”), then the Company shal include in such Underwritten Offering, as follows: (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders and the Demand Requesting Holders (if any) (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder and Demand Requesting Holder (if any) has requested be included in such Underwritten Registration and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and Demand Requesting Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Registration (such proportion is referred to herein as “Pro Rata”)) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (iii) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), Common Stock or other equity securities of other persons or entities that the Company is obligated to register in a Registration pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with such persons and that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

 

2.1.5          Demand Registration Withdrawal. A majority-in-interest of the New Holders or a majority-in-interest of the Perceptive Holders, as the case may be, in the case of a Registration under subsection 2.1.1  initiated by the New Holders or the Perceptive Holders, as the case may be, or a majority-in-interest of the Demand Requesting Holders (if any) shall have the right to withdraw from a Registration pursuant to such Demand Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter(s) (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to the Registration of their Registrable Securities pursuant to such Demand Registration (or after such Registration Statement has been declared effective and is subsequently interfered with by any stop order or injunction of the Commission, federal or state court or any other governmental agency). In the event of such withdrawal the Holders shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.1.5, unless the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities agree to forfeit their right to a demand registration pursuant to Section 2.1.

 

Section 2.2. Piggyback Registration.

 

2.2.1          Piggyback Rights. If the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company (other than pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.3 of this Agreement), other than a Registration Statement (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing stockholders, (iii) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company, (iv) filed on Form S-4 related to any merger, acquisition or business combination, or (v) for a dividend reinvestment plan, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but not less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement, which notice shall (A) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter(s), if any, in such offering, and (B) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within five (5) days after receipt of such written notice (such Registration a “Piggyback Registration”). The Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the managing Underwriter(s) of a proposed Underwritten Offering to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this subsection 2.2.1 to be included in a Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such Registration and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. Al such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Offering under this subsection 2.2.1 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company.

 

 

2.2.2          Reduction of Piggyback Registration. If the managing Underwriter(s) in an Underwritten Registration that is to be a Piggyback Registration, in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Common Stock that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) the shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested pursuant to Section 2.2.1 hereof, and (iii) the shares of Common Stock, if any, as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of other stockholders of the Company, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:

 

 

 

2.2.3          Piggyback Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggyback Registration, or, if such Piggyback Registration is in connection with an underwritten offering pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement, then prior to the public announcement of such offering. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this subsection 2.2.3.

 

 

2.2.4          Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, any Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall not be counted as a Registration pursuant to a Demand Registration effected under Section 2.1 hereof.

 

2.2.5          Right to Terminate Registration. The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section 2.2 prior to the effectiveness of such registration whether or not any Holder of Registrable Securities has elected to include securities in such registration.

 

Section 2.3. Resale Shelf Registration Rights

 

2.3.1          Registration Statement Covering Resale of Registrable Securities. The Company shall prepare and file or cause to be prepared and filed with the Commission, no later than forty-five (45) days following the Closing Date (the “Filing Deadline”), a Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act or any successor thereto registering the resale from time to time by Holders of all of the Registrable Securities held by the Holders (the “Resale Shelf Registration Statement”). The Resale Shelf Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 (or, if Form S-3 is not available to be used by the Company at such time, on Form S-1 or another appropriate form permitting Registration of such Registrable Securities for resale). If the Resale Shelf Registration Statement is initially filed on Form S-1 and thereafter the Company becomes eligible to use Form S-3 for secondary sales, the Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause such Resale Shelf Registration Statement to be amended, or shall file a new replacement Resale Shelf Registration Statement, such that the Resale Shelf Registration Statement is on Form S-3. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Resale Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective as soon as possible after filing; provided, however, that the Company’s obligations to include the Registrable Securities held by a Holder in the Resale Shelf Registration Statement are contingent upon such Holder furnishing in writing to the Company such information regarding the Holder, the securities of the Company held by the Holder and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities as shall be reasonably requested by the Company to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities, and the Holder shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request that are customary of a selling stockholder in similar situations. Once effective, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Resale Shelf Registration Statement and Prospectus included therein continuously effective and to be supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that such Registration Statement is available or, if not available, to ensure that another Registration Statement is available, under the Securities Act at all times until the earliest of (i) the date on which all Registrable Securities and other securities covered by such Registration Statement have been disposed of in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement and (ii) the date on which all Registrable Securities and other securities covered by such Registration Statement have ceased to be Registrable Securities. The Registration Statement filed with the Commission pursuant to this subsection 2.3.1 shall contain a prospectus in such form as to permit any Holder to sell such Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (or any successor or similar provision adopted by the Commission then in effect) at any time beginning on the effective date for such Registration Statement (subject to lock-up restrictions provided in Section 5.1 of this Agreement), and shall provide that such Registrable Securities may be sold pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, Holders.

 

2.3.2          Notification and Distribution of Materials. The Company shall notify the Holders in writing of the effectiveness of the Resale Shelf Registration Statement as soon as practicable, and in any event within one (1) Business Day after the Resale Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective, and shall furnish to them, without charge, such number of copies of the Resale Shelf Registration Statement (including any amendments, supplements and exhibits), the Prospectus contained therein (including each preliminary prospectus and all related amendments and supplements) and any documents incorporated by reference in the Resale Shelf Registration Statement or such other documents as the Holders may reasonably request in order to facilitate the sale of the Registrable Securities in the manner described in the Resale Shelf Registration Statement.

 

2.3.3          Amendments and Supplements. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3.1 above, the Company shall promptly prepare and file with the Commission from time to time such amendments and supplements to the Resale Shelf Registration Statement and Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep the Resale Shelf Registration Statement effective and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all the Registrable Securities. If any Resale Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2.3.1 is filed on Form S-3 and thereafter the Company becomes ineligible to use Form S-3 for secondary sales, the Company shall promptly notify the Holders of such ineligibility and use its commercially reasonable efforts to file a shelf registration on an appropriate form as promptly as practicable to replace the shelf registration statement on Form S-3 and have such replacement Resale Shelf Registration Statement declared effective as promptly as practicable and to cause such replacement Resale Shelf Registration Statement to remain effective, and to be supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that such Resale Shelf Registration Statement is available or, if not available, that another Resale Shelf Registration Statement is available, for the resale of all the Registrable Securities held by the Holders until all such Registrable Securities have ceased to be Registrable Securities; provided, however, that at any time the Company once again becomes eligible to use Form S-3, the Company shall cause such replacement Resale Shelf Registration Statement to be amended, or shall file a new replacement Resale Shelf Registration Statement, such that the Resale Shelf Registration Statement is once again on Form S-3.

 

2.3.4          SEC Cutback. Notwithstanding the registration obligations set forth in this Section 2.3, in the event the Commission informs the Company that all of the Registrable Securities cannot, as a result of the application of Rule 415, be registered for resale as a secondary offering on a single registration statement, the Company agrees to promptly (i) inform each of the Holders thereof and use its commercially reasonable efforts to file amendments to the Resale Shelf Registration Statement as required by the Commission and/or (ii) withdraw the Resale Shelf Registration Statement and file a new registration statement (a “New Registration Statement”) on Form S-3, or if Form S-3 is not then available to the Company for such registration statement, on such other form available to register for resale the Registrable Securities as a secondary offering; provided, however, that prior to filing such amendment or New Registration Statement, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with any publicly -available written or oral guidance, comments, requirements or requests of the Commission staff (the “SEC Guidance”). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any SEC Guidance sets forth a limitation on the number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered on a particular Registration Statement as a secondary offering (and notwithstanding that the Company used diligent efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all or a greater number of Registrable Securities), unless otherwise directed in writing by a Holder as to further limit its Registrable Securities to be included on the Registration Statement, the number of Registrable Securities to be registered on such Registration Statement will be reduced on a Pro Rata basis based on the total number of Registrable Securities held by the Holders, subject to a determination by the Commission that certain Holders must be reduced first based on the number of Registrable Securities held by such Holders. In the event the Company amends the Resale Shelf Registration Statement or files a New Registration Statement, as the case may be, under clauses (i) or (ii) above, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission, as promptly as allowed by Commission or SEC Guidance provided to the Company or to registrants of securities in general, one or more registration statements on Form S-3 or such other form available to register for resale those Registrable Securities that were not registered for resale on the Resale Shelf Registration Statement, as amended, or the New Registration Statement.

 

2.3.5          Underwritten Shelf Takedown. At any time and from time to time after a Resale Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission, the Holders may request to sell all or any portion of the Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering that is registered pursuant to the Resale Shelf Registration Statement (each, an “Underwritten Shelf Takedown”); provided, however, that the Company shall only be obligated to effect an Underwritten Shelf Takedown if such offering shall include securities with a total offering price (including piggyback securities and before deduction of underwriting discounts or commissions) reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, $25,000,000. All requests for Underwritten Shelf Takedowns shall be made by giving written notice to the Company at least ten (10) days prior to the public announcement of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown, which shall specify the approximate number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown and the expected price range (net of underwriting discounts and commissions) of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown. Except in the case of a requested Underwritten Shelf Takedown in the form of a Block Trade, following receipt of a request for an Underwritten Shelf Takedown, the Company shall promptly notify the other Holders of the request and of their right to participate in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown, which shall specify the anticipated public announcement date. The Company shall include in any Underwritten Shelf Takedown the securities requested to be included by any Holder (each a “Takedown Requesting Holder”) at least 48 hours prior to the anticipated public announcement date of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown set forth in the Company notice pursuant to written contractual piggyback registration rights of such Holder (including those set forth herein). All such Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through an Underwritten Shelf Takedown under this subsection 2.3.5 shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the majority-in-interest of the Takedown Requesting Holders initiating the Underwritten Shelf Takedown.

 

 

2.3.6          Reduction of Underwritten Shelf Takedown. If the managing Underwriter(s) in an Underwritten Shelf Takedown, in good faith, advise(s) the Company and the Takedown Requesting Holders in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Takedown Requesting Holders desire to sell, taken together with all other shares of the Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown, as follows: (i) first, the Registrable Securities of the Takedown Requesting Holders, on a Pro Rata basis, that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (ii) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (i), the Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.

 

2.3.7          Registrations effected pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall not be counted as Demand Registrations effected pursuant to Section 2.1. Under no circumstances shall the Company be obligated to effect more than an aggregate of four (4) Underwritten Shelf Takedowns in any 12-month period.

 

2.3.8          Block Trades. If the Company shall receive a request from a Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities with an estimated market value of at least $25,000,000 that the Company effect the sale of al or any portion of such Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Shelf Takedown in the form of a Block Trade, then the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible, cooperate and effect the offering in such Block Trade of the Registrable Securities for which such requesting Holder has requested such offering, without giving any effect to any required notice periods or delivery of notices to any other Holders. Any offering conducted as a Block Trade will not count as an Underwritten Shelf Takedown for the purposes of Section 2.3.7.

 

Section 2.4. Restrictions on Registration Rights. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Company shall not be obligated to (but may, at its sole option) file a Registration Statement pursuant to a Demand Registration request made under Section 2.1  during the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending on a date one hundred and twenty (120) days after the effective date of, a Company initiated Registration and provided that the Company has delivered written notice to the Holders prior to receipt of a Demand Registration pursuant to subsection 2.1.1 and that the Company continues to actively employ, in good faith, commercially reasonable efforts to cause the applicable Registration Statement to become effective.

 

ARTICLE III
COMPANY PROCEDURES

 

Section 3.1. General Procedures. If at any time on or after the Effective Time the Company is required to effect the Registration of Registrable Securities, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible:

 

3.1.1          prepare and file with the Commission as soon as practicable a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold;

 

3.1.2          prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be reasonably requested by the Holders or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus;

 

 3.1.3          prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriter(s), if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration, and such Holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal counsel for any such Holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders;

 

3.1.4          prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “Blue Sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;

 

3.1.5          cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;

 

3.1.6          provide a transfer agent and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;

 

3.1.7          advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;

 

3.1.8          advise each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, promptly after the Company receives notice thereof, of the time when such registration statement has been declared effective or a supplement to any Prospectus forming a part of such registration statement has been filed;

 

3.1.9          at least five (5) days prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus, furnish a draft copy thereof to each seller of such Registrable Securities or its counsel;

 

3.1.10          notify the Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4 hereof;

 

3.1.11          permit a representative of the Holders, the Underwriter(s), if any, and any attorney or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter(s) to participate, at each such person’s own expense (except as otherwise set forth herein), in the preparation of the Registration Statement, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter(s), attorney or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however, that such representatives or Underwriter(s) enter into a confidentiality agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information;

 

 3.1.12          obtain a “cold comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Registration, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter(s) may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders and such managing Underwriter;

 

3.1.13          on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, if requested by the Underwriter(s), if any, obtain an opinion and negative assurance letter, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration addressed to the Underwriter(s) covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion and negative assurance letter are being given as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters;

 

3.1.14          in the event of any Underwritten Offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter(s) of such offering;

 

3.1.15          make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission);

 

3.1.16          if a Registration, including an Underwritten Offering, involves the Registration of Registrable Securities involving gross proceeds in excess of $50,000,000, use its commercially reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter(s) in any Underwritten Offering; and

 

3.1.17          otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holders, in connection with such Registration.

 

Section 3.2. Registration Expenses. Except as set forth in Section 2.1.5, all Registration Expenses shal be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders that the Holders shall bear all incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ commissions and discounts, brokerage fees, Underwriter marketing costs and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders.

 

Section 3.3. Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (ii) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

Section 3.4. Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure. Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until he, she or it has received copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement or until he, she, or it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, provided that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file any required supplement or amendment correcting any Misstatement promptly after the time of such notice and, if necessary, to request the immediate effectiveness thereof. If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement or Prospectus included in any Registration Statement at any time (a) would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure, (b) would require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control, or (c) in the good faith judgment of the Board, would be materially detrimental to the Company, the Company shall have the right to defer the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of any Registration Statement pursuant to (a), (b) or (c) for a period of not more than ninety (90) days and the Company shall not defer any such filing, initial effectiveness or use of a Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 3.4 more than twice (in each case counting deferrals initiated pursuant to (a), (b) and (c) in the aggregate) in any 12-month period. In the event the Company exercises its rights under the preceding sentence, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities.

 

 Section 3.5. Reporting Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or  15(d) of the Exchange Act and to promptly furnish the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings. The Company further covenants that it shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell shares of Common Stock held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission), including providing any customary legal opinions as reasonably requested. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

 

Section 3.6. Limitations on Registration Rights. Other than the registration rights granted to the purchasers under the Subscription Agreements to be entered into on about the date hereof with certain investors relating to the private placement of shares of Common Stock as provided for in the Business Combination Agreement, the Company shall not hereafter enter into any agreement with respect to its securities which is inconsistent with or violates the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement and in the event of any conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.

 

ARTICLE IV
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION

 

Section 4.1. Indemnification

 

4.1.1          The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers and directors and agents and each person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) caused by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein. The Company shall indemnify the Underwriter(s), their officers and directors and each person who controls (within the meaning of the Securities Act) such Underwriter(s) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to the indemnification of the Holder.

 

4.1.2          In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its directors and officers and agents and each person who controls (within the meaning of the Securities Act) the Company against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue statement of material fact contained in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders of Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder of Registrable Securities shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. The Holders of Registrable Securities shall indemnify the Underwriter(s), their officers, directors and each person who controls (within the meaning of the Securities Act) such Underwriter(s) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.

 

 4.1.3          Any person entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided, however, that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from al liability in respect to such claim or litigation.

 

4.1.4          The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities. The Company and each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party for contribution (pursuant to subsection 4.1.5) to such party in the event the Company’s or such Holder’s indemnification is unavailable for any reason.

 

4.1.5          If the indemnification provided under Section 4.1 hereof from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the 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 to state a material fact, was made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of any Holder under this subsection 4.1.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds actually received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in subsections 4.1.1, 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 above, any legal or other fees, charges or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this subsection 4.1.5. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this subsection 4.1.5 from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

4.1.6          Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in any underwriting agreement entered into in connection with an underwritten public offering are in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the provisions in the underwriting agreement shall control.

 

 ARTICLE V
LOCK-UP

 

Section 5.1. Lock-Up. Except as permitted by Section 5.2, each Holder shall not Transfer any shares of Common Stock, (including, without limitation, the PIPE Shares, any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, and any other shares of Common Stock), beneficially owned or owned of record by such Holder until the date that is 180 days from the Closing Date (the “Lock-up Period”).

 

Section 5.2. Exceptions. The provisions of Section 5.1 shall not apply to:

 

5.2.1          transactions relating to shares of Common Stock acquired in open market transactions;

 

5.2.2          Transfers of shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock as a bona fide gift or charitable contribution;

 

5.2.3          Transfers of shares of Common Stock to a trust, or other entity formed for estate planning purposes for the primary benefit of the spouse, domestic partner, parent, sibling, child or grandchild of the undersigned or any other person with whom the undersigned has a relationship by blood, marriage or adoption not more remote than first cousin;

 

5.2.4          Transfers by will or intestate succession upon the death of the undersigned;

 

5.2.5          the Transfer of shares of Common Stock pursuant to a qualified domestic order, court order or in connection with a divorce settlement;

 

5.2.6          if the Holder is a corporation, partnership (whether general, limited or otherwise), limited liability company, trust or other business entity, (i) Transfers to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control or management with the Holder, or (ii) distributions of shares of Common Stock to partners, limited liability company members or stockholders of the Holder, including, for the avoidance of doubt, where the Holder is a partnership, to its general partner or a successor partnership or fund, or any other funds managed by such partnership;

 

5.2.7          if the Holder is a trust, Transfers to a trustor or beneficiary of the trust or to the estate of a beneficiary of such trust;

 

5.2.8          Transfers to the Company’s officers, directors or their affiliates;

 

5.2.9          Transfers to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under Sections 5.2.2 through 5.2.8;

 

5.2.10       pledges of shares of Common Stock or other Registrable Securities as security or collateral in connection with any borrowing or the incurrence of any indebtedness by any Holder; provided, however, that such borrowing or incurrence of indebtedness is secured by a portfolio of assets or equity interests issued by multiple issuers;

 

5.2.11          Transfers pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer, merger, stock sale, recapitalization, consolidation or other transaction involving a Change in Control of the Company; provided, however, that in the event that such tender offer, merger, recapitalization, consolidation or other such transaction is not completed, the Common Stock subject to this Agreement shall remain subject to this Agreement;

 

5.2.12         the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 promulgated under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that such plan does not provide for the Transfer of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock during the Lock-Up Period;

 

5.2.13          Transfers of shares of Common Stock to the Company in connection with the repurchase of the undersigned’s shares in connection with the termination of the undersigned’s employment with the Company pursuant to contractual agreements with the Company;

 

5.2.14          Transfers of shares of Common Stock to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the exercise of options to purchase shares of Common Stock or the vesting of stock-based awards;

 

 5.2.15        Transfers of shares of Common Stock in payment on a “net exercise” or “cashless” basis of the exercise or purchase price with respect to the exercise of options to purchase shares of Common Stock;

 

5.2.16          Transfers to the Company through the exercise of a stock option granted under a stock incentive plan or stock purchase plan or a warrant, and the receipt by the Holder from the Company of shares of Common Stock upon any such exercise, insofar as such option or warrant expires during the Lock-Up Period; provided that the underlying shares shall continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Agreement;

 

provided, however, that in the case of any Transfer pursuant to Sections 5.2.2 through 5.2.10, each donee, distribute, pledgee or other transferee shall agree in writing, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement.

 

Section 5.3. Release of Lock-Up Restrictions. Notwithstanding the other provisions set forth herein, the Board may, in its sole discretion, determine to waive, amend, or repeal the restrictions set forth in Section 5.1 above, whether in whole or in part; provided, that any such waiver, amendment or repeal shall (i) not make such restrictions more restrictive or apply for a longer period of time and (ii) require the unanimous approval of the directors present at any duly called meeting at which a quorum is present.

 

ARTICLE VI
TERMINATION

 

Section 6.1. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of: (i) the termination of the Business Combination Agreement, (ii) the date on which neither the Holders nor any of their permitted assignees hold any Registrable Securities, and (iii) a Liquidation Event.

 

Section 6.2. Effect of Business Combination Termination. In the event of a termination of this Agreement as a result of the termination of the Business Combination Agreement, this Agreement shall become void and the Prior Agreement shall continue in full force and effect; this Agreement shall only become effective at the Effective Time, and prior to such date this Agreement shall be of no force and effect.

 

ARTICLE VII
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 7.1. Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by e-mail or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following addresses or e-mail addresses (or at such other address or email address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 7.1):

 

If to the Company, to it at:

 

Nautilus Biotechnology, Inc.

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇. ▇., ▇▇▇. ▇▇▇

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Chief Executive Officer

Email: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇

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If to a Holder, to the address or email address set forth for Holder on the signature page hereof.

 

Section 7.2. Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

 

Section 7.3. Entire Agreement; Assignment. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall not be assigned (whether pursuant to a merger, by operation of law or otherwise), by any party without the prior express written consent of the Company, except that a Holder may, without consent, assign such Holder’s rights under this Agreement to any transferee of Common Stock permitted under Sections 5.2.2 through 5.2.10 (such transferees, “Permitted Transferees”).

 

Section 7.4. Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto (and its respective permitted assigns), and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.5. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts executed in and to be performed in that State. All legal actions and proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined exclusively in any Delaware Chancery Court; provided, however, that if jurisdiction is not then available in the Delaware Chancery Court, then any such legal action may be brought in any federal court located in the State of Delaware or any other Delaware state court. The parties hereto hereby (a) irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts for themselves and with respect to their respective properties for the purpose of any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought by any party hereto, and (b) agree not to commence any action relating thereto except in the courts described above in Delaware, other than actions in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce any judgment, decree or award rendered by any such court in Delaware as described herein. Each of the parties further agrees that notice as provided herein shall constitute sufficient service of process and the parties further waive any argument that such service is insufficient. Each of the parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion or as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, (x) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the courts in Delaware as described herein for any reason, (y) that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise) and (z) that (i) the action in any such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (ii) the venue of such action is improper or (iii) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.

 

Section 7.6. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO (I) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THAT FOREGOING WAIVER AND (II) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 7.6.

 

 Section 7.7. Headings; Interpretation. The descriptive headings contained in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If any ambiguity or question of intent arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party because of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. Unless the context of this Agreement clearly requires otherwise, use of the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neutral genders and vice versa, and the definitions of terms contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms. The words “includes” or “including” shall mean “including without limitation.” The words “hereof,” “hereby,” “herein,” “hereunder” and similar terms in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not any particular section or article in which such words appear, the word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends and such phrase shall not mean simply “if.” Any reference to a law shall include any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and shall mean such law as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented. References herein to any contract (including this Agreement) mean such contract as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

Section 7.8. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or portable document format (pdf) transmission) in counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

Section 7.9. Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event any provision of this Agreement was not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy at law or in equity. Each of the parties hereby further waives (a) any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate and (b) any requirement under any law to post security or a bond as a prerequisite to obtaining equitable relief.

 

Section 7.10. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended in writing by the parties hereto at any time prior to the Effective Time. Following the Effective Time, this Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed by (i) the Company, (ii) Perceptive Holders holding at least a majority in interest of the then-outstanding number of Registrable Securities held by all Perceptive Holders in their capacity as Perceptive Holders (provided the Perceptive Holders or their Permitted Transferees hold Registrable Securities at the time of such amendment), and (iii) New Holders holding at least a majority in interest of the then-outstanding number of Registrable Securities held by all New Holders in their capacity as New Holders (provided the New Holders or their Permitted Transferees hold Registrable Securities at the time of such amendment).

 

Section 7.11. Waiver. At any time, (i) the Company may (a) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or other act of any Holder, (b) waive any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of any Holder contained herein or in any document delivered by such Holder pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with any agreement of such Holder or any condition to its own obligations contained herein. At any time, (i) the Holders may (a) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or other act of the Company, (b) waive any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein or in any document delivered by the Company pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with any agreement of the Company or any condition to their own obligations contained herein. Any such extension or waiver shall be valid if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the party or parties to be bound thereby.

 

Section 7.12. Further Assurances. At the request of the Company, in the case of any Holder, or at the request of any Holder, in the case of the Company, and without further consideration, each party shall execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered such additional documents and instruments and take such further action as may be reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 7.13. Prior Agreement Superseded. Pursuant to Section 5.6 of the Prior Agreement, the undersigned parties who are parties to such Prior Agreement hereby terminate the Prior Agreement, with the intent and effect that the Prior Agreement shall hereby be replaced and superseded in its entirety by this Agreement.

 

 

Section 7.14. No Strict Construction. The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.

 

(Next Page is Signature Page)

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement]